The following is part of Seoul Subway Stories — a newly launched Korea Herald series exploring subway stations and their surrounding areas across the city. – Ed. It’s 10 minutes’ walk from the station, but your nose already knows: The air smells like a meat market. Majang Station on Seoul Subway Line No. 5 is known for its market, where nearly 60 percent of all meat and meat by-products distributed in Seoul are handled. For locals, this is also the place to go to g

Answer: (a) “개 (gae)” might be one of the most versatile words in the Korean language. The most common meaning of the word is a dog, but it can also be used to mean all the other options listed above. In recent years, however, teenagers have used the word more often and in a far broader context as an amplifier to increase the intensity of something both positive and negative. It works like “very” or “so.” But unlike the other four meanings that can be f

What meanings do you place on numbers? You‘re probably familiar with the most famous ’lucky seven.‘ Or the famously-avoided number 13. In Korea, the same is done with the number four. The Korean word for four is pronounced ’sa,‘ which has the same pronunciation as the Korean word for ’death.‘ Though it’s less prevalent nowadays, Korean buildings, especially some old ones, still do not have a fourth floor. By Min Byoung-chul  Min Byoun

Answer: (a) “Inssa” refers to those who are very social and active throughout all manners of social activities, whether it be making friends or taking initiatives at work, school or in whatever group they may be part of. It is derived from the English word insider. Its antonym is “assa,” from outsider, and it refers to a person who is not accepted as a member of a particular group and feels isolated or different from those who are accepted. Coined by young people

Seoul currently boasts one of the longest metro systems in the world, exceeded in length by only seven regions including Shanghai, London, Moscow and New York. What started out as a single line system in 1974 has expanded exponentially to nearly 300 kilometers connecting some 300 stations scattered across 11 lines, not counting the nine additional routes like the Suin-Budang Line that connects the capital with its satellite cities. Now, those 11 subway lines carry 7.2 million pasengers every

You may be surprised when talking with Koreans when they refer to “our mother” or “our brother,” even while talking to someone other than a sibling. Koreans generally say “our mother,” “our brother” etc. instead of “my mother” or “my brother.” This is because of Koreans‘ group-oriented mindset, rather than thinking of themselves as an individual. However, more and more young Koreans are becoming Westernized and i

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Q: How many queens have ruled Korea? (a) None (b) 1 (c) 3 (d) 8 Answer: (c)  Historical records show that there were at least three reigning queens in the Korean Peninsula, all during the Silla Dynasty which lasted from 57 BC to 935 AD. The first, and most well-known of the three, is Queen Seondeok, the 27th ruler of Silla. Although male supremacy was common acr

In many cultures, eating all of the food put before you is seen as a sign that the meal was good. However, in Korea, leaving the last bite of food on the plate is considered by many to be good manners. This is especially true if you are invited to a Korean host’s home. Most elderly people still leave the last bite on their plate, but some young Koreans do not observe this custom and may not even be aware of this part of Korean culture. By Min Byoung-chul Min Byoung-chul is an endo

Hanbok experts have mixed feelings about traditional attire’s popularity among tourists

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.  Answer: (a)  Koreans usually eat a bowl of miyeokguk (seaweed soup), typically for breakfast, on their birthday.  ------------------- Like in many cultures, Koreans mark special occasions and events by eating and sharing certain foods. They include Lunar New Year and Chuseok – the two biggest traditional holidays here. Koreans eat a bowl of tteokguk, rice cak

In Korea, it is considered rude to look directly into someone’s eyes during a conversation, especially if you are being scolded or rebuked by your seniors or elders. In some cultures, making eye contact is a non-verbal part of communication; however, this is not the same in Korean culture. For example, when a Korean student is being scolded by their teacher, they usually look down at the floor. But this could be startling for foreign teachers working in Korea, interpreting it as a stude

Hangover drinks are a multi-billion won industry, despite lacking medical backing

A look at legal precedents related to various hazards that occur at after-work get-togethers

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related. Answer: ⓓ South Korea is technically still at war with North Korea and most men here are trained shooters, stemming from their experience as active-duty conscripts.     But not even the president -- the most powerful elected official and chief military commander -- can freely carry a gun.  Only authorized personnel in security-related fields, such as poli

In Korea, people often use honorifics and appellations such as eonni (older sister) and oppa (older brother) when speaking with someone else.  This is because Koreans generally follow the Confucian tradition of speaking differently with someone who is older versus someone who is younger. This is why Koreans will often ask others their age or the year they were born at the start of a conversation.  Korea's millennial generation is less likely to ask about age when first mee