Korea
Content
The history of South Korea formally begins with its establishment on 15 August 1948, although Syngman Rhee had officially declared
independence two days prior in the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in World War ll in
1945, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel north in accordance with a United Nations arrangement, to be administered by the Soviet
Union in the north and the United States in the south. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint
Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of two separate governments, each claiming to be the legitimate
government of all of Korea. Eventually, following the Korean War the two separate governments stabilized into the existing political
entities of North and South Korea.
National costume
Hanbok (South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot (North Korea) is the
traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without
pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers
specifically to hanbok of the Joseon (Chosŏn) period and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear
during traditional festivals and celebrations.
Jeogori is the basic upper garment of the hanbok, which has been worn by both men and women. It
covers the arms and upper part of the wearer's body. The basic form of a jeogori consists
of gil, git, dongjeong, goreum and sleeves. Gil (길) is the large section of the garment in both front
and back side and git (깃) is a band of fabric that trims the collar. Dongjeong (동정) is a removable
white collar placed over the end of the git and is generally squared off. The goreum (고름) are coatstrings that tie the jeogori. Women's jeogori may have kkeutdong (끝동), a different
colored cuff placed at the end of the sleeves. There are two jeogori that may be the earliest surviving
archaeological finds. One from a Yangcheon Heo Clan tomb is dated 1400-1450,while the other was
discovered inside a statue of Buddha at Sangwonsa Temple (presumably left as an offering) that has
been dated to the 1460s.
Chima refers to "skirt" which is also called sang (裳) or gun (裙) in hanja The underskirt,
or petticoat layer is called sokchima. According to remaining murals of Goguryeo and an earthen toy
excavated from the neighborhood of Hwangnam-dong,Gyeongju Goguryeo women wore
a chima with jeogori over it, covering the belt.
Baji refers to the bottom part of the men's hanbok. It is the formal term for 'pants' in Korean.
Compared to western style pants, it does not fit tightly. The roomy nature of the cloth is due to a
design aimed at making the cloth ideal for sitting on the floor.[16] It performs similar role today for
modern trousers, but Baji is commonly used in Korea for any kinds of pants. There are two in front of
baji, and a person can tighten up whenever needed.
Baji are classified as unlined trousers, leather trousers, silk pants, cotton pants according to dress,
sewing way, embroidery and so on.
Po’ is a generic term referring to an outer robe or overcoat which was worn mostly by men since
the Goryeo period until the Chosŏn period Durumagi is a variety of po that was worn to protect the
cold. It had been widely worn as an outer robe over jeogori and baji. It is also called jumagui, juchaui,
or juui.
Celebrations/Festivals
The Day the Buddha Came (aka Buddha's Birthday; throughout the country): During what is sometimes referred to as the "Festival of
Lanterns," every temple in the country gets lit up like a Christmas tree in celebration of the birth of the Enlightened One
Baekje Cultural Festival (Buyeo or Gongju): Every October, this historical event celebrates the great Baekje kings
with over 100 traditional performances and events throughout the area
. Boryeong Mud Festival (Daecheon, Chungcheongnam-do): Held on the muddy beaches of Daecheon every July,
this is basically organized mud play. Not only is it a great photo op, but you also get a beneficial skin treatment while
rolling around in the mud. The dirty activities include mud wrestling, mud slides, and making mud soap. Mud pies
are optional
Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF; Busan): The largest and most renowned of Korea's film festivals, it is a
wonderful showcase for current films from throughout Asia. Usually held sometime in October.
Andong Mask Dance Festival (Andong, Gyeongsangnam-do): Although the highlight of the festival is the
Korean talchum (mask dance), performers from other countries show off their masked splendor, as well.
Gangneung Danoje Festival (Gangneung, Gangwon-do): Celebrating the traditional "Dano" (the fifth day of the fifth
month of the Lunar year), it is one of the few places you can see traditional shamanistic rituals. It usually happens
sometime in June.
As with music, there is a distinction between court dance and folk dance. Common court dances
are jeongjaemu (정재무) performed at banquets, and ilmu (일무), performed at Korean Confucian
rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (향악정재, hyangak jeongjae) and forms imported from Central
Asia and China (당악정재, dangak jeongjae).Ilmu are divided into civil dance (문무, munmu) and military dance
(무무, mumu). Many mask dramas and mask dances are performed in many regional areas of Korea.The
traditional clothing is the genja, it is a special kind of dress that women wear on festivals. It is pink with multiple
symbols around the neck area.Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary
productions.
Taekkyeon the traditional martial art is central to the classic Korean dance. Taekkyeon being a complete system of
integrated movement found its core techniques adaptable to mask, dance and other traditional artforms of Korea.
Korean Traditional Cuisine
Korean Cuisine is largely based upon ,Rice,Vegetable and meats.Traditional Korean meals are noted for the
number of side dishes (banchan)that accompany steam-cooked short grain rice.Kimchi is served often sometimes at
evry meal .commonly used ingredients include sesame-oil,doenjong (fermented bean,paste),soy
sauced,salt,garlic,ginger,pepper flakes and gochujong (fermeted red chili paste)
Gyeongbokgung(경복궁), also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace -- is a royal palace
located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1395, later burned and abandoned for almost three
centuries, and then reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by
theJoseon Dynasty The name means "Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok].
Hallasan is a Shield Volcano on Jeju Island of South Korea Hallasan is the highest Mountain in South Korea. The
area around the mountain is a designated National Park, theHallasan National Park (Hallasan Gungnip Gongwon/한
라산국립공원/漢拏山國立公園). Hallasan is commonly considered to be one of the three main mountains of South
Korea, with Jirisan and Seoraksan being the other two.
Namsan (lit. "South Mountain") is a 262 metres (860 ft) peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South
Korea. Although known as Mount Mongmyeok, or 목멱산, in the past, it is now commonly referred to as Namsan. It
offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located on top of
Namsan.
Jeju Province (officially the Jeju Special Autonomous Province[1]) is one of the nine provinces of South Korea.
The province is situated on and coterminous with the nation's largest island of Jeju (also Jejudo;
see Naming below), formerly transliterated as Cheju, Cheju Do, etc., or known as Quelpart to Europeans. The
island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate
province in 1946. Its capital is Jeju City
independence two days prior in the aftermath of the Japanese occupation of Korea which ended with Japan's defeat in World War ll in
1945, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel north in accordance with a United Nations arrangement, to be administered by the Soviet
Union in the north and the United States in the south. The Soviets and Americans were unable to agree on the implementation of Joint
Trusteeship over Korea. This led in 1948 to the establishment of two separate governments, each claiming to be the legitimate
government of all of Korea. Eventually, following the Korean War the two separate governments stabilized into the existing political
entities of North and South Korea.
National costume
Hanbok (South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot (North Korea) is the
traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without
pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers
specifically to hanbok of the Joseon (Chosŏn) period and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear
during traditional festivals and celebrations.
Jeogori is the basic upper garment of the hanbok, which has been worn by both men and women. It
covers the arms and upper part of the wearer's body. The basic form of a jeogori consists
of gil, git, dongjeong, goreum and sleeves. Gil (길) is the large section of the garment in both front
and back side and git (깃) is a band of fabric that trims the collar. Dongjeong (동정) is a removable
white collar placed over the end of the git and is generally squared off. The goreum (고름) are coatstrings that tie the jeogori. Women's jeogori may have kkeutdong (끝동), a different
colored cuff placed at the end of the sleeves. There are two jeogori that may be the earliest surviving
archaeological finds. One from a Yangcheon Heo Clan tomb is dated 1400-1450,while the other was
discovered inside a statue of Buddha at Sangwonsa Temple (presumably left as an offering) that has
been dated to the 1460s.
Chima refers to "skirt" which is also called sang (裳) or gun (裙) in hanja The underskirt,
or petticoat layer is called sokchima. According to remaining murals of Goguryeo and an earthen toy
excavated from the neighborhood of Hwangnam-dong,Gyeongju Goguryeo women wore
a chima with jeogori over it, covering the belt.
Baji refers to the bottom part of the men's hanbok. It is the formal term for 'pants' in Korean.
Compared to western style pants, it does not fit tightly. The roomy nature of the cloth is due to a
design aimed at making the cloth ideal for sitting on the floor.[16] It performs similar role today for
modern trousers, but Baji is commonly used in Korea for any kinds of pants. There are two in front of
baji, and a person can tighten up whenever needed.
Baji are classified as unlined trousers, leather trousers, silk pants, cotton pants according to dress,
sewing way, embroidery and so on.
Po’ is a generic term referring to an outer robe or overcoat which was worn mostly by men since
the Goryeo period until the Chosŏn period Durumagi is a variety of po that was worn to protect the
cold. It had been widely worn as an outer robe over jeogori and baji. It is also called jumagui, juchaui,
or juui.
Celebrations/Festivals
The Day the Buddha Came (aka Buddha's Birthday; throughout the country): During what is sometimes referred to as the "Festival of
Lanterns," every temple in the country gets lit up like a Christmas tree in celebration of the birth of the Enlightened One
Baekje Cultural Festival (Buyeo or Gongju): Every October, this historical event celebrates the great Baekje kings
with over 100 traditional performances and events throughout the area
. Boryeong Mud Festival (Daecheon, Chungcheongnam-do): Held on the muddy beaches of Daecheon every July,
this is basically organized mud play. Not only is it a great photo op, but you also get a beneficial skin treatment while
rolling around in the mud. The dirty activities include mud wrestling, mud slides, and making mud soap. Mud pies
are optional
Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF; Busan): The largest and most renowned of Korea's film festivals, it is a
wonderful showcase for current films from throughout Asia. Usually held sometime in October.
Andong Mask Dance Festival (Andong, Gyeongsangnam-do): Although the highlight of the festival is the
Korean talchum (mask dance), performers from other countries show off their masked splendor, as well.
Gangneung Danoje Festival (Gangneung, Gangwon-do): Celebrating the traditional "Dano" (the fifth day of the fifth
month of the Lunar year), it is one of the few places you can see traditional shamanistic rituals. It usually happens
sometime in June.
As with music, there is a distinction between court dance and folk dance. Common court dances
are jeongjaemu (정재무) performed at banquets, and ilmu (일무), performed at Korean Confucian
rituals. Jeongjaemu is divided into native dances (향악정재, hyangak jeongjae) and forms imported from Central
Asia and China (당악정재, dangak jeongjae).Ilmu are divided into civil dance (문무, munmu) and military dance
(무무, mumu). Many mask dramas and mask dances are performed in many regional areas of Korea.The
traditional clothing is the genja, it is a special kind of dress that women wear on festivals. It is pink with multiple
symbols around the neck area.Traditional choreography of court dances is reflected in many contemporary
productions.
Taekkyeon the traditional martial art is central to the classic Korean dance. Taekkyeon being a complete system of
integrated movement found its core techniques adaptable to mask, dance and other traditional artforms of Korea.
Korean Traditional Cuisine
Korean Cuisine is largely based upon ,Rice,Vegetable and meats.Traditional Korean meals are noted for the
number of side dishes (banchan)that accompany steam-cooked short grain rice.Kimchi is served often sometimes at
evry meal .commonly used ingredients include sesame-oil,doenjong (fermented bean,paste),soy
sauced,salt,garlic,ginger,pepper flakes and gochujong (fermeted red chili paste)
Gyeongbokgung(경복궁), also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace -- is a royal palace
located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1395, later burned and abandoned for almost three
centuries, and then reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by
theJoseon Dynasty The name means "Palace" [Gung] "Greatly Blessed by Heaven" [Gyeongbok].
Hallasan is a Shield Volcano on Jeju Island of South Korea Hallasan is the highest Mountain in South Korea. The
area around the mountain is a designated National Park, theHallasan National Park (Hallasan Gungnip Gongwon/한
라산국립공원/漢拏山國立公園). Hallasan is commonly considered to be one of the three main mountains of South
Korea, with Jirisan and Seoraksan being the other two.
Namsan (lit. "South Mountain") is a 262 metres (860 ft) peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South
Korea. Although known as Mount Mongmyeok, or 목멱산, in the past, it is now commonly referred to as Namsan. It
offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located on top of
Namsan.
Jeju Province (officially the Jeju Special Autonomous Province[1]) is one of the nine provinces of South Korea.
The province is situated on and coterminous with the nation's largest island of Jeju (also Jejudo;
see Naming below), formerly transliterated as Cheju, Cheju Do, etc., or known as Quelpart to Europeans. The
island lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of South Jeolla Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate
province in 1946. Its capital is Jeju City
