What It's Like To Be A Kid In South Korea (2024)

Introduction:

In this field note, I will be sharing my observations about how the average Korean child in Seoul lives. Of course, not all children grow up in the same environment or with the same experiences. Hopefully, this will allow you to reflect on your own experience growing up in New York City or elsewhere.

What do you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?:

For breakfast, many Korean children eat what we would consider as a hot meal that resembles lunch or dinner more than breakfast. The traditional Korean breakfast always includes a bowl of rice, numerous side dishes (beans sprouts, seaweed, kimchi, other vegetables and meat, etc.) and a soup. Lunch and dinner are similarly hot meals with many plates. It's important to Koreans that adults and kids alike have a variety of foods to eat at every meal.

What is your house like?:

In Seoul, houses and apartments are similar to those that I've experienced in New York City with a few exceptions. There is a living room, dining room, bedrooms and bathrooms. In many kitchens, you will find a separate refrigerator, just for kimchi. Kimchi smells so sour, and Koreans eat so much of it that they need a special place to store it.

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What It's Like To Be A Kid In South Korea (2024)

FAQs

What is it like to be a kid in South Korea? ›

Korean children may be expected to help set the table or take out the garbage, but it is common for the mother or older family members to take care of the household overall. Very common jobs in Korea are being an office worker, teacher or public servant.

What is life like for a student in South Korea? ›

A student's typical daily routine consists of attending classes for 4 to 6 hours per day, with ample breaks in between where students visit cafes, restaurants, or so-called internet cafes to hang out with friends. After classes are finished, students often end the day by participating in club activities.

What is it like to live in South Korea? ›

Residents enjoy an advanced, fast-paced culture that works hard and plays hard, where good food is easy to find and everyone enjoys clean, efficient public services. Living in Seoul is an incredible adventure, a chance to experience a city that's both exotic and familiar.

What is expected of Korean children? ›

Children incur a debt to their parents who gave birth to them and raised them. This debt lies behind the idea of filial duty: treating parents respectfully at all times, taking care of them in their old age, mourning them well at proper funerals, and performing ceremonies for them after their deaths.

Do Koreans prefer son or daughter? ›

South Korea has also demonstrated a measurable shift from son preference to daughter preference. Daughter preference appears at measurable levels in three Scandinavian countries: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

How old would a 13 year old be in Korea? ›

3. How to Say Your Age in Korean (Updated in 2024)
Birth YearAgeKorean
201312 years old열두 살
201213 years old열세 살
201114 years old열네 살
201015 years old열다섯 살
93 more rows

Is 1 million won enough to live in Korea? ›

A monthly income of 1.2 million won is a modest salary for living in Seoul, South Korea. While it's possible to manage with this income, it's essential to consider various factors to ensure a comfortable lifestyle.

Is it cheap to live in South Korea? ›

The average cost of living in South Korea is reasonable. It is not as cheap as living in some Asian countries like Laos or China, but it is also not as expensive as Japan or Singapore. In general, the most expensive living costs in the country will be found in the capital, Seoul.

Is South Korea good with kids? ›

South Korea is super family-friendly for many reasons. It's clean, it's safe, its public transport is easy to use and Western food isn't difficult to find.

What is South Korea's child death rate? ›

The infant mortality rate for South Korea in 2022 was 1.859 deaths per 1000 live births, a 3.23% decline from 2021. The infant mortality rate for South Korea in 2021 was 1.921 deaths per 1000 live births, a 3.08% decline from 2020.

How long do Korean kids stay in school? ›

Korea has a single-track 6-3-3-4 system, which denotes six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, three years of high school, and four years of college or university which also offer graduate courses leading to master's degrees and doctoral degrees.

Is South Korea kid friendly? ›

South Korea is super family-friendly for many reasons. It's clean, it's safe, its public transport is easy to use and Western food isn't difficult to find.

Is Korea a good place to raise kids? ›

Raising kids in South Korea is a slice of modern paradise: convenient, safe, and attractive in both outdoor recreation and education.

What grade would a 12 year old be in Korea? ›

School grades
Level/gradeTypical age
3rd grade8-9 (10)
4th grade9-10 (11)
5th grade10-11 (12)
6th grade11-12 (13)
16 more rows

What is parenting like in Korea? ›

Koreans are family-oriented and follow family traditions. Kids are well-behaved and well-mannered since they learn to respect their elders early. Both parents guide their kids and teach them family values. Often, parents use corporal punishments which are illegal.

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