7 Habits of Koreans which Kerala Can Copy!

 This post is based on similar other post which I saw elsewhere! I've added few points to make it more localized and practical to Kearla people.

Why Copy Habits from Korea?

Korean culture is often admired for its discipline, community spirit, and healthy lifestyle choices. Here are seven habits from Korea that people in Kerala can incorporate into their public and personal lives for better living and societal growth.

1. Respect for Elders

Description: Koreans place a strong emphasis on respecting elders, which is deeply rooted in their Confucian traditions. Bowing, addressing elders formally, and prioritizing their comfort are everyday practices.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Start addressing elders with respect in social and family settings.
• Encourage younger generations to engage with grandparents, learning from their wisdom.
• In public spaces, create separate spaces and convenient seating for elders, or parks for elders with pathways, signage about exercises suitable for them, provide information about elder support groups, vetted old age homes ( sponsored Promotion). Also, magazine rack in a covered space for elders to read or browse.

2. Emphasis on Education

Description: Korea’s dedication to education is world-renowned. Parents invest heavily in their children’s learning, and students are taught the value of hard work from an early age.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Create community libraries or study hubs for students. Apart from this use existing libraries to host regular meetup of book readers, arrange space for book release, etc.
• Promote vocational training alongside academic studies for skill development.
• Offer peer mentoring programs to instill study discipline and habits.
• Create groups which promote internship among students

3. Cleanliness and Recycling Culture

Description: Korea's cities are known for their cleanliness. Strict waste segregation, recycling, and public participation in cleaning drives are integral to their lifestyle.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Implement waste segregation at home, separating biodegradable, recyclable, and non-recyclable waste.
• Organize local clean-up drives in neighborhoods and beaches like Kovalam, Varkala, Cherai beach
• Educate school children about recycling through interactive workshops.
• Create videos on how to recycle, best practices, how to cut glass bottle to recycle as pen stands or lamp shades.
• Involve high net-worth individuals, and businesses to sponsor waste bins in different parts of the city. Also, waste collection process from these bins.

4. Healthy Eating Habits

Description: Koreans focus on balanced meals with fermented foods like kimchi, which are rich in probiotics, and fresh ingredients like vegetables, fish, and rice.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Incorporate fermented foods like idli, dosa, and homemade pickles into daily meals.
• Support local farmers by buying fresh produce from farmer’s markets.
• Conduct regular farmers market in different parts of the city (selling home or terrace produce) and markets in rural areas like Nedumangadu, Neyyatinkara. Also, promote this as people passing by the road can stop by to buy fresh and organic produce.
• Experiment with fusion dishes like Korean bibimbap using Kerala ingredients like red rice.

5. Public Transportation Discipline

Description: Koreans are known for their orderly behavior in public transportation, including queuing at stations and giving priority to disabled and elderly passengers.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Introduce queuing systems at busy bus stops and train stations.
• Use signage and announcements to promote disciplined boarding.
• Encourage ride-sharing or carpooling to reduce traffic congestion in cities like Kochi.
• Create whatsapp group of govt employees ( verified/organized/managed) by a retired govt staff to ensure that people driving from the same route gets into car pooling scheme

6. Collective Community Spirit

Description: Korea thrives on its sense of “jeong,” a term that embodies deep connection and solidarity among people. Communities work together during festivals, emergencies, and routine activities.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Organize local community activities like Onam sadyas or charity events.
• Create neighborhood watch groups to enhance safety.
• Promote volunteering initiatives to help the underprivileged or during natural calamities.

7. Skincare and Self-Care Routines

Description: Koreans are famous for their detailed skincare routines, which emphasize taking time for self-care.

Practical Use in Kerala:

• Use natural ingredients like coconut oil, aloe vera, and turmeric, which are abundant in Kerala, for skincare routines.
• Promote the use of traditional ayurvedic treatments alongside modern self-care practices.
• Encourage spas and wellness centers to introduce affordable packages for the general public.
• Start more body massage and leg massage places near beaches, so that patrons can get a massage watching the sea. Residents who stay by the beach side should be trained in massage, and given training to promote it and maintain a clean hygienic space. 

By adopting these habits, people in Kerala can not only enhance their personal lives but also contribute to a more organized and harmonious society. Integrating such practices into daily routines will lead to a healthier, happier, and more progressive community.