• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Busanpedia

Follow me to every corner of Busan and South Korea

  • Home
  • Places to Visit in South Korea
    • Where to Visit in Busan, South Korea
      • Haeundae Beach (해운대 해수욕장) in Busan, Korea
      • Gamcheon Culture Village (감천문화마을) in Busan, South Korea
      • Gwangalli Beach & Gwangan Bridge (광안리 해수욕장 & 광안대교) in Busan
      • Taejongdae Resort Park (태종대 유원지) in Busan, Korea: Complete Guide
      • Magnate Cafe (메그네이트): Owned by BTS Jimin’s Dad in Busan
      • Gukje Market (국제시장), Busan, South Korea
      • BIFF Square (BIFF 광장) & Kakao Friends, Busan, South Korea
      • Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (해동용궁사), Busan, South Korea
      • Complete Guide to Busan Beaches
      • Shopping in Busan: Complete Guide to Department Stores
      • Luxury Hotels in Busan, South Korea
      • Oryukdo Island (오륙도) & Oryukdo Skywalk
      • Songdo Beach & Songdo Cloud Trails (송도해수욕장 & 송도구름산책로), Busan, South Korea
      • Dongbaekseom Island (동백섬) in Busan, South Korea
      • Huinnyeoul Culture Village (흰여울문화마을) in Busan, South Korea
      • Songjeong Beach (송정해수욕장), Busan, South Korea
      • Dadaepo Beach (다대포 해수욕장) & Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream in Busan, Korea
      • Beomeosa Temple (범어사) in Busan, South Korea
      • Busan X The SKY in Busan, South Korea
      • Jukseong Church (Dream Open Set / 죽성성당) in Busan, South Korea
      • Daejeo Ecological Park (대저생태공원): Cherry Blossoms and Canola Flowers Festival
      • Nurimaru APEC House (누리마루 APEC 하우스) in Busan, South Korea
      • Nakdong Estuary Eco Center (낙동강하구에코센터) in Busan, South Korea
      • F1963, Urban Cultural Complex, Busan, South Korea
      • United Nations Memorial Cemetery (유엔기념공원) in Busan, South Korea
      • Ilgwang Beach (일광해수욕장) in Busan, South Korea
      • Museum of Contemporary Art Busan (부산현대미술관)
      • Seongjigok Reservoir (성지곡수원지) in Busan, South Korea
      • Hwamyeong Rose Park (화명장미공원), Busan, South Korea
    • Where to Visit in Seoul, South Korea
      • Complete Guide to Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) in Seoul
      • Gwanghwamun Square (광화문광장), Seoul, South Korea
      • The Story of King Sejong (세종이야기) in Seoul, South Korea
      • Insadong (인사동), Seoul, South Korea
      • Jogyesa Temple (조계사) in Seoul, South Korea
      • Seoul Lantern Festival (서울 빛초롱축제)
    • Other Destinations in South Korea
      • Filming Locations of Korean Dramas and Movies in South Korea
      • Jeonju Hanok Village (전주한옥마을) in South Korea
      • Jeonju Hyanggyo (전주향교), South Korea
      • Tongdosa Temple (통도사), Gyeongsangnamdo, South Korea
  • Blog
  • Korea 101
    • How to Apply for South Korea Visa
    • Top 10 Best-Selling Korean Ramyeon (Ramen) in South Korea
    • 5 Best Korean Cup Noodles
    • Top 10 Best-Selling Korean Snacks in South Korea
    • Top 10 Best-Selling Korean Ice Cream
    • 10 Best Korean Skincare Products of 2023
    • 10 Hottest Korean Skincare Brands at Olive Young
    • How to Order at Korean Restaurants: Korean BBQ Menu
    • Korean Food (Beef Dishes)
    • Korean Food (Pork Dishes)
    • Korean Food (Noodles)
    • Interesting Korean Culture (Q&A)
    • Introduction to Korean History
    • Public Transportation in South Korea
    • Busan, South Korea
  • Learn In Korea
    • Study in Korea: General Information
    • Best Universities in South Korea: Rankings
    • Korean Expressions for Real Life
    • Learning Korean with Kdrama
    • Korean Terms for Family Members
  • About
  • Contact

Interesting Korean Culture (Q&A)

One day, I got this question about Korean culture from one of my blog followers.

Hello there. I live in Western Australia and just recently got hooked on Korean Dramas. There were a few scenes in which Koreans do things that I do not understand the meaning of.

So I started answering the questions (Thank you, Suzy) and have kept this list growing since then. Please, leave a question about Korean culture or anything related to Korea or contact me for the question.


1. Every time people got released from prison, someone offers them tofu. What is it with tofu? What does it mean?

There are several reasons why people offer tofu to someone who has just got released from prison.

First, it could mean to wish that the person lives a clean life without any trouble by eating tofu because tofu is white.

Second, in prions, meals usually include a bowl of rice mixed with beans. Tofu is made from beans, but it can’t go back to beans, so people offer tofu to wish the person doesn’t go back to prison again.

The last reason would be the most credible one. This tradition seems to start during the Japanese Occupation period. Many activists for Korean Independence were captured in prison and they were not treated and fed well by Japanese guards. When they finally got out of prison and eat something right away, they experience serious stomachaches and even some people died from it. Because tofu is easy to digest and highly nutritious, it was the first food that people offer to the activists released from prison.

https://youtu.be/Xy3mUlqxiYY

2. When Korean say something wrong, they are pretending to spit. Why is that?

When Koreans say something unfavorable or unfortunate, we say ‘twe, twe, twe,’ which is the sound of spitting (not really spit, though). This means that I’d like to take back what I just said or I don’t want this thing to happen. This is quite similar to ‘knocking on wood‘ in the U.S.

They use the idiom around 8:00.

3. Why are Koreans rarely seen barefoot without socks inside the house? Do you have to wear socks all day long?

This totally depends on the situation. Because Koreans take off shoes indoors, wearing socks has been natural. Thus, traditionally, showing barefoot to others could have been impolite or rude. But, this has changed a lot. Nowadays, on casual occasions, many people do not feel uncomfortable not wearing socks, especially during summertime. However, keep in mind that it is still safe to wear socks in a formal setting or at an important meeting in South Korea.


4. Why do Koreans throw salt on the people they despise?

A long, long time ago, people believed food went bad and got rotten because of evil spirits. They discovered salt kept food from going bad, and they started to believe salt could keep evil spirits away. Since then, people throw salt (or just say it) in order to push devils away after unwelcomed or despised people visit.


5. What was the type of clothing that women of Joseon Dynasty covered their faces with?

Jangot, a type of hanbok, traditional Korean clothing
Jangot (장옷) (picture credit: blog – 살며 사랑하며)
Sseugaechima, a type of hanbok, traditional Korean clothing
Sseugaechima (쓰개치마) (picture credit: blog – 살며 사랑하며)

During Joseon Dynasty, women had to wear an overcoat when they went out in order to cover their faces. Due to strong Confucianism principles, women were not supposed to reveal their faces in public, especially to unacquainted men.

There were two types of hanbok overcoats for women: Jangot (장옷, the first picture above) and Sseugaechima (쓰개치마, the second picture). The main difference in style is that Jangot has sleeves and Sseugaechima does not. In the early Joseon Dynasty, nobles wore Sseugaechima and the common people wore Jangot. But, later there was not a clear division for who wears what.


6. Why do many Korean restaurants set scissors on the table?

Korean seafood and scissors

Koreans use scissors quite often to handle our food. For example, when you visit Korean BBQ restaurants, you will see scissors on every table. We cut meat, noodle, kimchi, and many types of food with scissors. Korean barbeque and naengmyeon (냉면/ cold noodle) are the most-known dishes for scissoring while being served. Although Koreans don’t use scissors for every dish (it would be rare to see someone cut ramyeon or fried chicken with scissors), Koreans don’t consider using scissors for food weird so if you need them for your dish, don’t need to be embarrassed to ask them.


  • Planning a trip to South Korea? Click here to find more destinations here.
  • Do you want to study in South Korea? Here is a basic guide to start with.
  • Want to learn about Korean culture and more? Click here to find more information about it.
  • Trying to learn Korean language? I have some interesting real expressions for you.
  • A big fan of Korean food? How about some Korean noodles?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Before Footer

Sign up for News from Busan, South Korea

You will receive my newsletter with trendy information about South Korea and Busan, including travel, events, food, and some Kpop news.

I take your privacy seriously. I don't share your email address.

Footer

  • Privacy Policy

30, Yeonje-ro, Yeonje-gu, Busan, South Korea (Officetel Blgd. 7th Floor. Rm 7105) | info@busanpedia.com

Copyright © 2023 · Busanpedia