KOREAN LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE IN MY VIEWPOINT

Winners of Essay Contest on Korea

February 13, 2001
Korean Overseas Information Service

The Korean Information Service is pleased to announce the winners

of its annual essay contest on Korea. This year's competition was
held from April to December of last year in 12 countries, including
six countries in Asia (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam), and three each in Europe (Britain, Germany and
Russia) and the Americas (Canada, Mexico and the United States).
The deadlines have been extended for those in the United States,
Russia and Malaysia due to their differing school calendars. The
contest started in 1988 to stimulate interest in Korea among foreign
students and educators as well as to promote mutual friendship and
the understanding of Korean culture and society.

The following is a list of the winner essay from Thailand.

Jaya Patrachai
M, 83. 2.13
Triam Udom Suksa School Grade 12

When it comes to "One of the Five Tigers of Asia", Korea comes first
to our mind. The image of Korea as the most outstanding newly-
industrialized country has been in people's memory since the 1988
Olympic Games in Seoul. The success of Korea at that time reflects
the development of the country in many aspects, such as lifestyle,
tradition and custom, culture, together with the advancement in
technology, which leads Korea to be industrialized country.

This "One of the Five Tigers of Asia" used to be known as "Land of

the Morning Calm." Considering the meanings, we can see the
difference in these two things. The difference is the development of
the country, and the lifestyle and culture. In terms of lifestyle and
culture, it has been changed from the "land of the morning calm" to
the "Tiger of Asia."

Lifestyle, culture and civilization of Korea have been built upon the
small peninsular between the Yellow Sea and the East Sea. Korea
has almost the same size as Britain. The Taebaeksan range runs the
full length of the east coast, where the lashing waves of the East Sea
have carved out sheer cliffs and rocky islets. The peninsular features
so many scenic mountains and rivers. The geography of this kind has
brought impression to people who live there. They compare the
scenic nature as the "beautifully embroidered brocade." This
beautifully embroidered brocade has had an influence on lifestyle
and culture of the Korean people from past to present.

In the past, Korean lifestyle was not very much differ from the other
ancient civilizations. Korea had an agricultural society and respected
nature. Under the influence of nature, the Korean people came to
develop a peace-loving characteristic. Korean people lived nearby
rivers like Thai people did. Hangang river is the major one which
flows through Seoul for decades. The characteristic of agricultural
society of the Korean people was reflected in holidays and festivals.
The first full moon of the year, "Taeborum" is the day when farmers
pray for a bountiful harvest. "Tano" is the fifth day of the fifth lunar
month. On that day, farmers will take a day off from the field for
joint festivities marking the completion of sowing. "Chusok" is the
autumnal full moon day that falls on the 15th day of the eight
month. These traditions reflect that, in the past, Korean people had a
peaceful agricultural lifestyle. Throughout the year, their lives were
connected with harvest festivals, which was quite similar to those of
Thai people.

The Koreans in the agricultural society lived with nature and

worshipped it. They had a profound belief in spiritual landscape of
people. They had animistic beliefs that every object in the world
possessed a soul. In ancient Korean society, there was a "Mudang"
who could link living creature with spiritual world. Mudang was
considered capable of curing sickness and averting bad luck.

From the study of Korean history, it reflects that the Koreans fought
to protect the country from China's invasion. Even though Korean
people were ethnically originated from the Mongol, they had their
unique civilization which was different from that of the Chinese
people. Foreign influences, which were very much distinguished in
Korean culture, were Confucianism and Buddism. Confucianism was
introduced along with the earliest specimens of Chinese written
materials. There were records which indicated that Confucianism
had an influence on political administration of Korea. In Koguryo,
there was a Confucian university. The civil service examination
called "Kwago" were adopted after the Chinese system.
Confucianism deeply implanted in Korean values. However,
Buddhism seems to have been well-supported by Korean people.
Buddhism was supported by the ruling people of the Three
Kingdoms. Under royal patronage, many temples and monasteries
were constructed and believers grew steadily. Shilla Dynasty
regarded Buddhism as the state religion while Confucianism formed
the philosophical and structural backbone of the state. The
Confucian government administration's system was still there. It can
be seen that the influence of Buddhism and Confucianism remains in
Korea until now.

In the 19th century, Korea remained a "Hermit Kingdom" even

though the country was invaded by Japan. Korea opposed to Western
demands for diplomatic and trade relations. Over time, a few Asian
and European countries with imperialistic ambitions competed with
each other for influence on others. Under the Japanese rule, Korean
patriotism had been stimulated. At the end of the World War II,
Korea had been divided into two.

It can be said that rapid social and economic changes mainly come
from the perseverance of Korean people. The Administration of
former President Park Chung-hee aimed at ensuring political stability
and completing the historic task of national development through
socio-economic progress under strong presidential leadership.
President Park led the economic development of the so-called
"Miracle on the Han-gang River."

North Korea's government tried to maintain a socialist structure that

emphasizes Korean style socialism known as "juche" ideology.
Devastating flood over the past several years and food shortage had
an impact on North Korea's foreign policy. North Korea had to accept
foreign aid to help revive its ailing economy.

From past to present, the lifestyle of Korean people has been

changed from agricultural to industrialized society. The rapid
population growth in urban areas led to a housing shortage and
spiraling land prices in cities. People had to change their lifestyle.
Korean people tended to live in high-rising building or condominium.
However, with the implementation of the "Five-Year plan for science
and technology innovation," not much environmental problem could
effect Korean people who lived in the big cities.

In my opinion, at present, Korean lifestyle is in a very good standard.

Korea has the unique housing rental system, the advancement in
health care and public welfare, and the social security system. These
examples reflect that Korean government has a good concern on its
people.

Korea is a country in Asia which has high literacy level. The Korean
government has placed great importance on education. Education is
an area which receives primary attention. Korea Telecom has offered
massive effort to supply personal computers to schools nationwide.
This shows the initiative to prepare the future generation for the
information age.

In the meantime, Bangkok has just started using its sky train, but
Seoul has its subway system for more than 3 decades. The first
subway line in Seoul started in 1974 and at the moment the eight
line is under construction. Seoul's subway system is the eight-largest
in the world. This subway system is the main daily city commuter for
the Korean people.

If we go to Seoul next year, we will see the new Inchon International

airport, the new international air terminal of Korea. Inchon airport is
situated on Yongjongdo Island near Inchon. This will improve the air
transportation capacity of Korea.

Even though Korea has been developing the country to be like the
West, the Koreans do not neglect their culture. Korean drama has its
origins in prehistoric religious rites, while music and dance play an
integral role in all traditional theatrical performances. The famous
classical theatrical mask dance of Korea is called sandae nori, a
combination of dance, song, narrative punctuated with satire and
humor.

From past to present the lifestyle of Korean people has been

changed for several times. However with the cooperation of the
people, Korea can fight all the misfortunes and be one of the leading
industrialized countries in Asia. Even though the country has faced
the economic crisis, the Kim Dae-jung Administration has
successfully driven the country through the problem by using sound
policies.

The future of Korea is turning bright at the time since the Two
Koreas participated in the North and South summit meeting in
Pyongyang. The two leaders, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-il have
brought up peaceful atmosphere to the Korean peninsular. The
lifestyle and culture that have been parted long before would be
able to reunite again.

In my opinion, Korean people can come to this point because they

have strong determination, attempt, cooperation and patience. The
Korean people do not neglect their traditional lifestyle and culture.
The unique "Hermit Kingdom" or the "land of the morning calm" still
remains in them. They can adapt this kind of lifestyle to use for the
country's highest advantage in the age of globalization. If the
reunification plan of the two Koreas can be accomplished, Korea
would be the country that has much influence in Asia. In my
viewpoint, Korean lifestyle and culture are the important aspects
which lead the country to become industrialized and be one of the
"Five Tiger of Asia."