Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
has existed in one form or another since the Three Kingdoms Period more than a millenni-
um ago. In recent decades Gyeongsang has developed a reputation for being an industrious,
relatively wealthy place, home to many of the nation's leaders and some of its most power-
ful corporations. Largely agricultural Jeolla, on the other hand, was regularly dismissed as
poor and backward, a breeding ground for student radicals and communist sympathizers.
These stereotypes and interregional resentment were often nurtured by politicians, and they
sometimes flared into open conflict, such as an uprising in Gwangju in 1980 that saw cit-
izens wrest control of the city from the central government. Jeju Island has also traditionally
regarded itself as distinct from the mainland and was a hotbed of dissent when the nation
was newly formed.
Regional tensions are now largely confined to the odd off-color joke, however, and while
they may creep into some South Koreans' hiring or marital decisions, they are unlikely to
present a problem or even be apparent to most expatriates.
Customs and Etiquette
Korean etiquette is a thorny issue for many foreign residents, mainly because initially there
seems to be a distinct lack of it. Behavior that would be seen as rude or inconsiderate in
most Western countries—someone barging their way into an elevator before anyone's had
a chance to get off, talking loudly on their mobile phone in an enclosed space, or jumping
ahead of other people in a queue—is not uncommon here, and has been known to ruin many
an expatriate's day. While these kinds of experiences can never be welcomed, it can help to
understand some of the thinking (or lack thereof) that lies behind them.
In a sense, the basic Korean rules of conduct could almost be viewed as opposite to the
Western ones. North Americans and Europeans are generally reserved and self-conscious
around strangers but loosen up a bit in the presence of family or friends. For Koreans, rela-
tionships are everything—and if you don't have a relationship of some kind with someone,
whether through family, work, school, or marriage, they're not worthy of much consider-
ation. Koreans therefore tend to give little thought to how they treat or are perceived by
strangers, but they are incredibly conscientious, even formal, around their friends and relat-
ives.
There are also cultural factors at play. Confucian tradition gives the aged status above
just about everyone else, and you'll notice a lot of the more “assertive” behavior comes
from older people, especially older men, who may see taking that seat on the subway or
 
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