Family is a very important aspect in Korean culture. Though Korea has an independent culture, but family is a very dependent culture.
In American culture, once you are 18, you are legally an adult and can leave the family. Some American families have their children move out at 18 to help them get a sense of the real world. However, in Korean culture, kids are expected to live and stay with their family until they get married, but some still stay in the main home after marriage.
Since young, children are taught the idea of filial duty. Things like treating parents respectfully at all times, taking care of them in their old age, mourning them well at proper funerals, and performing ceremonies for them after their death. Filial duty is the way for children to repay their debt to their parents for giving birth and raising them. Aside from the actions/performance that are done as filial duty, to completely repay the debt in full, the children must have children to continue their family line.
Comments