[HanCinema's Digest] Culture Corner

Meet the official mascots for the Winter Games in PyeongChang, The Korea Times reports on the state of Korea's reading culture, a 'gastro-humanities' scholar demystifies Korean dining for foreigners, and The New York Times tracks how South Korea has left the North behind since the Korean War.

Advertisement

"Meet the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics mascots: Soohorang and Bandabi"

The Winter Games are here, but what mascot's did character-loving Korea create for the big event? Meet Bandabi and Soohorang, a black bear and a white tiger who represent strength and protection respectively. As writer John Ji-young notes in her article about them for The Korea Herald, "There is a rich symbolism and culture behind the two animals, which are closely associated with Korean traditional folklore and mythology".

...READ ON THE KOREA HERALD

"40% of Korean adults didn't read a book last year"

Does South Korea have a robust reading culture? According to a recent survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 59.9% of adults reported that they have read at least one book in the past year, the lowest figure since the organisation started keeping track back in 1994. Surprisingly, "a growing number of people think it is unnecessary to read books". The last few years have been excellent for Korea in terms of the increasing attention its literature has received overseas but is Korea's heavy work/study lifestyle taking valuable time from reading?

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"Why do Koreans eat like this?"

Curious about South Korean cuisine and dinning? In "Why Do Koreans Eat Like This?", a new book that delves into the history and culture of Korean food, 'gastro-humanities' scholar Joo Young-ha presents a compilation of his research into Korea's fascinating food history and its evolution from a foreigner's perspective. What's with the use of stainless steel products? Why do Korean restaurants spread out dishes all at once? Why do Koreans always drink coffee right after having lunch? These and many more questions are answered Joo's new book.

...READ ON THE KOREA TIMES

"How South Korea Left the North Behind"

The New York Times tracks the split between North and South Korea in this data-rich feature. "Both Koreas had come a long way, emerging from colonial rule and rebuilding their economies after a devastating civil war", writes Motoko Rich, et al., but the countries have since diverged economically, culturally and politically. In 2015, for example, there was a ten-year difference in life expectancy, and photographs from space immediately reveal the dark patch north of the DMZ. The countries' transportation systems are also revealing: "Pristine and ornate as a national museum, the Pyongyang subway system is little used. Seoul's subway stations are capitalist showcases plastered with movie posters and makeup ads".

...READ ON THE NEW YORK TIMES