10 strange things in South Korea

In 2010, the capital of South Korea, the 10-million-year-old Seoul, received the honorary title of the capital with the best design. This city, whose age is confidently approaching two and a half thousand years, is really very beautiful and every year attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world. 

The Koreans themselves are an amazing people who have managed to preserve many unique traditions, despite the onslaught of globalization that erases any national differences. Many of these traditions and features may seem very, very specific to European tourists coming to the country.

1. Toilet humor is very popular in South Korea.

Jokes, funny and not so funny, on the subject of the toilet in South Korea can be found at every turn. The very process of defecation is considered so funny that it is dedicated to an entire open-air park with all sorts of highly realistic sculptures and installations. In pastry shops, you can often see cookies and other sweets decorated in the form of poop, and souvenir shops cover this topic in all details. None of the locals are outraged or shocked by this. No one gets sick of such jokes. Everyone's having fun.

2. Friendly hugs.

Europe has long been completely indifferent to kisses, hugs and other violent displays of affection in public places, if this is done by representatives of different sexes. If the same thing is done by a man with a man or a woman with a woman, then they will be perceived as a homosexual couple. South Korea has its own logic in this regard. Caressing young people of the opposite sex in public places is considered the height of indecency, but friends of the same sex can walk around holding hands, sit on each other's knees, gently touch each other's hair — and this will not be considered a manifestation of disrespect for society or a sign of non-traditional sexual orientation.

3. Plastic surgery literally overwhelms the South Korea.

Today, South Korea has the reputation of being one of the leaders in the number of plastic surgeries per capita. There are so many good plastic surgeons here that even foreigners come to see them, combining fascinating tourism with changing their appearance. In addition, prices in Korea for such services are much lower than in Europe and the United States, so the business is only gaining momentum every year.

One of the most common operations in South Korea is eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Both girls and boys, almost without hesitation, risk their health and go under the surgeon's knife only to purchase a "European" eye incision.

4. Motels for love joys.

For young people from decent families in this country, it is considered unacceptable to show any tender feelings in public places. Parental control in families is also unusually strict. Nothing can be done — this is a tribute to centuries-old traditions. But the Koreans have come up with a very clever way to combine both the external observance of Puritan traditions and modern emancipation (or, as retrogrades call it, "promiscuity and the decline of morals"). Young couples go to kiss not on the benches of the nearest park, as they do in Europe, but in mini-motels, of which there are a great many in South Korea.

5. K‑Pop Music

K-Pop is the common name for Korean pop music. It has quite a few specific features and enjoys great success not only in South Korea itself, but also in other Asian countries. Performers gather thousands of people at concerts, and fans often have real tantrums up to fainting.

Groups working in this musical genre usually consist of several young men and women between the ages of 16 and 24. K-Pop's musical compositions combine features of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and electropop, and the lyrics often sound not in Korean, but in English. There are so many fans of this music that it is already considered a full-fledged international youth subculture.

6. Ajumma.

Ajumma is the name given to elderly ladies in South Korea. One of the specific features of Korean culture is the extremely respectful attitude of the younger members of society to the older ones. At the same time, elderly ladies acquire a surprisingly high status and can do literally anything they want. The Ajumma use it very actively. In crowded public transport, they are, as they say, "straight ahead" — after all, they all have to give way, so why stand on ceremony. They consider it their duty to make loud comments about the behavior of all those who belong to the younger age group, and if young people have the audacity not to listen to their words, then ajumma can even spit at them. And no one dares to object or be indignant.

7. Alcohol abuse.

In South Korea, this evil has a truly cyclopean scale — the country chronically ranks first in the consumption of hot drinks. In the evening, after the end of the working day, the streets of the cities are literally clogged with citizens who can barely stand on their feet. Drunk people behave, however, extremely peacefully and decently, and fights occur extremely rarely. Some bring themselves to such a state, resting after hard work, and for others, late feasts with irrepressible libations, surprisingly enough, are a kind of continuation of the working day. According to the Korean "corporate culture", if the boss invites subordinates to drink after work, then it is absolutely impossible to refuse. So the recruits first have to drink through the force, and then by an irrepressible desire.

8. Matching outfits — Korean youth trend.

If the meeting of several fashionistas in absolutely identical outfits in Europe is perceived as a fiasco, then in South Korea it is a popular trend. Young people deliberately try to dress up as twins. In this way, they show everyone else that they are good friends. Boutique owners are well aware of this fashion craze and do their best to help their customers buy exactly the same sets of clothes.

9. Incredible speed of food delivery from restaurants.

Delivery of different food in all developed countries works very well, but in South Korea it is brought to a virtuoso level. The customer barely has time to put down the phone, as the courier who delivered the treat already rings at the door. You can also not worry about returning the dishes to the restaurant-they are simply put out of the door after the meal is over. A little later, the courier will stop by and pick up the dirty dishes without further questions.

10. Ultrashort skirts.

Mini-skirts today, it would seem, can not surprise anyone, but the residents of South Korea still succeed. Many young women have their hair so short that when they walk up the stairs, they have to cover themselves with handbags or newspapers, so as not to worry passers-by too much. At the same time, the Korean public treats such outfits quite calmly. But if a girl decides to wear even a very moderate cleavage, then she can not avoid disapproving looks and offensive remarks. And if she, being in such a dress, is not lucky enough to run into someone from Ajumma, then she will not only be loudly cursed with the last words, but also spit after her.