Since the 1960s, South Korea has gone from being one of the poorest countries in the world to becoming a first-rate economic power, with the added merit of reaching this milestone without sacrificing its tradition or rich cultural heritage.
Today it is a benchmark in cinematography, sustainable architecture, natural cosmetics, traditional medicine, social cohesion, food, spirituality… The book Maum, by the writer and teacher Hwang Seung Ok, edited by Urano, paves the way for us to incorporate our daily life some of the fundamental values ​​of that society that ensure greater well-being.
For every Korean, one’s well-being exists if it is shared with others. This empathy is linked to the enormous respect they show towards others. For them, happiness is not receiving, it is giving. In the West we never ask the other’s age when meeting him, on the other hand, in South Korea it is one of the first things one asks to know. “Officially we have six degrees of respect that are reflected in the conjugation of the verbs we use. The older the person, the more respect we show when speaking to him. Furthermore, just as in the West the name of a person is mostly used to address them, we work in a different way.
We call our brothers depending on whether they are older or younger, a teacher or boss for their position… The respect, love and inspiration we have towards that person always prevailsâ€, tells us Hwang Seung Ok, who was the first person to teach Korean in Spain and is currently a teacher at the Escola Oficial d’Idiomes de Barcelona.
Unlike other much more individualistic societies, South Koreans are clear that the things that matter are not owned by a single person. So much so that even in the case of a single-parent family, the son will use the possessive in the plural, saying “our mother”, and originality, the fact of standing out above the rest, is not a positive trait. “In South Korea we don’t look for what we don’t have, we are happy with what we have and what we can share,†adds Seung Ok.
The RAE defines dying as “reaching the end of life”, which means that in our country and in the West we fear death and it is practically a taboo subject. Instead, the Korean view is closer to a circle, so that the end is a new beginning. There are several beliefs present in the country, such as shamanism, Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. For all of them, with nuances, death is not seen as an end but as a return to the origin, “to meet their ancestors, their parents… We don’t perceive it with your drama. Formerly the eldest son had to take care of the rites in honor of his ancestors. Today we continue to meet occasionally to honor our most loved ones, but many of us already do so separately and without all the days of dedication that a ceremony implies according to the norms that religions establish. I personally have my own morning ritual to thank my parents for everything they gave me,†reveals Seung Ok.
Let’s think that in South Korea gratitude to parents is for life, as if they were gods. Even on Mother’s or Father’s Day it is the children who give money to their parents.
Although Seoul is a bustling city with ten million inhabitants, full of skyscrapers that are illuminated at night turning the city into a sea of ​​lights, Koreans do not live with their backs to nature. On the contrary, it is an essential part of their identity and occupies a very special place in their hearts.
70% of the country’s surface is made up of low-lying hills and mountains, which makes the landscape convey calm and appeasement. Human beings are an integral part of nature and can use the resources that it offers, but without damaging it and taking care of the other beings with whom they live.
Currently the mountain is no longer a place to obtain sustenance and shelter, but a space for leisure. “As a child we used to go a lot with our school friends. Today it is very fashionable to go camping and also go to spend a weekend in the temples hidden in the mountains and on the coast, something that foreigners can also do. The TempleStay cultural program brings together Buddhist temples that allow visits and staysâ€, informs the author of this book that also includes popular Korean tales and legends, many of which have both the mountains and the sea as their backdrop.
In fact, the female divers on Jeju Island who dive to 10 meters deep to fish for shellfish without oxygen masks are an example of respect for nature, the importance of the community over the individual, and the determined and strong character of women.
The term banchan refers to the typical dishes of the Korean table. While in the West we almost always have a first and second course, plus a dessert, in South Korea everyone only has their own bowl of soup and rice. The rest of the dishes are shared. You eat a lot of vegetables, with about five variants in each intake, as well as fish, meat and obviously kimchi, rich in fiber, carotenoids and a lot of vitamins.
Also, unlike westerners, they eat a lot of algae. By sharing dishes, one eats less, which keeps them healthier. In addition, his cuisine is based on organic products and processed ones are avoided. “Now it has become fashionable in cities to have urban gardens and one grows their own vegetables, which they later share with their family, friends…”, highlights the author of the book Maum.
In the West, for Korean culture, exercise and its effects on health are an obligation. Taking care of yourself is a sign of respect for parents and ancestors. Again, this is a community, family bond, not individual ownership. Breathing, both thoracic and diaphragmatic, sports, meditation and massages are part of the daily life of Koreans.
Currently, traditional medicine, closely linked to Chinese and Japanese, and scientific medicine coexist. That is why medicinal herbs are an essential element. Koreans have known and used flowers and mushrooms found in nature for centuries for healing purposes. They prepare medicines with them, which require a prior prescription.
In the same way, a series of cosmetics are produced that have become one of the main claims around the world, especially personalized face masks. Upon entering the establishment, an application is used to diagnose the client’s skin and facial features. Then, using a 3D printer, a custom face mask is created that is infused with a specific serum for the needs of that particular skin.
Crafts hold a special place in the Korean heart. The teachers and many artists of today do not have the sole and exclusive challenge of exhibiting in museums or making their creations world famous, although this has happened with Parasites, The Squid Game and K-Pop music. What prevails is to be happy doing what one does and to find harmony in the whole.
Obviously, the western influence means that success is increasingly installed in this society in artistic matters, but traditions are still much more maintained than in our country, from the embroidery and fabrics used to wrap a gift to the careful distribution of the exquisite porcelain bowls in which food will be served at the table. Of course, those who do not work and do not aspire to provide for their loved ones and contribute to achieving more community wealth are considered social outcasts.
The word Hanok refers to the traditional Korean house. It is a one-story house that is built with natural materials such as wood, stone, clay, straw and paper. They are ecological and sustainable buildings that “are inspiring all of us when it comes to focusing both new work and reforms. Personally, I love the concept of the maru, that kind of porch with a wooden floor that joins the rooms, indoors but open to the outside, which is shared by all the members of the familyâ€, explains the architect Pau Márquez, with an office own in Girona and who has spent long periods in Seoul and Daegu.
Another unique feature of traditional Korean housing is the ondol, an underground heating system that previously operated through stone channels. Today it is still used, but it no longer works with air but with hot water. Because the ground is a warm and friendly place, Koreans sit directly on it for a lot of activities, including eating. “In our country we take off our shoes when we enter the house and we walk in socks or barefoot. It is also a way to park the hectic life we ​​lead, working many hours a day, and take refuge in the tranquility of home. Problems don’t cross the door,†explains a smiling Seung Ok.
It doesn’t matter if we talk about studying, working or even having fun. The South Koreans only conceive of one way to do things: with all the energy, until reaching the limit. There is no place for half measures or indolence. For them, saying work hard when greeting a colleague is equivalent to wishing a good day. Effort is more important than innate talent. They work like this to be able to offer the best to their families and, extending this concept to society, it has been thanks to the common global effort that in half a century South Korea has managed to become a leading country internationally, especially as an exporter of technological goods. and in the services sector.
The creation of ties between workers is an important part of the labor dynamics. It is common for the company to organize activities to strengthen relations between workers, such as sports competitions, excursions or weekend getaways. “We are educated in individuality, but also in generosity and kindness, going the extra mile if necessary to satisfy the other. I remember that a while ago I was in Seoul with a Spanish friend. We went to dinner and I paid for the taxi with a card. Marta, my friend, left her phone in the car. The waitress told her not to worry about her and within 20 minutes she managed to track down the taxi driver and retrieve her iPhone,†recalls Seung Ok.
The practice of ppali ppali, living from day to day and quickly, has become a part of everyday life for Koreans. Agility is deeply ingrained in their minds as a core value. This culture that leads to working practically the whole day is not part of the Korean tradition, it is a new concept that has permeated the youth of the country.
Internet cafes, motorcycle delivery people to avoid traffic jams, tailors and plumbers who make repairs on the same day and street food establishments, but always with healthy ingredients, are already part of the Korean idiosyncrasy. But you don’t live with stress, you live with enthusiasm, with the desire to conquer the world and excite and inspire the rest, without sacrificing most of the traditions. “Let’s not forget, when they get home they will take off their shoes and the comfort of home will make them leave until tomorrow any concern that has not caused any inconvenience to the community,” concludes the author of the book.
