Korean Culture

  • [Korean Culture] It’s my Birthday 🎡 Why Koreans Eat Seaweed Soup on Birthdays

    Actually, my birthday was this month. 🍰 Isn’t my birthday cake cute? What do people eat or do on birthdays in your country? In Korea, there is not really something you absolutely β€œhave to do” on your birthday. But there is one food that many Koreans feel you β€œshould eat.” It is miyeokguk. Miyeokguk…

  • [Korean Culture] Korean Spicy Foods That Are β€œλ§€μ½€ν•˜λ‹€,” Not Too Spicy

    Raise your hand if you are confident with spicy food! πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈ In Korea, there are two words: β€œλ§΅λ‹€(Mep-tta)” and β€œλ§€μ½€ν•˜λ‹€(Mae-kom-ha-da).” β€œλ§΅λ‹€(Mep-tta)” means spicy. It is usually used when something is clearly spicy, and sometimes even a little hard to eat. β€œλ§€μ½€ν•˜λ‹€(Mae-kom-ha-da).” is a little softer. It means that the food has some spiciness, but…

  • [Korean Culture] Do Koreans Cut Food with Scissors?

    In Korea, people use scissors a lot when cutting food. Korean food is very diverse, so Koreans tend to use whatever cooking tool is the most convenient for each ingredient or dish. If you use a knife, you usually need a cutting board. But if you use scissors, you do not need a cutting…

  • [Korean Culture/Situational Korean : Role-Play] How to Use β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€β€ in Korean

    Today, let’s practice using the Korean adjective β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€.” μ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€ Dictionary Pronunciation: Seop-seop-ha-da Easy Pronunciation: Suhp-suhp-ha-da As I explained in the last post, β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€β€ is a Korean adjective that is almost impossible to translate directly into English. In the dictionary, β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€β€ means: β€œTo feel unhappy or dissatisfied because something did not meet your expectations.” It…

  • [Korean Culture/Situational Korean] What Does β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€β€ Mean in Korean?

    There is a Korean word that is almost impossible to translate directly into English. It is β€œμ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€.”, “μ„œμš΄ν•˜λ‹€.” μ„­μ„­ν•˜λ‹€ Dictionary Pronunciation: Seop-seop-ha-da Easy Pronunciation: Suhp-suhp-ha-da μ„œμš΄ν•˜λ‹€ Dictionary Pronunciation: Seo-un-ha-da Easy Pronunciation: Suh-oon-ha-da Both words describe a disappointed or hurt feeling that comes from something not meeting your expectations. If you look closely, the nuances…

  • [Korean Culture] Why Koreans Say β€œμš°λ¦¬ (Woo-ri)” So Much

    Koreans use the word β€œμš°λ¦¬ (woo-ri)” a lot. β€œμš°λ¦¬β€ means β€œour” or β€œus.” For example, how do you refer to your own country? β€œMy country”? In Korea, people usually say β€œμš°λ¦¬λ‚˜λΌ.(woo-ri-na-ra)” It literally means β€œour country.” Of course, it does not mean that Korea belongs only to a certain group of people. It is…

  • [Korean Culture] Food Delivery at Hangang Park : A Very Korean Way to Enjoy Seoul

    Today, let’s talk about the Hangang River. The Hangang River is probably the most famous river in Korea, right? The Hangang flows through Seoul, and there are many parks along the river. When people think of Hangang Park, many of them probably think of Yeouido Hangang Park first. But actually, there are more than…

  • [Korean Culture] Why Do Koreans Ask Your Age? Understanding Korean Age and Titles

    “How old are you?” In Korea, age can be a little more complicated than in many other countries. Legally, Korea now uses the international age system, just like most countries. This means your age increases on your birthday. However, in everyday conversation, many Koreans are still familiar with what is often called β€œKorean age”…

  • [Korean Culture] Why Do Koreans Talk About Food So Much?Β 

    Koreans really love food. Compared to many other countries, Koreans tend to eat quite a lot. These days, modern Koreans have started eating less than before, but even so, the portions can still feel quite generous. In the past, Koreans ate much larger meals β€” sometimes more than two or three times the amount…