A glimpse into South Korea for the inquisitive traveller
Jul 15, 2021, 17:11 IST
Join our WhatsApp Channel for Live Updates
Contributed by: Sharayu Menaria
One of the most famous destinations to visit in Asia is South Korea. It's a secure and beautiful place, but it has a lot to explore. So, here is everything you want to know about it.
A non-Korean person who is highly fascinated and obsessed with Korean culture is sometimes called 'Koreaboo'. Kpop culture is the most trendy and popular culture among today's youth. Putting aside the entertainment stuff , there is more to love about Korea- its culture, food, cosmetic, clothing and the places you will love to visit.
Here are the reasons that will make you fall in love with South Korea.
ENTERTAINMENT
Music Industry
This is the doorway for you if you are a newbie. The music industry is touching heights all around the world with its unique music which is a blend of unforgettable lyrics, groovy instrumentals, jaunty and stylish choreography and the spectacular, profound and impressive MV's. Be it a solo artists or the group bands, they are now being recognized in all over the world with their music and amazing personalities. Some popular groups are BTS, EXO, NCT, BLACKPINK, GOT7, TWICE, MAMAMOO, RED VELVET and so on...
Entertainment Industry
Now, I think kDramas don't need any introduction. These are the best method to know about the real lifestyle, culture, food and everything about Korea. They are very popular and admired because of their inspiring genres and the acting skills. Some very famous series are Crash landing on you, Reply series, Boys over flowers, Itaewon class, What's wrong with Secretary Kim, Goblin, Heirs, Vincenzo, the list is never-ending.
PLACES TO SEE
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a vibrant and exciting city. It is also the first choice of tourists. The cherry blossoms in front of Seoul tower, National museum of Korea, Lotte world tower skyscraper, Gyeongbokgung palace [which is built during the joseon dynasty], Bukchon hanok village [which is a historic area, the neighborhood houses are occupied too].
Other than the capital city, places like Busan [the second largest city in the entire country], Daegu, Jeonju [filled with a lot of temples and museum which were built during the joseon dynasty] and Jeju Island have attracted a lot of tourists from around the world.
FOOD
You might already get an idea of korean food while watching dramas and surely had a craving for that. And why not? The way they show it is impressively influencing. And I must say, they had successfully conveyed their audience to try those dishes and drinks at least once.
The extremely famous side dishes are Kimchi, Tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes which is a very popular street food], Korean Barbecue and Fried chicken, Sundae, Samgyupsal and on and on. This food is mostly hot and spicy. Korean beverages are way too popular. Soju, Milkis, Sikhye, Yuja-cha, etc.. You can get a glimpse of them in many dramas too.
BEAUTY
Korean beauty standards are way too high. Talking about a global survey , it released a report showing that it is among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest rate of plastic surgeries. Yes, they consider beauty and attractiveness as a priority. Big eyes, double eyelid, V-shaped face, slim body, cherry red lips, small mouth and nose & many things that are considered very important in colleges, workplaces and regular life. The new generation too is forced to walk on the dogma laid by the people in the royal era as a social class identification. But don't worry, they don't force their beauty standards on foreigners.
This might be the reason for the high varieties of beauty products in Korea. There is a huge market for beauty essentials. And all these things made Korea a huge supplier of cosmetics in all over the Asia.
ETIQUETTES
Korean etiquettes and behaviour are largely influenced by Korean Confucianism. They have particular ways to show respect, be it in workplace, school or in neighborhood. Many actions which we consider publicly acceptable in our nation, might be considered rude in Korea. They are generally hospitable and companionable, but they too have some expectations from non-korean tourists. They don't like foreigners to bring in theirs customs in Korea. Other than that they are highly welcoming.
Author: Sharayu Menaria is a Travel Blogger
To join us on Facebook Click Here and Subscribe to UdaipurTimes Broadcast channels on GoogleNews | Telegram | Signal
