r/AskAKorean

This was in LA, in Koreatown. Im at the Korean grocery store on the chips aisle and I find my favorite: Nongshim Honey Twist Snack.

An older woman in the aisle with me says to me "You like that?" I tell her yes, its my favorite because its not too sweet. She says "wowww" and walks away.

What did she mean?! Was it a good thing? Was it weird that I like those snacks? Are they not very popular? Im Black if that helps at all.

Edit: So my suspicious were correct and it is a snack for the older generation. Hahaha! Well they have great taste!

I’m just curious is it underrated travel nowadays? I don’t hear people. Talking as much. Or maybe I’m not paying attention?

Hi everyone, I'm currently doing an internship in france and I have a project to work abroad for many more years before settling on one place. My next destination is Korea, but no matter how much I look, I can't seem to find sites or people talking about how to get a job for foreigners. Does anyone have any advices on this topic? Any help is appreciated!

As a foreign guy, what should I expect?

Which university do I have a better chance of getting into ?

Planning for bachelors in electrical engineering or semiconductor system engineering

98% in 12th valedictorian

10 : 96%

11th : 98% ( cbse )

IELTS: 7.5 ( gonna improve it next month )

No sat yet , should i do it ?

ECs and volunteering :
Currently doing a short course related to electronics engineering and am building a project related to my degree

Served as a group leader for multiple academic projects that represented state level competitions

Mentored 7 classmates in science and maths throughout grade 11 and 12

State level awards in cultural, literary Activities and science fairs , have many certificates

Science Olympiad district first

Jee advance qualified

Volunteered in many community cleanliness initiatives

Volunteered at a hospital during a free medical checkup camp , assisted doctors and other healthcare staffs

Worked alongside a nurse ( i know most of these is connected to Healthcare, my state experienced many unexpected floods and catastrophic landslides in the past two years where many lost lives , homes and livelihood . My first priority was to help these people as much as I could )

Served as first aid provider during numerous school events

Actively learning korean

hi! I'm writing a book right now, and I have two Korean characters that I want to give Koren names not only because they sound cool, but also because I know a lot of Korean names have meanings behind them. I was on google, but I thought it would be better to get feedback from some actual Koreans.

The first on is a man named Lee Shin-seok. I chose the surname Lee just because I like it, but from what I understand, "Shin" can mean something along the lines of "trust" or "belief", and Seok can basically mean "stone". So, I hoping that the name implies he is tough and a good rock/foundation for others to have faith in.

The other one is a girl named Ji-su. She doesn't have a surname but I think this name is very beautiful. From what I understand, I think it means "wisdom" and "beauty"?

Basically, I'm asking if these names mean what I think they mean, or am I being stupid, haha, and also making sure that these are ok names to use so I don't sound like a certain fantasy author (ifykyk)

감사합니다, thanks!

I've been living here a few years and I can understand the average Korean is very much interested in personal finance. Everyone is talking about stocks, and investing, and everyone in their 20s does it.

My friend here himself told me he has over 400 million KRW net worth at age 31. No house, just in his brokerage account.

Is this normal by Korean standards? In Australia, unless you are a very high income earner, that would put you in the top 5%? (don't take my word for it).

What would you even say is the average net worth of an average 30 year old?

Cheers!

For reference, I'm reading the Tales of Korea by Im Bang and Yi Ryuk (published by Tuttle, 2022) , and in the book there's a story called 'The Home of the Fairies' where the main character gets trapped by fae-like beings the translation calls fairies or genii. I doubt those are the original names of the creatures in Korean, and looking up fairies will not net me any information about the Korean supernatural creature. What is the name of the creature in Korean? Thank you very much

Hey I have a scrap book from grandma but it’s written in Hangul and looks older and was wondering if anyone could help me translate it ?

Hii! I’m a college student (junior) from America, I’m currently studying sociology & criminal justice. And I reallly wanna study abroad before I graduate. It just feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity and so much bigger than just visiting. If I go to travel for a week I’d have an itinerary, and be stressed about all this stuff. I just wanna go somewhere and focus on the country itself and the culture. I also recently started trying to learn Korean and more about the culture. It’s a really interesting and beautiful place, and I have a few worries and questions about whether I should pick to study there.

Concerns:
• Is this a common enough major in Korea? By that I don’t necessarily mean if they offer it, as my school has a lot of majors but not great classes for them. Would I get my moneys worth?
And if it depends on the school, where should I go?

• I’m African American and I know like every country reacts and stuff are exaggerated for videos, but would I actually get stared at? 😅 I don’t mean people just looking, I mean side eye like they do on TikTok. Or would that just be because it’s clear I’m American? How many dark skinned people do you usually encounter?

• This is more of a nitpick but I’m sort of a picky eater. Would you find food from different cultures around town? Like, not in a big city like Seoul?

• Will y’all hate me if I don’t know Korean yet? 😭

General questions:
• What are some small cultural differences that go right over Americans heads? I don’t just mean, “Americans speak loudly”, even more niche.

• How easy is it to make friends? This is kind of my anxiety talking, but for some reason I feel like the classes at my university are so big people look at you weird when you talk to them. Is this everywhere? I plan on talking to people from my program but it would be nice to make friends from the country I’m studying at🫡

Sorry for the mess! I tried working it the best I could, I felt like these were sorta dumb questions. But I wanted a personal opinion rather than the stats online.

Hellllllo brother country 🇰🇷🇹🇷 !! (Lowkey proud to have a dollap of korean in my gene pool). I am familiar with Turkish, English, Kazakh (kinda) and Russian (kinda), not Korean..unfortunately but if there was promising longterm work/residency in Korea, obviously I'd do immersive tutoring and dedicate the time.

I guess..I got excited when I saw someone on TikTok beg for good kebap vendors 😎 but lowkey I'll cook but obviously was curious about stable career for international sector, if there was anything specific? I'm kind of flexible with an IR degree and a few tech/language certs, and can get a TEFL but would rather not unless its a safe way in. Any suggestions on skills or prospective for something needed? I'd like to earn my keep.

Very kindly 🫂

Hi! I'm Filipino, and I was lucky enough to get tickets to the BTS Arirang concert in Bulacan this coming March 2027. 🥳

I'm already planning my outfit, and I wanted to ask native Koreans for their thoughts before I commit to anything. I really don't want to do anything disrespectful or accidentally cross the line into cultural appropriation. I've seen a lot of beautiful modern hanbok designs, but since I'm planning to have one custom-made by a local tailor, I wanted to make sure my ideas are okay.

My main inspiration is SUGA/Agust D's green outfit from the Daechwita MV. Since March is extremely hot in the Philippines, I'm also trying to adapt the outfit to the weather so it'll be comfortable to wear.

Here are the ideas I have so far:

-Instead of traditional pants or a full skirt, I'm thinking of wearing denim jorts with a rope belt.
-I'd like to make the chima into a short overskirt layered on top of the jorts (similar to those wrap/tie-up skirts that are popular in fashion).
-For the jeogori, would it be okay to use a different fabric instead of traditional silk? I'm worried silk/organza or multiple heavy layers might be too warm in our climate. Although I’m still thinking about using organza just for the sleeves for the sheer effect. I'd also like to add patches (or pockets too!) using an army-print fabric, just like the patches on SUGA's jacket in Daechwita. I love adding attention to design details like that.

Would any of these ideas be considered inappropriate or disrespectful? Are there any parts of a hanbok that I definitely shouldn't alter or combine? If you have any suggestions for making it more respectful while still keeping the overall concept, I'd really appreciate them.

Thank you so much in advance! 😊

I work for a company that engages with a local operation in South Korea.

I started three months ago but I’m running into a lot of problems with this firm. I speak mainly to their manager and over time, his responses have become more half-hearted, to the point of blatantly refusing to give me information and damn near lying about a project.

He has become quite passive aggressive, and I do plan on escalating. What I want to know is how Koreans handle workplace drama, friction, hierarchy.

I think having more insight into Korean workplace culture will help me understand the framework he’s operating in. If I have to escalate, I want to keep it clean and maybe avoid unnecessary confusion or reactivity.

So, what are some unique characteristics of Korean workplace norms, culture, and conflict resolution?

ETA: Maybe the way I wrote it was confusing.

He is not my boss, he works for my company (not in South Korea) as a contractor and won this contract by bid. I write the reports that will pay his commission.

If he can’t answer my questions, that is genuinely concerning and I thought it might be easier to understand why he’s so shifty on a subreddit that’s about asking Koreans.

I don’t live in SK, not sure why I would have to assimilate.

I thought I’d take the extra mile to ask what people’s experiences working with South Koreans are like when there is friction, so I could approach him respectfully and with more context.

But I suppose that is naive and I will just move towards recording his underperformance to my actual superiors which I was trying not to do.

As always, thanks for nothing *curtsy

i am visiting seoul soon and want to get some proper skin treatment while i am there. my main issues are redness and texture and i am looking for a clinic that is good with foreigners and speaks english.

a friend recommended lalian cheongdam clinic. has anyone been to good dermatology places in seoul? any recommendations or things to watch out for when booking?

Hello everyone,

I'm a writer from Greece and over the past 2 years I've been researching the history of the Greek Expeditionary Force that fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War.

My research included official military archives, historical documents, battle reports, and interviews with one of the last surviving Greek veterans, Konstantinos Faros.

That research eventually became a historical novel.

I'm not here to promote it. I'm genuinely curious about something.

How familiar are people in South Korea today with the Greek soldiers who fought during the Korean War?

Do schools teach about them?

Would Korean readers be interested in a historical novel told partly through the eyes of a Greek volunteer and a Korean woman living through the war?

I'm especially interested in knowing whether this part of history still resonates with younger generations.

I'd really appreciate your honest thoughts.

Thank you from Greece 🇬🇷❤️🇰🇷

I keep seeing that Korea trades at leverage at a rate far higher than the USA or other developed countries, why is this the case?

Aren't you guys honestly sick and tired of these foreigners who claim to be K-drama or K-pop fans?

​They see a single line of a sensationalized internet article with zero sources and go, "Oh my god, Koreans are absolute trash!" Meanwhile, their profile pictures are K-pop idols, and all they ever talk about is Korea, Korea, Korea, Korea... They are utterly obsessed with Korea, yet they bash the country just because they’re embarrassed to be called "Korea worshippers." It’s so hypocritical.

​Do they think Korean people and Korean society are just some K-drama set and we’re all actors? They barge into the Instagram or TikTok accounts of ordinary Korean citizens and spam cringey drama memes. When an ordinary couple posts about giving birth, they inevitably bring up the birth rate. They even secretly film regular citizens commuting in the dead of winter and comment, "Oh my god, everyone's clothes are so boring. I guess Koreans have no individuality."

​Take the recent Hong Myung-bo/KFA (Korea Football Association) controversy. They jumped on it without understanding a single bit of context as to why the public is criticizing the KFA, claiming people are "bullying" Myung-bo. They say things like, "Oh my god, how can Koreans be so cruel? 😭" or "Korea is the world's largest psychiatric ward."

​If they hate it that much, I tell them to stop consuming Korean culture and mind their own business. Then they grumble, "Koreans are so racist!" and declare a boycott—only to put another Korean drama on the Netflix Top 10 a few weeks later.

​There is nothing more arrogant and presumptuous than a foreigner trying to "correct" another country's culture to guide them in the "right direction." Yet, when it comes to Korea and East Asia, all sorts of people lecture us, saying, "Go get a tan," "Stop using parasols," "Don't wear sunscreen," and "Love your dark skin." East Asia, including Korea, has developed aesthetic standards that favor fair skin for thousands of years, and protecting one's skin is a personal choice. Why on earth do we have to change our standards to fit foreign values? Isn't this the definition of Western-centric cultural interference? Why is it that the moment the target is Korea or East Asia, this kind of attitude gets packaged as "righteous correction"?

​Even on this subreddit, foreigners pretend to ask innocent questions ("Ask Koreans") just to bait us, essentially saying, "Alright, Koreans. Give me the answer I want to hear. Show me your self-hatred." And because they consume K-pop, dramas, and webtoons, their biases only run deeper.

​And look at the gyopos (overseas Koreans). When they were treated like second-class citizens in white-dominated societies, they denied their Korean roots. Now, they’re freeloading on the soft power built up by native Koreans, yet they take the lead on TikTok as anti-Korea mouthpieces, desperately trying to be recognized as one of the "good Koreans" in their own societies.

​Gukppong (hyper-nationalists) argue that it’s all good as long as Korea gets exposure. But the total revenue of K-pop gets utterly gapped not just by Dungeon & Fighter, but even by MapleStory (aka Ssalsung-Story). The vast majority of Koreans don't experience any "trickle-down effect" from the cultural industry; we are happiest when the semiconductor cycle hits its peak. What is the point of being the breeding ground for mentally ill foreigners who consume Korean culture while simultaneously hating Korea?

​I couldn't care less about K-pop. I don't even know all the names of the BTS members. I don't really watch K-dramas either because there aren't many targeted toward male audiences—the last thing I watched was Becoming a Legendary Kitchen Soldier (Webtoon/Web novel). Yet, simply because my nationality is Korean, I have to deal with these people in real life and on Instagram, and it’s exhausting.

​Did Japanese people have to endure this for decades? There’s a saying that Korea's social phenomena follow what Japan went through 10 years ago. Just like how Japanese Twitter users today drop tens of thousands of likes on tweets bashing Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Muslim immigrants, Korea will likely see a massive surge in xenophobia and nationalism in 10 years. And the driving force behind that will be these control-freak foreigners who try to cancel a real, existing nation of 50 million people.

I've seen "Why are Koreans making such a big deal over the national football team?" posts dozens of times now, and it's honestly getting annoying. Google search before posting? Or at least search Reddit? The outrage you're seeing is the result of years of corruption and scandals finally boiling over, starting with the way the national team's head coach was appointed. Before you so casually jump to "Why are Koreans so weird?", at least make some effort to find out what's actually been going on.

Have you ever met anyone or made friends from the Hwasan Lee clan? I recently read about its history and found it fascinating. If you’re Gen Z and part of that clan, what were your thoughts when you first found out about your family’s history knowing that you were also connected to Vietnamese culture.