Koreans are a very focused and hardworking group of people. I've heard things here and there about how stressful the Korean lifestyle can be whether you are a student studying in school or an office worker. Students sometimes study for about 18 hours a day. Adult employees tend to work overtime. Not just sometimes, but most of the time. There's something called Korea's "palli palli" culture. "Palli" or "빨리" means hurry. Interestingly enough, this isn't just a phrase, it is a way of life. You'll often hear people say the phrase "palli palli," telling someone to hurry up or to go faster. It seems that Koreans are always in a hurry to catch a bus or train, etc. Koreans are normally on time or even early for things. Their attitude toward time seems to be an obvious one. The phrase "time is of the essence" comes to mind. As Americans, we can relate. We've tagged time with the value of money. I guess Koreans have as well, but I feel they've taken it a step further.
Where did this mindset come from? From what I've read, it comes from the condition Korea was in after the Korean War. At the time following the war, Korea was left in a poverty-stricken state. Self-preservation was extremely important to them. Only a few decades ago, Korea was one of the poorest countries. Now, it has the third largest economy in Asia. Their initial need for survival and growth ignited the flame, their desire to get back on their feet. This "palli palli" culture contributed to said goal and has now become embedded in Korean society. Only in 50 years, Korea has come so far thanks to this mindset, but is the stress level taking a toll on them yet?
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