I have mentioned it in a few post before about how much I respect Korea's culture, over the years I have nurtured different kind of aspirations and admiration for some of the sculptures and traditions I have seen in movies. Though it might seem ancient but I am greatly fascinated by how those things come to be. Most of the stories about the foundation of the ancient kingdom of Geogoyeo are mostly portrayed in kdramas, I guess it is their way of reminding themselves of their origin and history which is just my speculation and assumption of reasons behind most of kdrama that focuses on traditional sequence.
It is quite magical to travel through time by assimilating fabrics of history portrayed and illustrated in these movies. I guess the assumption of uses and gratification theory of communication must be right which outlined the fact that people seek out the media to satisfy some specifics needs in my own case the more kdrama series I consume the more interested I'm in their life style. It should be noted that as humans we are led by the intangible imaginations in our minds, As insignificant as it might seem at first it piles up and dictates our area of focus.
In most developing countries, it is mostly considered an act of development as they tend to demolish most cultural buildings to create space for modern houses. it doesn't seem to be a wrong practice to an extent, as this practice tends to attract investors and develop the country into a modern tourist attraction. As advantageous as it might seem in fostering development, this act is known to also serve as an impediment to cultural heritages. Culture is more than just language and people, Historical buildings and sculptures also play a part.
Apart from the way Korea is portrayed in movies, I have always been amazed by how they manage to induct modern lifestyle while keeping their cultural heritage in place which is something rare among developing nations. The cultural aspect of Koreans goes beyond their sculptures, drawings, languages, they also carry it along into the modern world. For instance there are some restrictions on the kind of movies that can be displayed on the most popular movie streaming network such as Netflix in korea. I read an article about a year ago about how a movie called "it is okay not to be okay" was facing some charges due to how gruesome some of the adult scenes acted in the movie were.
In this current era where there is barely any significance placed on the importance of such restrictions, to see a country still uphold such pillar of decency is something that I consider to be highly commendable. I'm not saying they are saints but I applaud their public showcase of the importance of upholding their cultural background.
I would not say that is all I admire about Korea in my adventurous quest for cultural experience in Korea if I'm privileged, like I said earlier there is more to culture than sculptures and buildings, just like the old definition goes "culture is a totality way of life of group of people" so what is culture without the food aspect of it lol, I'm sure you guessed it already. There are a list of Korean foods I have gotten accustomed to from most of their movies.
- Kimchi
- Bibimbap
- Rice cake (tteokbokki)
- Jajangmyeon
Well these are the popular dishes I'm aware of from the series I have watched, there are more but let's leave it at that lol.
Apart from being fascinated by Koreans culture. I have always desired to get exposed to different cultural practices which differs from the one I was born into. South Korea being a country that preserves cultural heritage, which seems like a nation filled with different kind of artifacts that can only be found in museums. And also take my time to see Statue of King Sejong in central Seoul which I have only seen in movies, it is considered one of the most cherished monument in South Korea to commemorate the achievement of King Sejong and also visit Gyeongbok Palace which is considered one of the most culturally enriched palace in the world.
If I had the chance to relocate there, would I? I don't think so, I would love to just visit there for tourism, not to become a permanent resident. I mean the moment I visit there, knowing the kind of person I'm, I would surely want to explore other places in the world. So if that is the plan, what will be the point of relocating?
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled "Another country" in hive learners community.
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