South Korea is one of the most interesting countries in the world. Asia is in love with Korean food, music and TV shows. Korea's influence on the region is comparable to that of China and Japan. In 2013, Boston Consulting Group named South Korea the most innovative country in the world.

This is not bad at all, considering the fact that South Korea has existed as a state since 1948. And this country is full of curious customs and interesting facts.

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Every person wants to be beautiful, South Koreans are no exception. According to a survey conducted in 2009, every fifth South Korean girl had plastic surgery. IN South Korea Having plastic surgery is quite common and, unlike in the Western world, getting plastic surgery is not considered something shameful.

Among the most popular plastic surgeries are facial surgeries. The ideal beauty of a South Korean woman is a face with a small, neat nose, a V-shaped chin and large eyes.

It is quite common for schoolgirls to undergo facial plastic surgery immediately after graduating from school. This usually comes in the form of parents rewarding their daughter for doing well in school. Even Miss South Korea 2012 does not hide the fact that she had plastic surgery.

Half of the women who undergo facial plastic surgery lose control over their facial expressions; they are simply paralyzed. Therefore, recently it has become fashionable to have surgery to change the corners of the mouth so that the face should now always appear smiling. Thus, a huge number of women in South Korea spreads out into constant smiles.

Often men also go under the knife. They say that appearance partly influences their career advancement. Men are very hardworking, so a professional career often comes first for them. Plus, they also don’t mind showing off their appearance. Among other things, South Korean men wear makeup quite often and this is considered normal.

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2. Theme amusement park. Toilets.

There are many different theme parks in the world, but South Korea and here I was able to surprise everyone. Proud Suwon is home to electronics giant Samsung, but that's not what the city is famous for. It is in Suwon that there is a toilet amusement park.

It was opened in honor of the former mayor of the city Shim Jae Duk, who seemed to be obsessed with toilets. He was even nicknamed Mister Toilet. He had a goal to provide people with hygienic toilets and take toilet maintenance to the next level. He founded the World Toilet Organization.

In 2007, with the light hand of the mayor, a building in the shape of a toilet was built, which after his death became a museum of toilets. And later this museum “expanded” into a theme amusement park. This park has everything related to toilets, from ancient potties and urinals to sculptures of people peeing and pooping. Entrance to the toilet park is free.

Of course, I would like to see and find out everything in person, but unfortunately there is no such opportunity yet. Therefore, it is quite interesting to read about the people, traditions and characteristics of certain countries from the people who are there.

For example, South Korea is a country with quite a long history and rich traditions. Now, just look around, Korean videos are broadcast on television, Korean goods are taking over the market, Korean technologies are ahead of many countries! Would you like to know more about the country that is so actively trying to get closer to us?

Here are some details...

beauty

1. Korean women wear a lot of cosmetics. Very. A lot. If you try to count the number of products for evening care, you will get about ten of them: makeup removing oil, cleansing foam, scrub or peeling, face mask, toner, essence, lotion (yes, this is not the same as tonic ), serum or emulsion, cream, sheet mask and, finally, an overnight mask. Just imagine how much time and money Korean women spend on personal care!

2. Lovers of Korean cosmetics in Russia are sure that nothing can be better than Korean brands. But Korean women do not notice their happiness and dream of owning the coveted jars of L'oreal and similar brands! The fact is that imported products in Korea are more expensive than their own, and therefore the mass market for us is approaching “luxury” for them.

3. Guys and men also like to take care of themselves. If European brands limit themselves to the production of men's lines with shaving and cleansing products, then Korean brands do everything for men that they do for women - from facial wash to BB and CC cream. And, by the way, carrying a mirror with you is just as common for Koreans as it is for Korean women.

4. In cases where cosmetics are not enough, Koreans and Korean women resort to plastic surgery without any hesitation. “Plastic surgery” in South Korea is the same as for us, for example, going to the hairdresser is a common thing. The phenomenon of plastic surgery “as a gift” to children from their parents upon graduation from school or university is also considered common.

5. It’s hard to believe, but every fifth Korean woman has already had plastic surgery. And the most popular operation is to change the shape of the eyes.

6. To avoid spending on dentists, which in South Korea can hit the pocket quite hard, Koreans take very good care of their teeth. And if you can find anything you want in a Russian girl’s purse, then in a Korean girl’s purse you can find anything you want, including a toothbrush :)

7. Koreans rarely suffer from excess weight, and the main advantage of almost all Korean women is slender and thin legs.

8. Speaking of legs. Korean women love and often wear minis - this is not considered something shameful, but wearing a dress or blouse with a large neckline is no longer permissible.

9. Koreans and Korean women take care not only of their faces, but also of their bodies. One of the favorite rituals in Korea is visiting a bathhouse. In Seoul alone there are about 3,000 bathhouses or, as they are called in Korea, jimchilbans.

10. Appearance is almost in the first place for Koreans. If you look tired and shabby, they will certainly tell you about it, but not to insult you, but solely to help you :)

Food

11. One of the main passions of all Koreans is food. They love to eat tasty and a lot. If you order a dish in a cafe or restaurant, it will probably come with several additional appetizers and salads.

12. Products in Korean stores are quite expensive, so it is often cheaper to eat in cafes and restaurants than to cook yourself.

13. Koreans love to bargain, for them it is something like an integral part of the shopping process! If you know the language and find yourself on the market, then be sure to try to reduce the price of the product you like, if only for the sake of interest, rest assured, you will be able to get the desired product 3-5 times cheaper.

14. If you find yourself in South Korea and want to drink tea, it will be problematic to do so. There is practically no tea there, as we understand it, and instead of it, Koreans usually drink decoctions of various herbs.

15. But here you can find coffee at every step; Koreans adore it.

16. Restaurants and cafes can be divided into four categories: Korean, Japanese, Chinese and European. The most expensive and prestigious ones are Japanese ones, followed by European ones, and Chinese and Korean ones you can find both very expensive and very simple eateries.

17. Tipping is not customary in South Korea, and attempting to do so can greatly offend the waiter.

18. Koreans love to drink and there is even a special ritual called “hoeshik”, according to which colleagues should gather at a bar after work and drink together once a month or even more often. If you refuse to drink on "hoeshik", then you will be considered a person with oddities :)

19. The main product on the Korean table is rice. It is used as a side dish, and regular rice porridge with water is often eaten instead of bread to take the edge off the spice. You must finish eating the rice, and if you leave it on the plate, you will be considered a very rude person.

20. In Korea it is customary to slurp. Koreans don’t even think about the fact that this might look indecent, because in this way they show the cook that they really liked the dish. Of course, it’s not customary to do this deliberately loudly and provocatively :) But chewing with your mouth open or talking until you’ve chewed food is considered bad manners, just like with us.

Life style

21. One of the manifestations of friendship for Koreans is touching. Don't be surprised if you see guys on the streets of Korea patting each other on the shoulder, fiddling with their hair and even giving each other a light neck massage :)

24. Popular sports are baseball and golf. Baseball is played by children and adults, while golf is fun for middle-aged people. Another type of physical activity that all Koreans love to do is going to the mountains.

25. When to go to Korea? Depends on what you want to do. If you are a fan of skiing, then winter is the ideal time, but if you prefer to bask in the sun, then go on a trip in the summer, as South Korea has many beaches, and if you just want to admire this country, then plan your trip in the spring, when sakura blossoms everywhere, or in the fall, when the leaves turn yellow.

26. If you decide to write a letter or postcard to a Korean, then put red ink aside, as it is believed that the name written with it will bring trouble and even death to the person.

27. Respect for elders is the most important thing in Korean etiquette. Before going to this country, you should carefully study all types of requests so as not to find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

28. Serving in the army in Korea is considered prestigious, so many K-pop stars go to serve even despite their career.

29. Another interesting fact about the Korean army: there is no deferment for Korean students, but those who have only primary school education are not accepted into the army.

30. Young couples in Korea cannot just decide to “live together”, as this is considered immoral. Those who dare to do this will be condemned not only by their elders, but also by their peers. A couple can move into the same apartment only after the wedding.

Education

31. To get an education in South Korea, you will have to pay a tidy sum; it is really expensive. By the way, unlike Russia, legal education is much less popular in South Korea.

33. The academic year in a Korean school is divided not into quarters, but into semesters and, accordingly, schoolchildren rest not four, but twice a year: in the summer from mid-July to the end of August and in the winter from mid-February to early March.

34. In almost all Korean schools, students wear uniforms.

35. Physical education is not considered a compulsory subject in many schools in South Korea; it is usually introduced as an additional discipline.

36. Koreans study in elementary school for 6 years, in middle and high school - for 3 years. Then you can go to college for 2 years, and then to university for 4.

37. Although you can study at school for only 12 years, you will not be able to literally become a “twelfth grader.” The fact is that after the 6th grade of primary school there is the first grade of secondary school and education ends, accordingly, after the 3rd grade of high school.

38. Exams at Korean universities are a serious test. It even goes so far that newspapers publish reminders so that girls do not overdo it with perfume and do not wear high-heeled shoes, so as not to distract themselves and those around them from fateful exams.

39. A unique form of our Unified State Exam is also available in Korea. Almost all exams and tests take the form of tests and students just need to remember a huge list of correct answers.

40. The high school program in Korea prepares the student for further study in a specific specialty, however, it is not necessary to complete it.

Job

41. Koreans are very hardworking. The school daily routine continues at work - the working day begins at 7.30-9.00 depending on the company and ends late in the evening. Although officially the working day should last until 18.00, many Koreans try not to leave before their boss.

42. By the way, it is customary for only men to wait for their bosses to leave; women can leave earlier.

43. A 30-day vacation for Koreans is an unaffordable luxury. Some companies literally force their employees to go on vacation for one or two weeks, as stubborn Koreans refuse to rest in order to prove their professionalism to their superiors.

44. Living in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is quite expensive, so many who work in this city buy housing in the suburbs, where everything is comparatively cheaper, but saving money comes at the cost of travel time.

45. There are only 11 official days off in Korea.

46. ​​If public holidays fall on Saturday or Sunday, they are not moved to Monday, so some years are especially difficult for Koreans.

47. Koreans spend their single weekends with their families - they go to visit each other or go out into nature together.

48. It is difficult for bank employees to stay in one place for a long time. The fact is that many bosses believe that in 2-3 years an employee has too many acquaintances and connections and they become higher for him than the interests of the company.

49. Competition in South Korea is very strong. If an employee nevertheless decides to go on a long vacation, then when he returns, he will most likely find his place occupied.

50. Even small family businesses have the same strict rules as large corporations: exactly the same long working hours and exactly the same short vacations.

Family

51. A marriage proposal in Korea is usually made purely formally, when a restaurant has already been booked and a guest list has been drawn up. Why then do this at all? It's simple - to make the future bride happy :)

52. Wealthy families hold two weddings - in a European style and in a traditional Korean one.

53. The head of the family in Korea is always a man, this is not discussed.

54. A husband and wife should not quarrel and scold friends in the presence of older relatives.

56. Even within a family circle, it is not customary to address each other by name; this amounts to an insult. There is a special respectful treatment for each family member.

57. A pregnant wife is treated very carefully in a Korean family; all close relatives try to look after her and show all possible care. But the meeting from the maternity hospital is not as festive as in Russia.

58. It is customary for children in Korea to be greatly pampered; they are not denied practically anything, but in return they are required to give a lot of effort in terms of their studies.

59. Children are raised mainly by mothers, since fathers spend most of the day at work and return closer to night and communicate with their children mainly on weekends. However, the father is still the authority for the child.

60. In Korea, the husband’s parents are called “in-law” in relation to the child, and the wife’s parents are called “external”. But these are just names; usually both “relative” and “external” grandparents communicate with children equally enthusiastically :)

Anyone who is familiar with South Korea and has lived there, will you correct me? Or add...

Korea is a completely different world. And when we say this, we are not exaggerating - these 10 shocking facts about Korea and Koreans will change your idea of ​​normality!

Their children are born at 1 year

In Korea, the counting of years at birth traditionally starts at one year. Therefore, if a Korean tells you that he is 25 years old, you need to subtract one year and you will get the real number of years. In addition, it is customary to calculate age not by birthday, but by the change of year - for example, a child born in December will already be a year older in January. And one more caveat: the countdown begins not from the birthday, but three months after it. Thus, the child spends the first nine months in the womb, and after another three months he is already a year old.

They don't write in red ink

Under no circumstances should you write the name of your Korean friend in red ink, as he will think that you wish him dead. A signature in red ink can easily ruin any gift, even a very valuable one.

They work 55 hours a week

In terms of working hours, Koreans are second only to the Japanese. It is common practice here to work 14 hours a day. Corporate traditions are such that the company where an employee works is considered his family, and many literally live at work. Very often, men come to a real family only to spend the night.

On February 14, girls give gifts to guys

Valentine's Day is called Red Day in South Korea, and only men are given gifts on this day. Girls are waiting for White Day, which is celebrated on March 14th. In addition, Koreans have not forgotten about bachelors - for them there is a Black Day, which is celebrated on April 14. On this day, the latter please themselves by dining alone on traditional Black Day noodles with black sauce.

They teach their children communication

In Korea, traditionally, the oldest person receives the most respect in society. It is customary to listen and follow the example of elders. Therefore, a mother may prohibit her 30-year-old son from dating a girl, for example, because she is of a different nationality. And often parents make dates for their children, who, due to a busy school schedule, lose all communication skills with the opposite sex.

Korean men doing makeup

If in Europe they have already stopped looking askance at men leaving a spa or nail salon, then in Korea a man with light makeup is a common sight. What exactly is this? Koreans pay attention to their appearance - so much so that many men resort to cosmetics. Both famous personalities and ordinary citizens do makeup, trying to please their boss or impress them at an interview.

They are installing heated toilets

In business centers, cafes, restaurants, hospitals and clinics you can find modern toilets, the seats of which will warm you during the entire time you are in the restroom. Often, due to the large number of people who want to sit in the toilet and because of the large number of people who do not want to get up from a warm seat, real queues arise. There is evidence that in some places they even organize an electronic queue for the toilet.

They eat dog meat

Strictly speaking, this is not news. The tradition is still alive, but modern Koreans are increasingly abandoning this habit in favor of more cosmopolitan food. In addition, for Koreans, eating a pet is as wild as eating dogs in the eyes of a European. Only meat of a certain breed is eaten. So now you know that dogs are not only eaten in China.

They are afraid of the number 4

This number is considered unlucky, even if you use it in combination with others. Therefore, many hotels and business centers exclude the numbering of the fourth floor from the elevator panel, as well as 14, 24, 34, 42, etc. Often the fourth floor is replaced by floor 3A. They try not to mention the number 4 during family holidays or when one of the relatives is sick; it is difficult to find in phone numbers and on business cards; the value of real estate can fall by several tens of thousands of dollars just because there is a 4 in the address.

They don't sleep under a fan

In Korea, there is a belief that a fan running above a bed can lead to the death of a sleeping person, and there are supposedly even reports of 20 such cases. One way or another, the Consumer Protection Society has issued a warning that sleeping with a fan on is dangerous to life. If we analyze the situation logically, the ban does not seem meaningless, since a fan, unlike an air conditioner, does not affect air quality in any way. Meanwhile, summer in Korea is hot and humid, so it is quite uncomfortable for cores to be with the windows closed.

South Korea is a state covered in high-rise buildings and narrow-eyed residents. Well, this is it, briefly, without going into details at all.

How Koreans live, how they work and relax - about all this, read on for interesting facts about Korea

Korea is considered one of the safest countries in the world. In any case, you can safely walk alone at night and not be afraid that some parasite will complain about you or your property.

Baseball and golf are the most popular games in Korea. And those whose age no longer allows them to run with a stick - welcome to the mountains. Hiking in the mountains can rightfully be considered the third type of “game”.

Residents of Korea are not only narrow-eyed, they are also in the majority and wear glasses. By the way, absolutely regardless of age. Well, they're not born that way, are they? Although, perhaps they have an altered gene responsible for vision.

The dentist is the most expensive doctor in Korea. Therefore, residents not only constantly chew gum, they also carry toothbrushes with them and can start tidying up their oral cavity in any toilet with a washbasin.

Koreans never rest. And the word “vacation” is generally absent as such in their everyday life.

Maximum - a few days "at your own expense." And then - either study or go to work, please.

Motels in Korea are like ants - at every turn. And all because guys do not have the right to invite a girl to their house.

For Koreans, food is sacred. No one here is interested in how someone is doing or who has been doing what all day. The first question is always "Have you eaten?" And if the answer is “no,” consider yourself to have committed a crazy sin.

Here are more interesting facts about Korea. Family freedom in the form of male infidelity is like “hello” here. Wives almost never work here, and young girls do not shy away from the geisha profession.

In Korean beer bars, you can't just walk in and order a glass of steamy hops. Beer snacks are a must here.

You will never believe what a park there is in Korea! This is not even a park, but an area “strewn” with male phalluses.

Korea is famous for its cult of small dogs. Porket dogs are everywhere here. And they are also necessarily painted in different colors, and in general they do full “dog fashion”.

The male half of the Korean population is very attracted to alcohol. And every representative knows a lot of games “for a feast”, the ultimate “goal” of which is to get drunk and forget.

Korean people are very kind and polite to everyone. Both to tourists and to “our own people”. They, just like us, love to visit coffee corners and treat themselves to good coffee.

But, unlike us, they do this several times more often, after almost every meal. For now, we are clearly inferior to them in this.

There are many amazing countries in the world with a unique national culture, traditions, mentality that has developed over centuries, historical and natural attractions, which are visited by tens of thousands of tourists every year. Undoubtedly, South Korea is one of these countries. We will also go to this Asian country to present our reader with some of the most interesting facts about South Korea.

Country name

The name of the country is written in two hieroglyphs, and they are literally translated as “Land of Morning Freshness.” By the way, these hieroglyphs have other meanings, but the Koreans chose this, and that’s how they got the romantic name, which has stuck with South Korea in the world.

Uniqueness

The South Korean language originated in ancient times and is considered one of the most original on the planet. Many national traditions date back to ancient times and are highly revered in the modern world.

Security and crime

The world's leading sociological companies call South Korea one of the safest countries in the world. Street and violent crime is practically absent, which is a consequence of the high standard of living and mentality of Koreans.

More about crimes...

Crimes that occur in the country are reported within a week in newspapers and on television, so that the entire population of the country knows all the details and which criminal will be punished.

Education

Briefly speaking about education in the country, Koreans have developed a real cult of education, and students and schoolchildren study 11-13 hours a day. Young people believe that education is a kind of bridge leading to greater opportunities.

Special mindset

All experts note that South Korean students are distinguished by a special mindset, high intelligence and can show ingenuity. Let us also note that the literacy rate of the population is 99%.

Prestigious profession

One of the most prestigious and highly paid professions in Korea is medicine. Because of this, parents are willing to pay huge amounts of money for their boy or girl to study to become a doctor.

Plastic surgery

People from all over the world come to plastic surgery clinics in South Korea to change their appearance. But Korean women, upon graduating from university or college, give themselves a kind of gift, fixing their eyelids or changing the shape of their nose.

Artificial beauty

In the debate between Asian beauties, it is believed that Korean women are the most beautiful, ahead of Chinese and Japanese women. But don’t forget that for many Korean beauties, beauty is a consequence of surgical intervention, and meeting a Korean woman without makeup on the street is almost impossible.

By the way, Korean men are no less obsessed with cosmetics than women.

Everyone has a phone

All South Koreans have mobile phones, even people without a fixed address. And, most likely, these phones are domestically produced by Samsung. But cellular communications here are quite expensive.

Purity

The streets of cities and towns surprise with their incredible cleanliness, but what is noteworthy is that trash cans are quite a rare occurrence within urban settlements.

Army

Historically, South Korea must have a combat-ready army. The country has universal conscription, and every guy is required to undergo military service. An exception is made only for disabled people.

Due to the hard work of the Koreans and the high development of technology, the South Korean army is one of the best in the world today.

Koreans love to eat tasty and satisfying food, and therefore, when meeting with friends and acquaintances, they ask “How did you eat today?”, and not the usual European “How are you?”. We have already written about this in an article about the world.

A Korean can talk about every dish of national cuisine for hours.

Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks, like food, also occupy a special place in the lives of South Koreans. According to statistics on alcohol consumption per capita, Koreans are ahead of Russians.

In a group, only the eldest can hold a glass of beer with one hand and refill the drink for the others. All younger participants in the feast hold glasses with both hands.

Any Korean man knows a lot of table entertainment and toasts. But they prefer to sit on the floor rather than on a sofa or chair, and their favorite alcoholic drink is soju.

Foreigners

Naturally, foreigners are immediately visible in the country, and Koreans divide them into two categories - English teachers and exchange students. But Koreans always treat tourists with respect.

There are no stray dogs and cats on the streets. Shelters have been created for such animals, and Koreans are happy to take pets from shelters into their homes.

Attitude towards smoking

You can smoke everywhere in this Asian country, and while this harmful habit is quite common among men, there are very few women who smoke. There is practically no drug addiction problem in the country.

Family relationships

Young people in South Korea are trying to build their first love relationships on the example of South Korean melodramas. But in family life, unfaithful husbands are not uncommon in Korean society. Moreover, there is room to turn around, because according to statistics, 25% of Korean women are engaged in prostitution.

Conservative

South Korea is a conservative state, where many things are regulated by traditions and state laws. For example, until 1979, the country clearly regulated clothing for women and girls. Not only the length of the skirt was set, but also the hairstyle and hair length.

Parks

There are 20 national parks in a small area, among which theme parks are especially popular.

There is even a park-museum of toilets, which displays rare exhibits of toilets from various historical eras, and one of the parks is filled with sculptures of male genital organs.

Phobias

Despite his heavy alcohol consumption, he is recognized as enemy number one in the country. Koreans are terrified of the color red, which is why they rarely use it in clothing and home decoration.

Special holiday

The country celebrates Valentine's Day on a special scale and romantically. But, unlike other countries, in Korea it is dedicated to the stronger sex.

Politeness

The country traditionally treats elders well and with respect, and greets even strangers when meeting them.

Korea has even developed a special handshake ceremony, and Koreans, in order not to appear impolite, strictly follow this tradition.

Sudden jump

Until the 60s of the last century, Korea was among the poorest countries in the world, but a sharp economic leap brought it to a leading position in the world. Today it is a leader in the production of electronics as well as cars.

Archeology

Many ancient archaeological monuments have been explored throughout the country, and the Dharani Scroll is recognized by scientists around the world as the oldest book publication in history.