Even after twenty years of living in the US, I call my annual trips to Korea “going home.” My teenage daughter, however, describes the same trip as “visiting Korea.” Herein lies the difference in our attitudes – mine is to reconnect with family and friends while hers is to explore new places and experiences. Luckily, we can do both without any conflicts.
She marvels at how I can talk for hours with my friends, and I love rediscovering Korea through her eyes and unique finds. She’s outgrown her daily trips with Grandpa to the moonbang-gu (stationery store) but she has successfully transitioned to find the big and small things that make Korea, Korea.
One day, when she asked, “why do we use hana, dool, set (one, two, three) to say the hour and il, ee, sam (different words for one, two, three) to say the minutes?” I was stumped. But since then I started keeping track of things about Korea that are new, different, hard to explain or a combination of all. It’s easy to take things for granted and I love discovering the “whys” together.
Here is my running list of 19 did-you-knows about Korea.
1. Trash Cans are really hard to find
You might find yourself walking ten or more blocks looking for a trash can. Think long and hard before you order that cup of coffee to go because you might need to carry that paper cup all the way home before you can throw it away.
2. Coffee and archery: a match made in Korea
South Korea’s women archery team have won nine consecutive (every Olympics since 1984) gold medals. So, it’s no surprise, you can just stop by a café, order a coffee, and … sometimes shoot a few arrows. Complete novice? That’s fine, the servers double as coaches.
3. Learn to dance K-pop like an artist
Jenny, Lisa, Rosé, Jisoo … are holding auditions for a fifth member? Not exactly. But why not be ready? Or if you’re like my sister and you and your organization want to make a splash entrance at the regional employee kick-off, you can take private lessons for any K-pop song and dance number.
4. Starbucks merch hits differently
Speaking of coffee, have you seen some of the merchandise at a Korean Starbucks? It’s in a league of its own. Some of the cutest cups, stuffed animals, stationery, and even lunchboxes are sold at Starbucks. And they change with the season. If you are an avid collector of Starbucks merch, you’ve arrived at your own little slice of heaven.
5. Coffee shops have their own lingo
And when you are ready to place that coffee order, be sure you have the right acronyms down. Want an iced coffee? That would be “ah-ah” (iced Americano). How about just hot coffee? That would be “ddeu-ah” (hot Americano). Make that an iced vanilla latte? Ok, here is your “ah-ba-la.” If you need that extra shot in your iced latte, all you need to say is “ah-shot-choo” which translates to add (choo being short for choo-ga) a shot to my “ah” (iced Americano). And for those of you who think soju is Korea’s national drink, think again. The “ah-ah” is making a run for the top spot.
6. Home of the best scones and bagels
When Koreans decide to master something, they do it right. The best scones you’ll ever taste can be found at Brian’s Coffee – seriously. Try it with their Jeju lemon tea or just with an ah-ah (see #5). Looking for a bagel sandwich with the just right amount of filling, softness, and variety? Be prepared to wait in line at Kokkili (Elephant) Bagel. Think the the’s line too long? Sorry, the wait at London Bagel will be just as long.
7. Self-service everything
Are you ready for a real meal right now? Well, get ready to be put to work. As you enter many fast-food establishments or diners, look for a kiosk to enter your order. Once you get your food, you’ll most likely need to find the area where all the plates, cups, utensils, water, napkins, and even bibs are and bring them to the table yourself. Can’t find the utensils? Check to see if there is a pull-out drawer (or utensils box) at the table and help yourself.
8. Lunch time followed by coffee, absolutely
Are you used to eating lunch at your desk? Maybe even skipping lunch? Then you’ll need to reset your lunch routine to noon followed by coffee at exactly 12:30. Stand in the middle of any area with office towers at noon and you’ll find hordes of workers streaming out of buildings heading to nearby restaurants. After thirty minutes, every coffee shop will be packed with those same workers seeking that extra boost of caffeine before heading back to the office at exactly 12:55. Some might find this too rigid. But something about having a collective 1-hour break where you know you won’t miss a meeting because everyone is on the same clock has its appeal.
9. National Geographic: read and worn
If you saw hundreds, perhaps thousands of people wearing clothing and backpacks with the National Geographic logo on them, your eyes were not playing tricks on you. It’s one of the most popular brands in Korea… for clothing. Not to be outdone, Discover is quickly gaining ground. Could NPR, Scientific American, and Nature be next?
10. Very public bangs
If you see someone in public with her bangs in a curler, don’t bother telling her she forgot to take her curler out. It’s common practice in Korea. There is something very endearing about wanting to save the just-released-from-the-curler-perfect bang for the person(s) you are going to meet.
11. Baskin-Robbins like you’ve never seen before
It’s no longer just a roommate of Dunkin Donuts and no longer just a counter for patrons to walk up, scan their choices, and place their orders. BR is, unexpectedly, an “it” place to be. Check out their chic interiors, try out their ice cream fondue package, or try one of their uniquely Korean flavors. Whatever your reason for going to BR, take it all in as a uniquely Korean experience.
12. Haven for straphangers
It’s through riding the subway that you realize Koreans have truly thought of everything. In addition to Wi-Fi on every train and platform, there are separate seats for the elderly and those expecting, as well as separate cars with less air conditioning in the summer and gigantic air purifiers many platforms. Numbered doors allow people to meet in the same car and helps you remember which car you took in case you left something behind. There are even straps that hang high and some that hang low to accommodate varying heights.
13. Cake not KFC for Christmas
Cake boxes piled up to the ceiling at every bakery? Shoppers carrying cake boxes to see their friends and family? It must be Christmas in Korea. While the Japanese enjoy their KFC during Christmas, the unofficial symbol of Christmas in Korea is the cake box. Cakes of all sizes and flavors accompany every gathering and solo event. Add this tradition to the likes of Pepero on November 11 and yut (Korean caramel) on the day of the college entry exams and you’ll find yourself looking for the next sweet treat to mark a special occasion.
14. Wine by the glass, to-go
While New Yorkers love their slim cans of White Claws in Central Park on a hot summer day, visitors of Busan’s Haeundae Beach want to enjoy wine – by the glass, in a glass (well, almost … wine glass shaped plastic glass), to-go.
15. Need someone to drive your car? Hail a driver
Had too much wine but don’t want to hail a ride and leave your car behind? Why not just hail a driver? Now you can order a driver to drive you and your car home, with the predominant every-possible-services family of apps under Kakao.
16. Taking care of every need at the crosswalk
Don’t want to stand in the sun while waiting for the crosswalk light to change? Stand under the large umbrella at the corner and get extra protection from the sun.
Glued to your phone to the extent that you didn’t even notice the light changed? There are lights embedded in the ground that turn on with the walk signal.
Too cold to wait for the bus? Sit on the heated benches while you wait and don’t forget to people watch!
17. Scissors are a must at the dining table
Once you start, there’s no going back. The prevalence of scissors used at the dining table to cut everything from kimchi, to bbq, to crab reminds me of the NYT article by Andrew Keh where he proudly declares “When I’m President, scissors will replace knives on everybody’s dinner tables.”
18. Cups of ice at the convenience store
Could this be the greatest un-European invention of all time? Convenience stores selling small and large cups of ice along with dozens of flavored drinks, water, or coffee for that perfectly cold drink? Maybe not the greatest but it’s up there.
19. Airport carts are free
Finally, when you arrive at any of the international airports with the extra luggage, to fit all the shopping you’ll be doing, there’s no need to look for your credit card or loose change. The carts are free. So enjoy!