Koreanology 101
Updated every Tuesday
Days Without Spirits: The Perfect Time to Move
Ever wonder why moving companies charge more on certain days? It's all about avoiding invisible spirits. Inside the mystical calendar of Korean moving days.
Poking Your Thumb: The Bloody Cure for Indigestion
Uncover the slightly terrifying but deeply nostalgic home remedy of pricking your thumb with a needle to cure a stomachache.
The Magic of White Envelopes: Wedding and Funeral Etiquette
Navigating the complex etiquette of giving crisp cash in white envelopes at Korean weddings and funerals, including the hidden rule of odd numbers.
Taemong: The Conception Dreams That Announce a Baby's Arrival
Tigers, peaches, and dragons! Introducing the mystical culture of 'taemong,' conception dreams that announce a pregnancy and predict a child's traits. You will want to ask your family what yours was.
Iyeolchiyeol: Fighting Fire with Boiling Soup
Eating boiling chicken soup on the hottest days of summer? Discover the traditional wisdom of 'fighting heat with heat' during Korea's Boknal days.
Bori-cha: The Nostalgic Taste of Barley Water
Reused orange juice glass bottles filled with cold, roasted brown water. The nostalgic comfort and staple hydration of Korean households.
Hoesik: The Art and Etiquette of After-Work Drinking
From meat-grilling hierarchy to mandatory toasts, 'hoesik' (company dinners) is the unofficial extension of the workday. We explain the unwritten rules of corporate drinking.
Kkakdugi: The Compassionate Playground Rule
Revisit the nostalgic 'kkakdugi' playground rule—a heartwarming free pass given to younger kids, revealing Korea's inclusive community values.
Korea's Personality Culture: From Blood Types to MBTI
From avoiding Type-B boyfriends to arguing over T vs. F traits. We analyze why Korean society is obsessed with categorizing people through personality tests.
Kimchi Fridges: Why Every Korean Home Needs Two Refrigerators
Discover why the quest for perfectly fermented cabbage led to the invention of the Kimchi Refrigerator, a mandatory appliance in any Korean household.
Banchan: The Magic of Endless Refills
Little dishes covering the table before the main meal even arrives—and they're all free. We celebrate the generous, bottomless culture of Korean side dishes.
Red Ink: The One Color You Never Use for a Korean Name
Ever wondered why a Korean friend gasps if you write their name in red pen? Unraveling the spooky superstition that outlaws crimson ink.
Miyeokguk: The Taste of Gratitude on My Birthday
The dish you must eat before cake on your birthday. How did miyeok-guk (seaweed soup)—a meal meant to aid postpartum recovery—become a birthday symbol that honors both our birth and our mother's sacrifices?
Two Names, One Identity: The Diaspora Double Life
A heartfelt reflection on growing up Korean-Canadian with an English name for school and a Korean name for home.
Fan Death: The Terror of Closed Rooms and Electric Fans
The uniquely Korean urban legend that sleeping with an electric fan on in a closed room is fatal. We unpack this unscientific but long-dominant belief of Korean summer nights.
Toilet Paper for Housewarming? Unrolling the Mystery
Handing someone a 30-roll pack of toilet paper at a housewarming party might seem bizarre globally. We unroll the practical, pun-filled Korean superstition wishing your host unhindered success.
Dalgona Before Squid Game
Before it was a deadly Netflix challenge, it was a nostalgic after-school treat. The sweet, fragile history of Korean honeycomb sugar.
Premium SPAM: The Most Beloved Holiday Gift
Discover the historical and cultural background of how an ordinary American canned ham became South Korea's premier luxury holiday gift set.
A Portrait of Korea's Education Fever: Between Hagwon and Private Tutoring
A diaspora perspective on the intense daily lives of Korean students, hagwon culture, and the deep-seated educational aspirations behind it all.
What Year Were You Born?: Navigating the Minefield of Korean Hierarchy
Why is asking for your birth year the very first question Koreans ask? A playful, empathetic look at age, honorifics, and finding your exact place in the social hierarchy.
Sauce on the Side or Poured Over: The Great Tangsuyuk Debate
Exploring the playful ways Koreans connect through trivial but deeply serious food debates.