Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gorgias]

When I first met a Korean a few years ago, I mentioned that 4 was my lucky numer. Well, little did I know... Could this be a problem for me while living in Korea?

The other day a co-worker of mine opened an umbrella in the teacher's room; immediately someone remarked, "It's bad luck to open an umbrella indoors." She replied, "Not in Korea."

What do you think?

[papa_geno]

Heh.

Yesterday, my second day teaching, I was writing on a whiteboard (often have to write my name for Koreans to understand it...), but used a RED marker...when one of the kids asked if I liked red or something. Then it hit me, and I quickly switched to black. Kicker is, the hagwon provided me with this marker. You'd think they wouldn't even have them as an option.

I'm sure there are still many more such stumbles left to make...

[peppermint]

Most people arent' that superstitious, really. Writing someone else's name in red might raise a few eyebrows here, but it's not a major faux pas. Neither is liking the number 4.

Remembering things like the local definition of manners( using two hands to pass things to people older than you, etc) is far more important.

[bundangbum]

Well they dont have then floor 4 in some buildings.
But also number 7 is a lucky number. If you have the number 47 at a raffle you are going to be dead lucky

[Swiss James]

there's no gate 4 at the airport either. Or 13.

Why is it unlucky to write someone's name in red, but when you use a name stamp, the ink is always red?

[joe_doufu]

Does the number 4 rhyme with "death" here in Korea? I know it does in Mandarin, but I heard that it doesn't in Korean or Cantonese. So I wonder why Koreans and HK Chinese also fear the number four. Does anybody know the answer?

[sheba]

I was told never to write someones name in red pen in Korea. Anything else is fine but names are a no-no. Im not sure why.... I know that in China it is a practice (not superstition), they write peoples name in red that have already died. Its the same if you put a box around the name or something as well. If the person is still alive and you write their name in red then it means you want them to die!!

Thats what my chinese friend told me anyway...

[Hobophobic]

Red writing...red stamp...never thunked that...interesting....strangey...bravo your mind!

[AdamH]

[djsmnc]

�� is �� �� or 4

�� is ���� �� or death