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Earlier, Koreans believed that the nation of Korea was formed when a
God known as Hwanung came from heaven and transformed a bear into a
woman and then married her. They had a son out of the marriage who was
named Tangun and was the one who established the capital of Korea and
called it Joseon or the "land of the morning calm". So this is how the
Korean nation was established.
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The ancient culture of South Korea was the same as that of North Korea,
but then after the two were divided, the contemporary cultures of the
two differed. The Korean culture was not influenced by the western
culture as the Silla mountain worked as a barrier. Therefore, Korea
developed a distinct culture of its own, though there are elements of
the Chinese and Japanese culture that made its place in Korea, due to
frequent invasions by the two countries.
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Although Christianity and Buddhism have marked a major religious
presence in South Korea, they are followed with diversity. "Shamanism"
is very prominent in the South Korean culture. Worshiping the forces of
nature is still a strong belief amongst the people.
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"Kut" is a shamanic ritual that is still followed religiously, which
involves a Mudang - a local shaman, who calls upon the Gods through
sacrifice and implores the spirits to hear the people's grievances and
drive away the evil spirits. There are numerous interesting stories in
the Korean mythology depicting the existences of people with nature and
God. The sun and moon are a revered symbol of significance and
prosperity.
