For those of you who are fans of K-Pop and K-Dramas and are curious to understand more about Korean culture, then this article is for you!
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why is soju so popular?” or “What is a White Day?” When you first start watching K-Dramas or listening to K-Pop, then you’re not alone! The subject of South Korean culture is vast and interesting, so sit back and relax because we’re going to learn some exciting information!
It’s A Must To Know One’s Blood Type
In South Korea, your blood type says a lot about your character. Your blood type can tell someone about who you are, who you will marry, and a lot more. K-Pop companies usually put the idol’s blood type in their profile so fans can learn more about them.
In one segment of the variety show “Weekly Idol,” idols write their blood types on their self-profiles together with their other personal information. I attached NCT 127 Jaehyun’s self-profile as an example. As part of their comeback promotion, the boy group went to the show in 2020. Thanks to the self-profile, we can tell that NCT Jaehyun has type A blood. I’m sure NCTzens have looked up what that means already!
It is very common for someone to ask you for your blood type even if it is the first time ever meeting. It might be super weird to do that in the U.S., but in Korea, people tend to observe others’ personalities by their blood types!
Blood type A is commonly known as someone who is shy and introverted, blood type B is commonly known as someone who is straightforward with a bright personality. Blood type O is commonly known as someone who is very easy going, and lastly blood type AB is commonly known as someone who has all the characteristics of the three blood types combined!
Valentines Day vs White Day
I’m sure most people have heard of Valentine’s Day, but have you heard of White Day? We all know that Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th by exchanging presents with loved ones, and White Day, celebrated on March 14th, is the day when males return the favor. Women traditionally gave gifts to men on Valentine’s Day in Korea. They frequently give their crush or significant other store-bought chocolates as well as a special present. On White Day, males have the chance to reciprocate the favor.
On Valentine’s Day, we frequently see love confessions in K-Dramas, such as when Kwon Si Hyun (Woo Do Hwan) proclaimed his love for Eun Tae Hee (Red Velvet’s Joy) in the mystery romance “Tempted“.
Soju is Life
There will always be a soju-drinking scene in Korean dramas! Compared to its neighboring countries, Korea has a strong drinking culture. This can be traced back to their customs and culture, as many holidays are observed by drinking alcohol.
Cha Dong Tak (Jo Jung Suk) and Song Ji An (Lee Hye Ri) were drinking soju together in an episode of the action crime drama “Two Cops” when Song Ji An got drunk and started singing! Lee Hye Ri is so cute!
What is Chuseok?
People often talk about Chuseok, but do you know what it is? Chuseok, also called Korean Thanksgiving Day, is one of the most important and fun holidays of the year. It usually happens in September or October based on the lunar calendar. Chuseok is a time when families get together to thank their ancestors for a good harvest. Good food, wine, and family gatherings are all part of the celebration.
One of my favorite types of variety shows is when idols interact with each other, like on ISAC. The show sometimes takes place on Chuseok, where idols compete against each other. In “2016 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok Special,” idol groups like TWICE, GFRIEND, WJSN, and more competed in the 60-meter run! The gold medal went to GFRIEND’s Yuju!
Let’s Eat Live Octopus
One of the best things to eat in South Korea is an octopus that is still alive. San-nakji (산낙지) is a dish that many people like. It’s like octopus sashimi, and the tentacles are still moving when it’s served. With San-naki, the octopus is purchased alive and then cut up and put on a plate raw.
Lui Yi How was culture-shocked when he saw a live octopus being served to him on the variety show “The Return of Superman“. When he first tried it, it got stuck to his teeth. Cutie Seungjae was shocked to see his father eat a live octopus in front of him!
Cosmetic Surgery is Normalized
South Korea is a popular place for medical tourism, especially for people who want to get plastic surgery. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), 13.5 cosmetic procedures are done for every 1000 people in Korea. This puts Korea at the top of the list.
As you can see in the romantic comedy-drama “Birth of the Beauty,” a divorced woman gets help from a wealthy stranger to get a complete makeover from head to toe in order to get back at her cheating ex-husband.
Korean’s Love for Kimchi
Did you know that there are hundreds of different types of kimchi and that it complements all Korean foods? Kimchi is one of the most recognizable traditional Korean foods; it’s delicious, healthy, and goes with everything. Almost 99 percent of the Korean populace consumes it every day at every meal.
IU was given an extensive kimchi lecture and the opportunity to consume 8 months of fermented kimchi on the variety show “Eat in Style“. IU grinned after tasting it since she enjoyed the flavor!
Park, Kim, Lee Make Up The Population
Lee Jun Ho of “Wok of Love,” Lee Do Hyun of “Youth of May,” and Lee Dong Wook of “The Fugitive of Joseon” are some of my favorite actors; oh wait, they’re all Lees? Do you ever wonder why most Korean celebrities and actresses we know have surnames that begin with Park, Kim, or Lee? South Korea has a population of over 50 million people. Around 10 million of approximately 50 million people have the surname Kim. In reality, the most common surnames in South Korea are Kim, Lee, and Park, which account for half of the population.
E-Sports Are Very Popular
South Korea is one of the largest esports marketplaces and is home to some of the world’s top players. In Korea, computer rooms, or PC bangs, are pretty common and may be found almost anywhere!
E-sports have now been incorporated into the well-known Idol Star Athletics Championships due to the pandemic! NCT DREAM’s Chenle, IZ*ONE’s Sakura, and Park Ji Hoon competed in the “2020 Idol Star eSports Championships – Chuseok Special” as PUBG Mobile players! Chenle ultimately took home the gold medal!
Actually, there are a lot more fascinating Korean traditions I’d like to discuss, but we’ll save that for another time. Stay tuned on KOCOWA Blog for part two! For the time being, we can learn more by subscribing and watching on KOCOWA!
