Foreigners 외국사람
외국사람 or waeguk-saram is usually translated into English as “foreigner.” 외 means “outsider.” We have encountered the syllable 국 (guk) before in country names: 한국 (hanguk – Korea) or 미국 (miguk- America),...
View ArticleKorean Politics: Fair Wind from the West
Korean politics is (are?) complex. While issues may seem similar to those found in other modern industrial cultures, positions and affiliations are often rooted in ancient conflicts and alliances. But...
View ArticleKorean Word of the Day: Family Reunion (가족상봉)
The international community hears a lot about the excesses of North Korea, whether it be the executions of former administration favorites, or candy bar economics. But an ongoing story we hear less...
View ArticleSpeaking the Same Language
Check out this fascinating interview with Hyunwoo Sun (선현우). Sun is the founder of Talk to Me in Korean, an ever-expanding Korean-language-learning site produced by Koreans living in Korea. In addition...
View ArticleKDrama Word of the Day: Bison (Hand Rubbing)
Were you wondering what was up with Uee’s hand rubbing as she begged Kim Yong Geon to reconsider in Episode 7 of Marriage Contract? 저도요 (me, too). I researched and here’s what I found. Rubbing hands up...
View ArticleEnglish Dialects: A Korean Compares American & British English
There’s an interesting fringe benefit to my exploration of Korean culture. It often makes me more conscious of things about my own culture that I never really thought about before. I suppose this...
View ArticleFan Death: The Unsuspected Perils of a Hot Night in Korea
Every country has cultural myths that are accepted as unquestionable truths, even though they sound ludicrous to outsiders. Korea is no exception. Meet fan death (선풍기 – electric fan, 사망설 – death)....
View ArticleLanguage & Alcohol-Blaming Contribute to Rape in Korea
Rape in Korea has become a headline topic recently, though this has received little attention in the American press. In late May, a teacher in a remote island village was eating alone at a restaurant....
View ArticleKorean Word of the Month: Bi Jung Sang (Abnormal, Not Top)
This Reuters photo of Korean demonstrators borrowing “not my president” from American protestors really caught my eye. Of course, since this is Korea, it comes out as oori (our) President. The sign on...
View ArticleLove, Loan Sharks and Lee Seo Jin
Loan sharks are as necessary to Korean drama as water is to fish. They are cupids with brass knuckles, traumatizing Kdrama heroines into sketchy arrangements, where – after misunderstandings,...
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