People of Korean Heritage

This chapter describes background information, health-related beliefs and values, and health-related behaviors of people of Korean heritage. The chapter begins with an overview of the geographical characteristics, history, culture, and populations of the Korean peninsula. Typical communication styles and relationships, traditional and typical family roles and organization, workforce issues, and biocultural ecology are presented to provide background information on Korean populations. More details are presented on high-risk health behaviors, health-care practices, typical meals and dietary practices, pregnancy and childbearing practices, death rituals, spirituality, barriers to health care, and traditional versus biomedical health-care providers.