Common threads between Koreans and Ukrainians
Published: 23 Oct. 2024, 19:48
Updated: 23 Oct. 2024, 22:29
Regarding the Korea JoongAng Daily’s recent article on North Korea’s dispatch of its troops to Ukraine, it was heartbreaking to read that Koreans, any Koreans, will be shedding blood and facing death in the land of my ancestors.
Most Koreans, from the North or the South, don’t know of the many similarities in our cultures and traditions. Ukrainians and Koreans share a burial custom of mound building, and this can be traced back to the earliest people in both areas. We also share a strong similarity of using shamans and shamanistic practices to help our people.
To both Koreans and Ukrainians, garlic is an incredibly important food and plays a role to make food delicious, but also has ritual, religious and mystical significance. Without garlic, I don’t think I would recognize either culture, it’s that important to who we are and how we eat.
While I could continue on about the significance of pork, honey, steam baths and mushrooms, perhaps one of the most interesting things many Ukrainians share with Koreans is the “Mongol spot,” perhaps passed down to us from Genghis Khan and his descendants.
I personally pray that South Korea will send translators and observers that might help these poor victims of the Northern Communist regime if they are captured and wish to cross the lines. I hope they will lay down their weapons to save themselves from this horrific situation.
Mike Sluchinski, a Canadian citizen
Most Koreans, from the North or the South, don’t know of the many similarities in our cultures and traditions. Ukrainians and Koreans share a burial custom of mound building, and this can be traced back to the earliest people in both areas. We also share a strong similarity of using shamans and shamanistic practices to help our people.
To both Koreans and Ukrainians, garlic is an incredibly important food and plays a role to make food delicious, but also has ritual, religious and mystical significance. Without garlic, I don’t think I would recognize either culture, it’s that important to who we are and how we eat.
While I could continue on about the significance of pork, honey, steam baths and mushrooms, perhaps one of the most interesting things many Ukrainians share with Koreans is the “Mongol spot,” perhaps passed down to us from Genghis Khan and his descendants.
I personally pray that South Korea will send translators and observers that might help these poor victims of the Northern Communist regime if they are captured and wish to cross the lines. I hope they will lay down their weapons to save themselves from this horrific situation.
Mike Sluchinski, a Canadian citizen
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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