well, living here for a year and a half is not very much of a long time. but it is definitely enough to list out a list of habits or culture of Korean people which is quite.. abnormal. in fact I was always amazed by all the jaw dropping things that they do. I am not saying all Korean people are like this but that is just my opinion. I may be right I may be wrong so try not to be sensitive about it. lets rock it.
1. Korean people are the heaviest drinkers on earth. in fact, Soju is the alcohol company that sells the most in the world I heard. and heck, they only cost less than 2 bucks (USD).
2. pretty girls, young girls, grandmothers, grandfathers all smoke. out of like 10 people I know probably only 1 doesn’t. I landed myself on a part time job and it seems like I am one of the very few employee who doesn’t smoke. my friends whom are born on 1995 smokes with that innocent face and attitude of theirs. I am not saying that smoking makes you.. not innocent. but it is rather common here.
3. Koreans can sing. truthfully, there are only 2 types of Koreans. the ones that are awesome in singing, and the ones that don’t. there is no wonder why there are so many Karaokes around.
4. not everybody is into KPOP. sure, there are a lot of young girls into EXO. but if you check out their phones, most of them have a whole list of English songs!
5. speaking of English songs, most people here thinks that people who speak English is cool. but this generation though.. most of them speak good English.
6. Ramen (instant noodles) are what students here eat the most. and I can assure you, they are the best (and one of the healthiest) instant noodles you can find all around the world! oh my shin ramen, bibim myeon and zaru soba. they even have japchae instant noodles! Korea is the instant noodle kingdom. like seriously.
7. Kimchi goes with everything. there’s even Kimchi chocolate. sounds too disgusting to taste it.
8. plastic surgery isn’t a secret. not many people would actually lie that they’ve done it.
9. Jang Dong Gun is the hottest guy in Korea. in their minds. I still like my Daniel Henney.
10. in Summer, you wear a bikini. with loadsssssss of padding. you can be an A cup with a deep cleavage because swimsuits here are.. well the sponge is as thick as how deep the cup is. and no matter how conservative, wearing a bikini is no problem.
11. the older, the superior or the man pays. it’s an unfair world. but that is how it is here. not so bad because I am a girl and is still young. and soon I am going to be in my 2nd year. that’s when I have to be either anti social or be always broke by paying for my juniors meals. hahah.
12. Korean people don’t know how to divide. it is not that they are not good at math; unlike Japanese people who would go up to the decimals if you’re going on dutch, a few thousand wons are not much of a difference. but generally Koreans do not split the bill. if your friend bought you a meal, you buy them coffee. they are about the same price anyway =D.
13. Psy is the hero of Korea. we even study about him in Uni.
14. there are 3 major religions in Korea. Buddhist, Christians and the no religion. while it seems more like a country with more Buddhists, there are actually more Christians. and some of them are rather disturbing. going around telling people that if you do not believe in Jesus you’d rot in hell. there are another type of scary Christian where they’d approach you and go on for hours about Christianity. oh. some of them even tries to be friends with you for the reason of converting you into one.
15. Camping is fun.
16. 7,000won for patbingsu is cheap. 7,000won for Kimchi Jjigae is expensive.
17. everybody enjoys watching 무한도전 Mu han do jeon (Infinite Challenge?). okay not EVERYBODY. but many of them =D.
18. only old people drink Whiskey.
19. Pok-dan-ju (Bomb alcohol lol) is the best drink. or you can also call it the So-maek. a mix of Soju and Maekju/beer.
20. Koreans loves their Coffee. you can find the widest range of coffees here. they CANNOT live without it. and believe it or not, the coffee shop culture have only been here for much lesser than a decade.
21. Sport shoes are the new sexy. no, they are not turn offs on a date.
22. it is true that Korean girls are hot with all the plastic surgery. but after being here for a while you’d come to find them looking all the same and that pretty is boring. and being different is the new pretty.
23. Korean girls all have nice slender legs. prettiest legs in Asia.
24. there are no strangers. don’t be shocked when a complete stranger in the sauna asked you to help scrub his back. or when somebody scolds you for something you just don’t understand =P.
25. unlike other races, Koreans will always be Koreans. and they are proud of it. my teacher told me that even when they are born in another country, they will always feel that Korea is their own country and there will always be this huge bond between them and their roots. unlike myself, I have never felt that I am from China despite being Chinese.
26. natural make up is the IN thing.
27. blood type tells what type of person you are. if you want them to think that you’re the perfect blood type, just say A. because As are known to be perfectionists and Bs are players. ABs are hipsters. and O are plain and lazy. you got me right! I am an O =S.
28. age, height and looks matters. a lot. but they usually ask for your age to know if they should speak to you in a polite manner or not. sometimes they would find it rather uncomfortable to speak to a person a year or two older in an impolite manner even though you told them to speak informally. so they might either go.. “ok!” or “I prefer speaking to you in a polite manner.”
29. you are apparently supposed to date many people to find the perfect type of person you’d like.
30. there are the most type of anniversaries in Korea. poor guys here whom are supposed to make events to surprise their girlfriends so that they could boast about it. (presents and a decent dinner WILL NOT make the cut. you gotta be creative.) if you don’t do it? you do not love your girlfriend. or she might just as well get bored with you.
31. Baseball is popular sport here. the American influence.
32. they all wear the same. they ALL follow the trend. of course it is different for different age groups but the youngsters pretty much wears the same thing. being different is weird. I once had a friend ask me “why do all of you Malaysians look so different?!”
33. the coffee cup is an accessory too; not just a drink.
34. almost every youngster owns a Cruciani bracelet. and dull colours belongs to the younger ones while the bright belongs to the older generation.
35. hunting is perfectly normal. I meant, hunting for girls. it is not abnormal for a stranger to come asking for your number in the streets.
here’s my list of 35 things that I’ve noticed about Korean people. please do tell me in the comment box on what I’ve missed!
HI Jamie,,hahahaha… sooo funny, honestly, i’ve been making a list of “the things i learned about european culture” since I happen to be volunteerting with british people here!!!… I just found this post kinda related to what I’m doing..
== it’s just disturbing to know that they now more into american and canadian culture cause I was expecting that they more like of promoting their own. Well, I was also like that before but KPOP made me appreciate asian countries more.
== i have heard about the blood type,, and it is indeed true,,, I’am an A so i’m perfectionist??? i guess that says so!!:S.. but if you are an A what is your best match???:D
BTW.. i like this post… probably one of the best,.. :D:D (and a thumbs up!)
american apparel is lousy. period.
Funny and I agree with them. Hehe
35 doesn’t work so well if you speak English. 🙁
malaysia iz best! haha
love this post n__n Thanks for listing down their cultures. at least i’ll have some clues when i ever get the chance to visit korea.
btw im a blood type B but im never ever a player 😛
korean couples love wearing couple shirt! this is what i’ve seen everywhere in korea 😛
not everybody is into KPOP???? my phone old kpop songs
korean People amerca love??? fu~ korean Germany love(ex.history,Economy)
everybody watches 무한도전??? rating 11% <<< 일밤 rating 17%<<<개그콘서트 rating 18%
35 things I’ve noticed about Korean people (X)
35 things I’ve noticed about my Korean friends(O)
hi jamie love your blog. i just want to know; if you don’t mind ; if you had the chance to live in korea for ever and work there away from your country and your family, would you?
안녕하세요 저도 말레샤사람이고요. 죄송하지만 궁금한거 좀 있어서 물어보려고해요. 내용이랑 상관 별로 없는데 연세대에서 Korean Language Level 6 하셨던다 이말은 무슨 뜻일까요? 혹시 한국어능력시험 (TOPIK) 이신가요? 그렇다고 고급수준이랑 비슷한건가요? I have privacy concerns so I’m writing in korean I hope you don’t mind 🙂
I find S Korea fascinating with it cultural history and background. I wondr why they feel anything American is to be envied. I find their advances in technology and work ethic speaks volumns . Love that
agreed on no.14! gosh. living with the christian family and the wife is always yadayadayada about christian things even though she knows that am a muslim.she even drag me to the church every sunday..not forgetting to all church activities. – -“
No. 1 and 2 make me think that Koreans smoke like chimneys and drink like drunken sailors! Alcohol is prevalent here in the states–ask any college kid ! Love those Asians!!!
Hi Jamie,
This is a nice blog you have. I was born and raised in Canada, but I had lived in Korea for two years teaching English. I also studied at UKM in Malaysia one summer 🙂
I’m just reading your list of 35’s and I just wanted to comment on #25. I think it’s more that a lot of kyopos are second generationers hence why they have more patriotic feelings towards Korea. Like myself, my parents are Vietnamese but I was born in Canada making me a 2nd generation. I still have sentiments of being Vietnamese despite not being born there or lived there, but many who are after me (3rd and 4th generations) have no sentiments at all. I kind of wonder if this is your case? Since you are Chinese in Malaysia, but Chinese people have been in Malaysia for quite sometime….?
Anyways I am visiting Korea for a long vacation soon, therefore I am looking at your blog for some tips as Korea has changed quite a bit since I lived there!
No. 14 is interesting. I know a Korean doctor who lives and practices here in the states, and he is very involved in Methodist missionary work in Korea. He is very much a dedicated Christian and hasn’t forgotten his roots.. However, the first two things he asked me was “how old are you? ” and “what faith?” Very interesting!
You left this out: 9 out of 10 Korean guys are jerks. Don’t get fooled by all the Secret Garden, Rooftop Prince guys, they don’t exist.
guys wear same eye-glasses :p like the hipsters type one. just the same with girls with same make ups and same coats 🙂 i saw it everywhere!!!!
Hi. It’s funny.
Blood type A are known to be timind person not a perfectionist.
If a person heard ‘You look like blood type A’, he or she would feel bad.
I can’t understand#15. Is camping means MT(membership training)?
just came back from my trip to Korea…even before that I think Jang Dong Gun is the ultimate yummy KOrean star….hahhah..the younger ones don’t even come close…Daniel is hot but I don’t think is fair to put him in the list as he is not 100% Korean :p
Hi, I’m from Indonesia, south east Asia. You should go here if you have time. There are so many beautiful places and cultures and even we have hundreds of vernaculars. Bali, Lombok, Raja Ampat, Malang, Jogja, and other beautiful places here are waiting for you 🙂
Hahahahahah this was so funny, and sooo true! (even tho i’ve never been to Korea…) But I’ve found your site b/c I’m heading to Korea in 25DAYYYS COUNTDOWN WUT WUT~
Hi, the university that you’re studying in, the course is being teach in korean language or English?
I loved reading your blog, it made me know about other culture i love Korea!!! although i am a filipino chinese japanese american all suparb!!!
You have a lot of information. I have type A and my has O.Blood.You learn more from D. & A. Test. Thay can find everything about you. My wife and had the test. We found about everything. We were shocked . Thay were able to go to B.C. So much for a blood test. SSG GLENN A GRAGO U.S.ARMY RETIRED.
I’m in love with the person who wrote this. I’m living in the USA. I will keep those things in mind before entering the south Korean border.
Love/Respect <3.
–(college student learning different cultures and traditions).
i love reading yur blog …at least i got som info…i hope one day i get a chance to visit korea
I really liked your post… it got me closer to Koreans .. i will look forward to readvsuch articles ahead as i want to know more about korea and other south east asian countries…. to find a friend from the millions… l
TY
Everything is ok except smoking rate. I am a Korean and know that lots of Koreans are smoker. Korean men’s smoking rate is about 40%. Korean women’s smoking rate is less than 10%( Old Korean women’s smoking rate is less than 5%)..
It was wonderful reading what you wrote.You wrote it so well.?I’m from Korea and I agree with you.
I like Korean people but I’m also very proud of being Chinese, maybe because I am from Chengdu where the people are highly respected compare to other regions, but differ from Beijing and Shanghai 🙂
I Love BTS~~~~
and South korea
Good writeup. I watched a lot of Korean drama series. I wonder why people in those movies shout so much. Even when they are in love, they shout to each other. Is it true there in Korea?
I wish I lived in seoul I heard its very beautiful there I have a lot of friends that where born there but I was born in newyork one day I really hope my parents allow me to visit there