Studying Chinese in South Korea
Nowadays, a lot of people are studying Chinese in South Korea. A variety of Chinese classes have come up in Korea. People who can understand Chinese have become targets for recruitment by major businesses. A number of far-sighted parents are ready to send their children to study in China to learn Chinese. China has become the most frequently searched vocabulary on the internet in Korea.
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.
Tags : Chinese, South Korea, Study
About South Korea’s Arts and Culture
The contemporary culture of South Korea developed from the traditional culture of Korea, but since the 1948 division of Korea, it has developed separately from North Korea’s culture. The industrialization and urbanization of South Korea have brought many changes to the way Korean People live. Changing economics and lifestyles have led to a concentration of population in major cities, especially the capital Seoul, with multi-generational households separating into nuclear family living arrangements.
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.