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!!)

I really love Korean food. Can you point me towards some recipes?

"I’d love to channel the Korean relaxed but smart dress sense. Is there any shops/websites/staple pieces you’d recommend as a starting place?"

I guess it is kind of similar to Japanese style so maybe Muji or Uniqlo? It's hard to know how to recommend a whole style.

"Do you like trot music? I have been following the Mr Trot competition and am now totally in love with Lim Young Woong."

I like some of the old trot songs since I grew up with them but don't really follow the Miss/Mr Trot shows

"What is your impression of overseas South Korean diaspora - those in China North East region, Japan, USA (New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles etc), Canada, Australia, Uzbekistan and central Asia and those in Germany and United Kingdom in particular? Do you feel those in East and Central Asia are more traditional and those in European and western nations less traditional or bi-cultural etc?"

I haven't really met many overseas Koreans so I don't know much about them. When I lived in the UK, I avoided other Koreans as much as possible so I could improve my English skill.

"What do you feel about the androgynous look of many/most South Korean male media stars? Does this manufactured trend appeal to younger female audiences only or do some older adults have the same preference! What do you think the more traditional confident masculine Korean men think?"

It's not seen as gay or anything like it is in the west or particularly unmanly or something. Almost all men wear make up at their weddings or for photoshoots. Some women like macho guys, some like softer guys, I don't think age matters too much when it comes to taste.

"I have been to South Korean several times many years ago post graduate university studies and had an amazing time exploring South Korean culture and food long before the recent K entertainment, street fashion and beauty industries went global! What's the next big K lifestyle trend?"

So hard to say. Korean trends change quickly. There is a trend these days for honbab/honsul, which means eating or drinking alone.

"London New Malden is a popular place to venture to for more authentic Korean food as we all know! I like both Korea Foods and H Mart. Korean BBQ with Vietnamese Pho and Taiwanese Boba bubble tea is a very indulgent combination for a great start to the weekend!"

I visited New Malden many times and it is nice to have a Koreatown in the UK. But so weird to have to pay for side dishes, my friend said it was like having to pay to use chopsticks haha.

"OP I didn't get a response to my Q"

I answered it on page 1

"I really love Korean food. Can you point me towards some recipes?"

I would love to but all the sites I know are in Korean

do you want to leave Korea?

what seasonings do you use?
fish stock?
ginger?

"do you want to leave Korea?"

No, not really. I lived abroad for quite a while and you get the same problems everywhere really.

"what seasonings do you use?
fish stock?
ginger?"

The most common is red chilli paste/powder, soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil. A lot of soups are made using dried anchovies as a base. We also use something called dasida, which I actually don't know what it is, some flavour powder.

Do Koreans still think 'lightskin is better'? I know there's overt colourism in Asian countries and the darker you are, the less you're thought of. What do you think about this or your family's attitude towards it?

is there much vegan/vegetarian cooking available?

Also how do you say 'hello' and 'goodbye' in your language?

"Do Koreans still think 'lightskin is better'? I know there's overt colourism in Asian countries and the darker you are, the less you're thought of. What do you think about this or your family's attitude towards it?"

People absolutely prefer to have pale skin and think pale skin is beautiful. Personally, I don't mind either way but I try not to tan because of health and wrinkles.

"is there much vegan/vegetarian cooking available?"

Only in temples and some foreign areas.

Is it true that it's very easy to learn to read/write in Korean because the system is very regular?

If so, does this mean children learn to read very quickly?

"Also how do you say 'hello' and 'goodbye' in your language?"

Hello - 안녕하세요- annyeong ha se yo
Goodbye - 안녕히계세요- annyeong hi gye se yo
Goodbye - 안녕히가세요 - annyeong hi ga se yo

First goodbye is to say to people who are staying (like "stay well"), second is for the people leaving (like "go well")

Those are the kind of standard greetings, there are some others for friends or younger people/more formal/on the phone

"Is it true that it's very easy to learn to read/write in Korean because the system is very regular?

If so, does this mean children learn to read very quickly?"

It's so easy to learn! You can learn it in less than a week.

Children can read quite quickly, I think. Definitely easier than English.

Thank you for replying - wow can you imagine all the time at school that would save!

I think Finnish is the same. Totally regular and they also have excellent educational results (I know there's much more to it than not having to learn a million different spellings )

Thanks for the answers, OP.

Actually, how do you say "Thank you"?

Thank you is 감사합니다, gamsa hap ni da or 고마워요, goma wo yo

Gamsa hap ni da, OP

Think I'll start learning 'hanguk-eo' from now. Did I get it right?

Exactly right

Thanks again

Oooh, I have questions! 🙋

I've recently become a huge fan of the Korean dramas (or Korean actors! Lee Min Ho is beautiful! As are many others, but he's my favourite) on Netflix and am wondering about what is actually similar to real life.

Is it common for adults to stay single (and not date or have any physical relationships) until they're quite old? Several dramas seem to show characters in their late 20s or early 30s who are single and apparently haven't had relationships.

Characters seem to sleep in their day clothes! I just finished watching My Love from the Stars and the two leads slept in the same bed often, but always fully dressed in whatever they wore all day. Is that just to show they aren't doing anything beyond cuddling or is it a 'thing'?

Likewise eating - everyone seems to eat in restaurants in their overcoats with a blazer under and scarves etc! They look so uncomfortable.

Do parents really hit grown up children. They quite often are whacking their children who are 20 or 30 years old.

Also do adults bath together? I'm Pinocchio the adult adopted son is bathing with his elderly 'father' to scrub his back. There's nothing 'dodgy' about i
the scene, but it's a level of closeness I found unusual.

How do you type in Korean on a qwerty keyboard - as I saw a character do? The phones I've seen seemed to have Korean characters.

Thanks in advance op - I'm loving the glimpse into a different culture and how respectful Koreans seem. Kamsahamnida.