Koreans and Their Cultural Identity

[punuri]

	The international symbol of a country is its national flag. But the flag does not directly express the national identity of a people. Nationality is something that becomes ingrained in the minds and bodies of the people as they share life’s ups and downs together through the generations. It is here that we find the legacy of traditional culture, the identy that imprinted in the gene of a people. The cultural symbols of the Korean people are as varied and vibrant as those of any nation. From the cultural heritage of the ancestors to the ordinary objects of everyday life, one could name any number of symbols that capture the qualities and aesthetics unique to Koreans. The traditional costume of Koreans is the hanbok. The harmony of curved and straight lines in the simple design of the hanbok amply express the easy-going and generous nature of the Korean people. A masculine image of strength and order is conveyed by the trouser cuffs tied with jade-green ankle bands, while feminine grace and warmth is suggested by the layers of the long skirt. Koreans have their own language and writing system. In 1446, King Sejong promulgated a writing system in which Korean could be easily set down, and this is now known as hangeul. Hangeul is a phonemic alphabet with 14 consonants and 10 vowels. The shapes of the consonants resemble those of the speech organs when pronouncing them, while the vowels are modeled on heaven (ㆍ), earth (ㅡ), and man (ㅣ). Hangeul is one of the most logical and scientific writing systems in the world. It is also the only one now in use whose exact origin is known. Korean traditional cuisine is best represented by kimchi (spicy pickled vegetables) and bulgogi (barbecued beef). Kimchi was developed as a way of preserving vegetables for long periods, but it has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the health, such as producing lactic acid that cleanses the intestines, and helping to prevent geriatric diseases with its high fiber content. The flavor of Korean food lies above all in the spices. This is as true of bulgogi as it is of kimchi. When mixed with Korean spices, even fatty red meat takes on a delicate flavor unlike the rich meat dishes of the West. The result, bulgogi, pleases Western as well as Korean palates, and is popular with visitors to Korea. When it comes to Korean cultural heritage, we cannot omit the Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto. Bulguksa epitomizes the architecture of the golden age of Korean Buddhism, the Unified Silla period (668-935 A.D.). Located in the ancient Silla capital of Gyeongju, the temple is surrounded by other cultural treasures from the same period, such as the Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Birdges and the Dabotap and Seokgatap Pagodas. The Seokguram Grotto is another magnificent local monument to Buddhist philosophy and national pride. A martial art that has come to be widely known not only in Korea, but in the world, is taekwondo. Now featured as a regular event in world championships, taekwondo is a refined martial art, more for defense than offense, and a form of exercise in which mental discipline is crucial since the mind and body must be fused as one. The origin of taekwondo may lie in the Korean traditions of mental and physical training, subyeokchigi and taekgyeon. In particular, the strong masculine stance in taekwondo, apparently shifting and unstable but ready to pounce at any moment, reflects the national character of Koreans. One thing that visitors to Korea rarely leave off their shopping lists is Korea Insam (Ginseng). Compared to the ginseng grown in other countries, Korea Insam (Ginseng) has far superior medicinal effects. Known since ancient times as the Elixir of the East, the properties of ginseng are now recognized by modern medical science, and it is used as an ingredient in dozens of healthful products. Korean culture, in a nutshell, is a culture of humor and satire. Foremost in this realm is the masked dance drama, talchum. In the informal comedy and dancing of the common folk, ridiculing the foibles of the rich and powerful, can be seen both the shrewd social consciousness and the deep-seated casual tone of the Korean people. In music, the Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 is Jongmyo Jeryeak, the solemn suite performed at the royal ancestral ritual of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The music that King Sejong introduced in 1447, to commemorate the merits of the royal ancestors and perpetuate the memory of the founding of the dynasty, was re-arranged for ritual purposes in the time of King Sejo (r. 1455-1468). Jongmyo Jeryeak achieves a perfect harmony between the musical principles of 15th-century East Asia and Korea’s indigenous musical traditions, and has been transmitted faithfully by palace musicians for almost 600 years. Throughout that time, it has been recognized as a masterpiece embodying the musical aesthetics of the Joseon Dynasty with its emphasis on ritual music. The suite is divided into two halves: Botaepyeong with 11 movements, and Jeongdaeeop with 15. Combining instrumental and vocal music with a line dance (ilmu) performed by 64 dancers, it brings together the three elements of akgamu or “playing, singing, and dancing.” A number of Korean artists and musicians have won international fame for their talents. Paik Nam June has opened up a new world of creative expression‎ with his video sculptures, while the world of Western classical music has witnessed outstanding performances by Korean artists such as violinist Chung Kyung-Wha, conductor Chung Myung-Whun, and violin prodigy Jang Young-Ju. Through the excellence of these artists, Korea has begun to be recognized internationally as a land of art and culture. In short, Korea is a land with much to offer the visitor, from the beauty of Mt. Seoraksan to all the other ridges and gorges, rivers and plains, lapped on three sides by the ocean. Find out for yourself why visitors come to experience the natural and cultural beauties of Korea.