Whats something about Korea you know that many people don't know?

We as a nation are screwed. We will be extinct in under 100 years due to negative birthrates and aging population. Second we are not self sufficient we import a huge amount of our power and food. Any external crisis could cripple us. Third Samsung literally runs the country

SK is quickly becoming Nato's second arsenal.

Their defense sector is f*cking amazing lol

North Korea is best Korea

Quote from kazuyakamenashi

Second we are not self sufficient we import a huge amount of our power and food. Any external crisis could cripple us.

its not surprising, most countries that occupy such little land mass usually doesn't have enough resources within that land to support their people.

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Quote from Kataphract

SK is quickly becoming Nato's second arsenal.

Their defense sector is f*cking amazing lol

This is widely known and expected. As a nation we are basically a warrior country it's one of the reasons we have this age hierarchy and unfortunately bullying. When you have a nation that has basically only known war and tragedy for over a hundred years with little peace, this is the result. We've had trouble since before Japan conquered us. Then we dealt with that shit and then the Korean war in which our enemies China and north Korea never signed a peace treaty. The cease fire has gone on for 70yrs there are occasional border skirmishes in which both sides are engaged in firefights. So you have a enemy that wants to wipe out your existence just a few km away from you, stands to reason that everyone is on edge all the time. Behind the facade of kpop happy times we live a double life of ready for war all the time. Ukraine was just w reminder of how this fragile peace can end in a second and we will not end up like that again. This is why so many people hold military service in high regard like a right of passage because you need it to survive. It's one of the reasons we became one of the most patriotic people on earth, even Koreans that hate our home with in a heartbeat will come back to defend it without thinking about it. If money were no obstacle we would be a fortress nation a wall around it with nukes on every corner

Quote from kazuyakamenashi

This is widely known and expected. As a nation we are basically a warrior country it's one of the reasons we have this age hierarchy and unfortunately bullying. When you have a nation that has basically only known war and tragedy for over a hundred years with little peace, this is the result. We've had trouble since before Japan conquered us. Then we dealt with that shit and then the Korean war in which our enemies China and north Korea never signed a peace treaty. The cease fire has gone on for 70yrs there are occasional border skirmishes in which both sides are engaged in firefights. So you have a enemy that wants to wipe out your existence just a few km away from you, stands to reason that everyone is on edge all the time. Behind the facade of kpop happy times we live a double life of ready for war all the time. Ukraine was just w reminder of how this fragile peace can end in a second and we will not end up like that again. This is why so many people hold military service in high regard like a right of passage because you need it to survive. It's one of the reasons we became one of the most patriotic people on earth, even Koreans that hate our home with in a heartbeat will come back to defend it without thinking about it. If money were no obstacle we would be a fortress nation a wall around it with nukes on every corner

yea ik

but sk's defense sector is strong to invest in now

I recently went to SK for the first time and spent time in Seoul doing the tourist things: eat, walk around, and learn new things. Seoul is lovely city and most people we interacted with were so very nice. Three things left an impression on me during the trip, besides the delicious food:

1. SK's culture and view of birth, life, and death was very fascinating and at the National Folk Museum, they had a great exhibition that captured the Korean POV of life. The ceremonies, beliefs, and the seasons etc.

2. Ginseng and the relationship with SK. It's reallllllly fascinating - there are only 3 key species are from South Korea, China and the US and it's either wild or cultivated~!

3. Ancient history between China and South Korea - during key periods, both had trade and diplomatic relations - it's interesting to see how they influence each other. I forget that Empress Gi during the Yuan Dynasty was from Goryeo - yes, there was a K-drama about her but I don't think it was so accurate hahaha

Quote from JiminieKookie

Different than the country I live in there seem to be a lot stores in Korea who do the "buy one get one for free" thing. Like You buy 1 drink and the 2nd one in the store is for free etc.

Here in Germany it is sometimes a deal in mainly shoe or underwear stores, but than often only when it says "buy 5 get the cheapest for free" or "Buy 1 get one free (only if you buy things that are allready on sale)" etc. and stores like drugstores or supermarkets etc. don't really do that. But than again we have a lot other types of deals here like when a few items suddenly go on sale and instead of 1,99€ it's 1,59€ or when they hang out coupons that read "get 1€ off when you spend 6€ or more on Nivea" etc.

I saw a lot videos where some people in Korea almost got half of their entire grocery and drugstore shopping for free cause they only took the "Buy 2 get 2 for free" deals or similiar and that looks crazy to me

The buy 1 get 1 free is a popular marketing tactic across Asia. It is very common in Thailand too. Most stores will have a buy 1 get 1 free promo at least a few times each year - but it's basically to also clear stock especially for items that may expire soon. So I ALWAYS check the expiration date carefully if I am considering this buy 1 get 1 free deal.

Where in Germany are you? When I was a child back in the late 80's, I lived for 3 years in a small town in Bavaria. I have great memories of those years.

Quote from JiminieKookie

NRW

Close to Münster?

Quote from kazuyakamenashi

This is widely known and expected. As a nation we are basically a warrior country it's one of the reasons we have this age hierarchy and unfortunately bullying. When you have a nation that has basically only known war and tragedy for over a hundred years with little peace, this is the result. We've had trouble since before Japan conquered us. Then we dealt with that shit and then the Korean war in which our enemies China and north Korea never signed a peace treaty. The cease fire has gone on for 70yrs there are occasional border skirmishes in which both sides are engaged in firefights. So you have a enemy that wants to wipe out your existence just a few km away from you, stands to reason that everyone is on edge all the time. Behind the facade of kpop happy times we live a double life of ready for war all the time. Ukraine was just w reminder of how this fragile peace can end in a second and we will not end up like that again. This is why so many people hold military service in high regard like a right of passage because you need it to survive. It's one of the reasons we became one of the most patriotic people on earth, even Koreans that hate our home with in a heartbeat will come back to defend it without thinking about it. If money were no obstacle we would be a fortress nation a wall around it with nukes on every corner

Idols are probably as patriotic as other koreans. I allways get secondhand emparassment if i see "fans" complain about their faves have to serve or perform for the military.

Even if people dont like the army, everyone understand their neccessarity and is willing to support it.

Quote from superyeah

The concept of han (or haan) and how it has such an impact on Korean culture and Korean entertainment. It’s been depicted in many K-dramas and on numerous K-pop songs.

I just read about it

I guess it's similar to the Chinese (government mainly) talking about the century of humiliation

Quote from JiminieKookie

Many poor and single grandmothers in Korea become prostitutes to earn more money to feed themselfs

They often sit in parks and men who like that type of woman know where to find them since they know exactly what type of grandma they have to aproach in the park since at the time those old women hang around the park almost no other type of people apeares at the park

A study from 2014 showed that back than 25% of the 60+ old women were poor and that half of them offered payed sex even tho its actually illegal in Korea

This os is quite common here there's even entire small towns that the red light district is their primary source of income. Sux but people have to live somehow. Our country also doesn't have many social programs like western countries soo many people do slip through the cracks.

Also old habits die hard, prostitution was legal here in Korea until the year 2010 for the Olympics we had to abolish it. But soo many people enjoy that it's still around unofficially officially. Thing's like love hotels, host/hostess clubs escort services and rent a boyfriend/girlfriend services are the "legal" prostitution now because of the loop holes you aren't paying them for sex you are paying them for a different service and they choose to have sex with you of their own will