Korean Etiquette; Cultural Dos and Don'ts

Korean Etiquette; Cultural Dos and Don’ts

Whether you’re worried you will offend or want to impress people, learning Korean etiquette and the dos and don’ts is important! Because of Korea’s unique culture, they have its own etiquette rules and guidelines. Though typically,  if they can tell you are a foreigner, Koreans will go easier on you and not expect you to know everything while visiting, so don’t worry about remembering all of these right away!

"Don't Do It" in Korean ~지 마/~지 마세요 Grammar

“Don’t Do It” in Korean ~지 마/~지 마세요 Grammar

You might have heard this grammar particle before if you’re a fan of Korean shows and dramas! There are a lot of “가지 마” (don’t go),  “울지 마” (don’t cry), “하지 마” (don’t do it) in Korean shows said by actors, and many more similar phrases. Adding the ~지 마 at the end of a verb is a simple and straightforward way to say “don’t do something” and really convey that urgency or emotion.

Happy Korean Lunar New Year! Customs & Zodiacs

Happy Korean Lunar New Year! Customs & Zodiacs

Back in 2023, I did an overview of the Korean Lunar New Year, going through how it is celebrated, key New Year dishes, the difference between Chinese and Korean New Year, and more. Today I want to delve a bit deeper and get more into the customs and zodiacs, and certain things. Koreans still enjoy the January 1st New Year, but it’s more similar to the one over here, without any big family connection.