1. What culture are you most interested in?
(Could be a nation’s culture as a whole or more
specific like a type of music, group of people, event, etc) Describe it and explain why you
are fascinated by it.
South Korea
South Korea is a wealthy and popular country that attracts many people. Because of
various factors, South Korea is known worldwide, especially in the Philippines. South Korea is a
country where many people want to visit.
Korean Pop, also known as KPOP, has a great influence in the Philippines despite the
language barrier. Both countries may have a huge difference in terms of language, KPOP artists
can connect to their target audience through their songs and actions. Most of them also have
great personalities and talents, making them attractive and influential.
In my case, the South Korean girl group “TWICE” captured my heart from the very start.
My best friend, who is a huge fan of South Korea, introduced me to the girl group. Their songs
make me happy and carefree. Even though I can’t understand their language, I can feel the
sincere happiness in their music. As I get to know them more, I fell harder because they are
very sincere, humble, and fun to watch. Because of them, I studied a lot of Korean cultures and
began to like the country.
I studied their basic culture, courtesy, language, and how to write hangul. I was
fascinated by how beautiful their language is and how hangul is unique. After months of
studying their language, I can finally read and write Hangul and understand some of the basic
Korean words. This is where I began to watch KDramas, also known as Korean Dramas.
Korean Dramas are high-quality films in terms of plot, script, and casts. KDramas have
very attractive films that will connect people’s hearts to the story. Most of them portray
significant and modern problems that society faces. And thanks to modern technology, the
language barrier is not a problem for watchers. Like KPOP, KDrama is influential and
educational. They give audiences knowledge such as culture and studies that they can use in
their daily lives. In this way, audiences are entertained and learn at the same time.
I was also amazed by their cuisine. There are lots of food that is known in South Korea,
most of them are spicy. Kimchi, bibimbap, tteokbokki, bulgogi, Samgyeosal, and Korean fried
chicken are some of the well-known foods worldwide. They are famous because these cuisines
are always seen in Korean drama and social media. By this, people can get to know more about
the country.
And last but not least is their beautiful and mesmerizing landmarks. One sure thing is
that every country has its own beautiful places, but landmarks in South Korea preserve and
treasure their history. They keep what a monument or historical place looks like as much as
possible. That is because they want to show to the future generation how important and
beautiful the past is. I respected the country a lot more because of how they give importance to
their history.
After liking and studying South Korea, I came up with the thought that I respected the
country. I took an interest and start studying various cultures and routines of South Korea. The
more I learned about the country the more I respect them. There may be a huge difference
between communication and language, but there will always be a way for us to break those
barriers. With enough conviction and effort, nothing is impossible.
