In earlier days, a common type of Korean house was a rectangular, L or U-shaped single-story structure, built primarily of wood and clay. The roof was not high and was thatched with straw or, for the more well-to-do, roof-tiles. The simplest form of the typical Korean house consisted of a living room, a sleeping room and a kitchen, with the toilet set apart and away from the living quarters. The structure and size differed according to the size of the family, the range of social acquaintances and wealth. A larger house would consist of the main family quarters at the center, a closet, a maid's room, a barn and a toilet at the side. Toward the front part of the inner yard were quarters for the master of the house and for male guests, called "sarangchae," and adjoining the gate was a room for servants.


Today it would be difficult to point out a typical Korean house, for nearly all recent structures are of concrete or ferroconcrete construction. Though not widely recognized, this change, from predominantly wood structures to largely concrete structures, entails a subtle yet far-reaching transformation in the lifestyles of Koreans.

The individual Korean house, old or new, is built to protect its inhabitants from outside elements. Generally speaking, it is somewhat low, with relatively small rooms and not many doors or windows. Some of the rooms have ondol floors which are heated from under the clay floor. This system of heating is so ingrained in Korean life that even the most fashionable, Western-style houses built in recent years are, with few exceptions, provided with a few rooms that are heated through the floor. Likewise, many Koreans still prefer to sit and sleep on cushions and thick mats on the floor.

In a traditional Korean home, there is little furniture and seating is on the floor. Bedrooms and living rooms were not distinguished; a living room also functioned as a dining room. Anbang used by the women of the house was located at the back of the house and was used as a place for family gatherings. Not surprisingly, this room was also equipped with wardrobes, bedding and other domestic paraphernalia. The master of the house, by contrast, inhabited the front part (sarangchae) of the house which was also used as a reception room for guests. If he was an educated man, his rooms were equipped with a desk, shelves, books and a few cushions. Normally, he retired to his wife's room for the night.

The traditional Korean dress, called hanbok, is more comfortable and suitable to the traditional floor heating style. Still today, many Koreans in the countryside, particularly men, put on these traditional clothes when returning home in the evening from work. Western-style dress is usually reserved as outdoor wear. However, on special holidays like Chuseok and New Year's Day, the entire family dress up in their finest hanbok.


Mealtimes at home bring the entire family together. The main dish is rice to which japgok or grains such as barley, wheat and a variety of beans are often added. Soup is always served and kimchi, a spicy, fermented cabbage, is also a must. Soy sauce, dried pepper, red pepper paste and doenjang, or bean paste, are used for seasoning.

Koreans like traditional rice-based wine and enjoy drinks with meals. Entertaining guests with traditional wine is customary. Although the repeated pouring of drinks to fill up an empty or half-empty glass might be viewed as an annoyance by a Westerner, Koreans who are not asked to fill their cup frequently would think it very rude on the part of the host. Reciprocity in sharing wine in a congenial atmosphere is important to Koreans. During gatherings, the hierarchy of social relations between members of the party is still maintained. Younger members or inferiors are not allowed to drink or smoke in front of their superiors.



Customs Among Kinship Groups

Among Koreans there is a strong bond between relatives and clan members. Adhering to traditional family-centered principles, the extended family in Korea is the first place to which people turn when they find themselves in trouble. In the past, brothers often lived in the same household after marriage and, in some cases, even cousins occupied different buildings in the same house. Although such large families living in the same house are rare these days, family members often reside in the same neighborhood and maintain frequent contact. Those who live far away tend to get together on special occasions such as a relative's marriage, the 60th or 70th birthday, a child's first birthday, and on traditional holidays. At such times everyone pitches in to assist with preparations for the ceremony.

Respect for one's ancestors is central to the family clan system. Special memorial services for great-great-grandparents are conducted in the home on the anniversary of their deaths, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. For ancestors of the previous generation, services are held once a year, on Chuseok (the Harvest Moon Festival), the 15th day of the eighth month by the lunar calendar, or on a selected auspicious day. On this day, descendants gather at the ancestral tomb to perform rites. This memorial service is such an important event that even distant family members travel long distances to participate.

Clan members often take advantage of these gatherings to hold an annual conference. A clan that has many branches and members may divide into smaller units, each establishing a common coffer and property. The conference is organized to decide and implement policies of common interest such as the maintenance of ancestral tombs and the management of clan properties.

Koreans maintain a great reverence for their family history and meticulously record and update these genealogical records, which in many cases, go back several dozens of generations. They also minutely record official ranks, achievements, royal citations, the location of tombs and other information.

When meeting for the first time, Koreans of the same family name must first decide whether they are members of the same clan. If so, they must consult the genealogy to find how closely they are related. Should one of them belongs to an older generation, respect must be shown through the use of the polite form of the language.