WHAT EVERY DAYSTARIAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SOUTH KOREA 
                                               
       Korea is a country divided into two: North Korea and South Korea. The accessible region is in 
       South Korea which is the discussion of this article. Kenyans visiting South Korea for the first 
       time  as  a  tourist  or  as  a  student  need  to  know  they  are  going  to  a  foreign  culture  that  is 
       completely  different  from  Kenyan  culture.  The  Koreans  refer  to  all  foreigners  as  “aliens”. 
       However,  South  Korea  as  a  country  is  friendly  and  is  NOT  a  developing  country  BUT  an 
       advanced country. The capital city is SEOUL. Some of the MAJOR things you need to know are 
       as follows: 
        1.  Language 
          The basic language spoken in Korea is Korean. Majority of the Koreans DO NOT speak 
          English language. Since it is you going to Korea, it would be important to learn basic 
          works like Hallo which they say “anyanghaseo” and thanks they say “kamsahamida”. 
          Some other basic words can be learned from you tube under KOREAN CLASS 101 
          (Also see Korean pronunciation at https://www.howtostudykorean.com/unit0/197-2/). 
          In  addition,  while greeting each other, the first thing is to mention your age. To the 
          Korean it’s an important number that is used to determine how to relate to each other. For 
          example, a third year in a particular major can go to a 1st year class and tell them what 
          they need to do. They refer to each other as “Sombe” to mean a senior student.  
           
        2.  Clothing 
          The first thing is to understand that there are four seasons in Korea with four months each.  
          A) Winter season (December, January & February) requires heavy wool clothing with 
           jackets, scarfs, boots, sneakers, socks, gloves and caps 
          B)  Spring season (March, April & May) requires LIGHT clothes from winter clothes.  
          C)  Summer season (June, July and August) needs socks, sneakers, open shoes, light 
           sunny clothes;  
          D) Fall/Autumn season (September, October & November) also needs some lighter 
           warm clothes and boots and trench coats. 
          It is important to note that the inside of ANY building, the Koreans have an alternative 
          current (AC) that warms the rooms. In the inside of the houses, the Koreans have a 
          unique heating system that warms the floor. Therefore, as you enter a Korean home 
          please be courteous to remove your shoes. 
          Also, the ladies in Korea like exposing their legs. They were hot pants at whatever the 
          season but they completely cover their upper part. Do not be surprised about that. 
           
        3.  Infrastructural developments 
          I did say that South Korea is an advanced country with heavy investments in 
          technological advancements.  
                 a)  WIFI is free is most public places especially in train stations. 
                 b)  SUBWAYS are underground inter-town trains that connect even to 
                  the remote places. They are efficient, real online time, and 
                  sometimes congested especially in Seoul. They have various 
                  categories: 
                     Express train from Incheon airport to Seoul and from Seoul to 
                    various major town in the country such as Busan, Daejon, they 
                    use KTX bullet train. 
                     Another fast train after KTX is the Saemaul-ho. It is very 
                    comfortable 
                     Slowest from one connection to another called Mugunghwa but 
                    stops every  
                  In the subway, there are special seats designated for the elderly 
                  people and the pregnant women. The government heavily supports 
                  these people. 
                 c)  BUSES are clean and efficient. They depend on real online time. 
                  They will go whether there are people or not. The time table on the 
                  bus stage most has stage stops written in Korean and that is why one 
                  needs to have basic Korean language. 
                     In both the subway and the bus. 
        4.  Job/Education 
          Koreans are generally workaholics. Government jobs and teaching profession are 
          considered very highly. Most public listed companies in the Korean exchange are 
          referred to as corporate jobs in “big” corporate companies that are enviable to every 
          Korean.  
           
          High schoolers go to school at 9:00am and are in school till 10:00pm while university 
          students especially those in science subjects are in the lab overnight. Sometimes they 
          even sleep in the lab. However, the lab amenities are excellent and nice. Team work is 
          encouraged and especially postgraduates classes. For example, they all dine together as a 
          sign of unity. 
             It is important to note that, if you change your address for example, you move 
             from the University hostel to staying outside campus; or from the prior address 
             you had given to the Embassy, then within 7 days the new address should be 
             reported to the nearest immigration. If NOT strict penalty is imposed. 
        5.  Food 
          The staple food is rice. Pork and chicken are the cheapest type of meat available BUT 
          they do not eat dog meat as Kenyan think of. By the way beef is very expensive. 
          However, they have a pork meat you grill as you eat called as “sangyopsal”. Wow. Most 
          food is boiled for Koreans believe in healthy foods but have a variety of tasteful spices. 
          The Koreans also have a lot of side dishes that ae so yummy. During meals most Koreans 
          take beer called as “Soju”. Also, coffee is the best drink that is taken every time like we 
          take tea in Kenya. The Koreans LOVE Kenyan coffee! 
           
          Most food in Korean is spicy! They take rice and soup for breakfast, rice and various side 
          dishes for lunch and dinner. The traditional Korean dish is Kimchi salted and fermented 
          cabbage and Korean radishes, with a lot of dried red paper. The best food is kimchi fried 
          rice, bibimpap (fried rice with vegetables, mandu (like Kenyan samosa but boiled), 
          bulgogi (fried rice with pork) etc. 
            
        6.  Trashes 
          This is very important in Korea. Green environment has been entrenched from the 
          primary schools to the government. They have a minimum of 4 kinds of trashes: 1) 
          plastics, 2) cans 3) food; 4) paper, clothes etc. NOTE: Adherence is very important in that 
          country. If you do not comply to the regulation, penalty is very high.   
        7.  Values 
          Korea has tried to maintain its respect and honour. The social status is highly recognized. 
          They prefer greeting each other by bowing down. The child boys to the elder person and 
          so the younger bows to the older. Age mates/college mates/social status mates bow to 
          each other.  
          The Korean culture encourages exchange of PRACTICAL gifts such as fruits, beauty 
          gifts, vegetables, coffee, and candies/chocolates. They avoid giving each other cash let it 
          mistaken for a bribe.  
           
        8.  Supermarkets 
          Most international products are found in E-mart and Home-plus. Watch out for them. In 
          other marts and shops learn to ask for discounts “Kaka chuseo” in everything especially 
          jewelries, clothes and open market goods. The Koreans encourage companies to give 
          tastes and triers of their products before they are purchased. By the way you can taste as 
          much as you want. It’s not a big deal for them.  
       DISCLAIMER: 
       Koreans have many washrooms everywhere BUT they do not throw their tissue inside the toilets 
       like we do. They throw them in toilet bins and sometimes the sight is disgusting!!! The men also 
       spit a lot on the ground. Watch out. This was my personal experience and I am just giving tips on 
       what to know. Most students/people have been referred to me to give them a snap shot of what to 
       know about Korea. Enjoy as you read. This is one of my best countries to go over and over again. 
       Dr. Dorothy Muthoka – Kagwaini, is a Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Economics and 
       Deputy Director, Center for Quality Assurance at Daystar University. She can be reached on 
       email: dmuthoka@daystar.ac.ke