Culture- SEOULSPACE

Culture

Bukchon Hanok Village – Historic Korean Housing

Bukchon Hanok Village is a village of Korean tradition in modern Seoul. Hanok refers to wooden houses that once dominated South Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. What makes Buckchon so special is that people in Korea do not have to travel outside of Seoul to see these historic hanoks. Therefore, Buckchon Hanok Village acts as a living museum of historic Korean housing and architecture. At Buckchon Hanok Village there are many hanoks that are being used as functioning homes. Some have even been converted into coffee houses, tearooms, and even galleries. Those traveling to South Korea can stay at these lovely hanoks through Airbnb. Airbnb and Seoul Tourism Organization have partnered up to offer the Seoul Hanok Stay experience.

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Culture

The Most Common Surnames in Korea and Their Meanings

There are over 270 surnames in Korea. The top 5 names on this list make up more than 50% of all Koreans. Kim alone makes up close to 23%. This means that in a population of over 50 million people, for every 5 Koreans you meet, it is highly likely you will meet one Kim. Therefore, having the same Korean last name does not always mean they are related. Throughout Korean history, the last name was determined by the clan or region they were born in. Many of these surnames stem from Chinese characters converted into a different script.

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Best Special Korean Edition Sneakers of all Time

To be sure, the global marketplace for limited-edition sneakers is a highly competitive one. However, in recent years there has been an increasing number of global sneaker brands looking to take advantage and capitalize on this interest among South Korean millennials by launching various initiatives designed specifically toward creating special Korean edition sneakers. It is not uncommon to see long lines at Nike and Adidas stores across Seoul of people waiting to get their hands on these limited edition sneakers made for the South Korean market. It is also no secret that Korea's youth are becoming more receptive to global brands like never before. Below is a complete list of the hottest and best special edition sneakers for South Korea.

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The 10 Best Museums in Seoul to Visit this Year

Most of Seoul’s major museums and galleries will be open in 2022 as people start to recover from the restrictions caused by COVID-19. Therefore, SEOULSPACE has decided to list some of the best museums in Seoul to visit in 2022. The list is composed of museums that offer something for everyone from tourists to locals. Want to explore the history of South Korea? We’ve got a museum for that. Want to see modern and contemporary art? We have that covered as well. What about galleries with a digital flare? There are more than 100 museums and galleries in Seoul but we were able to narrow them down to the 10 best. Most of these museums in Seoul will offer one-way systems and social distancing in order to keep with COVID-19 protocols. So what are you waiting for?

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Culture

10 Tips for Dating in Korea for Foreigners

Dating in South Korea can be difficult for foreigners as Koreans have their own dating etiquette, manners, and activities. South Korea has a very unique dating culture that should be understood before dating a Korean person to make sure everything goes smoothly. Through this article, I will provide you with some tips for dating in Korea for foreigners. I have primarily used Tinder but South Korea has other datings apps you can check out here. I have used Tinder in Korea for a year now and I have definitely picked up a lot of things about the culture of dating in Korea and even some of the lingo. Just to be clear, these tips are 100% based on my experience and everyone has a different experience when they come here. There is obviously no way to generalize an entire country.

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Modern Hanboks in High Demand Thanks to Korean Hallyu

Hanbok plays an integral role in Korean culture. It is worn at key moments in a person’s life as well as being donned for traditional occasions like weddings, festivals, holidays, and birthdays. There is even a Hanbok Day which was established by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1996. Hanboks are meticulously handcrafted. This is why they cost millions of won and tend to be handed down from generation to generation. Since the 1990s there has been a growing interest in Hanbok amongst the younger generation in Korea with numerous Korean dramas, K-pop idols, and groups fueling the revival. This has led the way for Korean designers who have innovated the traditional hanbok by mixing it with western influences. These modern hanboks can be worn in a variety of ways and don't stick to the conventional ways of wearing hanbok.

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Korean Drinking Culture – South Korea has the Hardest Drinkers

When it comes to drinking and partying, Koreans are known to get down with the best of them. South Koreans drink more liquor than anyone else in the world. For example, the average American drinks about 3 shots of hard liquor a week. The average South Korean in Korea drinks on average 13.7 shots a week. The drink of choice in Korea is by far Soju. Walk by any restaurant in Korea and you will see the famous green soju bottles being sold. Soju and Korean beer are key in bringing people together for a good time. It is estimated that South Korea sells over 9 million bottles of Soju every single night! This is not only because South Korea has a work-hard and party-hard culture that has been around for decades. In this article we will deep dive into the Korean drinking culture as a whole and why South Koreans drink so much. So the next time you visit South Korea you will have a complete understanding of Korea’s drinking scene and will know what to expect.

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10 Best Apps for Learning Korean – We Have Tested them All

There are times it seems that Korean learners are at a disadvantage compared to students of other languages. Most of the Korean learning platforms are in Korean and there are not a lot of great resources out there to learn Korean. However, there are some innovative apps for learning Korean in 2024. Smartphones are almost a necessity in modern life these days. People carry them everywhere which means it has the potential to carry a digital tutor anywhere you go. This is why using apps to learn Korean is the best approach. There are hundreds of language apps and knowing which ones are going to help you the most for the Korean language will save you a lot of time and money. Here are the 10 best apps for learning Korean in 2021. Enjoy!

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