The Chusok festival is not just a thanksgiving festival . It is also the time of reunion of the families and loved ones. This property too has transcended boundaries and is a traditional part of such harvest festivals. The members of the family are invited to their ancestral homes and they celebrate the festival together. They also celebrate their ancestors and remember and thank them because the Koreans attribute their prosperity to their ancestors.

The origin of the festival can be traced on to the ancient shamanistic celebrations of the moon. The ancients may have developed this festival as a worship ritual which has now evolved into its present thanksgiving form. The term Chusok means mid-autumn day which is also the best period for the harvest to begin.

During this ritual there are certain food items that will always be found. They are kimchi, meat, fish, walnuts, persimmons, dates, pears, apples. And also there is a main dish known as the songpyon which is the crescent shaped rice dish cooked with low heat steamed on top of pines.

Other rituals include the visiting of the tombs of the Elders and the ancestors. While visiting the foods that were prepared as a part of the charye would be offered to the ancestors. The tombs will be cleaned; the plants and other coverings over the tombs would be removed and the tombs will look almost as new.

A variety of folk games are played during the festival. Some of the games played are archery, tug of war and Gama fighting. The villagers would dress up as cows or turtles and go home to home singing about the festival or play bands of music. They would also be wearing the traditional outfit known as the hanbok.

The day would end with the groups of people dancing in circles under the moon light. This is known as the kanggangsuwollae which can be compared to square dancing. It consists of both singing and dancing by holding to various tunes. These songs would all be about the love happiness and the integrity that the people of Korea share among themselves.

The upside to South Korea is that credit and debit cards are widely accepted at most shops. This means that your relative can usually use their card to purchase items or food, which is helpful if they cannot get cash out at many ATMs. Only the smallest stores do not take cards, and they are usually found in tiny cities. Almost all hotels and restaurants take both Visa and MasterCard, and it is actually illegal in this country to refuse cards unless the shop is very small. Just in case, your relative should try to carry at least some cash in the form of the South Korean won so that they can at least buy some food or gasoline when not near ATMs or retailers accepting cards.

Most countries are advanced enough to accept cards in some way, whether through ATMs or retailers. Still, before you transfer money to South Korea, it is good to know whether your recipient will truly get good use out of the card. Sending money in a form that cannot be used will be a waste of time and money for both of you, which is why it is helpful to know ahead of time how likely this country is to readily accept cards.

The country has hosted the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and FIFA World Cup 2002 that has displayed the culture and modernity of the nation. South Korea is a land of ancient traditions that is reflected in various forms. Here there are the ancient ruins, the scenic beauty, and the modernity all in a tranquil blend.

The tourist attractions include the Korean Peninsula region with the mountains that is a treasure trove for the traveler who wants to be away from the crowded destinations. The capital Seoul is the most visited area and is the 10th largest city in the world. The city also has got to offer the tourist a variety of attractions to bring them back again. The nightlife that is vibrant and the variety of popular Korean cuisines is nothing but the many unforgettable experiences.

The southeastern region has the many archeological treasures that include Gyeongju (ancient capital of Silla kingdom) dates back to 57 BC. The area is nothing but an open air museum with many tombs, temples, that are attracts travelers. For those of you who want a romantic getaway the Jeju Island also called the little Hawaii has the mesmerizing scenic beauty and the tranquility of the nature. The beaches, the national parks, the man made attractions show cases that every traveler would find something here. The visit would enrich knowledge of the culture of this great place and also the people who are hospitable.

South Korea hotels cater to the needs of the travelers according to their style and budget. The luxury hotels offer modern amenities and excellent services to make the stay memorable. While the budget and the discount hotels offer accommodation that is good value for money.

The different types of hotels in South Korea like the resorts, the 5 Star hotel, apartments, the backpacker, the budget and the discount cater to the needs of the visitors. The hotels are located strategically and cater to the needs of the business and the leisure travelers.

The fish market in Busan presents a wide assortment of fresh seafood items throughout the early morning. And even though this marketplace is mainly recognized as the port, the city delivers many steep hills that create a truly unusual ambiance mix of sea and mountains.

Busan South Korea’s strategic coastline place helps give restaurants and clubs in this regions a really mild winter than in any other location in To the south Korea. This allows both locals and visitors to appreciate the seemingly endless night life inside a a lot more comfy and soothing method than other areas. Like a port that serves major international port for international shipping, its harbor area has a striving district which could accommodate thousands of sailors and guests who passes through the port each year.

Busan South Korea also supplies numerous attractive destinations for vacationers to visit.The Beomeo-sa Temple is a single from the wonderful 5 temples in To the south Korea. This enormous vintage temple is located around the mountains, situated further away on the big city. You much better watch out although as this temple gets wildly populated with worshipers on weekends.

40 Steps can also be 1 of Busan’s most visited destinations. Some on the streets in its grubby district previously been reconstructed to their original problem to this place accessible for equally locals and tourists. 40 measures is primarily developed with wooden lamppost and bronze figure monuments that illustrates that depicts the hand scrabble street life with the location.

The energy in the ocean can be subtle, but it is indisputable. Just think about what you saw in the videos of the huge tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. There is an absolutely huge amount of energy in tides as the flow to and fro. Even better, we can predict how big the tides will be every day and how much energy is in both the incoming and outgoing tides. It makes for a perfect energy platform if we can figure out how to tap it.

Well, the South Koreans obviously feel that they can. This has become clear with the announcement that Korea Western Power Corp will build and operate no less than 20 tidal power plants along the coast of the country. The plants will go up fast with the final one being completed no later than 2014. The total cost? A cool one billion dollars. In short, the South Koreans are getting very serious about tidal energy and this project will make them the biggest tidal energy producers in the world…by far.

Tidal energy gets a minute fraction of the publicity of the other alternative energies. If the South Koreans new technology is successful, that could change very quickly.

1. The Cities – The capital of South Korea, Seoul is one of the most important cities in the world. It is the perfect mix of industrial development and culture, with a number of different sightseeing attractions that tourists can visit. Seoul has a great number of activities on offer and it is also a great place to visit with family, as it boasts amusement parks and other attractions for children as well.

2. Culture – The culture of South Korea has developed its own distinctive characteristics, and boasts several great dance forms, art exhibitions, dramatic performances and musical genres unique to this region. The music and dance forms are especially famous, with each region in the country having its own style of music and dance. Visitors to the country will be able to view an authentic South Korean dance performance in any of the major cities.

3. Korean Food – South Korean food has gradually become one of the most popular cuisines in the world, with people setting up South Korean food restaurants in different countries. While rice is the staple ingredient used in South Korean cuisine, a typical meal consists of a variety of meats and vegetables along with the rice dish. South Korean food experiments with seafood and rice along with a range of fresh ingredients. Kim chi, Bibimbap and Bulgogi are some of the most famous local dishes that visitors should try.

4. Scenic Beauty – South Korea has so much more to offer than its culture and cuisine, with a number of extraordinarily beautiful natural wonders that are located across the country. The most famous of these places is the Checju-do Island, off the coast of the country, which is host to Mount Halla, the tallest mountain in Korea. Apart from this, there is also Tongnae, which is a hot spring in the South East of Korea.

5. Hospitality – The people in South Korea are well known for their hospitality and they not only have opened up their country but also their hearts to visitors. Tourists to this country will find it hard to find an inhospitable Korean, and it is not uncommon for tourists to be invited to locals’ homes to experience the Korean way of life.

In a Chinese college in Korea, people can hear the loud reading of Chinese at 7:00 am every day. For most South Koreans who are accustomed to nightlife, 7:00 am is sleeping time. But in this relatively small classroom are Koreans eager to study Chinese. Most of them are white-collar workers, they are using their short time before work to learn Chinese. The majority of South Korean universities have opened Chinese language courses, but it is far short of needs.

China and South Korean are geographical proximity and have similar cultures, the historical roots are very deep. After the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, the economic and trade exchanges, as well as personnel exchanges between the two countries are increasing year by year. But more importantly, with China’s growing national strength, paying attention to China and understanding Chinese have become fashionable in South Korea.

After the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea, the number of Korean students to China to study Chinese has increased every year. The parents who sent their children to study in China several years ago are now celebrating the worthwhile investment. In face of the unemployed social reality, giving priority to people who understand Chinese language can inspire the enthusiasm of Korean people to study Chinese.

In terms of practical considerations of parents, the cost of sending their children to China to study is much cheaper than sending to Japan or USA. China and South Korea are in geographical proximity, it is more convenient when their children encounter problems etc. What’s more, Chinese schools have a strict management. More importantly, with the rapid economic development, the relationship between China and South Korea will be healthier.

Printing and Literature
One of Korea’s great achievements was the 15th-century invention of Hangul, the Korean phonetic alphabet. Hangul is relatively easy to learn, with 24 letters that are combined into blocks of syllables. The accessibility of Hangul has contributed to Korea’s high literacy rate. Another great Korean innovation was the first use of movable metal type, in 1234.

Korea’s long literary history grew not only from its innovations in printing, but through the tradition of telling folk tales and legends at festivals and other gatherings. These stories outlined the kingdom’s mythical origins and stressed Korean values. The National Folklore Museum in Seoul preserves an extensive collection of Korean cultural and folklore relics.

Painting
Korea’s first paintings, found on the walls of tombs in Manchuria, are 17 centuries old! Traditional painting has tended to celebrate nature or religious themes, although in the 18th century some artists branched out into depicting the dramatic landscape or daily life. During the Japanese occupation (1910–45), Korean artists were introduced to Western oil painting. Contemporary South Korean artists have continued to produce work in this vein as well as rediscovering classical Korean styles and themes, producing work of genius and originality.

Sculpture, Metal Craft, and Ceramics
The introduction of Buddhism in the 4th century spurred the development of sculpture in Korea. Artisans carved graceful, intricate Buddha images and pagodas in bronze, stone, and wood. Buddhist sculpture declined in the late 14th century, when Confucianism became ascendant over Buddhism, and has not enjoyed a resurgence until recently. Schools of modern sculpture have been quite active since the 1960s, and examples are abundant in city streets, parks, and plazas as well as in museums.

Metalcraft has an ancient and honorable history in Korea. Decorated bronze figures dating from the Bronze Age have been found all over the country. Shilla artisans (57 BC–AD 935) crammed the tombs of the aristocracy with gold and jade. They also produced beautiful, intricately carved bronze bells, some of which are huge. The largest of these, the Divine Bell of King Songdok, or the Emille Bell, dates from the 8th century.

Ceramics may be the most famous of Korea’s three-dimensional art forms. The technology for producing blue-green celadon vases came from China, but by the 12th century Korean artisans had made the technique their own. They added the innovation of inlaid designs, following motifs from nature.