Ace Your Exams! Korean Good Luck Secrets
Hello! It’s Maeil Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever knocked on wood or avoided walking under a ladder for good luck? Every culture has its own unique beliefs about what brings good fortune and what brings bad luck. Today, we’re going to dive into the fascinating world of Korean superstitions! This will be super useful not only for understanding Korean dramas and culture but also for wishing your friends good luck in a truly Korean way.
Lately in Korea, it’s the intense season for university entrance exams and company job interviews. During times like these, certain superstitions become a huge part of everyday life. Let’s learn some key expressions so you can join the conversation!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are some essential words and phrases related to Korean superstitions.
- 미신 (Misin)
- Pronunciation: [Mi-sin]
- English Meaning: Superstition
- Detailed Explanation: This is the general word for superstition. It comes from Hanja (Chinese characters), where ‘미 (Mi)’ means ‘to be deluded or confused’ and ‘신 (Sin)’ means ‘to believe’. It’s a neutral term used to describe any belief not based on scientific fact, from the serious to the silly. You can use it like this: “저는 그런 미신 안 믿어요.” (I don’t believe in such superstitions.)
- 엿을 먹다 (Yeot-eul meokda) / 엿 붙어라! (Yeot buteora!)
- Pronunciation: [Yeo-seul meok-da] / [Yeot bu-teo-ra!]
- English Meaning: To eat yeot (Korean taffy) / Stick it! (Good luck!)
- Detailed Explanation: Yeot is a traditional Korean taffy that is very sticky. The verb ‘붙다 (butda)’ means ‘to stick’ or ‘to pass an exam’. Because of this connection, Koreans believe that eating sticky yeot before a test will help you “stick” to the school you want to get into and help the knowledge “stick” in your brain! It’s a very common gift for students.
- 미역국을 먹다 (Miyeokguk-eul meokda)
- Pronunciation: [Mi-yeok-gu-geul meok-da]
- English Meaning: To eat seaweed soup (implying bad luck on a test)
- Detailed Explanation: This is the opposite of eating yeot! While seaweed soup (miyeokguk) is a delicious and healthy soup traditionally eaten on birthdays, you should never eat it before an exam. Why? Because seaweed is slippery (미끄럽다 – mikkeureopda). The superstition is that if you eat it, you will “slip” on the exam and fail. So, if your friend has a test, don’t cook them seaweed soup!
- 부적 (Bujeok)
- Pronunciation: [Bu-jeok]
- English Meaning: Amulet / Talisman
- Detailed Explanation: A bujeok is a special amulet, usually a yellow piece of paper with red characters written by a Buddhist monk or shaman. It’s meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. People often carry them in their wallets or place them in their homes for protection and luck.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation between two friends, Mina and David.
- A (Mina): David, you have your big job interview tomorrow, right? You look nervous!
데이빗, 내일 중요한 면접 있지? 긴장돼 보여! - B (David): I am! I really want this job. I keep worrying I’ll make a mistake.
응! 이 회사에 정말 들어가고 싶거든. 실수할까 봐 계속 걱정돼. - A (Mina): Don’t worry. Here, I brought you some yeot. It’s a Korean 미신, but they say if you eat this, you’ll pass for sure.
걱정 마. 자, 이거 엿이야. 한국 미신이긴 한데, 이거 먹으면 꼭 붙는대. - B (David): Oh, wow! Thanks, Mina! I almost ate 미역국 for dinner without thinking.
아, 진짜? 고마워, 미나야! 나도 모르게 저녁으로 미역국 먹을 뻔했네. - A (Mina): Phew, that was a close call! Just in case, I also have this 부적 for good luck. You’ll do great!
휴, 큰일 날 뻔했다! 혹시 모르니까, 행운을 비는 부적도 있어. 잘할 거야!
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
The most intense time for superstitions in Korea is during the annual national college entrance exam, called Suneung (수능). On this day, you’ll see incredible scenes: junior students cheering for their seniors outside test centers, and parents praying fervently at temples and churches. The most popular gifts are, of course, yeot and chapssaltteok (찹쌀떡 – sticky rice cakes), for the same “sticking” reason!
How do younger Koreans use this today? The concept of the bujeok has gone digital! Nowadays, Korean Gen Z shares “digital bujeok” as phone wallpapers on social media. There are wallpapers for getting a ticket to a sold-out K-pop concert, getting a good grade on a project, or even for having a successful day. In the famous K-drama SKY Castle, you can see the extreme lengths parents go to for their children’s success, including relying on fortune-tellers and good luck charms, showing how deeply these beliefs are woven into the culture.
Let’s Review & Practice!
Great job today! We learned that in Korea, sticky food like 엿 (yeot) is for good luck on tests, while slippery 미역국 (miyeokguk) is a big no-no. We also learned the words for superstition (미신) and a traditional amulet (부적).
Now, let’s test your knowledge!
- Fill in the blank:
I want to wish my friend good luck on her exam, so I’m going to buy her some __________. -
O / X Quiz:
It is a good idea to eat miyeokguk on your birthday. (True or False?)
What’s a unique superstition from your country? Share it in the comments below using the Korean word 미신! We’d love to hear it
