SoYoun Lim In Korea, traditional Korean holiday food is closely tied to specific days and occasions. Tteokguk comes to mind on Lunar New Year, songpyeon during Chuseok, patjuk on the winter solstice, and miyeokguk on birthdays. Noodles have also long been associated with weddings and large celebrations. These foods are connected with ideas such as welcoming a … Read more
Food delivery in Korea is so familiar today that ordering dinner can feel almost automatic. Open an app, choose a restaurant, pay on your phone, and follow the order until it arrives at your door. But that is not how I first knew food delivery. When I was younger, we kept Chinese restaurant flyers or … Read more
When I was a child, I did not like vegetables very much. I knew Popeye became strong by eating spinach, but that was never enough to make spinach look appealing to me. If a small plate of seasoned greens appeared on the table, I was usually happy to leave it for someone else. That changed … Read more
When I think about Korean ghosts, one of the first things that comes to mind is summer nights from my childhood. Back then, we could not simply choose any movie or series whenever we wanted, and Korean television often aired ghost stories during the summer. The program I remember most clearly is Hometown of Legends, … Read more
For most travelers, tipping in South Korea is simple: in ordinary restaurants, cafés, and taxis, you generally do not need to add a percentage tip. You look at the price, pay the bill, say thank you, and leave. I have lived in Korea all my life, and I cannot remember routinely calculating 10, 15, or … Read more
Some parts of Korean life feel so natural to me that I never thought of them as particularly Korean until I began talking with people from other countries. Sitting on the floor even when there is a sofa nearby, carrying an iced Americano through freezing winter weather, or leaving home without thinking about a house … Read more
Some Korean foods are memorable because they are elaborate or connected to special occasions. Others stay with you because you have eaten them so many times that they become part of your own memories. Gimbap, tteokbokki, and bibimbap belong to the second group for me. I associate them with school days, quick meals, family outings, … Read more
For most travelers, South Korea is a very safe country to visit. The U.S. Department of State currently places South Korea at Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, its lowest travel-advisory level, and describes violent crime and property crime as relatively uncommon for most visitors. Living in Korea, I also feel that sense of safety in … Read more
One expression often used to describe life in Korea is ppalli-ppalli (빨리빨리), literally “quickly, quickly.” It is sometimes explained as evidence that Koreans are impatient or always in a hurry, but that description feels too simple to me. What stands out to me more is efficiency. Living in Korea, I notice how often everyday systems … Read more
Umbrellas are an ordinary part of daily life in Korea, especially during the rainy season and hot summer months. People carry them not only for heavy rain but also for light showers, strong sunlight, and the kind of humid weather that makes getting wet feel more uncomfortable than the amount of rain might suggest. I … Read more