Sleeping on the floor became common when ondol floor heating was introduced to the Koreans. When HVAC systems were not a thing, households had to find ways to keep warm and remain cool. Ondol floor heating was a process that used the smoke from fireplaces to warm up the whole house from under the floor.
Hanok, a traditional Korean house first built in the 14th century, had an “Ondol (온돌)”, which is a floor-based heating system. By sitting or lying down on the floor, one can feel the warmth of the floor. Being used to the “sitting on the floor” lifestyle, Koreans often do this cross-legged posture.
By sleeping with the mat on the floor – rather than on a bed frame, as in Western culture – the Japanese believe it helps to relax the muscles, while enabling the hips, shoulders and spine to maintain a natural alignment during rest.
Potential benefits of sleeping on the floor include a cooler sleep temperature, relief from back pain, and better posture.
According to Dr. Seockhoon Chung, MD, PhD, and Dr. Hoyoung An, MD, who write in Sleep Medicine Research, Korea's tradition of co-sleeping stems from not only its parenting philosophies, which prioritize family care over individual privacy but also its home design and architecture.
Do Korean married couples sleep separately? According to a survey released Wednesday, Korea has the second-highest rate of "sexless" married couples after Japan. The sexless rate for married couples sleeping in separate bedrooms (65 percent) was far higher than that of those who sleep together (23 percent).
According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea in 2017, the average sleep duration in South Korea is about 6.5 h [14]. A survey by Statistics Korea, on the other hand, found an average sleep duration among Koreans of 7.7 h.
In Japan, the majority of people sleep on the floor rather than in western-style beds. This has always been a part of Japanese customs dating back to the 10th century when people placed hemp mats on the floor before sleeping. Today, many Japanese people sleep on a tatami mat made of rice straw.
Advocates for floor sleeping say that it can reduce back pain, improve posture, and result in a better night's sleep. There is plenty of research to suggest that using a medium firm mattress promotes sleep comfort, boosts sleep quality, and improves spinal alignment.
3. For the Japanese, separate sleep means peace. And while the rest of the world sees sleeping in different rooms mostly as a sign of divorce, the Japanese think quite differently. They simply appreciate quality sleep, which will not allow anything to disturb them while they sleep.
According to a 2021 survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japanese sleep an average of seven hours and 22 minutes. This is the shortest duration among the member countries and almost an hour less than the OECD average of 8 hours and 24 minutes.
Japanese life expectancy
This low mortality is mainly attributable to a low rate of obesity, low consumption of red meat, and high consumption of fish and plant foods such as soybeans and tea. In Japan, the obesity rate is low (4.8% for men and 3.7% for women).
Second, it's simply their culture and part of the norm — covering legs with a blanket or veil while sitting down is considered respectful in Korea. They are showing respect to their audience that's watching.
Skincare is More Important than Makeup
Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.
Another huge difference between the United States and South Korea when it comes to bedding is the mattress. I am used to a comfortable mattress with support and padding and general fluffiness. However, the mattresses common in South Korea are basically box springs...not exactly the most comfortable.
Sleeping without a pillow can cause back and neck pain as it causes your spine to be misaligned. This is especially true if you sleep on your side or on your back. Back pain can be debilitating during the day, and keep you up at night, especially if you can't find a comfortable position.
“By sleeping without a mattress, you'll strengthen tiny muscles that build over time. You're putting pressure on your body parts.
Research suggests that sleeping naked may potentially positively impact reproductive health, connection with a partner, and self-esteem. Currently, there isn't much scientific research studying the effects of sleeping nude, or reliable data on what percentage of people in the U.S. sleep naked.
Japanese beds are low to the ground not only due to space and design considerations, but also due to the weather. The cool, humid climates of Japan make having a bed close to the ground more comfortable during the night, as it is less exposed to the cooler air that rises.
They get up at 6:34 a.m. on weekdays, and at 7:15 a.m. on Sundays. Koreans spend 1 hour and 56 minutes for meals each day, or 11 minutes more than five years ago. On average, they have breakfast at 7:43 a.m., lunch at 12:32 p.m., and dinner at 7:09 p.m.
Koreans go to bed after 11 p.m., and sleep for 7 hours and 59 minutes per night. They spent less than 40 minutes for each meal, and more than 2 hours for house chores every day. According to data released by Statistics Korea Monday, on average Koreans sleep 9 minutes longer than they did five years ago.