10 Very Cool Facts About South
Korean Culture

10 Fascinating Insights Into Modern South Korean Culture

Sometimes it’s the quirky things a country or culture does that really give us insights into the people.

When delivering cultural awareness training on South Korea, we usually like to show people some of the more interesting sides of the people and their culture.

We’ve picked what we believe to be some of the coolest facts about South Korean culture that offer a fascinating window into the country.

Get ready for the weird and wonderful!

1. South Korean Men Wear Make-up

South Korean men like to make the most of their appearances and, as such, it is believed that almost a quarter of men use makeup as part of their daily routine.

In fact, approximately 20% of the worldwide male cosmetic industry is generated by South Koreans.

2. Appearance Matters in South Korea

Since appearance and looking good are an important part of South Korean culture, it will come as no surprise that it’s not only the men who like to make the most of their appearance. South Korean women undergo the highest per capita cosmetic procedures globally.

It is estimated that a fifth of South Korean women have undertaken at least one cosmetic procedure (with eyelid surgery being the most popular).

3. South Korean Music Goes Global

Upon release of ‘Gangnam Style’ in 2012, South Korean musician Psy, became an unlikely global treasure; loved and imitated by Prime Ministers and small children alike.

Not only did Psy beat YouTube records as the first person to gain 1 billion views.  It took until 2015 for any other pop star to gain 1 billion views (with the accolade going to Justin Bieber with ‘Baby’). Topping the music charts of 30 different countries by the end of 2012, Gangnam Style refers to the wealthy lifestyle within the Gangnam District of Seoul.

4. South Korea’s Penis Theme Park

Westerners visiting South Korea rarely resist a visit to Haesindang Park – or, as Westerners like to call it ‘Penis Park’.

As the name suggests, Haesingdang Park is home to a wide range of sculptured penises which is, apparently, the largest collection of animated giant penises globally!

You may well scoff at the idea of a penis park, but underlying legend dictates a terrible tale in which a young virgin died when the ocean tide came in at the site near to the park’s erection (author’s pun), leaving the love of her life watching helplessly from a distance. The following day, the fish that were usually caught by local fishermen were found dead on the shore.

When one of the fishermen urinated in the water, the fish miraculously returned which led them to believe that the young virgin was sorrowful at the relationship she had failed to consummate. Penis park was established shortly afterwards to appease her.

5. A Healthy Korean Diet

Partnering Japan in this honourable accolade, South Korea has the lowest number of obese citizens in the world.

Well with their healthy diet no wonder!

6. Solving Crimes in South Korean Culture

South Korea uses ‘crime re-enactment’ as a way of demonstrating to the public that it is in full control in the investigation of crimes that have received wide public attention.

Crime re-enactment involves escorting the accused to the scene in which the crime took place and ordering them to re-enact what happened. In a humiliating event, the accused is photographed by the media and the public are allowed to spectate. This is something that has attracted considerable human rights interest as the individuals involved have often yet to be charged. In a culture where ‘face’ is everything, the fallout for those who are subsequently found to be innocent can be devastating.

7. Superstition in South Korean Culture

The number four is considered unlucky in South Korean culture. In much the same way that you won’t find a hospital bed in the UK numbered 13 for example, you won’t find the ‘fourth floor’ in South Korea and houses won’t be numbered ‘4’.

Bearers of gifts in South Korea are also unlikely to take gifts in blocks of four – e.g. four red roses. Why is it unlucky? Some claim that it is because it sounds like the Chinese word for ‘death’ – In Chinese culture, the number 4 is also considered unlucky for the same reasons.

There are lots of other superstitions too in South Korean culture. For example, it’s suggested that you shouldn’t allow your legs to shake restlessly or your feet to tap about as you are literally shaking off any good luck that might be coming your way. It’s also believed that you shouldn’t give your partner new shoes as they might use them to run away…

8. South Korean Customer Service Culture

For all those who love takeaway food, you will certainly find Fact Number 8 very cool.

The majority of restaurants – including those such as MacDonald’s, will deliver food directly to your door. You don’t even need to clean your rubbish up afterwards – just leave it outside your door and the delivery person will pick it up later. This is a country where the service culture rules supreme!

9. Valentine’s Day in South Korea

Valentine’s Day takes on a new element in South Korea as men are the subject of gifts and pampering.

In South Korean culture, women go all out to buy their partner luxurious boxes of chocolates and other indulgent gifts. Unfortunately, they need to wait a whole month for their own special day of pampering, which isn’t nearly so ‘chocolatey’. The female equivalent Valentine’s is called ‘White Day, and the most popular gifts are Chupa Chups lollipops!

10. Your Age in South Korean Culture

Like a number of other cultures, babies in South Korea are considered one year old at birth. For those not familiar with this concept, (and to confuse you even more), following the New Year in South Korea, everybody automatically ages a year.

If therefore, a newborn baby enters the world in the last week of December as a one-year-old, then the same child is considered two years old a couple of weeks later.

Learn More About South Korean Culture

The facts don’t end here.

• …our South Korea Business Culture Guide is the #1 most viewed profile on our website.
• …our Management Guide to South Korea is the most viewed guide to being a manager abroad.
• …our South Korea Cultural Awareness Course is one of our most in-demand eLearning courses.