Next week, on January 29th, Koreans will celebrate 설날 (Seollal), the Lunar New Year. While it typically falls in February, this year it’s arriving a bit earlier. Seollal is a three-day holiday, but the Korean government has designated the Monday b…
In recent years, the price of gold has skyrocketed, reaching unprecedented levels. As of January 2025, the price of pure gold per '돈' (don, Unit of measurement for gold in Korea, 3.75 grams) stands at 538,000 KRW, a staggering 43% increase…
Recently, I came across an article about how several Korean words, including those featured in the hit Netflix series Squid Game Season 2, have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). This was news to me—I had no idea that Korean words h…
Today marks the last day of 2024. Doesn’t it feel like time has flown by this year? For me, 2024 was a year of exciting milestones. I developed the Podo Korean app , launched the Podo Korean website and blog , and even restarted the Podo Korean In…
A few days ago, I stumbled upon a fascinating interview on YouTube. It featured Dr. Ross King, a Harvard linguist, whose work I’ve admired for a long time. You might recall a previous post on my blog about “Lake of the Woods,” a language immersion…
BLACKPINK’s Rosé has teamed up with Bruno Mars for the song “A.P.T”, which has become a global sensation. The track debuted at #8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, setting a new record for a K-pop female artist, and climbed to #2 on the UK Official…
If you’re living in Korea or traveling here for an extended period, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to buy and sell items locally. Among the many options, ' 당근 '(Danggeun, meaning ‘carrot’ in Korean) stands out as a leading app for loca…
Delivery food in Korea has grown into a lifestyle trend that’s now practically inseparable from daily life. With smartphones and food delivery apps advancing rapidly, getting meals delivered whenever and wherever has become effortless, leading to r…
Recently, the TV channel tvN started airing a unique drama titled " 정년이 "(Jungnyeoni), which features the lesser-known world of " 국극 "(gukgeuk), a traditional form of Korean opera. Like many viewers, I wasn’t familiar with gukge…
When looking for a place to live, most people either buy a house or rent one by paying a monthly fee. However, Korea has a unique rental system that goes beyond these two options—it’s called "전세"(jeonse). In this system, tenants hand over…
A few days ago, I came across some surprising news—there’s a K-drama made in Nigeria that’s creating quite a buzz. At first, I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a K-drama being produced in Nigeria. But after watching a clip on YouTube, I was…
The Cia-Cia people, a minority group in Indonesia, may not be widely known around the world, but their unique decision to preserve their language has attracted global attention. They chose to adopt Hangul as their script. This fascinating story has…
When I talk with students about Korean food, one dish that always comes up as a favorite is "떡볶이" (tteokbokki). I also enjoy tteokbokki, but I can't handle food that's too spicy! Today, I'd like to introduce you to a recipe fo…
Recently, I watched a TV show where foreign friends were traveling around Korea. In one scene, a friend who had already settled in Korea was explaining various aspects of Korean culture to friends who had just arrived. One of the things he mentione…
Korea has long been renowned for its traditional pottery techniques, particularly in East Asia. During the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, pottery craftsmanship reached its peak, developing distinct techniques that are still admired today. In this pos…
Do you enjoy Korean food? If so, I highly recommend visiting "전라도" (Jeolla Province), a region in Korea famous for its rich and diverse food culture. You’ll find many delicious dishes there that are hard to come by in other parts of the c…
Recently, I’ve been reading a book called "The Selfish Gene". And there is a chapter about the probability of genetic similarities between parents and siblings. It got me thinking about the Korean terms for relatives like "삼촌" (…
Anyone learning Korean knows that King Sejong (세종대왕) is the one who created Hangul, the Korean writing system. But beyond this, King Sejong is regarded as one of the greatest kings in Korean history, often referred to as the "Best of the Best…
On October 10, 2024, a historic event took place: Korea celebrated its first Nobel Prize in Literature winner, "한강"(Han Kang). Sharing her name with Korea’s most famous river, Han Kang has become the first Korean and the first Asian woman…
Do you know much about traditional Korean instruments? Among the various instruments, my favorite is the "가야금" (gayageum). While I've never played it myself, I find its sound absolutely beautiful. There’s also another instrument, the …
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