Korean Behaviors & Habits

Every culture have its own type of habits and behaviors that may seem "funny" or "different" to foreigners. Although I may not be a foreigner, I have been living abroad long enough to recognize Korean habits and found interest in identify these habits and behaviors. For people who already have interacted with Koreans or watch a lot of Korean dramas, probably recognize some of them. 

Koreans love to doodle. 

Many of you English teachers would have seen Korean students draw.  I'll say almost all girls doodle during lectures and many guys too. I would say its a national habit in Korea. This probably contributes to the reason that Koreans are pretty good with drawing. A reason why a lot of animation companies use Korean studios for outsourcing. 

Koreans crack eggs with their head. 

Koreans crack boiled eggs with their heads instead of using the table or a spoon. I've seen it in Korean dramas, Korean jim jil bang (찜질방), and I even grew up cracking eggs with my head. I still have trouble finding the source of this behavior and trust me I believe no other countries does this. Maybe it came from Humpty Dumpty, but I would hardly believe that Humpty Dumpty existed in Korea back in 1950s. 

Koreans girls cover their mouth when they laugh

Don't ask why. I already have trouble meeting Korean girls. The only assumption I have is that it is something similar to covering your hand when you yawn. You don't want people to see your insides of your mouth. 

Koreans love to do the V finger when they take photos

Its true. I do it all the time. It feels like ice cream cone without the ice cream if you don't do the Vs when you take photos. Even my grandmother who is around 70 years old does the Vs. I guess it became part of being Korean. -.-V

Koreans like to walk a night

If you live in Korea, you'll see a lot of Koreans walking in the parks near by. Its to relieve stress, digest your food and stay healthy. Its like going to the gym but Korean just go to the parks instead. 

There probably are more Korean behaviors or habits, but I can't find them all. As a Korean it will probably take me more time to identify them, than a foreigner. However, I do find it enjoyable finding these habits and pleasures.  I hope I am not the only one who find it interesting to recognize these habits!

Koreans Don'ts for Food

1. Koreans don't steam their fish
     In many Chinese restaurants, they steam their fish. Its delicious, especially with the sweet taste of soy sauce. However, Koreans usually never steam their fish. Yeah I know, pretty shocking, if you were Chinese reading this information. Koreans usually eat their fish in a stew or fried.

2. Koreans don't eat baby bamboo
     I kind of can't believe we don't eat baby bamboo as Chinese and Japanese people do. I mean we can eat it but we don't usually have in our cuisine. And it was funny that both Chinese and Japanese people do eat them and Koreans don't. Think about it logically. Korea is in between China and Japan.

3. Koreans don't usually eat pork in think slices as Chinese
    lol. Its kind of funny because I learned this the hard way. I'm Korean and I went to China town during the break. So...I saw pork belly <3 in China town. So, I asked the butcher to slice my pork... hahaha Basically he gave me 4 slices of huuuuuuuge pieces of pork. Definitely not for making pork belly strips. So, I ended up having to boil them. Still fresh pieces, it was just that I really don't cook Chinese... plus, I usually don't go for Chinese pork.... I prefer Chinese beef, fish, chicken, duck cuisine. I just like those better then pork.

4. Koreans don't have chilly buddy
    We usually make something similar. Soy sauce + green onions + garlic + chili powder.

5. Korean hae sashimi doesn't come small portions
     Usually, when you order Korean hae. You probably have to buy the whole fish. One fish is like 2-4 portion. I guess it has to do something with Koreans liking to share food? Personally, Koreans seem to share more food then any other culture. I met a lot of people from different parts of the world. I feel Koreans are the ones who offered me share their food most of the time.

6. Koreans don't have mild Ramen
     We don't have mild Ramen.... Usually spicy.........

7. Koreans don't like to use their spoons
     We get lazy using spoons. You probably noticed a lot of Koreans eating rice with their chopsticks lol

I can't really think of any more for now. But this was basic summary of things that usually Korean cuisines don't have. I really wish Korea had more steam fish. I mean its sooooooo good.

Korean Pride

A lot of foreigners would agree that Koreans have a lot of pride being Korean! lol. Well I have too! Korean Pride. Basically we think "Korea is the Best!".

Korea is the best would probably become worst, if Korea develops more haha.

But, why would Koreans think Korea is the best??? Lets have a look.

Korea is the Best

Korea has the best electronics. 

     In terms of quality and cost. I would say yes. However, we still can't say we are the best in technological     advancement

Korea has the best skater
     Yes.

Korea has the best transportation
     I can't really answer this. However, from all the countries I have been, Korea did have the best public transportation.

Korea has the best internet
     Korea does have the best internet in terms of affordable super fast internet. However, lol the fastest is Norway, I believe.

Korea has the highest IQ
     Yes, Singapore has the highest IQ. lol and I think that guy lied about Korea being the 2nd. I know it was like around top 10, but not that high lol!!

Korea made great economical growth
     lol, this is probably our greatest pride. We have pride in the fact that we developed so fast in such a short time.

Why don't we check out what we are bad at as well?

Korea is the Worst

Koreans are loud
     lol, I've heard this a lot. Yes, I think this is true. However, Koreans are not loud in public transportation. They are extremely aware that they shouldn't be loud in public transportation. However, in hotels, classrooms and when they are eating, we are pretty loud.

Korea has disgusting toilets.
    Depends. But, quite true. I would say 40% I would encounter a dirty toilet.

I dare not post pictures -.-

Korea have drunkards on the streets
    lol!!! Yes, we have so many drunkards on the street. I think its something that would last for ever. Its such a common sight to see drunk people sleeping on the streets.

Korean military is the worst!
     I definitely agree lol... My 2 years of youth is going to be wasted.

Korea has the highest percentage of plastic surgery
     I think it is probably true. I used to deny this, but I guess its pretty obvious that we do have a lot of people doing plastic surgery. However, being Korean doesn't mean they are all plastic and fake lol.

Korea has pretty bad garbage control
     We probably have the best recycling system. Where people have to distinguish trash. However, we are really bad at keeping our trash to the end until we find a trash disposer. Usually what happen is people just leave their trash on the streets -.-.

I can't think of any more goods and bads lol. But, basically this is an overview XD
Hope nobody is raging!

I think Korean pride is kind of fun to play with haha Just to joke about. I don't think people are too serious about it!

Anyways good night!

Korean Habit No.2> Giving away your seat.

This is a quite common habit in Korea. Younger people giving away their seat in subways, bus to older people. I am not sure if China or Japan does this, but its a common scene in Korea. Well, at least I follow it like the bible. Its a habit that originated from "respect your elders" and Korean text books. Its kind of funny how Korea has a textbook called morals. This textbook tells you what is wrong and right. But, unfortunately not a lot of Korean students follow -.- So, that's a reason a lot of Koreans have lack of moral in life. i.e. Koreans throw garbage anywhere. Its common in other countries as well, but for Koreans they were taught not to throw garbage anywhere and yet they still fail to follow. Anyways back to the topic of giving away seats to elders. We were also taught to give away our seats to elders in this textbook. I have followed this rule every since I was in elementary school. I think I disobeyed this "law" once, because I was sick. And I do see a lot of people give their seats away as well.

Personally I really like it. It makes complete sense for me to provide elder people with the comfort because people get weak when they are old. Moreover, to balance oneself in the subway it is quite hard for older people (It kind of scares me that they will fall and hurt themselves). This is one of the proud Korean habits.

However, this Korean habit is deteriorating. The main reason I brought this up was because I was reading a post on how the elders are taking it for granted and think it is mandatory for younger generations to relinquish their seats to the elders. A lot of people with their comments to the post said that relinquishing their seats is an "option" and are angered by the "stubbornness" of elders. From personal experiences, I do seldom see elders yelling at the younger people to get out of their seats and hand it over. This is quite embarrassing. But the younger generations have disappointed me a bit as well. Its quite sad to watch a elder person struggling through their ride in the subway and buses, and the younger person on the seat just ignores the elder.

I think both sides should find a resolution, through some method. Or this tension would get bigger in the future. Hopefully, this habit is preserved until I get old -.- Can't wait until I get seats from the younger people!

Korean Habit No.1> Egg Cracking!

I ate some boiled eggs today. Yummy. I cracked an egg on the table. While I ate my first egg, I realized how my uncle used to crack his egg on my head -.- Then I realized how a lot of Koreans use their heads to crack their eggs.

So, with my second egg. I used my head... Egg vs My Head....I felt so much pain! Omg... what is wrong with these eggs. It wouldn't break... I started wondering if eggs evolved to become so hard because my soft head back then was able to break it and I cannot now. As I was about to give up, I tried it once more. And I was like screw this. Its either I win or the egg does. So I banged the egg on my head so hard that it cracked ! But, at the same time I was in pain.... Never going to do this again.

Why do Koreans do this??? Even as a Korean I have no idea, but it is a quite common thing in Korea. I think 70% of Koreans do this? Even in movies or tv a lot of people crack eggs with their head. Is this just a Korean thing or does other countries do this as well??? This is a quite interesting topic, and I couldn't research it in google hehe I mean who would google "Why do Koreans crack eggs with their head?".. Well... I mean that person probably seriously doesn't have a life.. Oh wait its me .. damn it.

Anyways this is my first series of Korean Habits! I'll post more after I become enlightened on which are Korean and those are not :)