South Korea

Republic of Korea

South Korea is a sovereign state in the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula.

Learn more about South Korea

Immigration to Oregon

• 1904-1907: About 1,000 Koreans arrived in the U.S. mainland (San Francisco, California) by way of Hawaii.

• Koreans in mainland U.S. dispersed along the Pacific Coast with many finding work as migrant farm laborers and fewer as miners and section hands on the railroad in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Utah.

• Over 25,000 Korean-Americans reside in Oregon today.

International relations between Korea and the U.S.

• The United States helped establish South Korea and kept it from collapse during the Korean War (1950-53) in conjunction with United Nations.

• Since this time, South Korea's economy has grown tremendously and the U.S. remained South Korea's main trade partner through the late 1980's, but a trade surplus with Korea caused the U.S. to demand change.

• In the early 1990's the U.S. decided that South Korea should become the leader in their own defense against North Korea and so U.S. military presence diminished, much to the dismay of the majority of Korean citizens.

Demographics

Population

• 48,508,972 (July 2009 est.); population growth rate: 0.266% (2009 est.)

• South Korea is mainly populated in the northwest, southeast, and in the plains located south of Seoul-Incheon area. The country's population density is about 500 persons per sq km (1,294 per sq mi) 18) and is one of the highest in the world.

• The Capital: Seoul (10.3 million) - the largest city of the country (2005). Other major cities (2005): Busan (3.7 million), Daegu (2.5 million), Incheon (2.6 million), Gwangju (1.4 million), Daejeon (1.5 million), Ulsan (1.0 million).

Ethnic groups

South Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world. Almost all people in the country share a common cultural and linguistic heritage, with exception to the Chinese community of 20,000 people, South Korea's largest minority group. Koreans are the descendants of Neolithic people who began to migrate to the Korea Peninsula from the mainland of northeastern Asia, including the Siberian region, as early as 5000 BC. These people replaced earlier Paleolithic cultures that had inhabited some areas of the peninsula for about 40,000 years.

Culture

• A society shaped by Confucius teaching, South Korea has been characterized as a highly authoritarian and male-dominated culture. The country's emphasis on education and respect for ancestors also comes from the teachings of Confucius.

• As a traditionally collectivist society, maintaining group harmony is paramount. Preserving unity may make the Korean reply positively and show reluctance to refuse in a direct manner. The concept of saving face is especially potent in Korean culture and much emphasis is placed upon identifying others' states of mind and reacting in a respectful way. Therefore, loyalty, obedience, courtesy and formality are expected characteristics in families and in business.

• “Traditionally Korean social values have been depicted in terms of an authoritarian Confucian tradition, but this is an overly simplistic view. A more comprehensive account of social values might describe them in terms of interacting dualities, a kind of yin-yang opposition and synthesis. There is the tension, for example, between self-control and solemnity on the one hand, and almost explosive volatility on the other, at the level of individual behavior; between the duty-bound austerity of Confucian family life and ritualism, and the ecstasy and abandon of shamanistic rites; between the conservatism of agricultural villages and the looser social organization of fishing communities; between the orthodox concept of male supremacy and the reality of much “hidden” female power; between the “higher” rationalized, humanistic, or scientific culture imported from China, Japan, or the West, and much older indigenous or native cultural themes; between hierarchy and equality; and between slavish deference to authority and principled resistance.” Library of Congress Country Studies.

Social Structure

• Traditionally social structure was based upon differences in status dependent on one's relationship to another. 25) This comes from the Confucian concept regarding relationships: filial piety. Outlining five types of relationships, one partner in the relationship has greater status than the other. These relationships include: sovereign to subject, parent to child, husband to wife, elder to younger sibling and friend to friend. This last relationship contains equal status.

• Post Korean War changes in social structure stem from industrialization, economic growth and urbanization of Korea. The urban lower class making up about 29 percent of the population consists of recent migrants from rural areas of Korea (6%) to the cities and industrial workers (23%). The rural lower class, farmers and farm laborers, make up about 32 percent of the population. The “old” middle class, about 21 percent is made up of shopkeepers, small business owners and other self-employed persons in rural and urban areas. The “new” middle class, about 18 percent, emerging post Korean War, is made up of civil servants, salaried white-collar workers in large private companies, and professionals with specialized training. The elite class makes up about 2 percent of the population and includes the socially and economically powerful.

• Despite changes in social structure, traditional values are still upheld regarding the proper respect that should be paid to those with superior status.

• Education has, in recent years, been the means for upward social movement outside of military success. A university degree ensures acceptance into the middle class as well as social superiority over those with less education.

Religion

• About 40 percent of South Korea's population claims religious affiliation. There are major followings in Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Ch'ondogyo (a 20th century religious movement) and Shamanism (the oldest of the religions practiced in Korea).

• It is not uncommon for Koreans who do not practice a Protestant or Catholic faith to practice elements of Buddhism, Confucianism and other traditional religions together.

• In America about 75 percent of the Korean population professes a Protestant following, while the other 25 percent heralds Buddhist, Catholic and other religions or no affiliation.

Traditions

Cuisine

• Traditional Korean cuisine consists of rice with cooked vegetables and small amounts of meat. A condiment called Kimchi is available at every meal and is made up of spicy fermented vegetables like cabbage, radishes and cucumbers in different preparations.

Holidays

• New Year's-January 1st and 2nd: This is the solar New Year, celebrated with speeches about prosperity in the new year.

• Independence Movement Day- March 1: Korea declared independence from Japan on this date in 1919.

• Arbor Day- April 5: Created after the Korean War to remedy the deforestation caused by the war.

• Children's Day- May 5: Celebration of children.

• Memorial Day- June 6: A day for honoring and remembering those who lost their lives for their country.

• Constitution Day- July 17: In 1948 the Republic of Korea proclaimed their constitution.

• Liberation Day- August 15: In 1945 Japan surrendered to the allied forces and South Korea was freed from their occupation. In 1948 the Republic of Korea was established.Foundation Day- October 3: According to legend, the god-king Tan-gun founded the Choson Kingdom in 2333 B.C.

• Foundation Day fills Korean citizens with nationalistic pride over the 4,000+ year history of Korea.

• Christmas Day-December 25: Korean Christians celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and more and more businesses decorate for the holiday in a Western style. Because of its closeness to New Year's some people prefer to wait until the later to give gifts.

• Buddha's Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il)- 8th day of 4th month (usually in May): Buddhist monks decorate the temples and festivals are held at the larger temples.

• Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok)- 14-16th days of 8th month: Similar to the American Thanksgiving holiday, families gather to feast and play games and pay respect to their ancestors.

Etiquette

Professional

• South Koreans prefer to do business with persons whom they know, therefore it is important to be introduced by a third party. This person will also have the responsibility of being an intermediary, bringing up sensitive matters. It is important that proper respect is paid to ones associates using proper titles and not first names. Appointments are made 3 to 4 weeks in advance and being on time is expected for all parties. A meeting agenda and additional information is also expected to be sent prior to the meeting.

• Conservatism (formality, modesty and humility) in dress and manner is expected. Bowing and then shaking hands is not uncommon. Speaking concisely and directly, thinking in silence and listening are all honored in communication. Responses are likely to be indirect if the answers are uncertain in order to save face. Criticism is not tolerated in public.

Social

• Children are taught strict respect of their elders, including their elder siblings. Impolite behavior is a disgrace upon the family.

• Gift giving is common practice and always reciprocated, therefore it is considered impolite to give an expensive gift to one who cannot return the favor. Gifts must be given to a host when invited to his or her home. Gifts are not to be opened in front of the giver and should be given and received with both hands.

• When invited to a South Korean's home shoes must be removed and hosts will greet each person individually. Guests should wait to be told where to sit and expect that elders will be served first. Trying a little of everything offered is expected and eating all that one takes is considered polite. Second helpings should be, at first, refused. When finished eating place chopsticks back in their rest and not on dishes.

Public Health

• Health conditions have improved dramatically since the end of the Korean War. Between 1955 and 1960, life expectancy was estimated at 51.1 years for men and 54.2 years for women, in 1990 - 66 years for men and 73 years for women, in 2007 - 73.81 years for men and 80.93 years for females, total population – 77.23. The death rate declined significantly, from 13.8 deaths per 1,000 in 1955-60 to 6 deaths per 1,000 in 1989–one of the lowest rates among East Asian and Southeast Asian countries.

• The traditional practice of medicine in Korea was influenced primarily, though not exclusively, by China. Over the centuries, Koreans have used acupuncture and herbal remedies, including ginseng to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Shops selling traditional medicines were still common in the 1980s. People had to rely largely on such remedies to treat serious illnesses until the 1980s–particularly in rural areas because of the expense of modern medical care.

• After the Korean War the number of physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other health personnel and the number of hospitals and clinics have increased dramatically, mostly in urban areas, particularly in Seoul and Pusan. Rural areas had limited medical facilities because the people could not pay for treatment and other limited incentives for physicians to work in areas outside the cities.

• Hospitals in the smaller cities may not be well-equipped; however, those in the major cities are quite advanced. Medical expense is barely anything in South Korea as it is highly subsidized by the government.

• Most people now have some sort of medical insurance coverage. Public health and sanitation have greatly improved, thus reducing epidemics.

• Government welfare activities are relatively new and limited in range. The programs include care of disabled war veterans, a variety of homes (for the aged, homeless, disabled war widows, and orphans), vocational training of women, and care of juvenile delinquents.

• Despite these overall improvements, there is little sign of a narrowing of the disparity in the quality of life between rural and urban dwellers.

Education

• Korean economic growth and progress since the Korean War (1950-53) is attributed “to the willingness of individuals to invest a large amount of resources in education: the improvement of “human capital.”

• “Highly educated technocrats and economic planners” have been mainly responsible for the successes of South Korea since 1980s. Scientists, technicians and others with specialized knowledge are highly valued and regarded as the most prestigious in South Korea.

• Education is regarded as essential to achieve success in South Korea. ”In the late 1980s, possession of a college degree was considered necessary for entering the middle class; there were no alternative pathways of social advancement, with the possible exception of a military career, outside higher education. People without a college education, including skilled workers with vocational school backgrounds, often were treated as second-class citizens by their white-collar, college-educated managers, despite the importance of their skills for economic development.”

• Competition for places at the most prestigious universities as the sole gateway into elite circles was in place and became very high and intense.

  • “A college-bound high school student, in the late 1980s, typically rose at dawn, did a bit of studying before school began at 7:30 or 8:00 A.M., attended school until 5:00 P.M., had a quick dinner (often away from home), and then attended evening cramming classes that could last until 10:00 or 11:00 P.M. Sundays and holidays were devoted to more cramming. Because tests given in high school (generally once every two or four weeks) were almost as important in determining college entrance as the final entrance examinations, students had no opportunity to relax from the study routine. According to one contemporary account, a student had to memorize 60 to 100 pages of facts to do well on these periodic tests. Family and social life generally were sacrificed to the supreme end of getting into the best university possible.

  • The costs of the “examination hell” have been evident not only in a grim and joyless adolescence for many, if not most, young South Koreans, but also in the number of suicides caused by the constant pressure of tests. Often suicides have been top achievers who despaired after experiencing a slump in test performance. Also, the multiple choice format of periodic high school tests and university entrance examinations has left students little opportunity to develop their creative talents. A “facts only” orientation has promoted a cramped and unspontaneous view of the world that has tended to spill over into other areas of life than academic work.”

• Education programs have been very successful, which can be demonstrated by the increasing literacy rate over the years (1945 – 22%; 1970 – 87.6%; 1980 – 93%; 2002 - 97.9% 54)). 55) It has been assessed as 11th in the world according to The Programme for International Student Assessment coordinated by OECD. 56) Students have performed exceedingly well in international competitions in mathematics and science.

• The schedules are not rigidly standardized and can vary from school to school. In general the school year is divided into two semesters - first: from the beginning of March until mid-July; the second from late August until mid-February.

• South Korea was the first country in the world to provide high-speed internet access for every primary, junior, and high school.

Education by Level

• Primary-school education is compulsory for all children and it lasts 6 years. Middle-school programs are designed to last three years and nearly all middle-school graduates continue on to high school or technical school. About one-third of the high-school graduates go to higher educational institutions. Admission to a school is granted through competitive entrance examinations. High-school students must endure grueling preparation work for these examinations.

• Graduation from a college or university grew considerably in importance in South Korea after World War II, and the number of college-level institutions increased enormously. Nearly all the most prestigious schools are located in Seoul and include the state-run Seoul National University and the private Ehwa Woman's University and Yonsei University.

• Education of children from kindergarten to third grade high school is centralized in its administration. The most important subjects are mathematics, science, Korean, social studies, and English and are considered required.

Implications for the SLP

• It is important for the SLP to consider that a family of South Korean heritage may identify themselves as American and uphold United States mainstream culture and practice.

• In other words, the SLP should avoid stereotyping by looking into the individual family's dynamics and values.

Differences between Korean and English

• The significant differences between Korean and English, particularly in sentence structure and morphology (word structure), make it hard for most Korean ESL students to acquire English at the same rate as, for example, their Dutch or Danish peers.

• Alphabet: The Korean alphabet is called hangul. It was introduced in the 15th century by King Sejong to replace the existing Chinese script (called hanja), which few Koreans could read. Hangul consists of 14 simple consonants and 6 simple vowels (together with consonant clusters and diphthongs). Hangul can be written horizontally or vertically, with the horizontal, Latin style much more favored. Koreans are exposed in their daily lives to the Latin script and therefore have no particular difficulties with the English writing system.

• Phonology: Korean is a syllable timed language in which individual word stress is insignificant. This is radically different from English and accounts for the 'flat' quality of much of the English spoken by Korean ESL students, particularly in extended pieces of oral language such as presentations.

  • The main problem in the pronunciation of individual words lies in the reproduction of consonants. Several English consonant sounds do not exist in Korean. The most significant of these are the /θ/ and /ð/ sounds in words such as then, 'thirteen' and 'clothes', the /v/ sound, which is produced as a /b/, and the /f/ sound which leads, for example, to 'phone' being pronounced 'pone'. Differences in syllable structure between the two languages may lead to the addition of a short vowel sound to the end of English words that terminate with a consonant or within words containing consonant clusters.

• Grammar:

  • Verb/Tense: Korean is an agglutinative language. This means, for example, that verb information such as tense, mood and the social relation between speaker and listener is added successively to the end of the verb. This is in contrast to English which makes extensive use of auxiliaries to convey verb meaning. It is to be expected, then, that some Korean learners will initially have problems in accurately producing English verb phrases.

  • Korean does not conjugate verbs using agreement with the subject. This is a possible reason why it takes some learners so long to remember the -s ending in English in the third person singular present simple tense: 'He like' … instead of 'he likes' … . Reference to the past in Korean is most often accomplished through a single past tense. Therefore, the problems that Korean learners have in choosing the correct English tense from among the several possibilities (past simple, present perfect, past perfect continuous, etc.)are predictable.

  • Sentence structure: Korean has a Subject-Object-Verb word order. Since personal reference is avoided, it is common to encounter Korean sentences consisting of the verb only. Korean ESL students have little difficulty adjusting to the fairly strict SVO word order that typifies English. However, they need training and practice in working within the permitted exceptions in order to avoid monotonous written text whose sentences all start with the subject.

  • Grammatical categories in Korean have no clear correspondence with those of English. This often results in Korean learners using a noun or adjective where English would have an adjective or a noun. For example: 'My daughter doesn't come to school today because she is illness.

  • Articles do not exist in Korean. Learners have significant and often permanent problems with the complexities of the English article system.

  • Vocabulary: Due to the long-term American presence in South Korea many (city-dwelling) Koreans are used to seeing and hearing English on a daily basis. Korean has also borrowed some words directly from English. However, there is an absence of the significant number of cognates that help, say, the German student quickly begin to understand much of what he or she hears and reads in English.

  • Miscellaneous: Korean grammar is heavily influenced by honorifics. Verb endings and choice of nouns, adjectives or pronouns depend on the relative status of the speaker or writer to the listener or reader. Honorifics do not play a major part in the English language (except in conventions for addressing people as Professor or Your Majesty), which can make English much easier for Korean to learn than vice versa. It may result, however, in the Korean learner struggling to convey the appropriate amount of deference or assertiveness in his or her dealings with others in English.

  • Communication Style: Meaningful conversation is valued while small talk is seen as unimportant. Communication of feelings through facial expressions is uncommon. Smiling and joking are only acceptable in certain situations. Otherwise, these displays demonstrate a lack of intelligence and respect. Not making eye contact is, however, respectful.

  • Another communication issue of importance is touch and interpersonal space. Over-familiar touch (e.g. putting your hand on someones arm while talking) is poorly tolerated by many Korean-Americans. Similarly in family situations, physical expression of affection are uncommon, and must be initiated by the person with greater status. In relation to health care, touch in the process of providing care is accepted, but therapeutic touch is less likely to be accepted.

  • Health Care: Illness is seen as one's fate and also as an imbalance between the natural forces: Yin and Yang. The kior chi (life-force) can also be suppressed through blood-loss, sweating and intercourse. Disabilities in children are seen as ancestral punishment upon the parents. Common treatments for illness include: herbs, acupuncture and cupping. Expected results are cure and little attention is paid to preventative care. As Korea becomes a global society, western medical practices are also in use. Shamans are summoned as a last resort for physical and spiritual healing, but are considered of low class in Korean society.