Korean superstitions are an attention-grabbing a part of Korean language and tradition. Like each tradition, Korean folks have a set of beliefs and concepts that may convey fortune, misfortune, and even dying.
It is a enormous listing of cultural superstitions and a few you could have heard of whereas others… Will certainly come as a shock!
For those who’re simply discovering me… Hello! My identify is Gina and I lived in South Korea for nearly six years. I converse Korean and interacted with Koreans sufficient to study these superstitions.
I hope you’ll discover Korean tradition simply as attention-grabbing as I’ve!
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1. Followers = Demise
There are numerous legends of Korea, however the one which all the time offers me a superb chuckle is the notorious fan dying. This is without doubt one of the commonest Korean superstitions that I’m positive you’ve seen in Korean dramas or on social media.
Again within the early 1900s, this superstition was born from early electrical followers. For those who slept in a room with all of the doorways and home windows closed, it will begin to flow into previous air.
This meant no new air was coming in and thus you’d then suffocate. Whereas there isn’t a scientific proof to again up this declare, numerous the fancier followers in Korea will include a timer to cease working if you find yourself asleep.
This Korean superstition is one many nonetheless consider immediately. Through the summer season months in Seoul, I usually noticed information tales about “fan deaths”.
2. Purple Ink = Demise
I as soon as made the error of writing my co-teachers identify in crimson ink earlier than I knew something about this Korean superstition. When there was a collective gasp from my college students I regarded round, horrified, and requested, “Is there one thing unsuitable?”
Conventional Korean tradition makes use of the colour crimson to put in writing the names of the deceased…
She then laughed and defined how in Korea, writing an individual’s identify in crimson ink was a dying want or dying risk. I apologized profusely and we erased her identify from the board. So children, study from my mistake and by no means write anybody’s identify in crimson ink.
3. 4 = Demise
The quantity 4 is an indication of dying in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese language cultures. The rationale why 4 is an unfortunate quantity is as a result of the Chinese language character for the quantity is similar to the one for dying.
So sure! Even in fashionable society, folks nonetheless assume the fourth flooring is harmful. Even in Korean elevators, you’ll find the letter “F” as an alternative of the quantity 4.
This superstition extends to the fourth day of the month and your fourth birthday. And probably the most unfortunate?
Your forty fourth birthday.
4. Any Age Ending in 9 Is Unfortunate
There are many superstitions in Korea revolving round quirky beliefs…particularly with unfortunate and fortunate numbers.
Korean myths state that when standing at quantity 9, you’re standing on the ultimate gate. Therefore, in Korea, they think about ages 19, 29, 39, and many others. an unfortunate age the place issues can usually go unsuitable.
The Korean phrase is looking it an “ah-hop soo” aka quantity 9.
5. Jungyangjeol Is The Luckiest Day!
I really feel like I want to interrupt up the doom and gloom with mentioning the luckiest day within the Korean calendar—Jungyangjeol! And also you’re in luck as a result of that is throughout Autumn in Korea which is absolutely the BEST time to go to.
This takes place on the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar. Previously, folks used to climb mountains and take within the surroundings whereas ingesting honey citron tea and consuming gukhwajeon (chrysanthemum pancakes).
For those who’re planning an Autumn journey to Korea, try my done-for-you E-book!
6. Dropping Your Rice Is Dangerous Luck
In Korea, rice is commonly eaten with a spoon. For those who drop the primary spoonful, it’s thought-about unhealthy luck.
7. Whistling at Night time Summons Spirits
Whereas a lot of the superstitious beliefs to date have induced dying, this one remains to be a foul omen. For those who’re strolling round at evening and whistling a tune to fill the silence, I counsel pondering twice.
There’ll more than likely be some very scared Koreans working away from you as a result of some folks actually consider this brings demons and unhealthy spirits round.
8. Don’t Trim Your Nails At Night time
In response to this Korean legend, when you trim your nails at evening, mice will eat the nail trimmings and remodel into you. Whereas they go round doing their evil bidding as you, they may also come again to steal your soul.
When my Korean mates informed me this one, I assumed they have been pulling my leg, however after I noticed their severe faces… I needed to attempt onerous to not giggle.
9. Be Cautious With Your Chopsticks
Some Koreans consider the nearer to the tip you maintain your chopsticks, the longer it’s a must to wait to get married. I discover this totally hilarious as a result of in Japan, I used to be taught to carry my chopsticks larger because it was an indication of magnificence and good manners.
The second chopsticks superstition in Korea is don’t ever stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice. That is much like the funeral rites and paying tribute to the ancestors. For those who do that, it is going to convey dying and misfortune upon you.
Yeesh… Why does somebody all the time gotta die in Korean superstitions? Korean legends are a bit excessive, yeah?
10. Thresholds Convey Misfortune
Again within the day, the physique of a deceased particular person would sit back within the household house for a number of days. After that, they’d then be carried out of the house.
This motion meant opening the veil between the residing and spirit world. This was so the spirit of the deceased may then cross into the afterlife.
Due to this fact, it’s unhealthy luck if a residing particular person steps on a threshold.
11. Seeing Black Crows is Dangerous Luck
In Korean tradition, seeing a crow if you stroll out of your home within the morning is an indication of very unhealthy luck. This may also end in a extremely unhealthy day.
I discover this similar to Western tradition as some consider seeing a crow may also imply dying.
12. Blood Varieties Inform Your Character
Blood kind beliefs in South Korea (and even Japan) will inform you a large number concerning the particular person’s character and when you’re suitable. I suppose it’s much like Western horoscopes and our personal superstitions about relationship.
Your blood kind will decide your likability in a relationship and if a possible romantic associate is nice for you. For those who’re taken with relationship in Korea, I’ve a submit about all the pieces you must know!
13. Don’t Feed Your Associate Rooster Wings
This Korean superstition provides you with a superb hoot. In response to younger folks, when you feed your boyfriend hen wings it’s an indication of unhealthy luck.
Your husband/spouse/associate can be untrue and “fly away”.
14. Don’t Wash Your Hair on New Yr’s Day
Whereas it might look like a jolly good concept to usher in the brand new yr squeaky clear and recent, you most likely shouldn’t wash your hair. So meaning when you have been a nasty going out to the golf equipment and doing puterias then you definitely’re gonna have to smile and bear it.
15. Deoksugung Path = Splitsville
Alas, there are a lot of Korean relationship superstitions and that is an attention-grabbing one you’ve by no means heard of earlier than. Again within the day, Deoksugung Path was a standard route {couples} would stroll to break up at Seoul Household Court docket.
As well as, many individuals would get executed at Deoksugung. Immediately, the superstition claims {couples} who stroll alongside that path are certain to interrupt up. Such a disgrace actually, as a result of it’s such a romantic stroll in autumn.
16. Magnificence Marks = Untrue
Magnificence marks close to your associate’s mouth are an indication they’re untrue. Beware in Korea when you date somebody like that.
17. Giving Sneakers To Your Associate Will Make Them Run Away
This needs to be probably the most entertaining Korean reward superstitions I’ve ever heard. For those who give new footwear to your boyfriend or girlfriend, they’ll run away from you.
If you concentrate on it, engaging your associate to bolt from you after a pair of latest footwear is sensible. Therefore why it’s best to give them heels so you can also make positive to catch them once they attempt. 😉
18. Don’t Shake Your Legs
Once you shake your legs in Korea, it means you’re shaking away good luck. I’ve fairly unhealthy nervousness and am all the time shaking my legs which is why my mates informed me to not do it.
In response to Koreans, I shook off all the nice luck ages in the past…
19. Stick It With Taffy
Consuming 엿 or conventional Korean taffy on testing days is a Korean good luck superstition. On the day of an examination, college students ought to eat sticky meals so their information will stick and so they’ll get all the proper solutions on a take a look at.
Through the school entrance examination interval, I usually noticed academics handing out taffy on take a look at day for additional good luck. I can’t say if a pupil’s thoughts is on something however their massive examination, however I like this candy superstition.
P.S. This implies you also needs to keep away from slippery meals like seaweed soup since you’re information will… slip away.
20. Consuming Seaweed Soup is Good Luck on Your Birthday
Throughout being pregnant, an expectant mom is often informed to eat numerous 미역국 or seaweed soup. The reasoning behind that is Koreans consider seaweed soup has numerous well being advantages and can assist the mom convey a wholesome child into the world.
It’s all the time good luck to eat seaweed soup on particular events like your birthday.
21. Mendacity Down After a Meal Will Flip You Into A Cow
That is one other superstition that had me howling with laughter as a result of I heard this in my on a regular basis life in Korea. Whereas I don’t assume you’ll really flip right into a cow, mendacity down proper after consuming is a superb option to acquire weight and develop as massive as a cow.
22. Don’t Put a Mirror in Entrance of a Door
Placing a mirror in entrance of a door in Korea is unhealthy luck. Once you put a mirror in entrance of a door, you’re reflecting out all the nice luck that tries to return into your property.
23. You Should Transfer on a Fortunate Day
As a result of that is such a standard superstition, many transferring corporations will submit fortunate and unfortunate days to maneuver on their web sites. Today of the month are decided by the lunar calendar.
The rationale why it’s a must to decide a fortunate day to maneuver is as a result of when you transfer on an unfortunate day, you’ll be bringing evil spirits into your new house.
24. Don’t Clear Your Home Earlier than You Transfer
Suppose twice earlier than you clear your home out earlier than you permit. For those who do, the evil spirits will know you’re leaving and get a heads up you’re dipping out.
(Why there are such a lot of evil spirits in Korean superstitions, the world might by no means know.) Be sure to go away a number of mud bunnies behind in order that they’ll don’t know.
It will clarify why after I moved into my residence in Korea, they have been fairly dusty and soiled. I used to be additionally PISSED about having to scrub up my residence after another person.
25. Give Laundry Detergent as Good Luck
All completed along with your transfer? Did you be certain to maneuver on a fortunate day and go away a great deal of mud bunnies behind?
Wonderful. Allow us to now proceed to the following step.
Housewarming items which are thought-about additional fortunate are laundry detergent.
The bubbles made by the cleaning soap will convey bubbles of fine fortune.
26. Lovely Meals = Lovely Children
Have you ever ever seen a roll of kimbap? This tasty Korean consolation meals often has center items that look actually fairly whereas the ends are form of a large number.
It’s mentioned if a mother likes to chow down on the kimbap ends her children can be ugly and if she likes to eat the center, then her children can be handsome.
Gina Bear’s logic…Why waste a wonderfully good roll of kimbap by not consuming the ends?
Koreans may also let you know to current your meals fantastically so you’ll have stunning youngsters. In any case, it’s a superb factor I’m not having youngsters as a result of good lord, my offspring could be ugly as sin.
27. Don’t Soar Over a Child
To start with, why folks in Korea would even assume to leap over a child is information to me, and it has severe well being implications. To not point out issues may go unsuitable and you may injure your self or worse, the newborn. This superstition meant when you jumped over a child, they’d be very, very quick.
28. Dreaming of Pigs Brings Wealth
Pig desires are a standard superstition in Asia. These animals are an emblem of wealth and fertility so dreaming of a hog is an efficient omen! I positively like this Korean perception and superstition!
29. Dreaming of Poo is Good Luck
I all the time puzzled why my college students have been so obsessive about poop. They love to speak about it, draw it, say they should poop, and name one another poop. In Korea, when you dream about poop, it’s a signal of fine luck! It’s because approach again within the day, farmers used poop to fertilize their crops giving a significantly better harvest.
30. Don’t Contact Your Eyes After Touching a Butterfly
Whereas within the West, butterflies are seen as stunning and an emblem of fine luck, they’re some fairly cutthroat little beasts based on Korean superstitions. For those who contact a butterfly (or a moth) it is going to curse you and also you’ll go blind. That’s a giant yikes from me.
Did you take pleasure in studying about these South Korean superstitions? Which one was your favourite? Korea was a rustic rooted in superstitions and to at the present time, nonetheless is. It makes the superstitions enjoyable to speak about and see.
This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks which implies at no further price to you, I make a small fee to assist hold Gina Bear’s Weblog working. Thanks to your assist!
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