110: Cultural Post #7

[James Kim]

Family values and respect in the family is extremely important in the Korean culture. Sons and daughters usually speak in "Nopinmal" (a style of speaking directed to people with higher respect-level) to their parents although some do not. Also, the father of any family is more respected than the mother, although this has been changing more recently. For example, when I eat with my grandparents, no one eats until our grandfather takes the first bite of his dish. Also, in Korea, divorces are very frowned-upon compared to America. I don't know any Korean friends whose parents are divorced but a lot of my non-Korean friends' parents are separated. Up until the 1970's, most Korean marriages were arranged and Koreans have a unique style of wedding called the traditional Korean wedding. Koreans who get married these days usually take part in both the typical wedding ceremony and the traditional Korean wedding. Lastly, in the Korean family household, the first son is usually more valued than the other children. I know this from experience because I am a first child.