Questions & Answers
Category:Food Eating
"Today, one can eat tteokguk (rice cake soup) all year round, but in the past, it was not so readily available to most people. Ingredients include classic garaetteok, or a long tubular rice cake, which is sliced, and a hearty beef or vegetable stock. The soup is then served in a colorful way with jidan, or assorted toppings, made from eggs, mushroom, green onion, or ginkgo nuts. All these ingredients might be common these days but when Korea was a poorer, agricultural society, tteokguk was considered to be a fancy and highly nutritious treat, reserved for big holidays. Garaetteok, for one thing, requires a lot of white rice, the most desired staple food in Korea, and beef soup and eggs were once too expensive for everyday meals. Consequently, eating tteokguk came to symbolise a prosperous start to the New Year so having some on that day has a special meaning which it doesn't on other days."
Added to that, "One way of asking someone's age, especially to children, is "How many years have you eaten?" The word left off is tteokguk, with the implication that since tteokguk is eaten only once a year, the number of bowls one has consumed matches one's age. The traditional day for eating tteokguk is New Year's, very traditionally the lunar rather than solar New Year. Koreans count age from conception and everyone becomes a year older on New Year's Day, not on the actual birthday (although birthdays are celebrated, especially by older people in the country by inviting friends for home-made dduk and mokkollee)."
Children/Families
Culture
- My students keep asking me if I've had lunch or breakfast. Are they inviting me to eat with them?
- I've received some gifts I can't use for Chuseok. What should I do?
- Why is there no 4th Floor button in many elevators?
- Why are we not supposed to write people's names in red ink?
- What does 'Arirang' mean?
- What is the main religion in Korea?
- Is Korean 'shamanism' similar to that of North American Indians?
- What is Chuseok?
- What is the rule of thumb about gift-giving for Chuseok?
- What kind of gift is appropriate at Chuseok?
- I've been told that I'm expected to give one month's salary each to my Korean driver and maid for Chuseok and Lunar New Year? Is that correct?
- Why is November 11th called Pepero Day in Korea?
- Is fortune telling popular in Korea?
- I've been asked, in a social conversation, what my blood type is. Why is that?
- I've seen Korea written as Corea in some documents. Which is the correct spelling?
- What is a cultural property? And what is the difference between a tangible and intagible cultural property?
- Why do some Koreans hang fish in homes, stores, etc? Is it related ot the wooden fish hanging in temples?
- I've read about people feeling insulted if a Korean uses 'nopinmal' with Koreans but 'banmal' with them. What's the difference between the two?
- I've heard that the 14th day of the month is a special 'love' day. What does that mean?
- Do Koreans celebrate Valentine's Day?
- Why do Korean talk about Korean age and Western age?
- Why does South Korea have such a high Christian population for a country that was not colonized by Western powers?
General Info
- Where can I get weather information?
- Is it true that everyone should have a business card in Korea? I'm not working, do I need to have one also?
- What is the difference between a 'gu' and a 'dong'?
- What is a yogwan?
- What is the difference between a 'hogwan' and a 'yogwan'?
- I hear people chanting Dae Han Min Guk a lot. What does it mean?
- Is it true that tattoos are illegal in Korea?
- We hear a lot about how much Koreans spend on education. How much is spent on public education in Korea?
Government Regs
Health
Networking/Socialising
Security
Teaching in Korea
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Moving, Relocation, Storage
SMK - Safe Moving Korea, Domestic & Overseas Furniture Removal -
Alternative Health Care ex. Anti-Aging, Chiropractor, etc.
Itaewon Wellness Chiropractic Center, Itaewon, Seoul -
Travel and Tour Agencies
KoriDoor Tours, Korean Culture & Adventure Tours, Seoul, Daegu, Pyeongtaek -
Business and Networking Associations
Asia Society Korea Center, Seoul -
Banks and Finance Services
KEB Expat Banking Services at Korea Exchange Banks in Seoul-Busan-Incheon-Ulsan -
Restaurants, Coffee Shops, etc.
Craftworks Taphouse and Bistro, Itaewon, Seoul -
Counselling, Coaching, EAP, Therapy, etc.
Adaptable Human Solutions, Counselling-Therapy, Seoul -
Schools Nursery to University
Branksome Hall Asia, English International School JK-Grade 12, Jeju Island, Korea
Last Posts On Forums
Click here for a list of English language/subtitled movies and where they are playing in Seoul. 
Performances by Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Al Di Meola, Eric Benet, Ledisi, Leessang and many more! Free Ticket draw 11 May.
An opportunity to meet the Editor-in-Chief of Dow Jones and Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal.
The convention showcases the local tattoo scene.
