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Showing posts from September, 2020

Why do Korean surnames come first and where do korean surnames come from?

The story of the family and first name in Korea A Korean name usually consists of three characters. The first name is the family name and the latter two characters make the given name. Unlike Western people write their first name in front, the family name is written first in Korea, followed by the first name.  Why do Korean surnames come first? Korea is a culture that values the family name. That is why we write our surname first when we write our own name, as opposed to Westerners.  Koreans often say when making an oath to others, 'If I lie, I change my last name. So, Korean family names are not diverse. Korea is one of the fewest surnames in the world.  Where do Korean surnames come from? The country with the most surnames in the world is the United States. There are about 1 million surnames. Finland has about 60,000 kinds and Britain has about 15,000 kinds, compared to Korea's 300 kinds of surnames, the least. As such, it is a fact that Korea has lived in a...

Food combinations that Koreans love.(Kimbap(or Gimbap) + noodles)

  A combination of ordinary and everyday Korean food.  One of the most common and popular food combinations that Koreans like are kimbap and ramen( or instant noodle). The reason why we like is that they are not only cheap and tasty but also full of stomach. Korean food culture is based on soup and rice, so you can think of it as a basic combination that is faithful to the basics.  In the past, gimbap was food that mothers often packed with lunch boxes when students go on picnics, but nowadays there are many places selling healthy gimbap that is good for the body, such as well-being gimbap, so it is not unconditionally inexpensive as in the old days. Ramen and kimbap are really common combinations that students like. When I was a student, I didn't have money, so I like to eat cheap food to be full. Vegetable Kimbab   This is a vegetable kimbap which has egg, burdock, carrot, spinach, pickled radish, sausage, and crab meat in it.  Cup noodle (=Cup ramen)...

How do you say "hello" and " Good-bye" in Korea? (The origin of Korean greetings)

  "Annyeong- ha seyo"  안녕하세요  Greeting when people first meet  When people meet at the first time, Koreans usually say "Annyeong-haseyo"  This is the same words "hello" or "How are you " in America.  The literal meaning of "Annyeong-haseyo" is Are you well and at peace? The origin of Korean greetings can be found in the Korean War. At the time people died of hunger or disease every day after waking up overnight. That's why people say hello to make sure they've been well all night long.  There is "Siksa hasyeot-eoyo?" with the same expression. This means literally "have you eaten" or "did you have a meal?", mostly elder people use this expression or we use these words around mealtime or right after.  So people usually respond  "yes I have" even if they haven't. This greeting pattern is similar to how English speakers usually respond to the question "how are you" with " Fi...

Korean Potato Pancake (Gamjajeon)

Korean Potato Pancake  with Soy sauce   Gangwon-do(Province)'s delicacy where potatoes are produced a lot.  when we eat potato pancake  we always eat with soy sauce with vinegar.  Gamja means potato in Korean.  Jeon means pancake.  Peel the potatoes.  Grind the potatoes.  Do not use a blender.  Add hot pepper or zucchini or chives  If you don't like spicy taste,  Just add chives.  Prepare soy sauce with vinegar.  And then enjoy pancake.