- Seventh Cultural Post: Attitudes about Family in the Target Culture
Family is very important in Korea. It is what everything is really based off of. It is important to show filial piety to elders and make sure you are taking care and respecting your elders. In the United States, it is common for elders to go into retirement homes. However, in Asia that would be considered very disrespectful and would rarely happen. It would only happen if the member of family requires constant care. But even then, a member of the family would still have to come visit very often and help the family member. Furthermore, a lot of Korean children have a lot of pressure because they want their parents to be proud of them. They also really care a lot about family closeness. They have special terms to call brother in a more loving and cute way. In addition, in Korea the man of the house is definitely the father. They still hold a very strong position in the family. Korea still do not find women complete equals of men. My mother warned me that Korean men have a tendency to believe they are the man of the house and that they make the decisions. However, this can be a stereotype as well. However, in the past this is a true statement but with time it has changed. It is also very important to call elders like grandparents and uncles and aunts by the right name. Korean culture do not allow children to call their parents by their first names and should always call by Appa and Omma. It would be considered very rude and disrespectful to talk and call their parents as if they were the same age as you.
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