I think you twisted Tony's words or you are a little too patriotic on this point, Chopin. Confucianism is still alive and is still being seen in South Korea. If you stay in South Korea after staying in China or Japan, you'll find out South Korea keeps Confucian purity the most among the three countries. The Chinese don't take it as a social ideology because of the revolution and Confucianism in Japan had been always Japanized and too politicized. So there's strong opposition mentality in Japan. A form of a cultural coexistence resumed, as often happens when a country is exposed to the sea and to influences from outside. In this aspect, I don't understand why you said like "Seonbae is not Chinese culture". As I'm looking into that, Tony's answer is based on facts. Armillary sphere(渾天儀), Dano(端午節), Chinese traditional medicine, these are well-preserved in Korea even though they all were actually the Chinese tradition. I know some Chinese who are extreme nationalists, consider us such a robber, but we just made a silverstone into a goldstone. The Mongolian and the Manchu-Chinese dominated China for a few hundred years. But see how they are these days. Manchu-Chinese were overwhelmed by Chinese culture, language and the Manchu-Chinese gave up on their native language. In the end, Manchu-Chinese is considered such a dead lanugage. Also as we know, Mongolia remains as the one of the most underdeveloped countires in the world. However, Korea and Japan created their language their own way and recreated their culture with Chinese culture their own way. That's the way it should be. I agree with you, Tony. Let's learn from each other.

I'd like to correct something. I talk about using honorific language, not about Seonbae.You speak using honorific language to them even if they are only one year older than you. Many Korean people believe it stems from Confucianism, but it's not true at all. This originally comes from the military culture of Japanese imperialism. For this reason, I'd not say it(speaking using the honorific to them even if they are only one year older than you) is Korean characteristic culture. They who are called "Seonbae" that in South Korea are expected to buy their junior colleagues drinks or a meal and are also expected to help them. My senior colleagues gave me some information like "The professor is very strict, don't skip the class anyhow. He also make a few difficult questions about "Emile", so read it over and over." If students enter an university, senior colleages of the department will hold a great party(with Soju) for freshmen. In Japan, juniors pay for their meal after having a meal with their seniors. They don't get along with each other very often as far as I know.

Sunbae is not Chinese culture. And, it was not influenced by Chinese culture. It is a Hanjja word, and it doesn't' mean that it was influenced by Chinese culture. European countries use English alphabet, but it doesn't mean that they are all influenced by English culture. Hanjja, Kanji, and Chinese characters were used internationally in East Asia not only for Chinese. Sunbae is unique Korean culture originated from strict age-based culture. People show respect to olders, and youngers are usually polite even to 1 year older person in a school and company. Sunbae means a senior in English, but youger people are supposed to use polite language to Sunbae. Chinese don't have different langauge for older people. Only Korean and Japanese have strictly different language for politeness. And strict age-based culture of Korean is stronger than Japanese.

To TonyRomeo: It is my last posting. Here is place to study language, and this is a page for explaining a Korean word. This is not the place showing the origin from China, not the place of Chinese influence. not the place of Confucianism. If someone keeps posting such irrelevant things only to show Chinese origin and influence, people will frown upon. Besides, the word sumbae was not from China but from Japan and spread to Asia in modern age. Even if some words are used in China, it doesn't mean that its origin is China. If you have doubt, just study it more and don't post any story about origin here. Here is just place to study Korean, not the place to show Chinese origin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senpai_and_kōhai

Hi Chopin: I don't want to argue with you. Obviously you are a very intelligent and well informed person, so I respect your opinion. In my last post, I have already clearly stated : I have great respect for Korea and its culture and think that its in no way inferior to other countries such as China or USA. Also, I have stated my good intentions in the PS : (PS. Chopin, if you are still not convinced with my presentation, it is Ok to agree to disagree. We may be all looking at the same elephant from a different angle or perspective with tainted eye glasses. The important thing is that we are all here to learn from one another and to make friends. So, I respect your opinion and looking forward to learning more from you - my chingu ;- )) So, please let it go. My position is this : I may be wrong , you may be wrong or both us may be wrong. That.s why I said I respected your opinion but I am sure that a lot of other people may have the same opinion as I am. Also, I was just trying to give some backgroud information to the word sunbae and thats all. If you are still angry because of this, I will just let you win Ok. I give up. An opinion is just an opinion and its based partly on facts and partly based on perception and interpretation. Anyway, you can have the last word but do not erase my post, please. This is a democratic free society. Lets Make Friends not War, Dont Worry and Be Happy ;- )