Korean Culture and Cuisine, Essay Example

The Korean population has over 70 million people that speak Korean, which is considered a part of the Tungusic branch from the Ural-Altaic language families. The language has a very close relationship with the Japanese traditional grammar and language style of speaking(EveryCulture,2015). The rich history and culture of Korean people go back as early as 500,000 B.C. in the Korean Peninsula populated by Paleolithic people (Asian Info,2015).  In addition, the Korean people tradition and culture has been kept and somehow the foundation of Korean culture has remained unchanged. The Korean people have been through wars, North and South differences and many environmental, social and political changes while documenting their traditions in detail.  The Korean culture and cuisine has evolved through social and political change, natural environment changes and different cultural trends. Korean cuisine has a basic food combination of steamed cooked rice, vegetables and some meats. The changes in the Korean cuisine originated from their migrations to different parts of the country from village to region to national locations. Korean traditional cooking has many side dishes called banchan such as Kimchi served with every side dish delicacy (China Business Weekly,2011). The tradition of the Korean meals has the following characteristics such as rice, kimchi, bulgoi, and spicy cold noodles. In addition, the cuisine is spicy, tasty, sour and sweet with shrimp, squid, mushrooms and vegetables (Home Cook Dairy,2011).

The Korean culture, tradition and cuisine is integrated is the fabric of their existence from generations of heritage and social tendencies that has not changed. The family combines any event for the family with a specific meal for that occasion and culture rituals that follow any celebration. The Korean people take offense when traditional dishes are not followed exactly the way it was taught by their forefathers. The entire Korean family is held accountable for ensuring these traditions are not altered, changed or any outside influence.  The Korean tradition that remains in place for the family is the mandatory respect for the elderly. The ultimate respect for the elderly is everyone bowing and recognizing their contributions to the family while still be a leader of the community and family (Korean Times, 2008).

Korea has a long and rich tradition of excellent cuisine with deep roots with significant historical and cultural customs. One the major heritage accomplishments of Korea have been their ability to preserved their original customs and traditions from generations to generations. The Korean culture is based on humility, sincerity and gratitude when meeting a person, eating with friends or family and praying is important. Their etiquette is being humble by bowing which is the same as a handshake (Golden,2012).  Korea is one the few countries that has been through social and political turmoil but managed to keep the foundation and roots of their ancestors in place. Some countries have many different influences from other ethnic contributors however,

The Korean people have managed to keep outside influence from changing their long established culinary identity. The Korean people originate from the Korean Peninsula where the different clans share a very common speaking language, culture and ethnic identity.  The Korean people have some significant regional differences between South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea. They both shared the same culture and cuisine traditions with a strong sense of national pride and purpose. The modern North and South Korean both keep all the traditional cultural customs in the rural parts of the country and in the city. The Korean elderly make sure that the younger generations understands the significance of keeping the culture and heritage alive and relevant. The culture of the Korean people holds the elderly in the highest esteem and celebrate their life and death as custom that the elderly should never be forgotten.

The lifestyle of the Korean keeps the culinary identity regardless whether they live in the city in apartments or in the rural area with traditional housing. The new millennium has ushered in the new technology and lifestyles changes nevertheless; the Korean people remain true to the traditional values.

Korean Etiquette

The Koreans have a humble nature that is very conscious of their speech and behavior in social settings. The husband and wife have a balance in the family with the etiquette of the male taking the lead in all situations in public. The Korean people have a naming etiquette that consist of how to address each other such as using titles instead of names (Every Culture,2015).

The best example the teacher would be respected by calling him professor or manager, or director and president. The hierarchical relationship in the Korean social world is followed regardless of business or personal relationships in the home. The Koreans have the cultural etiquette to being respectful of those that are your peers or on the same social level consequently higher status Korean people must be limited with social interactions. The Koreans will bow in respect to others they greet that position demand respect but the etiquette they use is bowing just a little bit lower for those with high statuses. The etiquette habits by Koreans of bowing has significant meaning in the Korean society and families engrain this tradition into their children for life (Korean Times,2008).

The Korean people believe that being on time is an etiquette that must not be ignored. In their culture it is believed that making an appointment or promising to attend an event is taken seriously. The North and South Koreans emphasize meeting deadlines and they believe that punctuality is a sign of respect for locals and any foreigners. Koreans believe it personal etiquette to work hard and diligently without compliant of hours or how hard the task or work. Koreans considered it rude and unprofessional to leave the job early before the executive boss.

Korean Cuisine (Royal Family)

The Korean cuisine has a fundamental foundation of rice which is the primary food of the Korean people that is eaten with literary every meal. The north has a traditional of corn, rice, wheat, barley, corn, while other cuisine traditions include vegetables such as cabbage and turnips(Thorn,2013). The Korean people may have North and South regions with different philosophical and political differences however the foundation of Korean cuisine has evolved from the dishes and techniques without being tainted with outside cultures. The Korean royal palace follows the cultural ways that all Koreans use to prepare their cuisine that are very elaborate.

The Korean culture regardless of royal palace or North or South Korean, Kimchi is a mandatory tradition made of fermented chili sauce, anchovies and cabbage that is authentic spicy and sour taste (Golden,2012). The Royal palace foods have a reputation of being exquisite, extravagant and meticulously prepared by Korean women. The traditional of drinking has its significance in the royal palace because the pouring of a drink is considered a matter of respect for the elderly. The Korean drinking culture has a long history never pouring one’s own drink. This ritual is an act of respect because the pouring of a drink for the elder, one must put their hand over their heart to show a sign of earned respect of the elder(Steinberg,2012).

The Korean royal palace families kept the tradition of Korean food in tact by training women to learn all the cultural and heritage concerning Korean cuisine. These women had different palace positions specifically to learn the history and all the different aspects of Korean food preparation (Visit Korea,2015).  The cuisines were documented and learned by the royal families passing down the original recipes and traditions of the Korean cuisine. The kings and queens had the power to control the entire community or region eating regiments by demanding all food follow the thousands of years of tradition. The peasants did not enjoy the same level of extravagant food as the royal family but the recipes were the same.

The royal family has the basics meals of steamed rice, kimchi and fish with characteristics of lots of spices, fermentation and variety of side dishes (Visit Korea,2015). The royal families can be credited for ensure the traditions and Korean cuisine remains unchanged well into the future. In addition, they can be credited for keeping all the Korean etiquettes and traditions in place for future generations. In the Korean culture the etiquette of eating was a part of the cultural experience that was passed down from generations to generations. These cuisine moments were used to shared food recipes, social behaviors, historical, mythical, social and political ideas(Steinberg,2012). The royal queens and kings found that the cultural traditions must be handed-down allowed the peasants to eat the same Korean meals but not in the same grandiose fashion as royalty. The king and queen has the power to change the tradition however, they have been taught to follow the tradition of Korean cuisine, culture and heritage with opposition.

Korean Culture

The most important tradition that has been passed down for many generations is the family comes first above everything in Korean lifetime. This is an essential tradition of the Korean family culture which is never challenge from clan to clan. The father is always the head of the household handling all affairs outside of the home which women are not allowed. The father takes care of the shelter, food, and chooses the martial relationships of the entire family.  The religious aspect of Korean family culture is following the teachings of Confucius. There is a set hierarchical of the family that starts with the eldest son who will earn his manhood as the right arm of the family but respecting father’s decisions. This hierarchical model has influence from the Confucius teachings that stress family, community, duty, truthfulness and family honor.  The personal feelings, dreams and hopes of the individual in the Korean family is never more important that the goal of the family well-being first.

The Korea culture have an enriched, enduring and beautiful background that has been built over centuries keeping the traditions the same without integration of other cultures. The family traditions are evident because Korean people do not put their parents or grandparents in the nursing home. They spend their lives committed to the help and welfare of the parents and they never forget them with annual memorials on the day of their death. The Korean family praises the elderly ensuring they are involved with every activity and event as advisors. However, the father is the head of the household but the grandparents have a tradition of quietly making decisions to help the father. The father as the head of the household is more than just a gender tradition because the male of the household will be held responsible for the actions of their children. As result, the incorrect behavior of the wife or children will not be held responsible because it’s the father that must make sure everyone is living in the Korean tradition.

There is a specific order that makes the Korean culture work because the traditions such as dressing remains the same as their forefathers. These artful and artistic clothing represents their character and personality as Korean people. The women embrace their place in the long traditional of the household dominated by the men. The Korea’s women culture has a tradition of wearing a conservative dress called hanbok. The women’s daily look involves a hanbok with a plain blouse and a very full skirt that reaches down to her ankles. The women’s blouse is traditionally wrap and tied at the waist with long full sleeves to prevent any thoughts of improprieties. The women wear a petticoat to increase her thickness to hide the body and the men wear baggy trousers which all outfits are artfully crafted.  The culture of dressing by the Korean people is representative of their way of life by remaining true to the Korean heritage.

References

Asian Info. (2015). The people of Korea: Brief History. Retrieved from http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/people.htm

China Business Newsweekly. (2011, Feb). Korean food foundation; Emmy-award winner Kelly Choi to reveal the delicious secret of Korean cuisine.  China Business Newsweekly Retrieved from ProQuest Database at http://search.proquest.com/docview/850517044?accountid=34899

Every Culture. (2015). South Korea: Identification. Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/South-Korea.html

Golden, C. (2012). Craving Korean: for an authentic taste of the new ‘it’ cuisine, start your food adventure in L.A.’s Koreatown. Here’s where to go and what to try. Sunset, (3). 64.

Home Cooking Dairy. (2011). Top 10 most popular Korean foods. Retrieved from http://www.homecookingdiary.com/2011/06/top-10-most-popular-korean-foods.html

Korean Times. (2008, Mar). Tips on Korean custom of bowing. Retrieved from http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2010/08/177_23339.html

Steinberg E. (2012). Korean Cuisine: An illustrated history. Asian Perspectives: The Journal of Archaeology for Asia And The Pacific; Vol. (1):132. Retrieved from General OneFile

Thorn, B. (2013). Consumers’ taste for Korean cuisine grows. Nation’s Restaurant News, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1435039490?accountid=34899

Visit Korea. (2015). Travel highlights. Retrieved from http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=259177