Jejus Female Freedivers; the Haenyeo

Jejus Female Freedivers; the Haenyeo

Jeju’s Haenyeo (해녀; lit. sea women (海女)) are specialized female divers who earn their livelihood by diving without breathing equipment for abalone, conch, oysters, sea urchins, and more. And have been mastering the practice for multiple generations!

By Pam, ago
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.

By Pam, ago
All About Korean Dialects and Satoori

All About Korean Dialects and Satoori

Today I want to get into Korean dialects! South Korea while being small in size, is quite big in population and history of culture to build their own dialectal variences. I’ll cover the major dialects, where they are from, any notes about them, the pronunciation differences, and then some interesting slang or expressions!

By Pam, ago
October 9th is Hangul Day!

October 9th is Hangul Day!

Today is 한글날 or Hangul Day, which is a Korean holiday dedicated to celebrating the Korean writing system and its creator King Sejong! So to commemorate, I’ll go through a bit on Hangul’s history, King Sejong, and some resources on how to learn Hangul yourself. 

By Pam, ago

Konglish and Loanwords in Korean!

Konglish comes from Korean + English and is the term used to refer to Korean loanwords from English. But there are more words in Korean grabbed from than just English! The biggest would be Chinese which is the origin of Sino-Korean words and numbers, which you can learn more about in my Sino-Korean introductory post.

By Pam, ago
15 Korean Superstitions- the Good, Bad, and Funny

15 Korean Superstitions- the Good, Bad, and Funny

Superstitions are a really unique part of a culture. They can be tied to history, folklore, mythology, or just wordplay! If you’re going to/living in Korea or just meeting Korean friends learning about Korean superstitions can help you avoid making awkward mistakes or offending people. Also, it helps you connect with people more and integrate yourself into the community. So here are some popular Korean superstitions from the lucky, unlucky and strange/funny!

By Pam, ago
Why are so many Koreans named Kim

Why are so many Koreans named Kim?

Kim is everywhere as a surname in Korea, Koreans named Kim make up millions of the population! It’s almost guaranteed that you have come across this name enough to wonder “Why are so many Koreans named Kim?”.

By Pam, ago
What is Korean fine dust or 미세 먼지

What is Korean Fine Dust or 미세 먼지?

Spring in Korea brings flowers, warmer days, cherry blossoms, and many beautiful things! But there’s something to watch out for too; Korean fine dust can ruin your plans and the beautiful sky, even with warnings from officials to limit time outside.

By Pam, ago
All About Korean New Year

All About Korean New Year

In South Korea the focus for the lunar new year is family. With everyone gathering together, paying respects to the elders and ancestors, and of course eating good food! For 2024 the lunar new year is Feb. 10 but people gather for the day before and after as well for a 3 day celebration. 

By Pam, ago
What is Christmas in Korea Like

What is Christmas in Korea Like?

Happy December! December is a big time for holidays and celebrations world-wide and Korea joins in- though the celebration in Korea is a bit different. South Korea also celebrates Christmas but instead of the traditional focus on family the focus is more on romance!

By Pam, ago