Kcontest #8 // My Curiosity About Korean Culture

My curiosity about Korean culture sparked by the global wave of the K-drama, K-pop and the art of preparing their food, the Korean cuisine. When I first became interested in the Korean culture, I wasn’t sure what exactly I was looking for but the thought of learning more about the language that i like is somehow intriguing. I had a deeper desire and I wanted to understand the heart of Korean culture, its values, traditions, and everyday life.

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Even without encountered Korea firsthand, I had several expectations. I already expected a fast-paced society deeply rooted in technology and innovation just as shown in their movies. I imagined stylish people walking the streets of Seoul, drinking bubble tea, and taking selfies at trendy cafes. I also pictured traditional palaces, colorful hanbok, and the sounds of samul nori drums echoing through cultural festivals. But beyond the aesthetics, learning about how Korean people live, what they really value, how they connect with each other, and how they preserve their traditions in such a modernized world is what I truly wanted to know more than anything.

Let call it the love I have for Korean, Korea is on of the country I really want to go I even daydream of me being in Korea. I wanted to have a firsthand experience about the Korean culture and nothing just the story we read online. One of my cousin brother lives in Korea and always tell us about the people he met there. One of the things he talked about was the warmth of the people. Despite language barriers, there are many locals who are ready to help him when he first got there, whether it was finding the right subway line or explaining a dish on the menu was really easy compared to what he already anticipated.

I learned that respect is central in Korean culture, learning about how people bow when greeting, how they use honorifics in language, and how age and hierarchy help to shape the social interactions.

The Food is another powerful point. I wanted to try everything about their food ranging from kimchi, bulgogi, tteokbokki, and of course, Korean BBQ. But I learned that meals in Korea are about more than just taste. It's about sharing, community, and sometimes even silent communication. Sitting on the floor in a traditional hanok restaurant, sharing a pot of bubbling jjigae, I really want to taste that feeling, something that is beyond food.

Korean didn't eradicate their culture because of civilization and modernization rather both old and new coexistence. I find myself fascinated by this balance and I realized that Korean culture isn’t about choosing tradition or modernity, it’s about embracing both which pique my interest in this culture and I hope I can learn more about it

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