I'm Korean, AMA

[NightsIn]

I'm a Korean mum of one. I used to live in the UK for two years.

If you have any questions about culture, life, coronavirus, education, politics, language, child rearing, food or amything else in Korea, let me know!

(I'm not really up to date with the latest music/dramas, so might not be able to answer much about that but I can try!!)

@SerenityNowwwww

Is Spam a delicacy anywhere?

Yes!!!!! In Hawaii it's everywhere, they even have it on the menu in McDonald's!!

My main knowledge of Korea won't be too accurate as it's from the dramas.

Do you have to pay for your children to go to school? Or do you just pay for activities?

Do celebrities really loose fans and advertisement deals if they date?
Are there any openly gay celebrities?

What is the employment situation like?

What is the general public opinion on single mothers, and adoption. Is opinion changing to be more accepting at all?

What is your favourite street food?

"How does Korea compare to the UK as a place to raise a child?

Your command of English is impressive. What helped you learn?"

Korea is much safer, no drugs/gangs but a lot of academic and social pressure.

I did a Masters in the UK so I learnt a lot then. Writing is easier than speaking.

What music is popular other than kpop? And are different groups more popular there compared to the main ones revered over here like BTS?

Also, what is Christmas like there?

What do Korean people generally think of the Japanese?

Not a question, but Korean food is outstanding - I love it!

"Do you have to pay for your children to go to school? Or do you just pay for activities?

Do celebrities really loose fans and advertisement deals if they date?
Are there any openly gay celebrities?

What is the employment situation like?"

School is free, hagwons (after school) you pay for and it can get pricy.

They definitely lose fans. There was a big scandal recently because one member of Exo got his gf pregnant and they then got married. Fans were literally saying he should be arrested!!

There is one gay TV presenter who is pretty much accepted but when he came out it was big scandal.

It is hard to get a good job for young people. People are competing for the really few good jobs. Employment is hard for women after giving birth too.

"What is the general public opinion on single mothers, and adoption. Is opinion changing to be more accepting at all?"

It's not accepted at all to be a single mum. There is one charity to help them and I noticed a lot of people from abroad help out there. Adoption is not seen as something normal to do, so there are quite a lot of children in orphanages. Many used to be adopted to America.

"What is your favourite street food?"

I really love Hodeok which is a kind of hot sweet pastry filled with syrup and nuts.

"What music is popular other than kpop? And are different groups more popular there compared to the main ones revered over here like BTS?

Also, what is Christmas like there?"

There are indie bands and a lot of ballad singers. These days, Trot kind of became popular again, it's hard to describe but music that was popular in the 60s. BTS are huge, but of course there are many others, but I'm not that up to date.

Christmas is either just a normal day off, or a day to spend as a couple. No special food or anything.

Married a first born son.

Do you pity me?

"What do Korean people generally think of the Japanese?

Not a question, but Korean food is outstanding - I love it!"

There is still quite a lot of animosity, these days most people are boycotting Japanese produce and don't buy from Uniqlo or buy Japanese beer. There are a lot of reasons. They have never really apologised or changed their behaviour towards Korea so it is hard to forgive.

The feelings are mainly towards the government though, no one feels bad towards individual people.

"Married a first born son.

Do you pity me?"

Me too, but I'm ok with it 🙂

Is it true that Korean people really love fancy socks?

I was at a craft fair once and there was a lady selling the most amazing socks, all sorts of colours, patterns, animals etc, for adults. She said that she imported them from Korea and she started her business in the UK after living in Seoul for a few years as she noticed that due to the 'shoes off indoors' tradition, people would really go to town with really luxurious socks and spent money on them the way people here would indulge themselves with shoes.

@isabellerossignol

That is not something I've ever considered. If anything, I found it strange that British men would wear colourful socks with their suits!

But it is definitely embarrassing to have a hole in your sock if you go to someone's house or a restaurant where you take shoes off. So you can buy socks cheaply everywhere.

@NightsIn
What do you mean Japan hasnt apologised or changed its behaviour? Sorry if I sound ignorant.

I assume you are talking about the Japanese empire days?

How normal is it for children to board & go to school in the UK?

Many Koreans I have met are very keen on hiking. Is that just a coincidence or is hiking a popular pasttime in Korea?

"What do you mean Japan hasnt apologised or changed its behaviour? Sorry if I sound ignorant"

Japan colonised Korea, used our women as sex slaves and used us as forced labour during the second world war.

They will occasionally apologise then, as today (anniversary of end of the war and our independence day) visit the grave of war criminals to pay respect on them. It just feels meaningless. They have no respect for what we suffered.

"How normal is it for children to board & go to school in the UK?"

Only for very rich people. Most prefer to send their kids to America if they can.

"Many Koreans I have met are very keen on hiking. Is that just a coincidence or is hiking a popular pasttime in Korea?"

It's so popular, especially for retired people. There are mountains everywhere even in the centre of Seoul so sometimes even if you aren't trying to hike, you end up doing it somehow!

Do you have a good recipe for kimchi?

I really really love kimchi and can’t but it locally