Customs
The Korean population living in Jilin city now numbers over 180,000, taking up about 4.3 percent of the total population of the city. The Korean ethnic group?is?quite diligent, wise and optimistic, famous for being good at singing and dancing. It is also an enthusiastic and passionate nation that loves singing and dancing. Their farmer music-dance, dragon-drum dance, wedding dance, knife dance and hammering-clothes dance have gained popularity among Chinese people. While vigorously promoting traditional folk culture, the folk artifacts in Jilin city, like painting, carving, grass-weaving, paper-cutting and embroidery, all have distinctive folk and national characteristics with rich northeastern style.
The wedding customs of Korean people are pretty lively, with the custom of respecting elders highly praised. They also have a dietary habit of four meals a day. The folk culture village of Korean people in Xingguang village of Yongji county has been dedicated as a tourist attraction. Major tourist activities include singing and dancing parties with villagers, visiting villager’s homes, learning about their lifestyles and customs, and tasting typical Korean meals on characteristic heated brick beds. The enthusiastic reception and distinctive food, like rice, rice wine, glutinous rice cake, cold noodles, small pickles, wild vegetables and dog meat feast, have always fascinated tourists.
Korean folk clothes have unique characteristics. Young females usually wear luxury and bright colored long dresses while middle-aged females wear long straight skirts with rather plain colors. The males, however, are more willing to wear short blouses with sleeveless jackets, and trousers with wide and loose trouser legs. When going out for a visit, they usually wear robes. Meanwhile, children also wear long skirts, with satin at the end of the sleeves that are bright and colorful.
The houses of Koreans are built with wooden frames, while the four slopes on top are covered with millet straw or rice straw. Finally, tiles cover the top. Most walls are made of mud and are painted white. Now, brick-and-tile houses are increasing in number.
The wedding ceremony of Korean people is quite solemn, held twice respectively in the bride's home as well as the groom’s home. For a Korean family, it prevails that the husband supports the family with a job while the wife does housework at home. The father-son relationship is the basis of every other human relationship. Fathers should be kind while sons should be filial. The eldest son takes care of the parents.
Koreans have unique family festivals celebrating the 60th birthday and 60th wedding anniversary of family members.
