Korean culture that foreigners do not understand

Korean culture that foreigners 

do not understand

Differences between oriental and western cultures 

are agricultural culture and nomadic culture

I introduced Korean table culture 

in the last posting.

You can understand Korean culture 

only when you know its characteristics 

as an agricultural culture.

Conversely, it should be noted 

that Western culture is based on nomadic tribe.

The difference between individualism 

and communalism is 

shown as the difference in dining culture.

The gap in table culture started 

with different ways of life.

It is the difference between 

agricultural and nomadic cultures.

Let's learn about the differences 

between East and West, 

nomadic culture and agricultural culture.

Eastern cultures are 

mostly agricultural cultures. 

And most of Western culture is nomadic.

Christian culture, 

which forms the basis of Western culture, 

is based on nomadic culture.

The phrase in the Psalm, 

" God is my shepherd ... " 

the background of the Old Testament is nomad. 

Jacob is talking to an Egyptian pharaoh 

about a nomadic man himself, 

and David was a king from a shepherd.

It is very useful to understand 

Western culture. 

The essential difference 

between agricultural and nomadic cultures 

is the settlement and movement. 

Agricultural societies have lived in 

the same place for a long, long time.

Leaving is a social death. 

For that reason, 

relationships are the most important factor in life.

But nomadic society 

is always able to leave. 

Whether it is today or tomorrow, 

it is culture that leave to strange places. 

So, relation is not deep.

So Western society becomes individualism.

However, in Korea, 

the culture of ' jeong(정) '. ' 

is important. Personal intimacy 

or personal relationships 

are more important than social order.

In Korea, the destruction of a relationship 

to establish social justice is not honored 

as a righteous act.

In nomadic society, 

we should respect each other 

and not act rudely. 

Otherwise, they could face an attack 

from the other side.

However, agricultural societies 

have strict orders from above. 

Age is high and low, 

laying the groundwork for order. 

So it becomes a more hierarchical society. 

Relationships are important. 

If you disregard the order, 

you will be banished 

from the community. 

And it is agricultural society 

that can not live alone. 

Because farming can not be done alone.

This is the essential difference between 

East and West. 

Most Asian societies are based on 

agriculture. In contrast, 

the West is a nomadic culture.

To travel or live in Korea 

as a foreigner, 

one must learn about these cultures.

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