Family unit (role of women and children): Family Unit: Contrary to the Confucian ideal, the nuclear family consisting of a husband, wife, and children is becoming predominant in contemporary South Korea. It differs from the traditional "branch family" or "little house" (chagunjip) for two reasons: the conjugal relationship between husband and wife tends to take precedence over the relationship between the son and his parents, and the nuclear family unit is becoming increasingly independent, both economically and psychologically, of larger kinship groups. These developments have led to greater equality among the family units established by the eldest and younger sons. Whereas the isolated nuclear family was perceived in the past as a sign of poverty and misfortune, the contemporary nuclear family is often viewed as being a conscious choice made by those who do not wish their privacy invaded by intrusive relatives.

Role of women and children: On the surface, Korean women often appear docile, submissive, and deferential to the wishes of their husbands and in-laws. Yet behind the scenes, there is often considerable "hidden" female power, particularly within the private sphere of the household. In areas such as household finances, South Korean husbands usually defer to their wives' judgment. Public assertion of a woman's power, however, is socially disapproved, and a traditional wife maintained the image, if not the reality of submissiveness. And, as in other male-dominated societies, Korean men often jokingly complain that they are henpecked. In traditional Korean society, women received little formal education. Christian missionaries began establishing schools for girls during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Ehwa Woman's University, the most prestigious women's institution, began as a primary school established by Methodist missionaries in 1886 and achieved university status after 1945. Chongsin Girls' School and Paehwa Girls' School were founded in 1890 and 1898, respectively, in Seoul. Songui Girls' School was established in 1903 in P'yongyang. By 1987 there were ten institutions of higher education for women including universities, colleges, and junior colleges; women accounted for approximately 28 percent of total enrollment in higher education. There were approximately 262,500 women students in colleges and universities in 1987. However, only about 16 percent of college and university teachers were women in 1987.

Filial piety ( hyo in Korean; xiao in Chinese), the second of the Five Relationships, defined by Mencius as affection between father and son, traditionally has been the normative foundation of Korean family life. Though its influence has diminished over time, this relationship remains vitally important in contemporary South Korea. Entailing a large number of reciprocal duties and responsibilities between the generations of a single family, it generally has been viewed as an unequal relationship in which the son owed the father unquestioning obedience. Neo-Confucianists thought that the subordination of son to father was the expression, on the human level, of an immutable law of the Cosmos. This law also imposed a rigidity on family life.

Family and lineage continuity traditionally was, and to a great extent remains, a supremely important principle. This reflects Mencius's view that of all possible unfilial acts, to deprive one's parents of posterity is the worst. Historically, the Korean family has been patrilineal. The most important concern for the family group was producing a male heir to carry on the family line and to perform ancestor rituals in the household and at the family gravesite. The first son customarily assumed leadership of the family after his father's death and inherited his father's house and a greater portion of land than his younger brothers. This inheritance enabled him to carry out the ritually prescribed obligations to his ancestors

Misc. interesting facts: South Korea is the heliport capital of the world.

Independence: 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National Holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Radio Stations: AM 104, FM 136, shortwave 5

Handicrafts: Contemporary Korean artists employ both traditional and Western forms in their works. Traditional handicrafts such as lacquerwork (often inlaid with mother-of-pearl), embroidery, and ceramics are produced for artistic and commercial purposes. Modern Korean art draws on a long history of cultural development and artistic achievement.

The earliest Korean paintings are murals that date back to the Three Kingdoms period. Chinese painting and calligraphy influenced Korean traditional art. During the Koryo period, Buddhist painting became popular and later with the influence of Christian missionaries Korean painting took on features of landscapes and scenes from everyday life.

Unlike western painting, which is life-like and almost like a photograph, Korean painting has no viewing point and the eye is allowed to wander over the painting. There is also no perspective and objects appear out of proportion. The colours in Korean painting are calm and subtle.

Traditional paintings usually consist of landscapes, flowers, birds, portraits and altar portraits of Buddha. The four noble gentleman paintings are called sagunja. The four plants are the plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo. Confucian scholars painted these during the Chosun dynasty. The plants represent courage, nobleness, productivity and integrity respectively.

Sculpture became popular with the introduction of Buddhism. Buddha sculptures were carved in bronze, wood and stone. These declined in the 14th century when the country adopted Confucianism. Shamanic woodcarvings were found all over Korea. The grandfather stones at Jeju Island are thought to be carvings of guardian spirits.

Korean pottery originally came from China. The Koreans developed their own kind of celadon, a bluish green ceramic that the Chinese came to envy. Buncheong is a Korean creation, a kind of pottery with a grey tinge with simple designs. The Japanese had their eye on this design and forced the potters and their families to live in Japan and work for the Japanese. This sparked the Imjin War.

The Koreans are also famous for their paper products. Hanji is made from hemp or mulberry pulp. It produces a durable material that has been used to make wardrobes, chests, calligraphy desks, and when oiled it can be used to cover floors or to make umbrellas and fans.

Calligraphy or seoye was popular with the educated elite during the Chosun period. It was a form of mental discipline and along with painting and poetry was one of the necessary accomplishments for the cultured gentleman. Four tools are needed for calligraphy, an ink stick, and a stone for grinding, paper and animal-hair brushes. Traditionally, Chinese characters were painted within an imaginary square. The thickness of the ink and the composition are important and the artist could not make any corrections.