Introduction to Korean Culture

Dive into the interesting and intense world of South Korea!  Informed by hundreds of years of Confucian tradition and a turbulent twentieth century, this resilient and unique contemporary culture is today renowned for global technology behemoths and the phenomenon that is BTS.  With its barbecue and kimchi, Korea is a food lover’s paradise, as long as you can handle your soju! There’s plenty to explore, from the mountainous wilderness of Seoraksan National Park to the vibrant urban sprawl of downtown Seoul. 

Our course prepares you for total Korean cultural immersion, so you can get the most out of your experience in this impressive and intriguing country.

Is this course for me?

This course will help you to embrace Korean culture, whatever your motivation may be. You’ll learn lessons that benefit you in personal, professional, academic, and civic contexts.

If you identify with any of the statements below, then this course is the perfect match.

  • I intend to move to South Korea to live, work, or volunteer
  • I plan to study in South Korea as an exchange student
  • I’m a fan of K-pop, K-drama, manhwa, Korean movies, or other forms of Hallyu (Korean pop culture)
  • Someone I know is from Korea and I’d like to improve our relations
  • I’m visiting South Korea for a long or short term trip
  • I’m curious how cultural awareness can help me to understand myself and my own culture, as well as other people and their cultures

Discover Korean Culture

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Enter the fascinating realm of Korean culture and discover ancient concepts like chaemyoun and hahn that influence societal expectations.

ENROLL

Discover Korean culture and open the door to a more profound travel experience

  • Connect with the locals: have the confidence to socialize outside of your circle and make life-long friendships
  • Avoid embarrassing faux pas: you’ll make better first impressions when you interact with respect and maturity
  • Handle culture shock like a pro: knowing what to expect and how to handle it reduces anxiety
  • See the ‘real’ South Korea: use your insider knowledge to steer clear of tourist traps and seek the most authentic experiences
  • Make the most of every moment: return home from South Korea without any regrets or missed opportunities

What’s included?

This course contains everything you need to truly immerse yourself in the fascinating culture of Korea.

  • Five jam-packed modules
  • A friendly course guide to lead the way
  • Interviews with 14 locals & expats
  • Inspiring images and videos
  • Handy course summaries
  • Fun quizzes per module
  • Official completion certificate

Meet Destiny Kim, your Korean course guide

Destiny Kim was born in LA, California, and experienced a mix of American and Korean culture as she grew up. In rediscovering her heritage she decided to plant roots in South Korea, where she now enjoys exploring the people and the food they want to share.

 

“The communities I've been a part of have been incredibly ethnically diverse, and the cultural differences would always come out at the dinner table, first.”

- Destiny Kim, Korea Course Guide

Behind the scenes

CulturaGo’s Introduction to Korean Culture is the combined effort of many passionate, dedicated, and talented individuals. 

You’ve already met your course guide, Destiny Kim. Destiny has contributed years of cultural experience and substantially created this course. 

All course material has been carefully audited for quality, accuracy, and accountability, by a top Korea Studies subject specialist and post doctoral researcher at the prestigious University of Oxford, UK. 

But that’s not all. Introduction to Korean Culture draws on the wisdom and first-hand accounts of over fourteen contributors. They include teachers, researchers, professors, students, and consultants from various areas of Korea, as well as expats from countries like the US, UK, and South Africa. 

All of this hard work as resulted in a course that’s the first of its kind: a complete cultural guide, purpose-designed to give you the most meaningful experience of South Korea. 

Course Modules

This course is made up of five easily digestible modules.

South Korea at a Glance

Start to build a picture of South Korea from the lessons in our first module, which cover topics like fashion and appearance, family roles, religion, the infamous Korean work ethic, modern Korean society, and communication.

Regions of South Korea

This module looks at South Korea’s four main regions and provides information on the country’s diverse nature and climate. You’ll also learn about the rural/urban divide in lifestyle within these lessons.

Korean Customs and Etiquette

In this next section, we begin to explore what daily life is really like in South Korea. Get answers to important questions like, “How deep should I bow when greeting someone?” and “What level of physical contact is acceptable?”

 
 

Culture Shock and Adjusting to Life in Korea

The module will prepare you for what to expect from Korean culture shock and share advice from other expats about how to overcome it. Plus, get the lowdown on what to pack (and what not to pack) and personal recommendations for an easy transition.

Becoming a Local

Ah, the satisfaction when Korea finally ‘clicks’! This module will help you to reach ‘local’ level, so you can get to know the real country. Learn the popular hang-out spots, common hobbies, where to make friends, and what the local dating scene is like.

Course Modules

This course is made up of five easily digestible modules.

South Korea at a Glance

Start to build a picture of South Korea from the lessons in our first module, which cover topics like fashion and appearance, family roles, religion, the infamous Korean work ethic, modern Korean society, and communication.

Regions of South Korea

This module looks at South Korea’s four main regions and provides information on the country’s diverse nature and climate. You’ll also learn about the rural/urban divide in lifestyle within these lessons.

Korean Customs and Etiquette

In this next section, we begin to explore what daily life is really like in South Korea. Get answers to important questions like, “How deep should I bow when greeting someone?” and “What level of physical contact is acceptable?”

 

Culture Shock and Adjusting to Life in Korea

The module will prepare you for what to expect from Korean culture shock and share advice from other expats about how to overcome it. Plus, get the lowdown on what to pack (and what not to pack) and personal recommendations for an easy transition.

 

Becoming a Local

Ah, the satisfaction when Korea finally ‘clicks’! This module will help you to reach ‘local’ level, so you can get to know the real country. Learn the popular hang-out spots, common hobbies, where to make friends, and what the local dating scene is like.

Universities and program providers we work with

We work with respected educational and travel institutions globally. Below are just a few of the institutions that have become a part of our constantly growing network and whose students and travelers have all benefited from what our courses have to offer. For more information on bringing cultural education to your students please visit our partner page. Alternatively, find out how you can work with us and deliver our courses to your audience. Get involved, let’s collaborate!

BECOME A PARTNER

Try the course in demo mode

Want to know a bit more before you sign up? Now you can sample our Introduction to Korean Culture course in a demo version for a sneak-peek at the exclusive course material in Module 1: South Korea at a Glance.

Korean Culture Course

TRY NOW

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Cultural-awareness will transform your experience abroad.

When you enroll on a CulturaGo course, you get unlimited access to loads of exclusive content. Simply log in and learn with our user-friendly online platform, and mark the lessons, modules, and knowledge assessments completed as you go. Tap into CulturaGo anytime, and take advantage of the most complete and unified resource on country-specific culture.

Getting a headstart to a more immersive, rewarding travel experience couldn’t be easier!

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