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.