10 Strange and Fascinating Truths About South Korean Society

10 Strange and Fascinating Truths About South Korean Society

South Korea is a nation of dizzying contrasts. It is a land where ancient Confucian traditions exist side by side with hyper-modern technology, where relentless hard work is put into balance with an energetic culture of leisure and entertainment. In many ways, the outside world knows it as the land of K-pop, kimchi, and world-leading tech giants like Samsung. Beneath the surface, however, lies a society filled with intricate and often surprisingly bizarre social codes and phenomena to outsiders. Understanding them is key to understanding real South Korea. Here are ten aspects of its society that perhaps might seem strange but are fundamental to its identity.

#### 1. The National "Sitting" Exam: The Day the Country Stands Still

Every November, the entire nation of South Korea holds its breath. This is the day of the Suneung, the eight-hour-long College Scholastic Ability Test, which determines the trajectory of nearly every young person's life. The strangeness is not the exam itself but the extreme, nationwide mobilization that it triggers. On this day, the stock market opens late to reduce traffic, and office workers are encouraged to start late. To prevent noise during the crucial English listening section, all takeoffs and landings at airports are suspended for 40 minutes. Police cars are deployed to shuttle late-running students to their test centers, and entire families and underclassmen gather outside test venues, praying and cheering. The pressure is such that it is a day of national anxiety, reflecting a society in which educational success is not just a personal goal but a family and social imperative of the highest order.

2. The "Fan Death" Myth and Its Modern Paradox

For decades, one of the more persistent urban legends in circulation maintained that sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan running could kill you. The reasons vary from hypothermia and asphyxiation to the cutting up of oxygen molecules by the fan. While this has been scientifically debunked and is now fading among the younger generation, its prevalence among the older generation of Koreans points to a fascinating cultural trait-apparent respect for authority and mass uncritical acceptance of ideas. Even more remarkable is the modern- day twist: many fan manufacturers in Korea still include automatic shut-off timers, again not because they believe it, but that is what the market expects-a great example of how a society pragmatically answers a superstition that is no longer wholly believed.

#### 3. The Blood Type Personality Culture

In the West, people may ask, "What's your zodiac sign?" but a question that's common on a blind date in South Korea, or in a new workplace, might be "What's your blood type?" And like astrology elsewhere, Koreans have long believed blood types determine personality. Type A individuals are conscientious and reserved; Type Bs, passionate and creative; Type O, outgoing and optimistic; and Type ABs, quirky and rational. Although this belief is popular in Japan, too, and these days is treated more as a fun icebreaker rather than serious science, its prevalence in popular culture, dating profiles, and even corporate team-building exercises reflects a very human desire to quickly categorize and understand social compatibilities.

#### 4. The Plastic Surgery "Acknowledgment" Culture

Cosmetic surgery is common in many countries, but in South Korea, especially within the high-class city area of Gangnam, it has become a normalized and overt industry. What seems strange to outsiders is not just the high rate of the procedures but the cultural attitude toward it. It's not always a secret. It is common for friends and families to give gift certificates for double-eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty as high school or university graduation presents. While people do not necessarily broadcast their procedures, there is a level of social acknowledgment that is far more open than in the West. This reflects a society in which "improving" one's appearance to fit a certain standard is seen as a pragmatic and acceptable form of self-care and investment in one's future, socially and professionally.

#### 5. The Age-Counting System Where You Are Born "One"

The traditional Korean way of counting age, or "Korean age," has often perplexed foreigners. A baby is considered one year old at birth and gains another year on New Year's Day, not on his or her birthday. That means if a baby were born on December 31st, then on January 1st he or she would be two years old. The system puts a heavy emphasis on collective aging-everybody becomes one year older on New Year's Day-rather than individual birthdays. While the government has moved toward using the international age system legally and administratively, the traditional system remains deeply embedded in social interactions, language, and hierarchy, since age determines the formality of the language and the respect it deserves.

6. The "Couple Culture" and Item-Fication of Relationships South Korea takes romance to a whole new level with its intense "couple culture." It's not enough to be dating; couples are expected to perform their relationship publicly. This manifests in the obsession with "couple items" – matching outfits, shoes, smartphones, and even underwear. There are special days to celebrate on the 14th of every month (Rose Day, Kiss Day, etc.), with Valentine's Day split into two: one where women give gifts to men, and White Day a month later where men reciprocate. This commercialized and highly visible performance of love can seem strange, but it serves a social function, solidifying the relationship in the eyes of peers and providing a structured script for romance in a fast-paced, socially competitive environment. #### 7. The Underground Bunker Cafés and "Room Salons" One fascinating use of urban space involves many South Korean businesses being located underground or in nondescript buildings without visible signage. This is particularly true of themed cafés-so-called board game cafés, animal cafés, etc.-and private "room salons." The strangeness lies in the intentional concealing of them. For room salons-exclusivist, expensive entertainment venues for business deals and male socializing-the discretion pertains to privacy and status. For themed cafés, it's a question of making an exclusive "insider" feel. This vertical use of city space, and the culture of hidden and specialized spots for socializing, reflect a society that privileges privacy, in-group belonging, and the efficient use of limited real estate. #### 8. The "Skinship" Paradox South Korean society is strongly Confucian, with a strong sense of formality and reserve, particularly between different generations and genders. This is perhaps juxtaposed against a high degree of acceptable physical contact, or "skinship," with same-sex friends. It is completely normal to see young female friends walking hand-in-hand, linking arms, or even touching each other's faces. Male friends are also often physically demonstrative in a way quite foreign to many Western cultures. This paradox—public formality alongside public physical affection between friends—highlights the importance of tight, intimate peer groups, or "cheong," which provide emotional support in a high-pressure society. #### 9. The Professional Mourners of Corporate Funerals A strange and touching, ritualistic practice is a good example of how closely corporate and social life are intertwined: large Korean corporations sometimes hire professional mourners for the funerals of high-ranking executives or company founders. The mourners, clad in black, would wail and loudly cry throughout the service. This actually comes from Confucian traditions in which the expression of great grief was a sign of respect. Within the modern corporate context, this functions to visually and audibly demonstrate the company's collective sorrow and respect, making sure the ceremony has the appropriate gravitas. It’s a stark, strange reminder of the almost familial expectations within the Korean corporate structure. #### 10. The "Hell Joseon" Mindset and the Escape Fantasies Beneath the gleaming surface of technological advancement and cultural cool, there's a deep-seated social pessimism, especially among the youth, known as the "Hell Joseon" mindset. "Joseon" is a term that refers to the old, hierarchical Korean kingdom, and the term means to describe a feeling that modern South Korea is a hellscape of impossible competition, few opportunities, and rigid social structures. The oddness of this phenomenon is that it occurs among the very generation that would seem to have the most. Driving this has been a counter-culture of "escape"-not physical, but mental. Many young people find comfort and an alternative identity in foreign cultures; dream of immigrating to countries perceived as less pressured; or immerse themselves in virtual worlds. This jarring national pride and internal critique expose a society keenly aware of its own flaws and pressures. These ten points make it clear that South Korea is a society in constant negotiation with itself: between tradition and hyper-modernity, between collective pressure and individual desire, between public performance and private struggle. What may seem strange at first glance is often a logical, if extreme, adaptation to the unique pressures and history of this dynamic and fascinating nation.