[Land of Squid Game] Eating seaweed soup on birthdays

If you are a K-drama maniac, you might be wondering why Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthdays. Most cultures have cakes or some other special dish (usually a pastry). But in Korea, it’s seaweed soup. Seaweed is traditionally served to women during postnatal care. The seaweed is a great source of iodine and iron, and its detoxifying characteristics make it an ideal food for postnatal recovery. So, Koreans eat seaweed soup on their birthdays to pay respect to their mothers. 

Aug. 1, 2022

[Subway Stories] Love and hate for Seoul’s largest meat market in Majang Station

The following is part of Seoul Subway Stories — a newly launched Korea Herald series exploring subway stations and their surrounding areas across the city. – Ed. It’s 10 minutes’ walk from the station, but your nose already knows: The air smells like a meat market. Majang Station on Seoul Subway Line No. 5 is known for its market, where nearly 60 percent of all meat and meat by-products distributed in Seoul are handled. For locals, this is also the place to go to g

Aug. 1, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (13) Not all “개” can bark

Answer: (a) “개 (gae)” might be one of the most versatile words in the Korean language. The most common meaning of the word is a dog, but it can also be used to mean all the other options listed above. In recent years, however, teenagers have used the word more often and in a far broader context as an amplifier to increase the intensity of something both positive and negative. It works like “very” or “so.” But unlike the other four meanings that can be f

July 27, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Buildings missing the fourth floor

What meanings do you place on numbers? You‘re probably familiar with the most famous ’lucky seven.‘ Or the famously-avoided number 13. In Korea, the same is done with the number four. The Korean word for four is pronounced ’sa,‘ which has the same pronunciation as the Korean word for ’death.‘ Though it’s less prevalent nowadays, Korean buildings, especially some old ones, still do not have a fourth floor. By Min Byoung-chul  Min Byoun

July 25, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (12) ‘Insider’ gets a new meaning in Korea

Answer: (a) “Inssa” refers to those who are very social and active throughout all manners of social activities, whether it be making friends or taking initiatives at work, school or in whatever group they may be part of. It is derived from the English word insider. Its antonym is “assa,” from outsider, and it refers to a person who is not accepted as a member of a particular group and feels isolated or different from those who are accepted. Coined by young people

July 20, 2022

[Subway Stories] Tidbits and tales behind jaw-dropping growth of Seoul subway

Seoul currently boasts one of the longest metro systems in the world, exceeded in length by only seven regions including Shanghai, London, Moscow and New York. What started out as a single line system in 1974 has expanded exponentially to nearly 300 kilometers connecting some 300 stations scattered across 11 lines, not counting the nine additional routes like the Suin-Budang Line that connects the capital with its satellite cities. Now, those 11 subway lines carry 7.2 million pasengers every

July 18, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Saying “our mother” / “our brother”

You may be surprised when talking with Koreans when they refer to “our mother” or “our brother,” even while talking to someone other than a sibling. Koreans generally say “our mother,” “our brother” etc. instead of “my mother” or “my brother.” This is because of Koreans‘ group-oriented mindset, rather than thinking of themselves as an individual. However, more and more young Koreans are becoming Westernized and i

July 18, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (11) Queens in Korea?

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Q: How many queens have ruled Korea? (a) None (b) 1 (c) 3 (d) 8 Answer: (c)  Historical records show that there were at least three reigning queens in the Korean Peninsula, all during the Silla Dynasty which lasted from 57 BC to 935 AD. The first, and most well-known of the three, is Queen Seondeok, the 27th ruler of Silla. Although male supremacy was common acr

July 13, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Not eating the last bite left on plate

In many cultures, eating all of the food put before you is seen as a sign that the meal was good. However, in Korea, leaving the last bite of food on the plate is considered by many to be good manners. This is especially true if you are invited to a Korean host’s home. Most elderly people still leave the last bite on their plate, but some young Koreans do not observe this custom and may not even be aware of this part of Korean culture. By Min Byoung-chul Min Byoung-chul is an endo

July 11, 2022

Rental hanbok between tradition and modern taste

A serene, hundreds-year-old royal palace surrounded by a wall of shiny skyscrapers is one of the most iconic images of Seoul. On any given day, these palaces are visited by throngs of tourists -- both foreigners and locals -- dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, thanks largely to nearby rental shops offering the costume at only about 30,000 won ($23) for a full day on average. But not all are happy with the craze for rental hanbok. The issue is the design. Purists frown on renta

July 11, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (10) Food and celebrations

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.  Answer: (a)  Koreans usually eat a bowl of miyeokguk (seaweed soup), typically for breakfast, on their birthday.  ------------------- Like in many cultures, Koreans mark special occasions and events by eating and sharing certain foods. They include Lunar New Year and Chuseok – the two biggest traditional holidays here. Koreans eat a bowl of tteokguk, rice cak

July 6, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Avoiding eye contact during conversations

In Korea, it is considered rude to look directly into someone’s eyes during a conversation, especially if you are being scolded or rebuked by your seniors or elders. In some cultures, making eye contact is a non-verbal part of communication; however, this is not the same in Korean culture. For example, when a Korean student is being scolded by their teacher, they usually look down at the floor. But this could be startling for foreign teachers working in Korea, interpreting it as a stude

July 6, 2022

Hangover drinks: What are the best choices and do they really work?

Whether it’s soju and beer with colleagues or wine with friends, drinking is an important part of socializing in South Korea. South Koreans drank an average of 8.3 liters of alcohol in 2019, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, citing OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) Health Statistics 2021. Though the average amount of alcohol consumed by South Koreans is below the OECD average, 2014 data from market research firm Euromonitor foun

July 4, 2022

'Hoesik' can help blow off steam, or spark unfortunate events

A friendly gathering of co-workers is by no means a custom exclusive to South Korea, but the “hoesik” culture here is more than just a leisurely gathering. Usually conducted after work hours, hoesik generally consists of dinner, booze -- usually a lot of it -- and occasionally a trip to karaoke joints. Colleagues sharing good food and drinks on the company’s dime while getting to know each other a little better, talking more causally about work and enhancing teamwork is not

June 30, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (9) Who can carry a gun in Korea?

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Answer: ⓓ South Korea is technically still at war with North Korea and most men here are trained shooters, stemming from their experience as active-duty conscripts.     But not even the president -- the most powerful elected official and chief military commander -- can freely carry a gun.  Only authorized personnel in security-related fields, such as poli

June 29, 2022

[Land of Squid Game] Asking people's age before starting conversation

In Korea, people often use honorifics and appellations such as eonni (older sister) and oppa (older brother) when speaking with someone else.  This is because Koreans generally follow the Confucian tradition of speaking differently with someone who is older versus someone who is younger. This is why Koreans will often ask others their age or the year they were born at the start of a conversation.  Korea's millennial generation is less likely to ask about age when first mee

June 28, 2022

[What should I call you?] No one wants to be called ‘ajumma’

Honorific titles are tricky in many cultures but can be particularly baffling in South Korea, where things like social status, age, work experience, and even social prejudice can be factored in. This is part two of a series on the many ways to address another person in Korean. – Ed.  In 2019, Korea Yakult -- the former name of food and beverage company Hy -- announced it was officially changing the title of its female salespersons from “Yakult ajumma” to “Fresh Ma

June 28, 2022

[Subway Stories] Samseong Station at the heart of glitzy Gangnam

In Korean, Samseong Station on Line No. 2 is written and pronounced exactly the same as Samsung, the country’s No. 1 conglomerate by any measure. Even some locals presume the two to be related, given the firm’s nearly ubiquitous presence in South Korea.  They aren’t.  Rather, it is the another Korean corporate behemoth -- Hyundai Motor Group -- that is linked to it.  In 2014, the auto group bid a jaw-dropping 10.5 trillion won ($8.04 billion) to buy a plot

June 27, 2022

How feeding seagulls became a boat trip selling point

As a cruise ferry on Han River was about to leave the dock on a Tuesday afternoon in June, dozens of seagulls began to gather around. Some sat on the top rails of the ship while others began to fly around as passengers started to come out to the deck. Once the engine starts, you get the sense what they are here for. People were holding snacks with their fingers or throwing them for the birds to eat. Laughter and joyful scream filled the ship as people of all age groups -- from elderly peopl

June 27, 2022

[Korea Quiz] (8) How long does a typical Korean summer vacation last?

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.    Answer: ⓒ With summer just around the corner and the pandemic losing its grip, people are starting to make plans on where to go for their vacations and for how long. In 2021, Korean workers took an average of 3.7 days off for summer holidays, according to a survey conducted on 720 firms by the Korea Enterprises Federation. Despite the pandemic having brought travel to a

June 22, 2022