Superstitions are deeply rooted in our culture whether we are in the 21st century or the 30th. We unconsciously believe in things that we have no idea how they were formed.
Each culture with its own superstitions, here are a few from Korea that’ll make you question their sense of thinking.
Fans can kill you
In South Korea, death by fan is called ‘Seonpoonggi samangseol’ and is not even considered a mere superstition.
Fears about electric fans in Korea date back to 1927 when a story was published in the national newspaper warning readers that the new technology came with medical risks such as nausea, facial paralysis, and even asphyxiation.
The theory being that the fan’s circulation of stale air causes its user to choke on their own carbon dioxide. Some suggest the fan death myth was even promulgated by the government to limit the use of electricity during the 1970s energy crisis. Nevertheless, stories surrounding fan death continue to regularly crop up in the South Korean media, especially in the summer months.
Giving shoes to your partner will make them run away
Gifting your partner shoes in South Korea is huge no-no. Superstition states that presenting a lover with a pair of shoes will make him or her run away… most likely in the same pair of shoes!
Writing names in red ink is a death threat
In the past, red ink was used to write the names of the deceased on the family register. Therefore, writing someone’s name in red ink meant they had either passed away, or, if they were still living, you were wishing harm or death upon them. While this is no longer the case, many Koreans still consider it very rude to write someone’s name in red ink.
Don’t put a mirror in front of a door
Mirrors are the foundation for a number of superstitions all around the globe. While Europeans and North Americans take care not to break mirrors, Koreans avoid putting them directly in front of a door, as this will deflect good luck from entering.
Four is an unlucky number
This superstition stems from China, where the word for the number “four” sounds similar to the word for “death.”
This rings true for Sino-Korean, which is rooted in the Chinese language.
Many elevators in South Korea actually use the letter “F” in place of the number “4” to represent the fourth floor, similar to how some American elevators jump from the twelfth to the fourteenth floor, skipping the thirteenth.
Dreaming of pigs will bring you wealth
In many countries, pigs are often seen as dirty animals but in Korea, they are representative of fertility and wealth.
This is because the pronunciation of “pig” is similar to the pronunciation of “jade.”
Therefore, many Koreans believe that dreaming of pigs is a sign that great riches will soon be bestowed on them.
