Different cultures have always fascinated me, and I thought I would share what I've learned while doing the storyboard for a personal project. Korean culture is an interest for me, since I was born in South Korea. Korea is a peninsula (definition: a piece of land jutting out into the water) between China and Japan. South Korean is roughly the size of the state of Utah, with a population close to 50 million people. (factoid:The number of people living in Arizona, Washington, Utah, Oregan, and California is approximately 49.5 million. Click to learn more about U.S. Population) Korea today is very modern and is similar to the United States. Seoul, the capitol of South Korea could be mistaken for a major U.S. city. Korean people dress in jeans, t-shirts and sneakers. On special occassions, traditional Korean dress is worn. Women wear dresses that are called hanboks. Hanboks are made up of a jackets that tie with bow in the front, and full skirts. They come in various colors. Click to learn more about hanboks.

The Korean language is called Hanguel. There are 24 letters in the alphabet. (Click to learn more about Hangeul) It was created during the reign of King Sejong during a great dynasty (definition: a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time) lasting from 1392-1910.

Korean culture is based on Confucian ideas. (Who was Confucius?) Order and Authority are important part of Confucian thought."Fathers are responsible for their families and must be both obeyed and revered by everyone. Even ancestral fathers are honored. The custom is called filiopiety and even today elements of it remain among Koreans. Traditionally, older people are accorded honor. For instance, at dinner the eldest person sits first and eats and drinks before anyone else can begin. Anyone older must always be addressed with honorifics, even among acquaintances. No one would think of calling an older person by their first name. Bowing to them is the really traditional way of greeting. Hard work, obedience to family, protection of the family, and proper decorum among family members are very much Korean values, even in the modern world."(taken from PBS: Hidden Korea) I remember as a child, my mother would serve my grandfather and father first, and we waited till they started eating before we began our meals. It is interesting to learn were that tradition came from.

Speaking of food. Korean food is sometimes thought of as spicy because of the use of chili pastes, and red peppers. One dish in particular is kimchi. My favorite. Kimchi is vegetable dish, that is seasoned with spices, garlic and pepper. It is often served as a side dish. Korean meals have many sides dishes that go with the main dish and steamed rice. The main dish might be something like pulgoki. Korean version of barbeque.

Korean Cabbage Kimchi Recipe
Ingredients

Makes about 1 1/2 Quarts
1. Dissolve the 3 tablespoons salt in the water. Put the cabbage into a large bowl, a crock, or a nonreactive pot, and pour the brine over it. Weight the cabbage down with a plate. Let the cabbage stand for 12 hours.
2. Drain the cabbage, reserving the brine. Mix the cabbage with the remaining ingredients, including the 1 teaspoon salt. Pack the mixture into a 2-quart jar. Pour enough of the reserved brine over the cabbage to cover it. Push a freezer bag into the mouth of the jar, and pour the remaining brine into the bag. Seal the bag. Let the kimchi ferment in a cool place, at a temperature no higher than 68° F, for 3 to 6 days,until the kimchi is as sour as you like.
3. Remove the brine bag, and cap the jar tightly. Store the kimchi in the refrigerator, where it will keep for months.

If you want to learn how to cook more Korean dishes, Dok Suni by Jenny Kwak, Liz Fried, has a variety of Korean recipes and stories by the author that brings a sense of Korean culture to the table. Or if you are interested reading more about the culture,click to read Koreana Magazine.

In some U.S. cities they have Asian Festivals where folks from all over get a chance to sample different Asian dishes, customs, and activities. You might want to see what you own community can teach you about other cultures. Thank you for taking to time to read and learn.