👉 Korean superstitions, taboos in Korea, daily beliefs in Korea, Korean cultural habits, Korean lifestyle
🌟 Do Koreans still believe in superstitions?
In a country known for smartphones, high-speed trains, and AI-powered convenience, it might be surprising to hear that old superstitions still live on in modern Korean life.
But here in Korea, traditional beliefs quietly blend with the fast-paced city lifestyle, influencing everything from how people move house to what they eat before a big exam.
In this post, we’ll explore the most common superstitions Koreans still follow — not because they have to, but because, well... why take a risk?
🏡 Curious how these beliefs fit into everyday culture?
👉 See: Korean Daily Life & Social Norms
🖍 1. Don’t write names in red ink
Red ink is for the dead.
Historically, red was used to mark the names of deceased people, especially on graves.
Writing a living person’s name in red is believed to bring misfortune or even death.
✏ Always stick to blue or black — especially on cards or official documents.
📦 2. Move only on “spirit-free” days
In the lunar calendar, certain dates are known as 손 없는 날 (son-eomneun nal) — literally, "days without evil spirits."
-
People believe it’s safer to move, open a business, or get married on these dates.
-
Moving companies charge higher rates because the demand is so high!
📅 Yes, even in Seoul today, people check these days before booking a move.
🍜 3. No seaweed soup before an exam
Seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) is slippery.
So eating it before an exam = you might slip and fail.
-
Instead, students eat sticky rice cakes (찹쌀떡) or Korean taffy (엿) to "stick to success."
-
You’ll even see these given as good luck snacks during test season.
🎓 Korean moms take this one very seriously!
✂️ 4. Don’t cut your nails at night
This one sounds spooky.
Traditionally, it was believed that cutting your nails at night could allow spirits to take a part of you, even steal your soul.
-
A more practical origin?
Before electricity, cutting your nails in the dark was dangerous.
🌙 Still, many older Koreans avoid nail clipping after sunset.
🌬 5. Sleeping with the fan on = death?
Yes, “fan death” is a real Korean belief.
-
It’s said that if you sleep in a closed room with the fan running, you could die from suffocation or hypothermia.
-
That’s why Korean fans often have a built-in timer — just in case.
💨 While science doesn’t back this one, it’s deeply embedded in local culture.
🔢 6. The number 4 brings bad luck
In Korean, the word for 4 (sa) sounds like the word for death (死, sa).
-
That’s why some elevators skip the 4th floor, using “F” instead.
-
Hospitals, hotels, and even apartments avoid “4” in room numbers.
🚫 It's like the number 13 in Western cultures — better safe than sorry.
🐖 7. Dreaming of poop or pigs? Buy a lottery ticket!
Yes, really.
In Korean dream interpretation, dreaming of poop, pigs, or gold means money is coming your way.
-
These are called “길몽” (gilmong) — “good luck dreams.”
-
People often buy lottery tickets the next morning after such dreams.
💩 Gross? Maybe. But lucky? Absolutely.
🎯 Why do superstitions still matter?
Even in a world of logic and science, these beliefs survive because they offer comfort, tradition, and connection to the past.
They’re not always taken seriously — but they’re not laughed off either.
In Korea, respecting these small rules is also a way to respect the culture.
🔗 Related Article
Want to understand the lifestyle behind these beliefs?
👉 Read: Korean Daily Life & Social Norms
