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What I Noticed About Everyday Life in Korea
Living in Korea for several years has given me the chance to notice many small but meaningful parts of daily life. In the beginning, everything felt unfamiliar, but over time these tiny habits became the things I looked forward to observing. They’re not major traditions or historical customs—just everyday behaviors that show how people in Korea adapt to the weather, commute, fashion trends, and student life. For foreigners living in Korea, these details can feel surprising at first, but eventually they start to make perfect sense. Mini Fans and Warm…
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The Influence of Confucianism on Korean Literature
Confucianism is an ethical, political, and religious philosophy created by Confucius during the Spring and Autumn period in China. The teachings of Confucianism focus on moral practices in human relations, social order, and political governance. It has been one of the key ideological systems in East Asia, alongside Buddhism and Taoism. In Korea’s past, Confucianism significantly influenced both society and literature. Confucian values, such as filial piety, loyalty, and fidelity, can be seen in many of Korea’s classical works of literature. This influence continues to shape Korean culture today, even…
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SOS Book Club Pick: The Birth of Korean Cool
The South of Seoul Volunteer November Book Club 2022 recommendation is “The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture” by Euny Hong. Explore the rise of Korean pop culture and a global phenomenon. About the South of Seoul Virtual Book Club Looking for book recommendations? Welcome to the South of Seoul book club. We recommend a book every month. Such recommended books explore topics like 1) South Korean history or culture, 2) the complexity of cross-cultural life, or 4) the exploration of life…
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The Challenge of the Language Barrier in Korea
What is a language barrier? Before we jump into the challenges of language barriers, we need to understand what a language barrier is. There are several definitions for language barriers that essentially say the same thing. For the purpose of this article we will use Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary. According to Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary, a language barrier is “a barrier to communication between people who are unable to speak a common language.” This is a pretty simple, standard definition of a language barrier. If you don’t speak the same…
