10 things that surprise all tourists in South Korea

If you decide to visit South Korea, be prepared for surprises! Here, all sorts of oddities and surprises are found almost at every step. For example, Korean women almost always sit with a blanket over their legs, and on Valentine's Day, which, by the way, is celebrated on November 11, the second halves are given not "valentines" or flowers, but ... cookies.

But that's not all! Read about other oddities of South Korea in our article.

We consider it extremely indecent to slurp and talk with a full mouth at the table, but in Korea, on the contrary, the louder you slurp - the better! The fact is that here it is considered a sign of pleasure from eating. Therefore, the host who invited you to visit may even be offended if you don't slurp at lunch.

Koreans can sleep anywhere and anytime - noise and other external factors are not a hindrance for them. They can be said to have been taught this ability since childhood. It is not customary for Korean children to be laid in complete silence, as is usually done here. On the contrary, parents can put the child to sleep with the lights on or in a crowded room. It is believed that this way the nervous system of children will be stronger.

As you know, in the Country of Morning Freshness, great attention is paid to the appearance of a person. No wonder plastic surgery is so popular here! About your beauty in Korea is not only worried about girls, but also men. They use care and decorative cosmetics without any prejudice, they can apply toning agents and even blush — no one will be surprised by this.

There is a "parent patrol" in Korean schools: every day two parents-inspectors check how the educational process is progressing, what students are fed in canteens, what they do at recess, and so on… In a word, they keep order. During the patrol, moms and dads wear special uniforms and follow a pre-arranged schedule, which indicates when and what to do.

Young people in relationships are not at all shy about showing their "family status" to others. Therefore, in South Korea, you can often see guys and girls dressed in the same style of clothes. Such a dress code for lovers, which immediately makes it clear to everyone around them that they are a couple in front of them.

Another funny thing about romantic relationships. In South Korea, you are unlikely to meet a couple on the street where the guy is shorter and the girl is taller, or the guy is thin and his chosen one is plump. As you have already understood, appearance is in the first place for Koreans, therefore, when choosing a partner, they are guided by a whole set of unspoken rules, thanks to which it is possible to choose the "ideal" soulmate. The main criteria are suitable height, weight, physique, secondary - age and even blood type.

Locals are used to giving each other only the essentials. They consider gifts like toys, figurines, jewelry, flowers or sweets useless. Therefore, do not be surprised if a Korean friend presents you with a package of toilet paper for your birthday. Just accept and say "thank you", because he really tried to take care of your comfort and well-being.

Absolutely all supermarkets in Korea have special shelves with tasting products so that customers can taste the product before putting it in the basket. There are always a lot of products laid out for sampling, you can take as much as you want and no one follows the tasting process — they just put it in. In general, a real paradise for lovers of free refreshment.

In the evening, usually on Friday or Saturday, Korean policemen block one of the traffic lanes and check all drivers (except taxi drivers) with a breathalyzer. Everyone falls under the gaze of the guards: motorcyclists, truckers, and car drivers. When they see the patrol, they are obliged to stop and breathe into a breathalyzer.

If the police find that the alcohol content in the driver's blood exceeds 0.05-0.10 ppm, he will have to pay an impressive fine of $ 1,400-$ 2,800 (from 92 to 185 thousand rubles).

One point is not enough to fully reveal this topic, but we will try anyway. Firstly, Korean girls have their own beauty standards: V- and S-lines are valued in women's appearance. V stands for a chiseled chin, and S is the outline of the figure. If the latter can still be changed somehow by yourself with the help of diets or gym workouts, then Korean women have a real problem with the former… Inconsistency with the "ideal" forces them to seek help from plastic surgeons. Jaw correction operations are considered one of the most common here.

Another oddity no longer concerns appearance, but is also worthy of attention. Local girls sit in public places, covering their feet with a blanket or a blanket. This is necessary for girls who wear mini to protect themselves from embarrassment, and also allows you to save personal space.

And local girls rarely laugh, and if they do, they always cover their mouth with their hand. In the past, Korean women were taught that laughing was not too feminine, so if something made them laugh, they had to turn away or hide a smile. Many people still have this habit.