Top 10 Korean Superstitions That Still Freak Koreans Out

Picture this: You're huddled indoors on a cold winter evening in Seoul, and your Korean friend suddenly gasps when you write someone's name in red ink. Or maybe you're enjoying **삼계탕** (samgyetang) – ginseng chicken soup at a restaurant when someone mentions not to shake your leg unless you want your luck to fly away. Welcome to the fascinating world of Korean superstitions – beliefs that, despite Korea's ultra-modern cities and tech-savvy culture, still make Koreans pause and think twice before certain actions.

As winter settles in and families gather more frequently indoors, these age-old beliefs tend to surface in everyday conversations. Whether you're learning Korean or planning to live in Korea, understanding these superstitions isn't just about avoiding awkward moments – it's a window into the deeper cultural psychology that shapes Korean society today.

Death-Related Superstitions That Send Chills Down Spines

Korean superstitions around death are perhaps the most seriously observed, even among younger generations who consider themselves rational and modern.

Writing Names in Red Ink

Never, ever write a living person's name in red ink. Traditionally, **빨간색** (ppalgansaek) – red color was used to write the names of the deceased on funeral banners and ancestral tablets. Writing someone's name in red essentially symbolizes wishing death upon them. This superstition is so deeply ingrained that even official documents and forms explicitly prohibit red ink for signatures.

I learned this the hard way during my first week teaching in Korea when I marked attendance with a red pen. The collective gasp from my students was immediate, and one brave student gently explained the cultural faux pas. Now, I always keep blue and black pens handy!

The Number 4

The Korean word for four, **사** (sa), sounds identical to the Sino-Korean word for death. This has led to widespread **tetraphobia** – fear of the number four. Many Korean buildings skip the fourth floor entirely (you'll see 1, 2, 3, F, 5…), and some elevators use the letter “F” instead. Apartment prices on fourth floors are typically lower, and many Koreans avoid scheduling important events on the 4th, 14th, or 24th of any month.

During winter, when wedding season picks up after the harsh cold subsides, you'll notice a distinct lack of ceremonies scheduled on these dates. Gift-giving also follows this rule – never give sets of four items, especially not four pieces of anything that could be shared among people.

Sleep and Dream Superstitions You'll Encounter

Fan Death

Perhaps the most internationally famous Korean superstition is **선풍기 사망** (seonpunggi samang) – fan death. Many Koreans genuinely believe that sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan running can cause death by suffocation or hypothermia. While this might seem absurd during winter, the belief runs so deep that Korean electric fans come with built-in timers specifically designed to automatically shut off.

The theory suggests that fans can either create a vortex that sucks oxygen away from the sleeper or cause fatal body temperature drops. Despite scientific evidence debunking this, fan death remains a concern for many Korean parents and elderly people. During cold winter nights, this fear extends to space heaters in closed rooms, which actually does have some merit regarding carbon monoxide poisoning.

Dreaming of Pigs

On the flip side, not all superstitions are negative! Dreaming about **돼지** (dwaeji) – pigs is considered extremely auspicious, signaling upcoming wealth and good fortune. If a Korean colleague mentions dreaming about pigs during your morning coffee chat, expect them to buy a lottery ticket that day.

This belief is so strong that Koreans often share pig dreams with others. Winter, being a time when people sleep longer and dream more vividly, tends to bring more of these lucky dream discussions. Other fortunate dream symbols include feces (yes, really!), dragons, and clear water.

Food and Dining Table Superstitions

Chopsticks Standing Upright in Rice

This is one superstition that even Korean children learn early. Never stick your **젓가락** (jeotgarak) – chopsticks vertically into your rice bowl. This positioning resembles **제사** (jesa) – ancestral memorial rites, where incense sticks are placed upright in rice as offerings to the dead. Doing this at the dinner table is not only disrespectful but also considered an invitation for bad luck or even death.

During winter **설날** (Seollal) – Lunar New Year preparations, when families gather for elaborate meals, this rule becomes even more emphasized. If you're learning Korean culture through shared meals – perhaps through language exchange programs or cultural immersion experiences – mastering chopstick etiquette, including this superstition, shows deep respect for Korean customs.

Eating Miyeok-guk Before Exams

Students avoid **미역국** (miyeok-guk) – seaweed soup before important exams or interviews. The slippery nature of seaweed symbolizes “slipping up” or failing. Conversely, sticky foods like **엿** (yeot) – Korean taffy are given as gifts before exams because they help answers “stick” in your memory.

This superstition affects what families cook during crucial winter exam periods. If you're teaching Korean students or working with Korean colleagues preparing for certifications, you'll notice these dietary choices playing out in real-time.

Daily Life Superstitions That Shape Behavior

Shaking Your Legs

The Korean saying goes: **다리 떨면 복 나간다** (dari tteolmyeon bok naganda) – “Shake your legs and your fortune runs away.” Whether you're sitting at a café, in a meeting, or studying Korean vocabulary at your desk, you'll likely be gently scolded if you habitually shake or bounce your legs.

This superstition ties into broader cultural values around composure and stillness being associated with wisdom and stability. In the cold winter months when people tend to shake their legs to warm up or from nervous energy while cooped up indoors, you'll hear this reminder more frequently. It's considered particularly rude in professional settings or when sitting with elders.

Whistling at Night

Avoid **휘파람** (hwiparam) – whistling after dark, especially at night. The belief holds that whistling summons **뱀** (baem) – snakes or evil spirits. While snakes are hibernating during winter, the superstition persists, perhaps even more strongly during dark winter evenings that come early.

My Korean host mother once firmly (but kindly) stopped me from whistling while washing dinner dishes one winter evening, explaining that it invites unwanted spiritual guests. Even in modern apartments with central heating and twenty floors up, the old beliefs hold strong.

Giving Shoes as Gifts

Be careful about gifting **신발** (sinbal) – shoes to romantic partners or close friends. The superstition warns that giving shoes will cause the recipient to walk away from you or run off with someone else. If you must give shoes as a gift, the recipient should give you a coin in return, symbolically “purchasing” them and breaking the curse.

This becomes particularly relevant during winter holidays and New Year celebrations when gift-giving peaks. Understanding these nuances helps when you're navigating Korean social relationships, whether you're a student, expat, or someone learning Korean language and culture.

Why These Superstitions Still Matter in Modern Korea

You might wonder why these beliefs persist in a country that produces cutting-edge technology and boasts some of the world's fastest internet speeds. The answer lies in understanding **한** (han) – a uniquely Korean concept of collective sorrow and resilience, and **정** (jeong) – deep emotional bonds.

Korean superstitions aren't just about avoiding bad luck; they're social codes that connect generations. When a grandmother tells her granddaughter not to write in red ink, she's passing down cultural memory. When colleagues avoid the number four together, they're participating in shared identity.

For Korean language learners, these superstitions offer rich vocabulary and cultural insights that no textbook fully captures. When you understand why your language exchange partner insists on buying sticky candy before their TOPIK exam, or why they seem uncomfortable when you innocently stick chopsticks in your rice, you're moving beyond linguistic competence into cultural fluency.

Modern Korean society exists in a fascinating tension between ultra-modernity and tradition. The same person who works in a high-rise office with AI technology might still consult **사주** (saju) – fortune-telling based on birth dates before making major life decisions. This isn't contradictory – it's distinctly Korean.

If you're teaching Korean or developing Korean language programs, incorporating these cultural superstitions makes lessons more engaging and authentic. Students don't just learn vocabulary; they learn the living culture behind the words. Understanding that **까치** (kkachi) – magpies bring good news in Korean folklore, or that cutting nails at night lets ghosts steal your soul, transforms language learning from memorization into cultural immersion.

Navigating Superstitions as a Learner or Visitor

So how should you handle these superstitions? Here's practical advice:

• Observe and respect – Even if you don't believe in them, recognize that your Korean friends, colleagues, or students might. Respecting their beliefs shows cultural sensitivity.
• Ask questions – Koreans generally enjoy explaining their cultural practices. Asking about superstitions opens wonderful conversations and deepens relationships.
• Learn the vocabulary – These superstitions come with rich idiomatic expressions that enhance your Korean language skills.
• Know when it's serious – Some superstitions (like writing names in red) are taken very seriously across all age groups, while others (like fan death) are more generational.
• Use them as conversation starters – Sharing superstitions from your own culture creates engaging cultural exchange opportunities.

Winter in Korea, with its longer nights and more indoor time, naturally lends itself to storytelling and sharing these cultural beliefs. Whether you're learning Korean through structured programs or casual conversation, these moments offer authentic language practice wrapped in fascinating cultural context.

Understanding Korean superstitions enriches your language learning journey in unexpected ways. You'll catch references in K-dramas, understand jokes in variety shows, and navigate social situations with greater confidence. These beliefs reveal the Korean worldview – one that seeks harmony between the modern and traditional, the scientific and spiritual, the individual and collective.

As you continue your Korean language adventure this winter, stay curious about these cultural quirks. They're not just superstitions – they're windows into the Korean heart and mind. And who knows? You might find yourself checking your leg shake or reaching for a blue pen without even thinking about it. That's when you know you're truly understanding Korea from the inside out.

Ready to dive deeper into Korean language and culture? Every superstition carries vocabulary, grammar patterns, and cultural wisdom that transforms your learning experience. Don't just study Korean – live it through understanding the beliefs, values, and practices that make Korea unique. Whether you're warming up indoors this winter with self-study or connecting with others through cultural exchange, let these fascinating superstitions guide you toward genuine cultural fluency. Start exploring Korean beyond textbooks, and discover the rich traditions that continue to shape daily life in this dynamic country!