The real North Korea. The secret life of ordinary people

South Korea is a beautiful country with a rich cultural heritage. Today, the centuries-old wisdom of Taoism coexists with innovation. And, despite the love for the Western way of life, its inhabitants have preserved many customs that are incomprehensible to us.

10 facts about South Korea: interesting and downright strange

Once a Boston consulting group called her one of the promising in the field of innovation. Agree, not bad for a state that has been on the world stage since 1948. It is curious that with such results the country does not lose its "interesting" traditions.

1. Alcohol. An interesting fact about South Korea is associated with the use of alcohol - for them it is quite an important part of the culture, helping to get to know each other better. Therefore, at least once a week, the inhabitants of the country must gather with friends to have a glass. Such gatherings even have their own name - hoesik. However, when it comes to liquor, there are rules. For example, if the person pouring the drink is older, then you should hold the glass with both hands.
2. Red ink. Every society has its own superstitions: if Europeans bypass black cats, then the inhabitants of the Land of Morning Calm hate red ink. They believe that a name written in this color will bring misfortune and even death to its owner. This unusual fact about South Korea comes from an ancient tradition. Previously, the name of the deceased was written in red on the tombstone, believing that this would scare away demons.

   

3. Proper handshake. When Bill Gates met with President Park Geun-hye, the people of the country were shocked by the behavior of the American and his gesture. The fact is that during the handshake, Bill's hand was in his pocket, which is unacceptable. Good manners and respect for the traditions of another country, despite financial status, have always been held in high esteem. Therefore, if you have a Korean older than you, do it with both hands.

   

4. Education. Students and schoolchildren in Korea are very smart. According to statistics, 93% of students graduate from a university, which puts the quality of education in the country in second place in the world. What is it connected with? Through private institutions (hagwons), children have the opportunity to learn many subjects, from math to belly dancing or taekwondo. On average, the country's parents spend up to $17 billion a year on educating their children. But this technique also has its drawbacks. Firstly, only rich families can afford education, while the poor are content with little. Secondly, hagwons classes are held in the afternoon, which means that children go to school twice and come home tired.
   

   

5. Which is better: Japan or Korea? If there are many examples of friendly rivalry (Australia - New Zealand) or warlike rivalry (India - Pakistan) in the world, then these Asian countries are the "golden mean". Even if they do not point nuclear weapons at each other, relations between them are always heated. This fact about South Korea and Japan is due to the fact that in the past the latter had a bad habit of invading the territory of the former. Decades later, the situation has certainly changed, but the Koreans believe that the Japanese still have not officially apologized.
   

   

6. Skirt discussions. It's strange to see a lot of bare legs in a conservative country. But miniskirts are the norm in South Korea. Even a business woman is allowed to wear an outfit that barely covers her ass to a business meeting, and no one will regard this as vulgarity.

   

7. Toilet themed amusement park. There are many strange attractions in the world, but this place in South Korea literally outdid them all. A park with an "interesting" theme, located in the city of Suwoni, was opened in honor of the beloved ex-mayor, nicknamed Mr. Toilet. The official was obsessed with sanitation and his main goal was to provide the population with good toilets and teach them how to properly maintain them.

   

8. Plastic surgery. Everyone wants to be beautiful, especially South Koreans. According to a survey conducted back in 2009, every fifth woman in the country went under the knife. Basically, the requests are the same: a V-shaped chin, a small nose and big eyes.

   

9. Bullfights. No, it's not about the red rag or the bullfighter. Cattle fight in Korea Ranchers are constantly on the lookout for good "fighters". More often choose massive, with a thick neck and long horns. The fight ends when one bull leaves the arena. The winner receives a cash prize, and the loser goes to drown his grief in rice wine.

   

10. Terminator jellyfish. Perhaps the most interesting fact about South Korea, more like a sci-fi movie scenario. The oceans are teeming with jellyfish, so a group of scientists created a robot specifically to deal with them. Due to the invasion of marine animals, the country lost $ 300 million, and Sweden had to close a nuclear power plant. In this regard, the Koreans have created and are actively using terminator jellyfish that destroy real ones. Now the robot is capable of exterminating up to 900 kg of marine animals, but soon, according to scientists, the figure will reach 2000 kg.

    

Traditions and customs

The house is a sacred place, so special attention is paid to cleanliness, where dirt and even more mess are completely unacceptable. It is customary to be indoors without shoes (barefoot) or, in extreme cases, in socks. If in summer the rule does not cause discomfort, then in winter additional heating is required. Therefore, in the construction of houses, modern technologies are used in the form of underfloor heating.

Another interesting fact and custom of South Korea is associated with the ceremony of commemoration of ancestors - Chere. According to Korean belief, the soul does not leave immediately, but remains with the descendants for another 4 generations. Therefore, the deceased is also considered a member of the family, and on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and the anniversary of death, the rite of Chere is performed. Also, Koreans sincerely believe that if the ancestors bless them, then life will be happy.

The next interesting fact about South Korea has to do with gestures. When you call the other person, raise your hand with your palm down and wave, moving your fingers. Never make this gesture with your palm up and even more so with your index finger - only dogs are called that in the country.

Facts Proving South Korea Is Beyond Our Understanding

Residents of the country are especially careful about oral hygiene, as dentist services are very expensive. Here it is customary to brush your teeth after every meal, and you can often find a brush in a lady's bag. In addition, in the restrooms of some establishments there is always a free disposable toothbrush.

The following interesting fact about South Korea and Koreans is based on statistics. Many residents have myopia, so they wear glasses or lenses from childhood. This fact gives the impression that they are all born with poor eyesight. But it's not. As mentioned earlier, Koreans are very smart and spend most of their time studying, buried in their favorite gadgets. It is worth noting that the disease does not concern everyone. For example, Lim Dong Hyun (two-time Olympic champion) only sees 20% of what he normally sees. But the irony is that a man competes in archery!

Korean cosmetics has long conquered Western and domestic fashionistas, and here everyone uses it, regardless of gender or age. Korean women carefully monitor the appearance of their hair and skin, so they buy an incredible amount of products. They never go out without makeup. Young Koreans also take care of appearance. It is almost impossible to see a man with a sloppy or disheveled hairstyle on the street.

Contrary to popular belief, few people in South Korea have tasted dog meat. Moreover, a movement to abandon the traditional dish is gaining popularity in the state. The youth, brought up to treat animals as friends, provided wide support. By the way, government policy also discourages the consumption of dog meat.

Now about In any city in the world, cafes, bars and restaurants come across at every step, but the speed of service in Korea is simply amazing. The order is delivered literally within 10 minutes, and some establishments even send delivery men again to pick up dirty dishes. Here, instead of the usual "How are you?" you will be asked "Did you eat well?", and skipping any meal for a Korean is akin to a sin.

Let's talk about sexual touch. If in Europe two men holding hands are considered representatives of the LGBT movement, then in Korea everything is different. In society, a pair of opposite sexes who demonstrate feelings in public are extremely disapproving. But playing with hair or sitting on a friend's lap is quite acceptable for men.

Korea is the cradle of esports. At the beginning of the 2000s, the Star Craft computer game turned into a real cult. Esports players are real stars. Thousands of fans come to meet them, and stadiums with large screens are allocated for the games. And this, in turn, is another interesting fact about South Korea: a computer game is a real sport, for which players spend many sleepless nights while training.

And a few words about compulsory military service. According to the law, every Korean must complete a 21-month military training course. This iron rule is observed regardless of the social status of the resident. Only the incompetent and those who defend the honor of the country in the international arena can get away. For example, footballers Ki Sun-yong (Swansea) and Park Chi-son (Manchester United) were released from military service.

The beginning of a relationship

If in Russia and in many other countries first love is most often met at school, then in the Land of Morning Calm this is more difficult. An interesting fact about life in South Korea is connected with the fact that for every child, studies always come first. And if hyperactive children manage to start relationships at school, then for the rest there is simply no time for amorous affairs - from 9 to 5 lessons, then electives, tutors, classes ... When to fall in love?

But once you enter university, everything changes. Education is not so diligent, so many students live for their own pleasure: on Fridays they gather with a company and drink soju, join circles and interest clubs. This is the best time, because after graduation, almost all of them will work from morning until late evening for many years.

Therefore, the romantic relationship of young Koreans begins precisely during the period of study at the university.

What then

Continuing the story, here are a few facts about South Korea related to further development:

1. The first date is already the beginning of a relationship, and after the meeting is over, the guy and the girl "officially" become a couple. In addition, she always comes to the meeting with an older friend in order to look favorably against her background.
2. After a while, "witnesses" are not needed, and lovers can walk around holding hands, but kissing and hugging in public in Korea is inappropriate.
3. Another trend of couples is the same style. The phenomenon is called Couple Look - clothing stores make good money on it.
4. An important date for lovers is the hundredth day from the date of the meeting. Girls expect from guys not flowers and sweets, but designer jewelry, clothes, cosmetics, shoes, a bag. According to the calculations of one of the Korean bloggers, an average gift costs $ 800.
5. To move on to a closer relationship, the couple must meet for at least a year.

Family matters

It's time to learn the facts about relations in South Korea.

A home warms hearts, and every person must have a family. The opinion of the oldest member of the family is dominant. Not a single South Korean will dare to create a new family without the consent of the older generation and parental blessing. Of course, now the freedom of action is much wider, but neither a young man nor a girl can do without the guidance of his mother and father. And excessive parental control, on the contrary, is welcome.

The main priorities are inextricably linked with the family hearth. Previously, several generations of relatives lived together in traditional small houses. But times are changing, and spacious apartments have come to replace them. The only thing that has remained unchanged is the statutory rules.

When meeting with parents, the names are not called - only "mother" and "dad". This treatment is connected with another interesting fact about South Korea. According to the sign, the meaning of the name, having a great weight, affects the fate, making a person more vulnerable. Therefore, the names of the inhabitants of an Asian country are extremely rare.

Family relations in South Korea have always been distinguished by mutual respect and understanding. Despite the fact that a woman has the same rights as a man, the duties between spouses are clearly demarcated.

The wife is responsible for coziness and comfort, keeps the hearth, resolves disagreements, and the man, being the head, ensures the existence of the family. However, despite his authority, he never interferes in matters of home improvement and conflict resolution. Even in the most difficult situation, the husband always remains on the sidelines.

About children

Another interesting fact about South Korea is related to the birth of a child. Since the country has a peculiar chronology, the baby is born already at the age of one. This is due to the fact that the child spends 9 months in the mother's womb (almost a year). But that's not all. On the first New Year (January 1), the baby is added one more. Thus, the children here are older than their actual age by as much as 2 years.

To combat discrimination, the government passed a law according to which both son and daughter are considered equal heirs, so the attitude towards the sex of the child is neutral. But Confucian traditions are still preserved. Accordingly, special attention is paid to the elder.

show business world

For many years the country was famous for its "slave contracts". This fact about South Korea is connected to the popular K-pop mainstream. For example, an ex-Super Junior member stated in 2009 that the owners of SM Entertainment did not allow him to take sick leave when he developed gastritis and kidney problems.

And this is not the only such case. Major labels justify their actions by saying that if a young artist really wants to become popular, he must overcome all difficulties - sleep no more than 4 hours a day, not start a relationship while the contract is in effect, not go on sick leave and much more.

Bad number "4"

An interesting fact about South Korea based on superstition. Residents have a "special" attitude towards the four. The problem is that the transcription of the number 4 is consonant with the word death.

Superstition has reached the point that in buildings after the third floor immediately comes the fifth. Not even in hospitals. Agree, few Koreans want to be treated on the floor called "death", especially if the disease is dangerous.

In some elevators, the "4" button has been replaced with the English letter F (four). However, in everyday speech, the four sounds without exception.

Let's go back to the past

And finally, I would like to give a few historical facts about South Korea:

1. "Taehan minguk" 대한 민국 - this is how the people call the country, but most often the abbreviation Hanguk is used in the conversation, and sometimes Namhan.
2. The word "Korea" comes from the name of the state "Koryo", which existed in 918-1392.
3. The history of North and South Korea began in 1945, when the Soviet-American agreement was signed. According to the agreement, the first passed under the jurisdiction of the USSR, and the second - the United States.
4. Although it lasted until 1953, there was no official announcement of the end of hostilities.
5. The older generation of Koreans does not like the Japanese, as the colonization policy of the Land of the Rising Sun is still not forgotten.

LJ user lookianov writes: “Now it has become fashionable to talk about how to improve our city, which, by the way, makes me very happy. Therefore, I will tell you about the experience that I managed to peep in Korea. There are a lot of pictures and text under the cut about how Koreans live.

(Total 39 photos)

2. I'll start, perhaps, with the metro. Located in the Korean subway is very comfortable and safe!

The doors to enter the car open synchronously with the gates at the station, as in St. Petersburg. It is strange that they did not do this in Moscow, so many lives could have been saved. Each door in the car is marked with a number. See the signs on the platform? That is, we can say: we meet at the station "Chunmuro" at the door number 4 of the fifth car. It's impossible to get lost!

3. The subway is a whole city, with huge passages - the so-called "Underground shopping centers"

5. Right in the metro there are very decent chain cafes where you can sit or take a snack with you.

6. And this is the Metro Art Center. You can gawk at contemporary art without leaving the subway. I am glad that we are also taking similar steps.

7. But, of course, the most important thing is that there are very decent toilets in the Korean Subway! Despite the fact that these are public toilets, in most cases, they are very clean, do not stink, there is always soap and paper, etc. In the Moscow metro, I have never seen toilets at all!! They are??

8. There are no cashiers in the Korean subway. You can buy tickets only at self-service terminals.

There are two types of tickets: single and permanent. Here is the most interesting moment.
Permanent tickets - "T-money" are issued in the form of plastic cards, or such funny key rings, with a built-in chip that can be charged for any amount. You just put the key fob in a special window and put on it any amount of money that is spent at the current rate. You can pay with such key chains everywhere. There are terminals on buses, trains and even taxis. T-money can also be used to pay bills and purchases. Very comfortably!

Another type of ticket is valid for a certain number of trips, and the fare is calculated based on the length of your route. You need to apply a ticket to the turnstile for both entry and exit.
In Seoul, these tickets are made in the form of reusable magnetic cards. When buying a ticket, you make a deposit for using the card, and when you exit the metro, you can return this deposit in a special machine. Brilliant! Thus, there is no need to reissue a huge number of cards that are expensive to manufacture and people do not forget to return them.

Busan has a different system. There tickets are made in the form of small magnetic strips. When you exit, you insert this ticket into the turnstile and it stays there. No urns are needed, tickets are recycled, no one litters.
EVERYTHING IS VERY SIMPLE!

So why do we issue EXPENSIVE, but DISPOSABLE magnetic cards, which then need to be thrown into the trash. Quite wasteful. I don't think that our city planners didn't come up with the idea to adopt the Korean experience. Most likely, this was done in someone's interests, in order to constantly provide work for card manufacturers. Don't you think so?

10. By the way, there are no queues near self-service terminals, because, basically, all locals use T-money. There is also a money changer near each terminal. Very comfortably!

12. English-speaking guides work at metro stations that are adjacent to railway stations and airports. They will come to you if you look like a tourist, help you buy tickets, find your hotel, answer all your questions.

13. Wi-Fi in Korea works almost everywhere. In subway cars, for example, there are routers of two operators. But only locals can use it, since to enter they need a login and password, which they are given when connecting. And visitors just can't buy a SIM card. You can only rent a phone.

14. The cars themselves are very spacious and interconnected. Inside the car, when the train is moving, it is quiet, you can communicate without raising your voice, listen to music at a low volume. Reading books is also very comfortable, because the car does not shake at all. But what can I say ... when the car arrives at the station, there is no this hellish roar, like ours. Only a pleasant sound "uuuuuuuuuuuu". Everything is so precise that you do not feel the speed. The gap between the car and the platform is about 4 centimeters. By the way, the cars are controlled by automatics. There are no drivers!

15. Please note that places for the disabled remain free. There are luggage racks above the seats. For passengers who ride standing up, there are high and low handrails. If you are not tall, you don't need to "hang" on the bar. 90% of Korean subway passengers are absorbed in their gadgets. Smartphones are available to all segments of the population. Young people are on social networks, and aunts are watching TV. For Koreans, smartphones with a contract are very cheap and everyone can afford them.

16. Navigating the Korean subway is pretty easy. At each station there are such touch-screen monitors. You can choose your route and even see what sights are at each station. Each station can have up to 10 exits. But they are all marked with numbers, so it is impossible to get lost. You just agree: "Meet at the 5th exit." Very convenient, no need to explain anything for a long time. Fifth exit, that's it!

18. Separately, it must be said about the care of the disabled.

19. The vast majority of places have lanes for the blind.

20. Each metro station has elevators and special escalators for people in wheelchairs and just the elderly.

21. Information boards are also duplicated for the disabled. In principle, disabled people can move freely around the city. There are no insurmountable obstacles.

What impressed me most about the Korean subway was the organization of the passengers themselves. Unfortunately, I did not take a photo, but I will try to explain in words.
We are familiar with the situation when, at rush hour, a crowd of people begins to break on the doors of the cars. There is no such thing in Korea. If there is no train for a long time and a lot of people accumulate on the platform, the Koreans themselves line up in two lines, one on each side of the car door and enter one at a time. The principle of "squeezing" is not welcome here. To be honest, the first time I discovered this was when, out of habit, I rushed into the car myself. But by the surprised looks of people, I quickly realized the situation 🙂 It's a shame, yes.

Well, enough about the subway. The city also has many interesting points.

22. City transport is also very well organized. Here, for example, is an electronic scoreboard at a bus stop, which shows which bus is approaching, what time the number you need will be, and so on. Bus drivers drive very dynamically and adhere to the "pally-pally" principle, which I will discuss later.

23. We also managed to ride a high-speed train across the country, from Seoul to Busan. Despite the fact that the train is moving fast - 300 km / h, the speed is not felt, there is no knocking or shaking. The ride is really very comfortable! We didn’t even notice how we flew across Korea in a couple of hours. It is also interesting that the controller did not check our tickets. I just forgot which pocket I put them in and started looking. The conductor said, ok, I believe you. And that's it 🙂 I will also tell you about relationships based on trust.

24. All sidewalks in the city are tiled. And this is how intersections in residential areas are arranged. You see, on all four sides, just before the intersection, there is an impressive size, bright artificial unevenness. Famously "Fly" the intersection will not work, you have to slow down almost to a complete stop. This completely eliminates the possibility of serious accidents.

25. This is how parking spaces are organized in residential areas. The building stands on beams, and the entire first floor is an entrance with parking. The decision is very competent, as it saves space, the streets in such areas are narrow, and it is not possible to leave a car there.

26. Areas with modern skyscrapers are similar to ours. I liked the solution - to write large house numbers at a height so that you can find the house you need from afar.

27. Seoul has a huge number of all sorts of parks, squares, recreation areas. When you walk around the city, you can immediately see that it is being built for life, for the citizens. All areas where we managed to visit - very comfortable and well-groomed.

28. When we walked around the city, there was never a problem with the toilets. Unlike trash cans, toilets are everywhere. Everywhere they are very decent, clean, and most importantly - free! Like the next picture. It’s sometimes scary to go into Our plastic boxes. And you have to pay for it too! I think that in decent cities such idiocy should not be.

29. On numerous sports grounds, mostly people of the age are engaged. Therefore, it is not surprising that people over 50 are very active. Go in for sports, travel, climb mountains and so on. Koreans take care of themselves. Everyone looks very decent, we have not seen ugly fat Koreans, dirty, slovenly dressed people with whom it would be unpleasant to be around.

30. There is also an active fight against smoking. Health care is the number 1 priority in Korea.

31. At first, we were a little surprised by the fact that in the city, trash cans are very rare and Seoul residents calmly leave garbage on the streets. In the evening, especially busy neighborhoods like Hongdae are covered in rubbish, but in the morning they are again shining with cleanliness. Then I noticed that janitors were walking around the streets, with such carts that collect and sort waste. So, maybe it’s not clean where they don’t litter, but where they clean well?

32. Koreans care about nature is also impressive. For them, every tree is important, every bush they try to save.

33. Well, you probably already understood from all of the above that Korea is one of the most decent and safe countries in the world. The cops on the streets here are very friendly and rarely seen. When you walk around Seoul, it is not at all possible that there is a place for street crime.

In conclusion, I would like to note several features inherent in the Koreans.

The cult of politeness and respect.
Koreans have long understood that you can live well in society only when you treat other people the way you would like them to treat you. Here, no one is trying to cheat, rob, overtake, humiliate, and so on.
All public life in Korea is built on mutual respect and trust. Here is a very telling example.

34. On the doors of cars, even executive class, soft pads are glued so as not to accidentally hit neighboring parked cars. Over the past year, my car was hit like this three times in parking lots. Now each side has a dent.

There is no strict control in stores, no one forces you to seal bags in plastic bags. Shop windows on the streets are without sellers, because no one is going to steal anything.
I have already spoken about the queues in the subway cars.

35. Diligence and the principle of "Pali-Pali". Most Koreans work 6 days a week. It is one of the most hardworking nations in the world.

There is a well-known anecdote on this subject in Korea:
“Koreans work like normal Koreans, come to work at 7 am, leave at 11 pm, everything is as it should be, and one Korean came at 9 and left at 6. Well, everyone looked at him strangely, okay, maybe where you need to urgently to a person. The next day, he comes again at 9 and leaves at 6. Everyone is in shock, they start looking at him askance and whispering behind his back. On the third day, he again comes at 9 and goes home at 6. On the fourth day, the team could not stand it.
“Listen, why are you coming in so late and leaving so early?”
“Guys, what are you talking about, I’m on vacation.”

As our friend, a famous Korean ceramist, told us. (The picture above is her workshop.), they believe that working for the state is more prestigious than owning a small business. The state pays well for work and provides unprecedented social guarantees. One of the most respected and highly paid professions in Korea is TEACHER!

Koreans also have an unspoken principle of “Pali-Pali”. Literally, this expression means "quickly, quickly." "Do not slow down" - if in our opinion. They can't stand waiting. It shows up in everything. You will be immediately served in a restaurant, your purchases will be delivered quickly, the bus drivers drive very dynamically, move quickly, brake sharply. Most firms fulfill orders instantly, on the spot. I myself was convinced of this when I handed over the films for developing, and after 2 hours they were ready. Koreans hate wasting time. I think this is one of the reasons why their economy took off so quickly.

37. National product. 90% of cars on Korean roads are Korean-made. The vast majority of electronics, clothing, products, and indeed all goods are also Korean and, as you know, of very high quality. The country itself produces and consumes its wealth.

Organization. It seems that Koreans start from school, with wearing a school uniform and walking in ranks. Everything here is well organized.
Most of all I liked the fact that the districts of the city are organized “by interests”. There is a furniture district, a fashion district, an electronics sales district, a printing services district, a bicycle shop district, and so on. It's incredibly convenient! If you want to order corporate calendars, for example, you don't have to drive all over town looking for the best deal. All firms in this industry are located in the same block. This is beneficial for both sellers and buyers. In the photo above - just a quarter of printing services.

39. And this is what a typical Korean strike looks like.

This is a very common occurrence. Here it is customary to voice their dissatisfaction out loud, but people fight for their rights in a civilized manner and, as we were told, in most cases this bears fruit.

It would seem that all of the above is so simple and logical, but why then such a rich country as ours cannot organize its life in this way?
It seems to me that we have somehow developed hope for someone, or for something. Yeltsin will come and change everything! Let's overthrow Putin and everyone will live well in Rus'. Nothing of the kind, as you can see. Order must be first of all in our heads! And the Korean experience demonstrates this perfectly.

Workers who live without breaking the law and do their job well receive up to 1,000 grams of rice, meat and eggs in return. It is constantly reported on TV that residents of other countries do not have all this and live much worse. It is beyond the power of an ordinary person to check this, since only verified individuals are allowed to communicate with foreigners.

Life in North Korea is about complete obedience. If a person keeps a radio in his house, listens to music by foreign performers or watches foreign TV channels (although this is practically impossible), he will face a link to hard labor or prison. The situation is aggravated by the fact that repressions are imposed not only on the offender, but also on his entire family. And the whole family gets into the so-called black list. This is fraught with the fact that no one will be admitted to the university, there will be no work, entry into the capital is also prohibited. For particularly serious crimes, a person is publicly executed.

Such laws have one huge advantage: crime is practically non-existent. The nation is growing healthy and strong, because from childhood everyone attends sections, is regularly examined by doctors and does not eat much. No woman has the right to pick up a cigarette.

The birth rate of North Korea exceeds that of South Korea. But soon these numbers will equalize, as the government of the country is pursuing a policy to reduce the number of children in families.

Decreased life expectancy

No matter how strange it may sound, but even though Koreans often do not have bad habits, their life expectancy is reduced. Now he is 66 years old. This figure is constantly falling due to the fact that women and children suffer from the general situation in the country.

An expert on US foreign affairs said that the amount of food that is assigned to one person is not enough to restore vitality. Therefore, life expectancy in North Korea, especially for ordinary workers, is only falling.

The problem with this system is that some areas of the country simply do not receive it. All due to the fact that the state has a basic rule - to notify the government of intentions to visit any area.

The impact of the Korean War on the economic development of the country

The war, or police operation, was carried out from 1950 to 1953. This confrontation is also called the "Forgotten War", as it has not been mentioned in official publications for a long time.

In fact, this conflict unleashed thanks to bad relations between the US with its allies and China. The northern coalition consisted of the DPRK, the army) and the USSR. The last two countries did not officially participate in the war, but actively supplied weapons and financed. The southern coalition consisted of the Republic of Korea, England and the United States of America. In addition to these countries, the UN was also on the side of the South.

The reason for the war was the desire of the president of both North and South Korea to unite the peninsula under his leadership. Such a militant mood radically changed life in North Korea, photos of those times are indisputable evidence. All men were liable for military service and had to serve without fail for more than 10 years.

During the preparations for the confrontation, the government of the Soviet Union was afraid of the outcome of the Third World War, which was the reason for the non-fulfillment of some requests from North Korea. However, this did not affect the supply of weapons and the military. The DPRK gradually increased the power of its army.

The war began with the occupation of Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. It ended with India making a proposal to create a peace treaty. But since the south refused to sign the document, Clark, a UN general, became its representative. A demilitarized zone was created. But an interesting fact remains that the treaty to end the war has not been signed so far.

Foreign policy

The DPRK is being very aggressive, but at the same time reasonable Political scientists in other countries suspect that the leader of the state has experts who are able to suggest the right decisions and predict the consequences in a given situation. It is worth noting that North Korea is a nuclear state. On the one hand, this forces hostile countries to reckon with it, on the other hand, it is quite expensive to maintain such weapons, many European countries have long abandoned them.

Relations with developed countries and their influence on the development of the economy of North Korea

• Russia. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, relations with the Russian Federation almost faded away. Only during the reign of Vladimir Putin were signed agreements on cooperation in many areas. In addition, in 2014, all debts of the north to the Russian Federation were written off. In some way, this made life a little easier for the North Koreans.

• USA. Relations with the United States are currently quite strained. America to this day stands on the side of South Korea and supports it in every possible way, which helps to significantly develop the economy. What can not be said about the northern part of the state. Representatives of the United States expose the DPRK as an aggressor and often accuse it of provoking its southern neighbor and Japan. Some serious publications conducted investigations and wrote that the northern government is trying to kill the president of South Korea, shooting down planes, sinking liners. This attitude of America does not contribute to the economic development of the country, and this does not improve life in North Korea for the common people.
• Japan. Relations with this country are completely severed and can at any time escalate into a full-fledged war. Each state after the Korean War imposed sanctions on each other. In 2009, North Korea openly declared that if Japanese planes flew into Korea, they would open fire to kill.
• South Korea. Due to strained relations and aspirations to unify the peninsula, kidnappings, murders and attacks occur regularly. Skirmishes are often heard on the outskirts of countries, they are also fixed on the land border. A few years ago, North Korea announced its decision to launch a nuclear attack against Seoul. However, this event was prevented. This is one of the main reasons why life in North Korea is dangerous and leads to the fact that young people try to leave for permanent residence in other countries at the first opportunity.

Military life of men

In 2006, there were more than 1 million people in the army of the People's Democratic Republic. There were more than 7,500,000 in the reserve, and 6,500,000 people were members of the Red Guard. About 200,000 more work as security guards at military installations and in other similar positions. And this despite the fact that the population of the country is no more than 23 million.

The contract with the ground military is for 5-12 years. A man has the right to choose where to go to serve: in the army, division, corps or brigade.

The time of service in the navy is slightly less: from 5 to 10 years. Due to the fact that the government does not spare money for the development of its army, people are fully equipped with the necessary instruments, weapons and protective suits.

Unlike other countries, the state in question is investing in the development of intelligence, which significantly worsens the lives of people in North Korea.

Most of the military is concentrated in the area of ​​the demilitarized zone. The people's army has at its disposal more than 3,000 main and 500 light tanks, 2,000 armored personnel carriers, 3,000 artillery pieces, 7,000 mortars; the ground forces also have approximately 11 thousand anti-aircraft installations. Such uniforms require the investment of large sums of money, which could bring the country out of stagnation.

Life in North Korea (reviews of ordinary people confirm this) due to such a militant attitude has no progress, or rather, it simply stands still. Indigenous people do not even know that it is possible to exist somehow differently. No wonder the rulers of the country came up with a slogan, the essence of which is not to envy anyone and live only on their own. Such a policy helps in some way to maintain control over the common population.

What is life like in North Korea? Reviews of foreigners

Unfortunately, all people living in the country are forbidden to talk about how hard life is for them. However, tourists who have visited North Korea willingly share all their memories and impressions.

According to travelers, entry into the country is carried out only with the help of travel agencies. All the time a person or a group of people is under supervision and moves around the city or region only with a guide. Radios, phones, any other gadgets are not allowed to be imported. This is contrary to the beliefs of the government. You can take pictures only what is allowed by the guide. In case of disobedience, a person is added to the black list, he is prohibited from entering North Korea.

You can immediately see with the naked eye that people live average. Badly dressed, empty roads. Cars appear very rarely, which is why many children play on the roadway.

There are many soldiers on the streets, who are also forbidden to photograph, especially if they are resting.

People move on foot or on bicycles. Tourists are given a free ride near the hotel. By the way, the corridors in the building resemble horror films. There was no repair for a long time, people appear here extremely rarely. In addition to bicycles, residents use bulls.

Both women and children work in the fields. Abandoned territories, which are located on military bases, are rich in small tricks that look like tanks.

Some buildings have escalators that have appeared recently. People are not yet accustomed to them and are poorly oriented in how to use them.

Electricity is supplied to the houses for several hours. Trees and small monuments are whitewashed not with a brush, but with hands.

In the spring, people eat ordinary grass added to dishes, which can be quickly and quietly picked up on a nearby lawn.

Economic spheres

The economy in North Korea is underdeveloped. Due to the fact that since 1960 the country has become closed and has ceased to publish production statistics, all conclusions are given by independent experts, they cannot be 100% reliable.

• Industry. North Korea (the everyday life of citizens depends on the level of development of the state in this area) is moving well in the direction of mining. In addition, there are oil refineries on the territory.
• Engineering. The country is engaged in the production of machine tools that the Russian Federation imports. However, the models are outdated, they were produced in the USSR several decades ago. It produces cars, SUVs, trucks.
• Electronic sphere. After North Korea imported several million more smartphones and ordinary cell phones in 2014 than in 2013, everyday life in North Korea has improved. Over the past 5-7 years, companies have produced tablets, several smartphones and a special computer for working in factories.
• Agriculture. Due to the lack of fertile land in the country, agriculture is poorly developed. Most of the country is occupied by mountains. The main crops planted are rice, soybeans, potatoes and corn. Unfortunately, there are few greens and vegetables that can be eaten raw. And this leads to poor health and, as a result, reduces the life expectancy of ordinary Koreans. Livestock breeding is dominated by poultry and pig breeding. Due to the poor development of the country, the crop is harvested by hand.

Comparison of the standard of living of people in North and South Korea

The most closed country is North Korea. The life of ordinary people here is not the best. The only way to get around the city is by bike. Cars are an unprecedented luxury that an ordinary worker can hardly afford.

Anyone wishing to enter the capital must first obtain a pass. However, it's worth it. There are picturesque places, various monuments and monuments, and even the only subway in the whole country. Outside the city, you can drive up on a ride. The military must always be brought up - this is accepted by law.

All residents of the DPRK must wear badges with the leaders of the state. Also, citizens who have reached working age should get a job. But since there is often simply not enough space, local authorities come up with new activities, such as baling hay or sawing old trees. Those who have retired also have to do something. As a rule, the parties allocate a small plot of land, which the old people undertake to look after.

Everyone has long known that North Korea, where the life of ordinary people sometimes turns into hell, has cruel laws and follows in the footsteps of fierce communism. However, there is something that this country attracts and attracts to itself. These are parks, reserves and simply very beautiful places that you can admire indefinitely. What is the "Dragon Mountain", which is located a 30-minute drive from Pyongyang.

The life of women in North Korea is very hard. Mostly men are involved in the army, there is practically no benefit from them for the family, so the weaker sex has become more active and was able to prove that it can live in such conditions. Now the main breadwinners are women. It is they who work around the clock because of the somewhat inadequate laws of the DPRK, aimed only at protecting the state. If we compare modern life with any historical era, then we can say with confidence that Korea lives in 1950. The photo below is proof of that.

South Korea is a country of cinema, music, prosperity. The main problem of the country is alcoholism. In terms of drunkenness, the state ranks 7th in the world, but this does not prevent it from advancing, expanding its sphere of influence and becoming a powerful power. The Government of the Republic conducts its foreign policy in such a way that it has good relations with many European countries.

The people living in the country are kind, helpful, they always bow and smile at passers-by. And this feature is especially manifested in the service sector: in cafes, restaurants, cinemas. The buyer, or rather, the person who pays the money, is treated like God. In no case should he wait long for his turn. Due to such rules, service in this country is distinguished by quality and speed.

Education is what distinguishes South Korea. It is at the highest level. Poor academic performance, which entails failure in high school, means exclusion from society.

The army is not as well developed as in the north, but everyone is obliged to serve here - from workers to pop stars. The consequences that await after attempts to evade service are constantly reminiscent of the planes of North Korea constantly cutting through the sky. The call of men is carried out closer to 30 years. As a rule, Koreans marry very late, often after demobilization.

Their apartments look mean. At home, only those who work tirelessly can afford it. The citizens themselves laugh at the apartments and other housing that is shown on TV and published in magazines, saying that this is just a fantasy game.

North and South Korea, whose standard of living is very different, unfortunately, do not even think of uniting with the world. Some kind of conflicts and risks of resuming the war constantly arise, which hits hard on ordinary citizens of the north and forces them to migrate to other countries.

Like them 30.03.18 100 145 26

Personal competition, the cult of food and plastic surgery

I have always liked Asian culture.

Ekaterina Alexandrova

left Moscow for Seoul

I entered the Moscow State University in the Department of Korean and after the second year I went to Seoul for a month-long internship.

When she graduated from the bachelor's degree, she immediately applied to the master's program at Seoul National University. It was four years ago. Now I live in Seoul, writing a thesis and teaching at a private academy of the Russian language.

Visas

For the duration of my master's degree, I applied for a D-2 study visa, which allows me to work a few hours a day. To do this, I needed a passport, an application, two photographs, a bank statement, an invitation from the university and permission from the university to apply for a visa - it says that the work will not interfere with the educational process. The visa processing fee is $60. The study visa can be extended, there is no need to leave the country.

A year ago, I changed my visa to E-2: it allows me to work as a teacher in private language academies. It can be issued by those who graduated from a university in Russia and received a bachelor's degree. To change my visa, I brought to the immigration center an agreement with the employer, an employer's license, a diploma from Moscow State University with an apostille, a certificate of medical examination, and a certificate of no criminal record. The visa processing fee is $60.

The visa was issued for one year - this is the duration of my work contract. If the employer extends the contract with me, I will extend the visa.

60 $

cost of a visa

To work full time, you need to get a residence permit - an F-2 visa. It is given for 3 years, after which it can be extended. Each applicant for a visa is evaluated according to a point system: you must score at least 80 out of 120. Age, education, knowledge of the Korean language, income, volunteer work experience are assessed. It is also usually required to pass the Korean integration program - a special course for foreigners about life in the country.

Now I just passed the exam to determine the level of the Korean language - I have the fifth, maximum. It remains to listen to 50 hours of the integration program - and you can submit documents.

For those who do not speak Korean well, it is difficult to obtain a residence permit.

public services

Every foreigner who plans to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must obtain a registration card or a foreigner's card. For a non-resident, this is the main document.

To get a registration card, you need to come to the immigration center and submit the documents: I brought an invitation from the university, an order for admission to the university, a completed application form and a photo. Three weeks later I took the finished card.

The home address is indicated on the card - if it changes, you must report this to the immigration center within two weeks. Once I forgot about this rule and I was fined $70 (3900 R).

70 $

fine for incorrectly indicated address on a foreigner's card

There are two large offices of immigration centers in Seoul. I came across only polite and friendly specialists, they were never rude. The inspectors do not speak English well, so it will be difficult without knowledge of the Korean language. Volunteer translators can be found at the immigration center - they may be able to help, but it will not be fast.

Documents are accepted here only by prior electronic appointment. This is not always convenient: during the peak months, you cannot get an appointment. Last time, I waited a month for my turn, because a new academic semester had begun and there was an influx of students. With urgent questions, they should be taken out of turn: for example, if my visa runs out, it will be extended for me on the same day. How it works in practice, I have not tested.

Salaries and work

The Korean currency is called won. 100 ₩ is approximately 5 R.

The minimum wage in Korea is ₩7,530 (R398) per hour, ₩1,573,770 (R83,278) per month. The amount is set each year by the Department of Labor. Approximately how much do people working in the service sector earn. My friend worked in the mobile communications department and after 2 years of work he received 1,700,000 ₩ (90,500 R) per month.

Young educated Koreans tend to work in large national corporations. The salary of a young specialist in such a company starts from 2.5 million won (133,000 R) per month.

Students start looking for work in their fourth year. At the beginning of the semester, Korean corporations publish vacancies, students choose the ones they like and send a portfolio. Next, applicants will be invited to take tests - psychological and on the level of intelligence. Those who pass will be called for a series of interviews, usually three. I also have to go through all this: when I graduate from the master's program, I will look for a full-time job.

Young Koreans who have received a good education complain that it is difficult for them to find a job and are angry at the system. They have equally good education, internship experience in local and foreign companies, but there are not so many high-paying jobs on the market. There are plenty of less prestigious jobs. The official unemployment rate in South Korea is 3.3%.

Koreans work hard. In the standard vacancy they write that the working day is from 9:00 to 18:00. In fact, everyone is delayed, the employee cannot leave before his immediate supervisor. The normal situation is when a newcomer works until two in the morning, in the morning he comes cheerfully by 9:00, and then he still works on weekends.

South Korea has a hierarchical system: if you are older in age or position, you can manage the younger ones. This is especially noticeable in local companies where all employees are Korean. Usually leaders, people of the old school, chase the young: if they don’t like something, they will yell or even give a slap in the face.

After work, it is customary for men to drink with colleagues. On the eve of the day off, such companies will have fun all night: they will eat in one cafe, drink in another, then go to karaoke, then go to drink coffee. Men drink a lot, drinking on weekdays is considered normal. It is even surprising that Koreans consider Russians to be a more drinking nation. Korean vodka is called soju, its strength is 20%.

The increase depends on how many years you have been with the company. When applying for a job, the applicant is told when he can be promoted and what needs to be done for this: for example, pass some kind of qualifying exam. Usually increase after 3-4 years of work.

3 years

you need to work at least in a Korean company to get a promotion

Holidays in Korea are short: a maximum of 10 days, so everyone tries to relax on national holidays. On the Korean New Year, in February, they rest for 4-5 days. At the end of October - November, three dates are celebrated at once: Thanksgiving Day, the day of Korean writing and the day of the founding of the Korean state. Last year, these three holidays stood side by side and the whole country rested for 11 days.

taxes

Personal income tax is calculated and deducted from the salary by the employer. For employees working in Korean companies, the tax rate varies from 8 to 35% - depending on the amount of income.

Our academy retains 3.3% from foreigners. But if the annual salary is less than 24 million won per year, you can apply for a tax deduction.

Value added tax - 10%. It is indicated directly on the check.

Banks

About 10 large banks operate in Seoul, their offices can be found near any metro station. There are also local banks, such as the Busan Bank, but they are not particularly visible in Seoul.

Opening an account is easy. I did not choose a bank on purpose - I went to the first branch that came across, located on the campus of my university. I filled out an application and then they gave me a card. The design of the card can be pre-selected on the bank's website.

I use the so-called check card - this is an improved debit card. Unlike a regular Korean debit card, it can be used at any time, not just during bank business hours. A check card is accepted in all stores, and when paying, you do not need to enter a password. Service is free.

You can control your spending using a mobile application. In Korea, banks are obsessed with security: in order to pay for a purchase on the Internet, you need to verify your identity four times.

This is how I pay rent. I open the application, access to the account - by fingerprint. I enter the account number and the amount, confirm it again with a fingerprint. Then I enter the card pin and password from a special card. It is issued at the bank along with a debit card, this is a mandatory requirement for all banks in South Korea.

Buying something on the Internet in South Korea is terribly inconvenient, but you can not be afraid of scammers. I have never heard of someone stealing money from a card.

Paying with a card in a store is easy: in large cities everywhere there is a cashless payment. Unless the market may not accept the card if the seller is a Korean grandmother. Sometimes sellers ask you to pay in cash, but they can be refused.

Housing

It is easy for a foreigner to rent an apartment in Seoul, but decent housing is not cheap. As a rule, apartments are rented through real estate agencies - the metro is full of their offices. The agency will charge a commission for its services.

21 500 R

per month I pay for a one-room studio

The rental price depends on the size of the deposit: the larger it is, the less you pay per month. Therefore, in Korea, there are two ways to rent a home: wolsa, with a small deposit and regular monthly payments, and cheonse, with a huge deposit, about 90% of the cost of housing, but without monthly rental payments. In this case, you pay only for utilities. For apartment owners, this is beneficial, because they will put a huge amount of collateral into circulation.

Room. I lived in the dormitory of my university for a year and a half, I had a double room with a shower room and a toilet. Monthly rent cost 216,000 ₩ (11,600 R). Separately made a deposit - the amount of the monthly rent. It was returned when I checked out of the hostel, only a small amount was deducted for the lost keys.

Students who do not have enough space in the dormitory rent "koshiwon" or "hasukchib". Koshiwon is a room in an apartment building designed like a dormitory. Khasukchib is a room in a private house where the hostess also prepares food.

Studio. Now I rent a studio apartment near the university. In Korea, such housing is called rooms. There are several types of them: "uanrum" (one room), "turum" (two rooms) and "ofistel" - studio apartments that can also be used as offices.

I have a oneroom. Singles live in such rooms, for example, a man who came to Seoul to work, or a nonresident student.

Prices depend on the area. In my area, close to Seoul University and civil service academies, there are many rental housing offers, so prices are lower. I pay 400,000 ₩ (21,500 R) per month for a oneroom. I pay separately for gas - 20,000 ₩ (1100 R) and electricity - 15,000 ₩ (800 R). I don't pay for water and internet. There is no central heating in Korea, apartments are heated with underfloor heating or air conditioning.

The rent of my one-room studio 3 years ago cost at 1,600,000 ₩ (86,500 R). I made a deposit - 1,000,000 ₩ (54,000 R), paid the first month - 400,000 ₩ (21,500 R) and gave 200,000 ₩ (11,000 R) commission to the agency.

Apartment. Renting an apartment is much more expensive. For example, an office flat with an area of ​​23 m² will cost 700,000 ₩ (37,000 R) per month, another 70,000 ₩ (3,600 R) will have to be paid for utilities. The problem is a huge deposit - 10,000,000 ₩ (520,000 R).

In such apartments live people who have already got a job, but have not yet started their own family.

520 000 R

deposit for one-room apartment in Seoul

It is convenient to search for an apartment through applications, the most popular are Zigbang and Da-bang. There you can filter offers by distance from the metro, rental amount, deposit, and so on.

Public transport

In Seoul, all transportation is very comfortable. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. In the subway, for example, heated seats.

In the Go Pyeongchang app, you can see the time and cost of the trip for all types of transport. It was released specifically for the Winter Olympics:

Unlike the Moscow Metro, each station has free clean toilets. The only negative is that you have to wait a long time for the train, 10-15 minutes. Unless it's rush hour, of course.

These vending machines sell transport cards. Travel money is put on the card. If you pay for the fare in cash, then each trip will be more expensive by 100 ₩ (5 R)

Buses. The trip is paid by transport card or in cash. Large bills will not be accepted - prepare money with a face value of 1000 or 5000 ₩. The price of a trip for 12 km is 1200 ₩ (63 R). The transfer system is very convenient. If you have made up to 3 transfers within half an hour (after 21:00 - within an hour), then you pay only 100 won.

Routes are color-coded. Green buses run short distances in one area. Blue buses pass through the city, connecting outlying areas. Red and yellow buses go to the suburbs.

Taxi. The trip is paid according to the meter. The price of a trip for 12 km is 10,700 ₩ (560 R). I rarely use a taxi, only when I'm traveling with friends.

Bicycles. A convenient bike rental service was launched in Seoul a couple of years ago, and the network is constantly expanding. We made a mobile application for rental. There you can see how many bikes are at a particular stop.

The first hour of rental costs 1000 ₩ (53 R), every subsequent half hour - the same amount.

Religion

In Korea, slightly more than half of the population are atheists, in second place are Protestants, and in third place are Buddhists. Therefore, the first thing that may surprise you in Seoul is a huge number of churches that do not differ in outstanding architecture. Often a church is an ordinary building, sometimes even a residential one, over which a cross rises.

In Seoul there are churches of different directions of Protestantism. The believers want to expand their parish, so they preach in the streets. Representatives of the church can be found on the subway, on the streets near churches, at train stations and in tourist places, even at universities. Often they walk the subway cars with exclamations that it is time for everyone to believe in God.

If you decide to talk to a preacher, they will tell you that you speak Korean perfectly, they will offer you coffee and talk about problems and your life in Korea. If you listen to the end, they will begin to explain the philosophy of Protestantism to you and invite you to the service. For the coffee that you were offered, at the end of the conversation you will be asked to pay.

Therefore, I advise you to immediately answer obsessive preachers that you are busy or in a hurry.

School

Studying in South Korea is stressful.

As in Russia, children go to school from the age of 7. In Korea, age is considered differently, so in Korean it is 8 years. Education takes 12 years: elementary school - 6 years, secondary - 3 years, senior - 3 years.

Koreans study from morning to evening. After classes, they do their homework - right there, at school - and then go to additional lessons at the so-called academies. These are small private schools where they teach playing the piano and guitar, foreign languages, and additionally study school subjects.

Parents try to load their children to the maximum, so schoolchildren return home at 11-12 pm. On the one hand, parents understand that this is very difficult for children. On the other hand, sitting at home and doing nothing is not accepted in Korea. Koreans are dependent on other people's opinions: if the son of a mother's friend learns to play a musical instrument and additionally studies two foreign languages, then your child should also be enrolled in some courses.

As a rule, in primary and secondary school, Koreans go to public schools. They are free, except for additional services. In high school, they try to send the child to a private school - if the family, of course, has money. In Seoul, foreign language schools are considered the most prestigious, they are paid, there is a big competition.

12 years

studies in a regular Korean school

The main goal of an ambitious high school student is to pass the state exam with a decent grade and enter a good university. This is the only way to get a well-paid job in a large corporation - in Samsung or Hyundai. If the student did not pass the exam as well as he wanted, he can wait a year and take the exam again. So do many.

University

Higher education is paid. At Seoul National University, the cheapest departments are the Humanities, Law, and Management Departments. The cost of annual education is 2,611,000 ₩ (137,000 R). The most expensive faculties are veterinary and pharmaceutical, 4,650,000 ₩ (244,000 R) per year. Keep in mind that this is a state university, so the cost of education here is several times lower than other universities.

137 000 R

worth a year of study at Seoul National University in the humanities

Most universities in South Korea are private. To study completely free of charge, you need to receive a scholarship from a foundation or corporation. It is necessary to pass a series of tests and serious interviews, few manage to be among the lucky ones.

In all of South Korea, only about ten universities are considered prestigious. For the top three universities, the Koreans came up with the designation SKY, according to the first letters of the names: Seoul National University (Seoul National University), Korea University (Koryo University), and Yonsei University (Yonsei University). A Korean who wants to work in a large corporation will try to enter one of these three universities.

Many Koreans, especially men, finish university late - it's normal to study until the age of 30 in Korea. Study is delayed because of the army: it is customary to leave for service after the first or second year. The service takes 2 years. It is impossible to mow down: bribes do not exist, and, most importantly, the Koreans themselves are suspicious of those who have not served.

Even among students, it is customary to take academic leave and go abroad for internships - for six months or a year. They do this to increase their value in the eyes of the employer. To do this, Koreans collect portfolios - they receive certificates of proficiency in computer programs, improve their second foreign language, pass TOEIC - an exam for the level of English proficiency, which is required in all companies without exception. In this test, you can earn a maximum of 990 points. A good score is 850 points or more. In "Samsung" and "Hyundai" they accept with results from 900 points.

Medicine

Medical insurance is optional for foreigners. For example, I don’t have it, no one has ever asked about it. Nevertheless, I am going to apply for it, because medical services are expensive. The insurance will cover from 40 to 70% of the amount of treatment, and in case of hospitalization, the insurance will pay 80% of the costs.

So far, I know that the monthly cost of insurance for working foreigners depends on the size of the salary. The amount of earnings - at least 280,000 ₩ (15,000 R) - is multiplied by the insurance premium rate - 5.08%. An employee who earns 1.5 million ₩ (80,000 R) per month will pay 76,200 ₩ (4,000 R) for insurance every month. Half of the amount is compensated by the employer.

It is better to take out insurance as soon as you arrive in Korea. I did not do it in time, and now I will be charged contributions for all the months that I spent in the country. If you are going to Korea to study, you can negotiate with the university to arrange insurance for you.

All hospitals in South Korea are private, the largest are located at universities. They have a lot of Russian patients - they come to be examined or treated for serious illnesses, such as cancer. Usually institutions have centers for foreigners with a staff of translators.

I went to more budget clinics. Recently, in a large medical center, I did an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - without insurance I paid 167,400 ₩ (9000 R), another 30,000 ₩ (1600 R) cost a doctor's appointment.

9000 R

I paid at the clinic for an abdominal ultrasound

With a cold, she turned to therapists in small private hospitals - there are many of them near the metro. The doctor examined me, wrote out a prescription for pills, I paid for it and took the medicine. No need to pre-register - just come and wait for your turn. I paid about 30,000 ₩ (1500 R) for a doctor's appointment and pills.

In Seoul, 24-hour pharmacies operate only in certain areas, the rest close at 18:00. Without a prescription, you can buy the simplest medicines, vitamins and ointments.

Hospitals are also closed after 18:00, except for emergency rooms. Koreans are ideal patients. In a situation where we will call an ambulance, they will go to the hospital themselves, in their car or taxi. I saw an ambulance on the streets only a few times.

Koreans often use droppers, including for minor ailments. There are even special droppers for hangovers. A cold can be cured with an injection if you see a doctor when the first symptoms appear.

Oriental medicine is popular among the older generation, where they are treated, for example, with acupuncture. Older people often go not to ordinary clinics, but to an oriental medicine clinic.

Cellular and Internet

Communication services in Korea are expensive. For 2 GB of Internet, 100 messages and 200 minutes of calls per month, I pay 43,000 ₩ (2300 R).

2300 R

per month I pay for mobile communications

Buying a sim card is the most difficult thing that I had to do during my life in Seoul. Although you just need to come to the cellular office and conclude an agreement. The difficulty is that you will be asked for a foreigner's card, and its registration takes time. I was able to buy a SIM card only 3 weeks after my arrival - all this time I was without communication.

Foreigners can use prepaid sim cards - they are easy to buy but very expensive. For example, a sim card for 5 days costs $28 (1600 R) - this amount includes 100 minutes of calls to local numbers and unlimited internet.

Communication quality in Korea is good. All operators have mobile applications where you can control the balance, view the remaining minutes, connect and disconnect services.

There are no problems with home Internet: as a rule, it is already connected to a rented apartment and is included in the rental price.

In large cities, it is easy to connect to Wi-Fi, there are open networks in all public places, even in hospitals. In the metro, each telecom operator has its own Wi-Fi - only subscribers can connect to it.

Products and food

In Korea, the cult of food. You can’t skip meals, you must definitely have breakfast, lunch and dinner, preferably at the same time. At work, even the busiest employees take a break for lunch. It is customary to dine with colleagues, in canteens or cafes.

The basis of Korean dishes is rice and kimchi, spicy pickled cabbage. All dishes are spicy. Koreans have two main seasonings - pepper powder and pepper paste, they are added everywhere. When I moved, it was the hardest thing for me to adapt to spicy food.

In a traditional Korean restaurant, free snacks will be brought to order - kimchi, sprouted soy sprouts, pickled radish, spicy oden - a Japanese snack made from fishmeal. Korean-style carrots, which are popular in Russia, have not been heard of in Korea, they are served only in Russian or Uzbek restaurants.

Traditional Korean dish Bibimbap. Usually, hot sauce is served separately, so the dish is loved by foreigners who are not yet accustomed to spicy Korean food. It costs from 6000 ₩ (320 R)
There are many cafes in Korea with healthy salads. The most popular salad, especially among girls, is with salmon and avocado, it costs 11,000 ₩ (590 R)

After eating, Koreans always drink coffee. There are many coffee houses in Seoul - you will find 4-5 establishments near any exit from the subway. There is always a Starbucks near the metro, where there are almost never empty seats, especially at lunchtime. Americano at Starbucks costs 4100 ₩ (220 R), in other network coffee shops - 3500-4500 ₩ (190-240 R).

I buy products in supermarkets, there is a large selection. I try to go shopping at Costco - this is an American chain. It's cheaper than Korean supermarkets and more European food.

Of the usual products, I can’t find cottage cheese, it can be difficult to find hard cheese - it is sold only in large stores and costs much more than in Russia.

The prices in the supermarket are:

• Skimmed milk, 1 l - 2400 ₩ (128 R).
• Cucumbers, 5 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
• Carrots, 4 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
• Chicken breast, 400 g - 6000 ₩ (320 R).
• Bananas, branch - 3980 ₩ (212 R).
• Eggs, 30 pieces - 3480 ₩ (185 R).

In the hypermarket, you can issue a bonus card - in Korean “point-khady”, from the English point card. Then with each purchase you will return a certain percentage of the amount in points. You can use bonuses when buying movie tickets, cosmetics, and other things and thus save. If you are going to Korea for a long time, I advise you to get such cards immediately upon arrival and register them in the application. Then, when buying, you can only show an electronic barcode.

Sometimes I go to the markets. Thrifty housewives come here for fresh meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, national pickles. Prices here are much lower than in supermarkets. Markets are usually located in the depths of the residential area, they are difficult to find.

An application that stores information about my bonus cards. Bonus programs in Korea are very popular

Entertainment and recreation

Korean families love to spend time in parks. There are many of them in Seoul, the most popular place is the park area along the Hangang River. Here you can ride bicycles and book an excursion along the river. The cheapest excursion during the day costs 15,000 ₩ (800 R). At noon, you can board a boat with a buffet - it costs 39,000 ₩ (2100 R).

The excursion can be booked on the website of the cruise company

But the main attraction in the park is to sit on the banks of the river, order fried chicken and beer and enjoy. For such leisure, a special name was even invented - "chimek", it combines the words "chicken" and "beer". Chimek and picnics in general are fun for spring or autumn. Companies spread blankets on the lawn, take out or order food and communicate: they chat, watch videos, play, drink. You can bring a tent with you and relax in it - as if you left the city for nature.

Shopping is another popular holiday option with family or friends. Large cities are full of shopping centers with restaurants, bars, cinemas - you can spend the whole day in the mall.

Baths and saunas are popular in Seoul, they go with family or friends - mostly middle-aged people relax like this. A simple option with showers and a shared bath costs 10-15 thousand won (550-800 R) on weekdays and 15-20 thousand won (800-1000 R) on Saturday. There are entire spas where you can order a massage or a mask. There are also bathhouses where you can stay overnight. This option is often chosen by travelers who do not want to spend money on a hotel. Just sleep on the floor.

Schoolchildren and junior students spend time in Internet cafes playing computer games. "Peesi-ban", or computer rooms, work until late at night. Often they have their own cafes - to order food, you don’t even have to get up from your chair.

Middle-aged and older Koreans love to go to the mountains. Wherever you are in South Korea, there will always be a small mountain nearby that you can climb.

If there are several days off, they often go to neighboring provinces: to Gangwon-do, famous for its beautiful nature, and to Jeju Island, the most popular resort in South Korea.

You can go abroad for three days. The most popular destination is Japan. There is a visa-free regime for Koreans, you can get there by boat, so the trip turns out to be quite budgetary. You can also travel cheaply to China.

If there is a lot of money and vacation days, most often they go to America or the countries of Western Europe. They especially love France, every Korean girl dreams of spending her honeymoon in Paris.

Beauty and plastic surgery

Korean women take good care of themselves. They always dye, curl or straighten their hair, change the image every two months - of course, if they can afford it. Even the garbage will not be thrown away without cosmetics - this is about them.

Seoul has a huge selection of hairdressers and beauty salons. I make an appointment for a haircut in the Cocoa Hairshop app. I choose a hairstyle, master, date and immediately pay for the service.

A perm costs 182,000 ₩ (10,000 R), a haircut - 72,000 ₩ (3,800 R), a perm with a restoration procedure and a haircut "My Dear Hair" costs 266,000 ₩ (14,000 R). Koreans like to give services unusual long names, such as "A perm that will make your boyfriend open his wallet."

I go to small salons near the metro for a manicure. Manicure with gel polish costs from 40,000 ₩ (2100 R). Some hairdressers offer a cash deposit - from 200,000 ₩ (10,500 R) - and for this they seriously reduce the price, by about 30%. This is called "haewon kaip" and literally means "get a membership" in the salon. Try it if you are going to Korea for a long time.

3800 R

worth a haircut in the Cocoa Hairshop app

Beauty salons often offer sets: two services are combined and give an impressive discount. You can also buy a discount coupon for several visits - such promotions are often held when new salons open. For example, I bought a coupon for three visits to the salon, each visit included a haircut and spa treatment. The coupon cost 120,000 ₩ (6400 R), while one visit to the salon would cost 90,000 ₩ (4800 R), 40,000 ₩ (2100 R) for a haircut and 50,000 ₩ (2700 R) for a spa treatment.

Appearance in Korea plays a huge role. Beauty is the guarantor of success and high salary. Appearance is taken into account when applying for a job and is often a decisive factor. Attractive foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes can easily find jobs in South Korea - the demand for such models is huge.

Therefore, plastic surgery in Korea is as common as beauty treatments. The Koreans took the European type of face as an ideal: big eyes, a straight high nose, a V-shaped chin, a small oval face - the size of a fist, as the Koreans say. Operations that help reshape the face to this standard are the most popular.

1000 $

there is an operation to change the shape of the eyelids in South Korea. It is much cheaper than in Russia or in the USA

At the end of school, parents give their girls an operation - to make a crease on the eyelid so that the eyes appear larger.

Another popular operation is to change the shape of the face. Korean women break their cheekbones to make their chin triangular, in the shape of a V.

South Korea is considered one of the capitals of plastic surgery. Thousands of companies offer tours to Seoul to beauticians and surgeons. It seems to me that this is the result of the so-called Korean wave, when Korean music and series became popular in Asian countries. The girls who watched them wanted to look like popular actresses - and Korean surgeons came up with a solution.

Plastic surgery in Korea is much cheaper than in Europe or America. In Korea, blepharoplasty - an operation to change the shape of the eyelids - costs about $ 1,000, while in America you will have to pay at least $ 6,000.

Language and communication

The Korean language is based on the alphabet - only 44 letters, Chinese characters are very rarely used. The main difficulty lies in the abundance of sounds that are not in the Russian language. Even in the Korean alphabet, there are two letters "o", "e" and "n" - it is difficult to distinguish them.

I first came to Korea when I was in my second year, by that time I had studied Korean for two years at Moscow State University - they emphasized the study of grammar, so I did not understand the language well and did not speak well. I could say simple phrases: "How much does it cost", "It's delicious", "It's spicy", but I could not get a sim card and explain myself at the immigration center. It was only after studying in Korea for a year that I began to feel confident in everyday situations.

In major cities, you can find free Korean language courses. Volunteers work there, so I'm not sure that you can learn the language well this way. In addition, there are programs for the adaptation of immigrants in Seoul, and a center for supporting multicultural families. In particular, foreigners are taught the Korean language, told about traditions, explained how to behave in shops, banks and solve other everyday issues.

If you know English, you will have no problems in the tourist places of South Korea. At the airport, all the signs and signs are duplicated in English; in the metro, stations are announced in four languages. But English will not help in solving everyday issues: in general, Koreans do not speak this language well, because they learn, first of all, grammar and writing.

Cultural differences

During my life in Korea, I got used to the fact that employees in the service sector are polite and friendly. I have never felt uncomfortable because I am a foreigner or maybe somehow not dressed like that. Here they will always offer to sit down, drink tea, bring a pillow.

But this standard courtesy extends to personal relationships as well. Koreans never show their emotions. When you meet someone, it's hard to understand what the person really thinks of you. If a Korean does not like something, he will never say it directly. But behind your back it will definitely be discussed.

Life in Korea is a competition in all areas. I have many Korean friends, but, for example, in graduate school, I did not make friends with anyone. From the point of view of a Korean, every student is a rival. You will be treated well only if you are completely immersed in your studies and go everywhere with a teacher. If you work and because of this sometimes you have less time than others, they will try not to contact you.

Koreans are very dependent on other people's opinions. I see this from my acquaintances: if they find out that a friend has a new car or a new good job, they will worry and try to catch up with them. You can’t sit still: you need to study more, earn more, get the most prestigious job, buy a good apartment and a car. It's contagious - I also got involved in this race.

What is the result

I have been living in Seoul for the fourth year already, and I plan to continue to stay here. In Seoul, convenient transportation, a developed service sector, you can get a good education and find a decent job.

Cultural leisure (two trips to the cinema and two visits to exhibitions)

50 000 ₩ (2700 Р )

1 130 000 ₩ (60 400 Р )

If you are planning to study in South Korea or move here to live, then first of all I advise you to learn the language. It’s better not to go with a zero level: it will be too difficult to adapt. You also need to be prepared for the fact that sometimes they will look at you or even discuss you, especially if you have blond hair. Koreans who have not been abroad have a million stereotypes about Europeans - this can make communication difficult or even nullify.

Think a hundred times if you want to raise your children in the stress of endless struggle - first for a place in kindergarten, and then for a place in the office.

If all this does not scare you, you know Korean well, and ideally also English, are ready to work hard and easily adapt to a new culture, then welcome.

The Republic of Korea is one of the most economically developed countries. The per capita income level is incredibly high, which makes many Russians look for high-paying jobs there. South Korea is the world's largest ship manufacturer. Cars from Korea are very popular today, which are distinguished by their enviable quality, beauty and reliability.

Evening view of the lights and fountains on the bridge in Seoul

Many tourists note that life in the southern Republic cannot be called cheap. Food prices, high taxes - everything seems to the average Russian who went on a trip here, not just, but very expensive. On average, prices in this state are slightly higher than in China, but lower than in Japan.

If we talk about comparison, then the prices here can be compared with the cost of actual goods in Southern Europe.

Road traffic in Seoul

There is an opinion that it was high prices that played a negative role in underdeveloped tourism. Thus, Russian tourists note that life here should be incredibly economical - this is the only way to see the main natural and historical sights and fully enjoy the rest.

So, in 2018-2019, the life of a tourist in this southern country will cost about 2.8 thousand rubles for every day. Pleases only the fact that .

Food cost

But residents of large Russian cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, life in this southern republic seems very acceptable.
So, in South Korea in 2019, food prices are as follows:

1. Milk (1 liter) - 8-124 rubles.
2. Bread (1 loaf) - 110-130 rubles.
3. Eggs (12 pieces) - 132-162 rubles.
4. Cheese (1 kilogram) - 700-850 rubles.
5. Potatoes - 102-135 rubles.
6. Oranges - 120-148 rubles.
7. Apples - 164-203 rubles.

The increase in Korea's GDP compared to other countries

It's practically a cult: when choosing what to save on - food or clothes, the average Korean citizen will prefer the first. This justifies itself, and it is a sin to complain about the average salary. In addition to external data, connections and recommendations play an important role. The owner of a large company will prefer to the man on the street someone who can be vouched for by the citizens of his country.

In no case should you respond to offers of employment illegally, on a tourist visa. This is fraught not only with constant delays in the payment of wages, but also with serious problems with the state authorities. In 2019, both highly qualified specialists and those who are not super-professionals in a particular industry will be able to.

Jobs for professionals

In 2019, the following vacancies are relevant:

Requirements for applicants are standard. First of all, the specialist must have certain experience. He also undertakes to provide the employer with proof of his qualifications. Equally important is excellent knowledge of spoken, written and technical English. Well, if the applicant speaks Korean, then his chances increase noticeably.

Jobs for non-professionals

Also in 2019, as before, work is relevant for those who cannot confirm their qualifications.

The most popular in 2019 are:

• factory work;
• farm work (with accommodation);
• construction work.

Also in South Korea, anyone who is ready to perform seasonal work is always welcome.

Wage level

The average South Korean salary in 2017 is approximately 3350 USD. e. per month or $40,000 per year.

Shoe factory in South Korea

According to local residents, this is a low salary, since for a decent living in the capital and other large cities, a person needs at least five thousand dollars a month.

It is important to know

In the mentality of the people of South Korea there is a lot of things that surprise and amaze not only Europeans, but also Russians who are used to everything. But the fact that there is no pension in this prosperous country is very difficult for a Russian person to understand.

But from the point of view of the Koreans, there is nothing strange here. They are hardworking people, accustomed to work. When a person becomes incapacitated, he simply switches to providing for his children.

Features of the tax system

At the heart of the tax system is the separation of all their types.
The taxes collected in South Korea are divided into 2 groups:

1. Local.
2. National.

Today national taxes are 80.2 percent. Local taxes are no more than 19.8 percent. The real "heavyweights" are considered to be taxes on income and value added of the population. At the end of last year, the introduction of a ten percent tax on certain types of cosmetic procedures was seriously considered. The proceeds were planned to be used to solve acute social problems.

In 2019, there are taxes on breast augmentation, facelift and three other popular cosmetic procedures.

There are no such taxes in the Russian Federation yet.