This was our presentation in history subject. Hope it could help you more knowledgeable about Korea.

1. Republic of South Korea
Daehanminguk
대한민국

2. Brief History
• Korea is a small peninsula on the far East side of Asia.
It is between China and Japan. It is connected to
mainland Asia in the North. It is separated from China
and Russia by the Yalu River and the Tuman River.
Between Korea and Japan is the East Sea. To the
West between Korea and China is the Yellow Sea.
The size of Korea is roughly 1,000 kilometers in
length. It became a Chinese tributary state in 1392
with the formation of the Choson Dynasty. Korea
became an independent country at the conclusion of
the Sino-Japanese War in 1895 with the Treaty of
Shimonoseki.

4. • Korea is a divided country. In Korean mythology there is a
story about how the Korean nation was born. The story is
that a god named Hwanung came from heaven and
transformed a bear into a woman. He married her and she
gave birth to a son, Tangun, the founder of Korea. Tangun
created the first capital of the Korean nation in 2333 B.C
and called it Joseon - 'Land of the Morning Calm'. Seoul is
the capital and most important city of South Korea. It is very
city-like and could be compared to New York City.

5. • The Korean people call themselves Hangukin or Hanguk
saram. It is widely believed that the Korean people have
descended from Altaic groups, whose origins have been
traced to Southern Siberia. Genetic studies do show that
Koreans are turanians. The Turanian thing seems more a
transition or mix between Northern Mongoloids and
Caucasoids.

6. South Korean Values:
Harmony in personal relationships is a 3. When a Korean smiles it can be an
dominant force in a Korean’s life. Facts, logic expression of happiness, but it can also
and conclusions are often not nearly as express shame or embarrassment. If your
important as how one is looked upon by assistant has made a serious mistake,
others. he/she may smile or even laugh. Don’t get
upset by reaction.
1. You must bow when greeting. Most 4. Koreans often speak very loudly when
adults form a good opinion of the talking on the telephone. Should you be
person if he or she bows and greets the having a business conversation over the
person upon meeting with sincerity and phone with someone who sounds as
a smile on their face. though he/she is shouting, don’t take it to
2. Everywhere older people are respected, be an expression of anger or frustration on
but in Korea they are highly respected. the caller’s part.
Showing respect and bowing 90 degrees 5. Koreans (those not used to communicating
with foreigners) often hang up when they
to the elders is necessary.
have finished saying what they wanted to
say. The ritual Western ‘goodbye ritual’
does not always apply here.

7. South Korean Norms:
Verbal and non-verbal indicators you may 3. Avoid criticizing someone in public,
want to keep in mind: even if you have seen a Korean
colleague do so. Criticism, especially of
1. Friendships are tight-knit and valuable.
colleagues or Korean subordinates,
It is an insult to refuse a friend’s
should be conducted in private so as to
request. It is even less forgivable to fail a
reduce or prevent loss of face.
superior. These friendships are possible
4. Modesty and humility are important in
because everyone does his (her)* best
Korean culture and therefore it is best
to preserve and foster harmony and
to avoid over-selling yourself or your
good feelings.
company’ previous business
2. Speak formally with all who are older or achievements.
higher in rank. People that are the same 5. It is considered impolite to use your
age are usually spoken formally to until hands to pick up the foods and put into
it is mutually agreed to speak your mouth. Always use the chopsticks
informally. and spoon. Do not reach across the table
for distant food. Please ask a nearby
person to pass it to you.

8. South Korean Beliefs
1. If you sleep in a room with a fan on and the windows closed:
You will die.
True story. There are a multitude of reasons why Koreans
believe this happens. The most common of these seems to be that,
especially if the fan is placed very close to the sleeping person it will
suck away the air from the persons face, and the person will die in
their sleep, suffocated.

9. 2. Blood Type Influences Personality
This widely held belief in Korean and Japanese culture
started in the 1920s, and although it is a myth that has
been debunked several times since then, it has persisted
in its popularity over the years. The Korean theory of
blood type and personality can best be compared to the
way westerners view zodiac signs. Just as your zodiac
sign influences your personality and predicts certain
things about your life, so does your blood type in Korea
or in Japan.

10. • Type A
Best traits
Earnest, creative, sensible
Worst traits
Fastidious, over-earnest
• Type B
Best traits
Wild, active, doer
Worst traits
Selfish, irresponsible
• Type AB
Best traits
Cool, controlled, rational
Worst traits
Critical, indecisive
• Type O
Best traits
Agreeable, sociable, optimistic
Worst traits
Vain, rude

11. 3. Many Korean buildings, especially the older
ones do not have a fourth floor as the number
four in Chinese-Korean numbering is similar to
the word for death and is therefore considered to
be bad luck.
4. A month after White Day is Black Day on April
14. Single people celebrate their singleness and
eat noodles with black sauce.
5. The person who has many faults is usually
the first to criticize others.

12. South Korean Mores:
1. It is important to never say anything bad about a family member, dead or alive.
2. It is not uncommon for an Asian parent to ask what your father's job is or what
your mother does for a living. Most parents do not want their children to
associate with child of a parent who holds an undesirable job, such as being
nail-saloon worker etc.
3. When you go to someone's home, be sure to take a small gift as a taken of your
appreciation to the hostess or the whole family. Flowers or fruit always make
good gifts, as does a bottle of liquor for the husband.
4. When presenting or receiving a gift, always use both hands. Do not open a gift
you receive right away unless requested to do so by the giver.
5. In Korea, gifts are usually meant to be opened in private. Don’t write a person’s
name in red ink that is used for the dead only.

13. South Korean Folkways:
1. Kimchi is Culture. Kimchi is symbolic of Korean culture: it’s
strong, distinctive, and defiant. Some foreigners can’t stomach it,
but if you can, you will earn the locals’ heartfelt respect.
2. Shoes Off. When entering a Korean home, you must remove
your shoes. To do any less is a sign of great disrespect. Koreans
have a special relationship with their floor, on which they sit
and often sleep.
3. Do not smile. Koreans are a warm and generous people, but
you would never know it from the sourpusses they paste on in
public

14. 4. Beware of elbows. The result is a lot of people in small
spaces, and folks will not think twice about pushing and
jostling in order to get onto a bus, into an elevator, or to those
perfect onions at the market. Don’t even bother with “excuse
me,” and beware of the older women, known as ajumma.
They’re deadly.
5. Soju. Korea is a drinking culture, and their national booze is
soju, a clear, vodka-like drink. Koreans have strict drinking
etiquette: never pour your own drink, and when pouring for
someone older than you, put one hand to your heart or your
pouring arm as a sign of respect.
•

16. South Korean Laws:
1. Drinking in Public is one- 4. Male and female same-sex
hundred percent legal. You’re sexual activity is legal in South
allowed to sit in the park, by the Korea, but same-sex couples
river, on a University campus and households headed by
and have a few drinks and same-sex couples are not
some snacks with friends. Don’t entitled to the same legal
think you’re being a rebel, protections available to
though, a lot of other people heterosexuals.
indulge in this, as well.
5. Tipping is not required in
2. In Korea it's illegal to know the Korea. If you tip a server or the
sex of your baby before it's born owner of a restaurant, they are
to prevent the abortion of girls. more likely to chase you down
3. Kids 16 and under in South the street with your change,
Korea are already banned from than to think that you left it
playing online games between behind for them as a token of
the hours of midnight and 6 AM. your appreciation.

17. South Korean Technologies:
1. Multiple Rocket Launcher (MRL)
is a type of unguided rocket artillery system.
2. Touch screen mobile phone:
LG KE850 is the world's first Completely Touch Screen Mobile Phone
using finger touch.
3. MP3 Portable Player:
The world's first commercial, mass-produced Digital Audio Players.
4. MP3 Phone:
The world's first mobile phone with built-in MP3 players were produced
in South Korea in October, 1999.
5. Albert HUBO:
In 2005, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
developed the world's second walking humanoid robot, HUBO.

23. Material Culture
• Flag
• Hanbok
• Hanok
• Kimchi, Kimbap & Dokbokki
• Burner Pot

24. Flag
The flag of South Korea, or Taegeukgi (also
spelled Taegukgi in convention) has three parts: a white
background; a red and blue taegeuk in the center; and
four black trigrams, one in each corner of the flag. These
trigrams are carried over from the eight trigrams (Pal
Gwae), which are of Chinese origin.
The white background symbolizes "cleanliness of the
people". The Taegeuk represents the origin of all things
in the universe; holding the two principles of yin and
yang in perfect balance; the former being the negative
aspect rendered in blue, and the latter as the positive
aspect rendered in red. Together, they represent a
continuous movement within infinity, the two merging as
one.

25. Traditional Hanbok

26. Kimchi

27. Kimbap and Dokbokki

30. South Korean Language:
• The Korean language is shared between both North
and South Korea and is part of the Altaic language
family. There are various dialects but the language is
generally understood everywhere. Hangul is the
Korean name of the language. The alphabet was
created by King Sejong in 1446. The alphabet is
extremely easy to learn, which gives Korea one of the
highest literacy rates in the World.

31. 당신은 한글을
배울 준비가 되셨나요?

32. If you are ready, the first thing
to do is to exercise your face by
doing wacky face actions.

33. Hangul
English Romanization
1. An-yŏng-ha-se-yo. 1. 안녕하세요
1. Good Morning/Hello.
2. How are you? 2. Chal ji-nae-shŏ-ssŏ-yo? 2. 잘 지내셨어요?
3. I'm fine, thanks! 3. Ne. Chal ji-nae-ssŏ-yo. 3. 네. 잘 지냈어요.
4. Thank You! 4. kam-sa-ham-ni-da! 4. 감사합니다!
5. I missed you so much! 5. Nŏ-mu po-go shi-p'ŏ-ssŏ-yo. 5. 너무보고싶었어요.
6. Good Bye! 6. An-nyŏng-hi ge-se-yo! 6. 안녕히 계세요!
7. Excuse me! ( to pass by) 7. 실례하겠습니다.
7. Shil-le-ha-ge-ssŭm-ni-da.
8. How much is this?
8. I-ge ŏl-ma-ye-yo? 8. 이게 얼마예요?
9. What's your name?
9. I-rŭ-mi ŏ-ttŏ-k'e dwoe-se-yo? 9. 이름이 어떻게 되세요?
10. Nice to meet you!
10. Man-na-sŏ ban-gap-ssŭm-ni-da! 10. 만나서 반갑습니다!

34. South Korean Facts

35. Korean Pop or “K-Pop”
South Korea is much
known to their Korean
pop or K-pop. In addition
to music, K-pop has grown
into a popular subculture
among teenagers and
young adults around the
world, resulting in
widespread interest in the
fashion and style of
Korean idol groups and
singers.

37. Lee Minho
Yoon Eun Hye
Jung Ji-Hoon
a.k.a
Bi Rain

38. • Around two-thirds of the land in South Korea is forested. This
includes the mainland and some of the more than 3,000 small
islands that are located on the country's southern and western
coasts.
• In 2004, South Korea opened a high speed rail line called
Korea Train Express (KTX) which was based on the French
TGV. The KTX runs from Seoul to Pusan and Seoul to Mokpo
and transports over 100,000 people daily.
• If you want a shopping advice, Seoul is the perfect place to
shop. Seoul shopping centres are literary like small towns!
Their shopping malls are definitely wide unlike European
shopping malls.

39. Korean Japanese Chinese

40. Thank You!
Kamsahamnida!