Surprising facts about South Korea

South Korea is very original country, and its history is replete with moments of dramatic and abrupt changes. Up to 60-ies of the last century, the Republic of Korea are among the poorest countries in the world. According to 1959 almost every tenth citizen of the country has been suffering from tuberculosis, and every hundredth - leprosy. In a country where there was a little water, and 90% of the population used water from rivers and public wells. But just a few years in South Korea began a period of rapid economic growth, and if in 1963 the gross national product per capita was about $ 100, but today it is more than 31 000 $.

Rapid economic growth has led to an equally violent orientation of the whole lifestyle to Western standards, receiving sometimes almost grotesque. Yet many traditions have been preserved and are still striking features unique image of South Korea.

Drunkenness

Alcohol - a longtime enemy of South Korea, and the level of alcoholism country occupies the 7th place in the world. Korean drunkenness has its own characteristics. Almost all Koreans working once a month, and many of them every weekend, satisfied with his colleagues feast, accompanied by copious libations.

Such events are called hoesik ( "hoesik") and during these feasts set of rules is required to comply. For example, if the elder pours a drink, the younger should hold the glass with both hands necessarily. If a junior elder pours, the bottle should also be held with both hands. One hand is allowed to use only pensioners and people, rebuking the government. Toast during "hoesik" follow one another, and all drink should definitely. Because of these traditions, "the corporate culture," South Korea ranks 13th in the world in per capita alcohol consumption, and in terms of pure alcohol to each of its citizens has to a year for almost 15 liters. Among the Asian countries - an absolute record.

Red ink

Each nation has its amusing superstitions. For example, for the South Koreans to write in red ink - it's like that for the Russians to meet a man with an empty bucket.

Many Koreans believe that if you write someone's name in red ink, then that person will inevitably happen is something very bad. Written in red ink on the names of the dead special flags during the funeral ceremony. It is believed that because the dead can be protected from the demons, but for live red ink - it's not protection, but rather a curse.

handshake

In order not to be considered rude or seem ridiculous, shake hands in Korea need to follow local regulations. So, people of the same social status and close friends for a handshake using only one hand. But if the handshake exchanged between boss and subordinate, or if there is a big age difference, the older hands with one hand, and the youngest shakes it necessarily both hands.

Relations between Korea and Japan

The relationship between South Korea and Japan had a special warmth did not differ. More precisely, they are either horribly bad or poor. In the past between Korea and Japan is not just military conflicts occurred, and in 1910 Japan and Korea and has won all began actively to impose their language, which, incidentally, has nothing to do with Korea. During World War II, Japan invaded Korea again and is still forced to apologize for those horrific in its cruelty and magnitude of the crimes that were committed by its military. Today the tension continues to persist because of the group of islands, which Koreans call Dokdo and consider their territory, and the Japanese call Takeshima them and also believe their own. After the Second World War the island went to Korea, but Japan stubbornly continues to challenge their sovereignty.

Drinking skirts

South Korea in many ways continues to be a very conservative country. But here's clothes it does not concern. Today, any woman can easily wear a mini-skirt and not fear any persecution or oblique views. But until 1979 in South Korea women's clothing was controlled very tightly. Regulated not only the length of skirts, which should not be above the knee, but even hair length.

Recently, when the government tried to limit the little freedom of choice suits the media workers who often look so very frivolously, in society it has caused such a stir that many have begun to argue that the government is trying to regain the old, hated all orders.

Park toilets

In South Korea, a lot of different theme parks. Moreover, the theme may be the most incredible. For example, in the city of Suwon, where the corporation Samsung Electronics office, an entertainment park, whose theme chosen toilets. It was opened in 2012 in honor of the former mayor of Sim Jae Duk, who was also the organizer and chairman of the World Organization of the toilets. For the work of this organization in 2007, Sim Jae Duk even built a special building having toilets form. After his death in 2009, the museum organized in an unusual building. The Park toilets, the exhibition, the exhibition is presented Toiletries different eras and different nations, as well as many statues, depicting people doing what no one can do for them. Entrance to the park for free.

Plastic surgery

In South Korea for plastic surgery are so quiet that no one in the head does not come to do the operation in secret. Passion for "plasticity" is so massive, that 2009 statistics, the claims that one in five Korean woman does to itself a particular plastic surgery. Many parents presented their daughters to have cosmetic surgery as a gift on the occasion of graduation. Most often, this is an operation that changes the shape of the eyes, to make it more like a European. The popularity of such operations is warmed popular reality show in which former "Ugly Betty" and "ugly" as they are, do not hesitate to call all participants, after the operation are converted into "beauties", receiving universal approval.

"Europeanization" of persons by means of surgery in Korea acquires the character of this mass insanity. People from operations are not deterred even dangerous complications. Many Koreans are willing to forever lose the opportunity to properly chew, swallow, and anything at all to feel the skin of your face, if only it was a little more like the face of a European.

Bullfighting

Bullfighting in Korea has its own specifics. Here the battle is conducted only between bulls who have been specially selected. Bulls suitable body is sent to a special farm where they pass the training course and receive a special sports diet, which in addition to the grass and hay is included also the fish, snakes and octopuses. Before the fight bulls give to drink an alcoholic beverage, then adds them to aggressiveness. Fighting in the arena and can last only a few seconds and a few hours, but they are very rarely fatal. Loser bull instinctively, just embarking on the heels of a stronger enemy, and the battle is considered complete. The winner is paid a good prize.

Terminators for jellyfish

The increased proliferation of jellyfish in our time is a real problem faced by many countries. Giant clusters of these creatures may interfere with fishing, and when swarms of jellyfish swim in the resort areas, for the locals it turns into this financial disaster, as tourists run from jellyfish like fire. In Sweden, jellyfish, filling pipes that fed water to the cooling system, led to an emergency shutdown of nuclear power plants.

Trying to control the population of jellyfish in the Korea Institute of Science and Technology are developing special robots, which gave the name JEROS. Robots have to swim in the ocean, look for jellyfish and destroy them. It is planned that JEROS will kill up to 900 kg per hour. With this performance the sea off the beaches will always be free of stinging jellyfish.