Everyday Korean superstitions 👻

Similar to how walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror are bad luck, there are superstitions in Korea as well! 

Let's take a look at some today and chat about their origins!

First up, the myth that sparked the idea for this newsletter. When I first heard about it from my Korean friend, I thought they were joking, but they were dead-serious about it: fan death.

Fan Death (선풍기 사망설)

Fan death (선풍기 사망설) is the myth that if you were to leave an electric fan on in a room while you sleep with no open windows, you'll die. Original explanations were because you'd asphyxiate due to lack of oxygen, or die because of hypothermia, but obviously that's impossible. Origins are unknown, but the myth dates all the way back to when fans were first introduced to Korean in the 1920s and 1930s. 

The Korean phrases 선풍기 사망설 has some neat constructions, though!

선풍기 means electric fan, but the suffix -기 is attached to devices or household appliances.

So, for example,

• Washer is 세탁기
• Dryer is 건조기
• Dishwasher is 식기세척기
• Vacuum is 청소기
• Blender is 믹서기
• Toaster is 토스터기

사망설 is a combination of 사망 (death) and 설 (theory). 

The number 4 (사)

사 sounds similar to the word for death in Sino-Korean. So, the number 4 is typically avoided. For example, you'll frequently see no 4th floor in elevators (or they are labeled with "F"). Similarly, phone numbers or license plate numbers, people tend to want to avoid the number 4 as much as possible.

Don't trim your nails at night (밤에 손톱 깎지마...)

This one, when I learned about it, is absolutely nuts. There's this Korean superstition that comes from a folktale that if you cut your fingernails at night, then there will be a rat that eats them. 

But it doesn't stop there. 

The rat, having eaten your nail clippings, turns into you and becomes your doppelgänger. This rat-doppelgänger monster will then parade around as you, getting close to your loved ones, forcing you out of your life and replacing you forever. (Unless you get a cat, which can detect that it is a rat imposter and not actually you) 

Let's not dwell on it too long, eh? (But if you want to watch a very old cartoon about this folktale: check this one out!)

Red Ink (빨간색으로 이름 쓰면 안 된다 )

The color red has multiple meanings in Korea. When it comes to stocks, red is good, so if a stock goes up, it is in red. Very jarring to those unfamiliar with it. 

But when it comes to writing, red is death. (Why are all these beliefs so dark?)

While the origin is not officially known, one theory is that it is the color of blood and just has bad connotations associated with it. Another theory is that traditionally in the town's register, someone who is deceased has their name crossed out or written in red ink. So, to write someone's name in red ink is a big no-no, even today. It's still a deeply held belief and should definitely be avoided at all costs. 

If you were to start to write someone's name, they might say:

빨간색으로 이름 쓰면 안 된다 = 빨간 (red) + 색 (color marker) + 으로 (in, by) + 이름 (name) + 쓰면 (if you write) + 안 된다 (should not be done)

However, strangely, someone's personal stamp (도장) that is used for official documents is in red? 🤔

Everyday superstitions

Going to rapid-fire some more superstitions that are mostly fun and not really strongly held much these days:

1. 신발을 선물하면 달아나간다 (If you gift shoes, they will run away) Giving shoes to a significant other is seen as a sign that they will "run away" from you.
2. 돼지 꿈 (Pig dream) This is a very positive superstition. Pigs are seen as symbols of good fortune, wealth, and fertility. If you dream of pigs, it's believed that you will come into money or good luck, and it's a common reason for people to buy a lottery ticket the next day.
3. 다리 떨지 마라 (Don't shake your leg) This is a habit that's frowned upon. It's believed that when you shake your leg, you are "shaking out" your good luck and prosperity.
4. 날개 먹으면 바람 난다 (If you eat wings, you will have an affair) The superstition says that if a man eats chicken wings, he will "fly away" from the relationship for another woman.
5. 미역국 먹지 마라 (Don't eat seaweed soup) Students will often avoid eating foods like seaweed soup before a test. The word for seaweed soup, 미역국, can have a secondary meaning related to "slipping" or "failing." Instead, they eat sticky foods like traditional rice cakes (떡) or taffy (엿), hoping their knowledge will "stick" to their minds.