[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

The BBC explores how the South Korean language was designed to unify, Korea Expose looks at why South Korea became so rich, learn how American Spam become a luxury gift following the Korean War, and can South Korea learn anything from North Korea?

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"How the South Korean Language was designed to unify"

In this creative nonfiction piece on the BBC, Ann Babe describes her first experience with Korea and its language as an English teacher in the satellite city of Suwon. "South Korea's communal values are tied to its compact size, ethnically homogenous population and ardent nationalism", writes Ann, and here she highlights a number of unique features of the Korean language and its surrounding culture towards understanding a little more of both.

...READ ON BBC

"How Did South Korea Become So Rich?"

South Korea appears to be doing extremely well for itself. Massive global brands like Samsung have helped the country become one of the most successful economically, but not too long ago things weren't so prosperous, they were bleak. The Korea War was devastating, "But within a single generation, South Korea has moved from starvation to prosperity, poverty to philanthropy". What happened? How did a small mountainous strip between superpowers in Asia become such a rich and powerful nation?

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE

"Spam: A Luxe Gift in South Korea"

While South Korea's rise over the past sixty years does require an explanation, so does the country's seeming obsession with Spam. In Korea, and since the Korean War, Spam has become somewhat of a premium brand, the perfect (and expected) gift for big national holidays such as Chuseok and New Year. In this post on Next Avenue (which also includes a short video), Kaomi Goetz explores the history behind Korea's love of Spam, and why this is one cultural trend from Korea that is probably not likely to form the crest of the so-called Korean Wave.

...READ ON NEXT ANENUE

"Can South Korea Learn Anything from North Korea?"

Besides the overwhelming evidence that, all things considered, South Korea has managed to flourish economically, socially, and politically in the aftermath of the Korean War, are there any lessons South Korea can take from the DPRK today? "Short answer: yes. North Korea is a glaring example to all countries of what not to do".

...READ ON KOREA EXPOSE