We all know what a risky game we play when we park a car beside a place being painted or having some modifications. In South Korea, people are considerate. They know how to get their work done without causing an inconvenience to others.

So, if you’ve parked in a place where your car is under potential paint threat from the building, the workers will cover it up with a plastic bag. They do the same for every car within the range of potential damage.

This one honestly warms our hearts. This well-organized nursing room was spotted in a mall. It’s equipped with a fridge, a water cooler, and even a microwave oven – anything the new mother would need to tend to her baby.

In case they’re feeling tired and want to catch some quick shut-eye, there’s a special room with beds and chairs. We appreciate this beautiful gesture because we know how convenient this would be for the moms.

South Korea is one of the safer countries of the world, with its security efforts being equal to European countries, as well as Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. With that being said, you wouldn’t think they’d have to take extra measures for the safety of anyone, right?

However, the country greatly values the safety of its women. They have gender-specific parking that’s well-illuminated, and the women’s zone has extra surveillance too. It’s definitely a great place to visit if you’re a solo female traveler roaming the country on your own terms.

The food is a humongous part of any country, any state, or any tradition. Undisputedly, one of the most terrific things about South Korea would be the mouth-watering range of food items they have to offer.

From flavor-laden ramen to big bowls of tangy kimchi, to piping hot servings of Tteokbokki (Rice cake), the Korean cuisine has so much to offer that you’ll never get tired. From super healthy to super indulgent, you can try anything.

Many of us don’t really hear about it, but the Northern and Southern regions in Korea are yet to call off their war. They declared a truce in 1958, giving rise to the DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone.

The DMZ has remained untouched for over half a century and is home to some wonderful species of wild animals and plants. The land stretches across 248 km, and photographers have been allowed inside on occasions to take snapshots of the flora and fauna.

Koreans are big on amusement parks, and these fun-filled parks are quite the hotspot for dates as well. Everland Amusement Park has some rides that will drive your senses crazy with adrenaline, with the T-Express gaining an honorable mention for going over 100 mph.

ZooTopia offers a bunch of incredible creatures, and the elephants can actually mimic the words from their handlers! Lotte World has earned the title for being the world’s largest indoor amusement park with tons of activities.

Over the past few years, the craze of the diverse music genre of Korea, termed as K-Pop, has managed to spread across the globe, gaining massive popularity among the Western part of the world as well.

Koreans are heavily influenced by the “idols” (artists who perform in groups) from massively popular groups like BTS, Blackpink, EXO, BigBang, TWICE, etc., as are their international fans. There are millions of fans across the world who would jump at the chance of visiting South Korea just to catch a glimpse of these idols.

Koreans are big fans of stretching and won’t hold themselves back from doing it almost anywhere – at the bus stop, in the office, or maybe on the plane against a seat too. They prefer sitting somewhere that they can move around.

Subsequently, massages are a big part of the regular Korean life, and so are the numerous massage parlors. They’ll use trees for massages too. People don’t consider this weird, and the way they do it is honestly quite endearing.

If you’ve ordered something online and you know when the delivery is going to arrive, it’s likely that you’ll wait around patiently to receive it directly from the hands of the delivery man. You might have a fear at the back of your head that some thief will nab it the first chance they get.

This is a genuine fear in many countries, but never in Korea. After a parcel is delivered, the postman will send a confirmation with a photo. It’ll sit there until the actual receiver picks it up.

Sometimes, you have to think out of the box to come up with something innovative and fun. In South Korean parks, there are special paved lanes with heightened blocks. The locals laugh and say they love “torturing” their feet, but they really enjoy walking on those lanes barefoot, and they say this type of reflexology is good for your body and balance.

It might be painful, but they say it’s fun at the same time—quite an interesting thing to look into on the next visit to South Korea.

This one is great. No, scratch that. This one is amazing! In beauty shops, you can take as many samples as you want. In restaurants, they’ll even bring you many snacks for free, even before the main course!

Koreans are extremely hospitable, so don’t be surprised when they offer you some free food or drinks because they appreciate you visiting their country. They also harbor a special place in their heart for Westerners, and will often invite them to have a drink.

“Little plants and gift receipts are so out-of-fashion! It’s time for detergents and toilet paper!” – this statement might raise some eyebrows, but it’s a symbolic tradition in South Korea. These housewarming gifts are all the same, and they all have a specific meaning.

Soap and detergent are given as a sign of prosperity – the more the foam, the more the dough. Toilet paper to a new couple is a sign that you’re praying that all their issues unwrap easily – like toilet paper.

Hands down, one of the most fascinating things about South Korea is the natives’ honesty. There have been instances of people forgetting their wallets or ATM cards somewhere, but anytime they went back, they’d find their stuff in the exact same spot they had left it behind.

There are hardly any cases where you hear tourists complaining that their goods got stolen. Who wouldn’t want to visit a place with such respectful locals?

When it comes to architectural and technological advancement, South Korea stands out from the rest by achieving a striking balance between the two. The capital city, Seoul, has some stunning architectural feats, including the gigantic 1,819 foot Lotte World Tower, and the curvaceous metallic structure – Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Koreans are completely used to this, but most people will find the works extraordinary. The city shines with bright lights at night, and has the most beautiful view from Han River, showcasing the true magnificence of the cityscape.

In this era where everyone is always glued to their phones, slow internet can be such a bummer. Whether it’s because you’re in a remote location or have inconsistent service from your internet provider, slow internet is enough to put most people in a bad mood.

When it comes to internet speed, South Korea is known for providing blazing fast service. It has the fastest mobile internet in the world, putting countries like Taiwan, Japan, and the USA behind it. Slow internet? In South Korea? Absolutely not.

One of the most intriguing yet amazing things about South Korea is the abundance of plates. No, really! If you ever order anything at a Korean restaurant, a number of plates will be spread out in front of you, regardless of whether you’ve ordered one dish or multiple.

This may be due to the Koreans’ preference for having small servings of many side dishes during their meals. Whichever it might be, it’s quite fascinating, in our opinion.

Koreans are workaholics. That might sound like it’s a negative trait, but we mean it in the best sense possible. With some of the best education rates in the world, South Korean people are highly educated and super dedicated to their work.

They’re diligent and punctual, which means there might not always be time for a good breakfast, or styling your hair nicely. So, they improvise. We are convinced that they’re magicians of multi-tasking. Here’s a woman who’s casually heading off to work while curling her hair during her commute.

Different countries vary in their preferred mode of commute for everyday convenience. When it comes to Europe, it’s those beautiful bicycles that can be seen striding down busy roads to the peaceful countryside. In South Korea, though, they put a technological twist on everything.

Small electric cars are very popular in the country, and people consider them as a fast and efficient method of transportation. So, transportation is another amazing thing about South Korea.

There are so many things in South Korea that would fascinate you, and there’s so much going on that, unfortunately, the country is running low on space. So, what do the people do now that they barely have any spots left for parking?

The garages aren’t always big enough, so they just improvise. That’s why you can often spot cars peeking out from under garage doors. People don’t seem to have a problem with it, and we already know how South Korea is when it comes to security and honesty!

You get on a bus, it’s a long journey, you’re totally bored. What do you do? Most of us will say that we’ll look at our phones – the easiest relievers of boredom. However, it’s quite annoying to sit there buried in the phone in your hands as you try to find the right angle that won’t hurt your neck from looking down/up at it for a long time.

To avoid this, buses in Seoul have transparent pockets that will let you clearly view your phone. How clever!

For all the bookworms out there who would never reject a book no matter where they are, South Korea has a really special thing planned out for them. In Seoul, you’ll sometimes find libraries situated right in subway stations.

What’s so special about it? Automated book dispensers! People can register with their ID and pick a book to read. This one is a super smart and handy way to make sure you always have a book to read as you travel through the country.

Babies are just born adorable. With their chubby cheeks and cute demeanor, they don’t have to do much to put a smile on anyone’s face. Here’s a rather odd thing about South Korea, and we aren’t exactly sure how we feel about it, but it’ll definitely pique your curiosity.

Blackhead strips for babies can be found in almost every other supermarket. Wouldn’t we all like to see what it has to offer, though?

A true chocolate lover would never shy away from finishing an entire bar of Twix, because those are one of the best sugary delights out there. However, sometimes, if you’re just not feeling it, you might not be able to have the entire thing.

Here comes the annoying part, where you have to attempt to repack it only for it to melt everywhere. When in South Korea, get these handy Twix holders. Don’t just stuff it into your back pocket or bag, try this upgrade!

Laundry stations – slippery, dirty, filled with foam. Heading to a public place for laundry can be a rather disturbing experience for a lot of people. South Korea wouldn’t do that to its citizens.

Another great thing about South Korea is how clean they are, and how neat they keep the laundry stations. There are built-in concrete/stone blocks with grooves on them to act as washboards. Their public spaces are so spotless; one can only imagine what the more exclusive properties look like.

One of the most incredible things about South Korea would be the beautiful, scenic places you can visit, one of which is Jeju city. This place has a refreshing idea when it comes to parking. The area operates on an honor system.

Depending on how long you’re planning on staying in the park, you insert coins into the machine. No need for workers, electronics, receipts, or tickets – just the common ideology of supporting the city.

It’s 2020, and there’s absolutely no place in the world for fragile masculinity. While in some places of the world, men showing care and appreciation for the other can be met with criticism and sexist jokes, South Korean men couldn’t care less.

They’re very supportive of and very close to each other. It’s not weird to see one man put his hand on the shoulders of his male colleague because it’s perfectly fine to do so – whether in South Korea or any other part of the world.

The work ethics and inner culture of the South Korean job scene are very different from those of other countries. The bosses’ interests and hobbies are very important to the employees, as the bosses will often invite the employees to spend a weekend with them doing some activity.

If the employee turns the offer down, they’re going to have to go into complete details about why they’re doing so and where they will be on that day, at that time. Bonding or excessive accountability? You tell us!

South Korea puts a unique spin on love and relationships with the addition of extra days to celebrate the union (or not). January 14th is Diary Day, where both couples and friends exchange blank diaries, which will be filled with events of the year.

On Valentine’s day, the women usually hand out gifts, and on March 14th, the men return the favor by sweeping women off their feet. They even have a day for the singles: Black Day on April 14th.

South Koreans take their food very seriously. You know what they take even more seriously? Delivering the food on time. The carriers ride on little motorbikes that can squeeze them through the most jam-packed hours of the city.

Rest assured, your food will arrive at your doorsteps well within the promised time. Another cool thing is, after you’ve finished your meal, if you leave your dishes outside the front door, the person who delivered it before may swing by and take them away.

The majority of houses in the Western world come pre-equipped with central heating systems that pass warm air through hidden metal vents to keep everyone cozy during the chilly hours.

South Korea does it slightly differently, and instead of vents, there are pipes just underneath the floors of the houses which deliver the hot air directly to the home above. It’s normal to find South Koreans chilling on the floor in the colder months because it’s super comfortable doing so. How neat is that!

We’ve already mentioned how South Koreans have rid themselves of the concept of fragile masculinity. This one proves it even further. Makeup is a hot commodity in the country, and, regardless of gender, people show their interest in the power of makeup to enhance their looks.

Using makeup is very common here and not stigmatized, so you’ll easily spot many insanely good-looking locals! South Korean makeup is very natural and blends into the skin like magic – definitely worth trying!

Kimchi is one of the most popular dishes in the country, as it is consumed with almost everything – on top of ramen, as a side dish, cut into pieces with rice – you name it, the locals have probably tried it.

There’s so much more to kimchi than meets the eye; 250 sides more! With over 250 types of kimchi, we can understand South Korea’s love for this versatile ingredient. It can be made with a variety of vegetables and with a wide range of spices and seasonings.

Whether you like to marvel at the forwardness of cities, or you like getting lost in the great outdoors, South Korea offers something which will suit everyone’s taste. The cities – Seoul, Incheon, Ulsan, and many others – are filled with culture, great food, and shopping opportunities, making them huge tourist attractions.

Besides that, you can’t go to South Korea and not fall in love with the natural beauty of the picturesque mountains and beaches. You’ll find the two extremes coexisting in complete harmony side and side, and it’s super pleasing.

Every cuisine has some delicacies, something that the locals will urge foreigners to try out. For South Korea, the list is pretty long, but one dish that gets skeptical glances from the tourists but nods of appreciation from the locals would be the traditional fast food item, Jokbal.

Jokbal is made by boiling pigs’ feet and then cooking them in a mix of soy sauce, leeks, sugar, ginger, and rice wine. If you like Korean BBQ, there’s a high chance you’ll appreciate this, too.

Ranging from cultural to celebratory to entertainment, the festivals in South Korea are huge and are happening throughout the year. So, you’ll always find something that calls out to you.

Some of the big festivals include Jeju Fire Festival, Gwangju World Culture Kimchi Festival, Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Jinju Lantern Festival, Busan Fireworks Festival, Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, and so on. We highly recommend looking into each one to immerse yourself in the depth of the South Koreans’ way of celebrating.

Koreans have been praised for ages for their near-perfect skin and their incredibly slow paceof aging. Although a lot can be accredited to food and genes, one of the most amazing things about South Korea is the skincare range and how devoted people are to it.

The internet has been buzzing about the “10-step routine” popularized by many Koreans who have “glass” skin – skin so smooth and shiny, it looks like porcelain.

Most countries have posh restaurants, busy cafes, and food trucks serving yummy foods on the roadside; South Korea has some more interesting options to choose from. Introducing animal cafes! Order yourself a cup of coffee or a box of cupcakes and play with adorable kittens or puppies all around.

Honestly, who wouldn’t eat here? A good cup of Joe while being surrounded by fluffy baby animals – that’s the dream. PC rooms are very common and attract a huge young crowd too. Koreans are big gamers, the world knows it.

Long history and years of records have made South Korea one of the most diverse Asian nations when it comes to tradition and culture. Locals take their culture very seriously, and they’re not afraid to flaunt their love for their upbringing.

Even to this day, you can watch beautiful traditional Korean dances and musical performances, have a merry walk around Seoul wearing a Hanbok (traditional Korean wear), and visit traditional neighborhoods with hanok houses and delicate teahouses. The country is the perfect blend of old and new.

Let’s talk about quaint villages and small towns. We can’t mention the most incredible things about South Korea and forget the tranquil, peaceful bliss you’ll find by walking along the worn-out roads of the picturesque countryside.

Venturing outside the city, you’ll find tons of small villages located between the lush greenery of the country. Whenever the locals need a break from the hustle and bustle of the cities, they plan a country getaway.

The isolation of North Korea makes it an intriguing and mysterious place. Within its borders, there are unknown and fascinating stories and occurrences that most of us probably would think of as strange, but they are definitely real!

North Korea has been testing hydrogen bombs for years, so in 2016, South Koreans sent balloons over the DMZ and into North Korea with anti-testing propaganda in them.

Not to be outdone, the North Koreans sent back some balloons of their own – full of garbage!

The area surrounding the DMZ has been prime for propaganda for years, so in order to have their ideas heard, the North Korean government built a small town near it. It certainly looked nice and was also intended to beckon South Koreans into defecting.

In truth, though, it was primarily created so that the North could blast their rhetoric over the loudspeakers. However, in 2004, both sides decided to stop broadcasting their propaganda, and now the city sits empty.

Propaganda is everywhere, and those who have visited the country talk nonstop about it. There is no place that propaganda can not be found, even in schools.

In the halls of the schools, you will find mural upon mural that shows the happy life and supreme ruler in all his benevolence. These murals span a wide array of subjects. Some show war, and some simply show their leader smiling and interacting with all his very happy people.

In 1976, a tree almost brought the war back to life. That seems like a strange thing to say, but it is the truth. Line of sight in any situation is important. In 1976, there was a tree blocking the US view at one of the DMZ checkpoints.

After a serious incident and skirmish, the soldiers on duty decided to remove the tree. The stump was left as a reminder of the conflict.

There are a lot of rules when it comes to entering and exiting North Korea. However, at the World Cup match between their team and Brazil, the stands were full of North Korean fans. How could this be? Did their leader ease up on travel restrictions?

There is not much chance of that. In fact, there were actually rumors that the leader himself had chosen Chinese actors and sent them to play the role of North Korean fans.

A very well-known South Korean director was actually kidnapped and smuggled to North Korea in 1976. There, he was held captive in a nice home and fed propaganda. Eventually, the leader of the country at the time sent for him.

At this meeting, he was reunited with his ex-wife who had also been taken. They remarried, and he went on to direct the North Korean version of Godzilla, known as Pulgasari. Eventually, he and his wife escaped and made their way to Hollywood.

It is hard to get permission to travel to North Korea as a tourist. If you do get approval, there are several stipulations. The first is that you will be assigned two government “guides”.

These two guides will tell you where you can go and what you can do, as well as who you are allowed to talk to. There are two so that they can watch each other and make sure that each is doing their job properly.

Like with everything else, the rules for what you can bring into the country as a tourist are very specific. If you fly into the capital‘s airport, you will have to fill out a very detailed customs form.

It asks you to log any electrical devices, books, or publications you have, as well as many other items. Anything deemed inappropriate or controversial will be confiscated. These can be books that are on the banned list, other artistic works, or GPS devices.

There is a lot of focus put on the outward appearance in North Korea. The government and its leader hope to make their country seem more prosperous than it actually is. One of the ways to do that is to build!

They have built things like a huge, beautiful luxury hotel in the middle of the capital city. The Ryugyong Hotel is in the top 100 tallest buildings category and has thousands of rooms. However, with all its grandeur, it has never had one single guest.

There are a lot of detailed guidelines in North Korea. This is especially true when it comes to the image of its leaders. These guidelines translate over to tourism, as well, so if you’re a visitor, make sure that you follow these rules.

One of these is that when you take a picture of any of the leaders, you must take it of the whole body. There is absolutely no cropping allowed. You also should not fold printed materials with the leaders on them.

As a tourist, you are given an itinerary, and if you are a US tourist, there are a few museums that will be added to that itinerary. One of those is the “Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum”.

This museum celebrates the North Korean victory in 1953 and depicts wartime scenes and weapons confiscated during the battles. It may seem like a strange destination for US tourists, but the government wants to maintain an image of superiority.

Another museum that has been built to show the atrocities committed against the North Korean people may also be on that itinerary if the tourist is planning on leaving the capital.

In the south is the “Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities”. This museum is filled with remnants from the Sinchon incident and is full of very graphic and questionable historical exhibits. Once again, the government wants to control the narrative.

Though many of us probably don’t think that North Korea has elections, they actually do. Once every five years, there is an election for the parliament. However, these elections are a little rigged.

Each district is permitted one candidate, and that candidate is chosen by the leader himself. There are other controls put in place, like mandatory voting, and those who wish to vote for another candidate must do so publicly.

Another facet of keeping up the appearance that the leader wants to show the rest of the world is having a country website. This website contains no Korean whatsoever and has tabs for everything from tourism to business.

The site is clearly designed for outsiders, as there is no Korean to be found. There is also the fact that there is no internet per se, just a controlled and censored intranet.

Kim Jong-Un has made a lot of rules to limit western influence in the country. This includes banning a lot of things, including western clothing. There are also some rules in regards to haircuts (we will talk about that later).

Among the clothes that the leader dictated would be monitored were things like t-shirts, jeans, and skirts, along with piercings and long hair. These rules go for the entire country, but more particularly, in places along the Chinese border.

The rest of the world is living in the 21st century, but in Korea, the years and days go a little differently, as their calendar is designed around their founder’s birth. That means that their calendar actually started in April of 1912.

In North Korea, they are in the 108th Juche year. It seems odd to those of us from the outside, but the people of North Korea are used to it.

Just like with the dress code and other forms of expression, TV is controlled by the state, as well. This is done so that the government can maintain control of the information and narratives that are being relayed to their people.

In North Korea, there are only three channels to choose from. Each of these channels broadcasts government-sanctioned news and programs. This makes choosing what to watch a lot easier!

How would you feel if your power was cut off every night? That is what North Koreans have to deal with, as their country goes through a bit of an energy crisis. The state decided that, in order to conserve its limited resources, everything but the most important buildings would have the power cut off at night.

This fact was only revealed recently when a satellite image from space was taken at night, showing utter darkness over the country.

Education is not mandatory in North Korea. For the parents who opt to send their children to school, there are some very unique things added to the typical school supply list that we are all used to.

Sure, they need paper and pencils, but they also need to bring their own desk and chair. The student can also be asked to do labor for the state like picking up trash. School is very different in this country, that’s for sure!

The criminal justice system in North Korea, like everything else in the country, is strict and absolute. Among the harsh punishments that can be delivered to the individuals who commit a crime is the three-generation rule.

This says that if you commit a crime, your entire family can be sent to prison. That includes your children and parents. In essence, this rule is meant to deter individuals from committing crimes, as no one wants to see their family take the fall for something they did.

We already mentioned the South Korean director who was kidnapped, but there are many other stories of creatives being held or imprisoned. The control of the arts and the media by the state is very strict.

There are stories of writers who have been imprisoned for writing things that were outside the acceptable tone. Just like the director, artists have been held and made to create art in the name of the state.

We all spend hours browsing the millions of websites that are at our fingertips every day. It seems like there is no end to the knowledge we can gain, but in North Korea, this just can’t happen.

Their internet only has 28 websites available to those who have access to a computer. Of course, that number is very low in comparison to the rest of the world. The internet is free, though, so that is good!

Like many countries, the North Korean government wants to remember their leaders and show that they are the ones in control. In order to do that, most countries create a tomb, a shrine, or monuments to these iconic figures.

In North Korea, this meant preserving the previous Kim in a glass tomb. This class tomb is visited by tourists all the time. When you do visit, though, make sure to bow at both the leader’s feet and arms.

We hinted at this interesting story when we talked about Western clothing. Along with controlling the western influence on style, the leader and his government have chosen haircuts that they feel are appropriate, as well.

Men have the option to choose from 28 different cuts. If you go rogue, you could end up in jail. Oh yeah, and the selection restrictions don’t only go for men. Unmarried women have to keep their hair short.

Through these stories we have been sharing, there is one common thread – control. This control doesn’t only stop at the fashion or arts, it also encompasses religion. The government has deemed North Korea an atheist state.

This means that anyone seen or found to be practicing any religion can be arrested and sentenced to jail time. This allows the government to control the people even further and prevents any diversity that they feel could lead to problems.

Sanctions and discontinuation of trade with other countries have led to some interesting workarounds. In 2008, South Korea stopped shipping fertilizers to the country, and this left the North Korean agricultural industry in a bit of a bind.

When this happened, the government enacted a new law. Citizens were required to save their number twos and give them to the authorities. They would then process the stuff and use it as fertilizer for their fields.

As we have said, control is the word of the day every day in North Korea, so the fact that the government also controls who lives in the capital city of Pyongyang is not that far-fetched.

In order to live in the city, you must apply for government permission. Once that permission is given, you then have to abide by the rules within it. Things like a dirty car can get you fined. Also, in order to leave, you will need a travel certificate.

One of the most popular sports in North Korea is basketball. However, as with everything else, the leadership needed to make a few corrections to the rules of the game, so that is what their supreme leader did.

When playing basketball in North Korea, remember that a slam dunk is worth three points. A shot made within the final minutes of the game is also worth eight points. This could make the game very interesting.

In history, music and literature have always been used to drive rebellions and revolutions. That is why it makes sense that a country so controlling of the knowledge and information its citizens ingest would see both of these art forms as a threat.

Thus, in 2015, leader Kim Jong-Un made a decree and confiscated all CDs and tapes of music that contained lyrics that could incite dissension amongst his people.

Like with any military state, the military is one of the cornerstones of maintaining control. That is why, despite the North Korean economy being so bad, the government still finds the money to put into the military complex.

When you look at the division of funds within the country, 20% of the gross domestic product goes to the military. This keeps their image in the eyes of the world as being mighty, but it also leaves its people struggling to be able to afford food.

For a country that likes to stay far away from the western world, there is one area that there are no restrictions, and that is sports. Not only are the North Koreans into basketball, they love rollerblading, too!

The capital city is actually full of rollerblading sites that are typically filled with children and young adults spending their downtime enjoying the activity. That is, when they are not at work or gathering for inspirational speeches.

Another building that was constructed to show the solvency of the government and the economy was the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium. This is the largest stadium in the world, and it is able to seat 150,000 people.

This stadium, unlike the luxury hotel, does get used. There is the odd sporting event held in it, but mostly it is used for the Arirang Festival, which is a fall festival to celebrate Korean culture and history.

If you ever visit North Korea, make sure to change your watches, even if you just came from South Korea. In 2015, the North Korean leadership decided to create their own time zone. The new time zone is called Pyongyang time after the capital city.

This new time zone is half an hour apart from the rest of the world. It is +8:30 from Greenwich Mean Time. Oh yeah, don’t worry about daylight savings, either.

Triplets in any country are rare, but in North Korea, they are looked at as very special, and the government takes a concerted interest in them. If you have triplets, the government will come in and remove them from the parents.

These children are then raised by the state for their first four years. The parents are given gifts in compensation for the removal of their children. There is no clear reason, but many think it has something to do with the low birth rate of the country.

The fact that the country doesn’t have access to the worldwide internet is not wholly true. There are a select handful of individuals who have access to the internet from global sources.

This list includes the leadership and their families at the top. After them, comes students at select schools and the military division of cyber warfare. Anyone else has to deal with only 28 websites.

Reverence for past leaders is an important aspect of North Korean culture. This means the day of the passing of Kim Il-Sung is observed as a national day of mourning. On this day, you are expected to openly grieve the leader’s loss.

This translates into no smiling and no loud conversation. If you don’t follow these guidelines or do it to the level the state feels is appropriate, you may find yourself locked up in a labor camp.

For most of the world, Sunday is spent relaxing or spending time with the family. However, that is not the way the North Koreans spend their Sundays. In fact, it is a day for labor in this country.

The only difference is on this day of the week, you are not permitted to use tools to get your chores done. For instance, if you are gardening, you will need to use your hands to dig the holes or water the plants.

Weddings are very different in North Korea, and so is the honeymoon. In fact, newlywed couples don’t get a honeymoon, as they are state-mandated to return to work the day after the blessed event.

They also can’t hold the wedding on the day of the previous or current leaders’ birthdays. Once the ceremony is done, the couple must pay their respects to Kim Il-Sung’s statue, too! There are so many rules!

What would you do without your cell phone? One of the stories that most of us just can’t believe is that there is limited cell phone ownership in North Korea. This is, in part, due to the economic crisis, which leaves cell phones too expensive to own.

This is also because of the control exercised upon technology in the entire country. Only one in five people in North Korea owns a cell phone.

There are a lot of differences between the North and South Koreans, from government to fashion and everything in between. Perhaps one of the saddest differences is the fact that the North Koreans are shorter on average than their brothers and sisters to the south.

This may not seem like something to be sad about, but the reason behind this is why it is so upsetting. Due to the malnutrition of the country’s youth, there has been some impact on physical attributes like height.

If they control what you look at on a computer, it just seems logical that the state would also control who has a computer. That is why, in order to purchase a computer, you must first get permission.

Like the constraints on the internet and all other technology, this is to protect their citizens from outside propaganda. It is just another level of security the administration feels is necessary. Most people would struggle to afford it anyway.

If you look at the capital city of Pyongyang, you would imagine that the country is very modern. With its beautifully paved roads and modern buildings, Pyongyang looks that way, but the country itself is still very rural.

When it comes to the highway system, most modes of transportation will have to ride on roads that are not paved at all. That is because just about 3% of the country’s roads actually have good asphalt laid down on them.

It’s good to be a leader it seems. Not only do you have access to outside communication, but you can also indulge in some pricey hobbies. One of these was Kim Jong-Il’s cognac habit.

At one time, it was said that he spent just a little under a million dollars a year on the high priced liquor. That is a lot of money, especially when you consider that the average yearly income of a person in the country is just $1,000. It seems a bit indulgent to us, but he was the leader.

As much as the state monitors art and has its hand in it, they also understand its power. During the time that Kim Jong-Il ran the country, he reportedly penned six different operas. The amazing part is he did it in just a two-year span of time.

That’s good time management. These operas, of course, are focused on history and North Korean culture, perhaps with a bit of propaganda mixed in. But at least there were some beautiful colors and they gave people something different to do.