One of our readers from Indonesia, Fitri Pratiwi, submitted an essay, telling us about various aspects of Korean society and what she loves about them. Please find excerpts of her essay below.

I want to share a story about my love for Korea. It was already 10 years ago when I first learned about Korea; more precisely, in 2004 when I was still studying in elementary school. Initially I fell in love with Korean soap operas. I fell in love with every part in the drama, ranging from the story to the soundtrack. Then, when I entered high school, there were even more things that I liked about Korea. I had been learning and gathering information about Korea through various channels. I realize that the days passed so quickly, and that Korea had become an integral part in my life.

My interested was increasing. Not only the soap operas, but I wanted to know more and more about Korea overall. I wanted to learn about Korean art and Korean music which was very beautiful and which still maintained its distinctive features. I wanted to learn about Korean technology, that very secular, modern and sophisticated aspect of Korean industrialization, so different from my country. On top of all that, I was very interested in the Korean people, who were so friendly and warm. I always watched Korean reality shows on KBS World and Arirang TV. It was like screening humanity and the human condition, in a frame, combined with a travel story. I was so touched with Korean celebrities and how they spent their life full of spirit, working hard, eating healthy food and being happy.

So please find below my thoughts about everything Korean. 



Korean food

For me, Korean foods were very various and very unique. I am not patient to explore the various and the unique food. While I am life I just ever to eat bibimbap and bulgogi, I hope with this event I’ll be the winner and explore much Korean food, especially Korean traditional food. Beside that I really like to see the Korean Seafood, as I know from the website and television, Korea have so much place that we can get the fresh seafood and we can test the seafood at there, like The Noryangjin Fish Market. Then, I want know more, about how the steps to make soju, how to make Korean tofu, how to make kimchi, bibimbap, tteokbokki, and others Korean food.

Korean fashion

For me, Korean fashion was become a famous icon in entire world mode, the Korean great design and quality materials become a special part in the history of mode development of the world. Started with Korean traditional clothes like hanbok that make whose people using it become pretty and look awesome, Hanbok is beautiful clothes with much various design, it looks elegant and peaceful. It same with the Korean modern clothes that become so popular in entire world.

The Korean music industry

For me, Korean music was become the world gaze since a long time. Started with Korean Pop (Kpop) up to Korean traditional music, that was get a special part in every people heart of the world. Kpop industry become the source of spirit and inspiration for many people, the creative combination of songs and dance in the Kpop performance become very perfect.

Who does not know Girls Generation? 2PM? 2AM? CN Blue? Kara? AOA? Sistar? T-Ara? Big Bang? Super Junior? Shinee? Wonder Girls? Miss A? Epik high? U-Kiss? Mblaq? Infinite? BTOB? Boyfriend? Got7? BTS? Exo? Beast? B1A4? Ailee? Lyn? Psy? Gong Yo? Roy Kim? Lee Seung Gi? Eddy Kim? Lee Ji Hoon? Kangta? Boa? Shin Hye Sung? Yoon Mi Rae? Younha? Lee Seung Chul? IU?. Of course all of the people know them. Besides of Kpop industry, Krock also get started of the others notice. I also fallen in love with Krock Band, like Royal Pirates and Jung JoonYoung. Korea actually has many great and multitalented singers, Why? Because every Korean singer started their career from the struggle to get success, they are not become an instant famous star, they must pass through the strict training process to be an success singer when they are ready to debut. I am very proud and love their hard work. I will always support them no matter what happen, I hope all of them stay healthy and make a great music. Kpop-Krock are daebak.

Korean traditional music

For me, Korean traditional music is very advanced with its improvisation and comprehension, going on and on, and continuing non-stop in every performance. The main type is Pansori, that can go on for more than eight hours with just one singer. I think that’s really terrific. It's really different from Western traditional music. A large part of Korean traditional performances start slow and then go fast. The musical instruments used in performances are made from natural materials. So, their voice is very smooth and calm. Almost all, the blow musical instruments was made from bamboo, while the pick musical instruments have string that was made from silk materials. Every people who was hearing the music instrument will being feel calm and happy.

The Korean government

For me, the support and role from government become a inseparable part from culture and civilization development of south Korea to keep going forward country. Korea give easy access for their citizens life, about the healthy, sport, public transportation, education and all of life subject. From the bottom of my heart, I am very proud with south Korean government that always active to promoted about Korean unique culture and Korean history to the entire world, especially go hand in hand with all Korean citizen to protect active with the tour area in entire south Korea. Korean government also gives easy access to all the people who was interested and want to know more about Korea with much available website in internet. The sample is Korean.net website that was become a center of Korean culture and information service.

Korean soap operas and movies

For me, Korea actually a complete country. Besides they are famous with their Korean music industry, Korean also very popular with their drama and movie industry. Everyone will fall in love with the story, the picture shoot taken, the music soundtrack, and of course the actrees and actor of the drama or movie. Started with the drama about Korean historical drama up to Korean modern life story. Who does not know Jewel in the palace? Hwang Jini? The moon that embrace the sun? The great queen seondeok? Rooftop prince? Sad movie? The thieves? Daehan minguk? Endless love? Winter sonata? Full house? Boys before flowers? Secret garden? The heirs? Emergency couple? You who came from the stars? Masters sun? Monstar? High school love on? Love n secret?. Wow, Korea really richest with great quality drama and movie. Of course all of that was supported by actress and actor that doing the hard work, great talent, and have good attitude. Who does not knowLee Min Ho? Park Shin Hye? Lee Jun Ki? Lee Dong Wook? Shin Min Ah? Jang Na Ra? Hyun Bin? Woo Bin? Go Hye Sun? Kim Sang Bum? Ahn Jae Hyun? Kim Soo Hyun? Jang Geun Suk?. They are just a little part from the Korean great actor and actress. Besides that the great producers, creative script writers, and good director become the heroes of the successful Korean drama and movie. That was the reason why Korean drama and Korean movies very lovely by everyone.

Korean sports

For me, Korean sports have developed very quickly. Korea was the successful host celeberating the Asian Games. Besides that, Korea also ever become the host of the FIFA World Cup together with Japan. Korea has many great athletes, like Park Ji Sung in soccer, Im Sung Hoon in UFC, Lee Young Dae in badminton, Kim Yuna in figure skating, etc.

Korean reality shows

For me, Korea have so much Reality Show and Television Program that give the other people happiness, besides that the also give more knowledge about healthy life and life style. The sample are, After School beauty bible, Two days and one night, Gag concert, Musik Bank, Mnet countdown, A song for you, Immortal songs, Happy together, Dream team, King of food, Human condition, The return of superman, Travel story, After school club, Simply Kpop, In frame, Entertaiment weekly, Showbiz Korea, Pops n seoul, We got married, Ulzzang generation, and much more reality show and television program that very interested. For me, that make us more happy, gives us inspiration, enjoyment, and we get stronger.

Korean nature

For me, Korean scenery is very natural, the beautiful town structuring and taken care become one of the reason why I love Korea. So much beautiful tour area in Korea, in every corner of town up to the village area. The point plus is there an easy access to the beautiful place, like the vehicles and maps. The sample is Korean park, the Korean park is a traditional park architecture, their architecture have special unique architecture. Korean park characteristic are simple, natural and not force to followed a special rules. If I compare the Korean park with Chinese and Japanese parks, I know that Korean park not imitated much complete element to showed the real scenery than at Chinese and Japan park. Korean park look little visible with the complete unsure. Korean park look very striking and simple because there always a lotus pond with pavilion building near it. The pond compare with the natural stream flow that become very beautiful to seeing. Korean Scenery make us get full of fresh for every time.

Korean festivals

For me, Korea is the best country that have much great and unique festival. The example is Fall festival, Spring festival, Chuseok festival, and etc festival that became so famous around the world.

Korea is a complete state of the various facets of life. Korea with they unique and diverse spacious culture, Korea with they language that makes me interested to learn it, Korea with the Korean people who are so friendly and unpretentious life with the beautiful smile, the Korean government are creative, innovative and dedicated to their country, Korea with they global fashion, Korean music industry, films and dramas into the world spotlight and become the biggest wave of around the world, Korea with they sophisticated technology and creative members that ease the everyone's life, Korea with they diverse and delicious food, Korea with they tourist sites that arranged, naturally and very beautiful. Korea became a magnet for everyone to be going tour and live in the beautiful land.

I cannot say anymore to describe my love of Korea. It would be very pleasant and happy if I could take a trip to Korea, to explore the unique culture and the great history for real, and visit the tourist sites that are very interesting, such as Namsan Tower, shopping at Dongdaemun market, tasting the delicious food on every street corner, spending an evening along the Hangang River, exploring the great history of Korean temples like Sudeoksa Temple, and, of course, enjoying a winter in Korea and seeing snow for the first time.

Regards,

Fitri Pratiwi