Korean beliefs about luck, misfortune, and mystery — explained (and lowkey relatable!)
Korean culture is full of fascinating superstitions — from chicken wings causing breakups to the number 4 symbolizing death. Discover 17 interesting Korean beliefs that will totally surprise you (some are similar to Filipino ones, too!).
Welcome to the world of Korean superstitions!
Korea, like many cultures (yes, even here in the Philippines!), has a rich collection of superstitions about luck, death, and daily habits. Some are a little spooky, some are kinda funny, and others are surprisingly logical when you look deeper.
I’m sharing 17 Korean superstitions that blew my mind the first time I heard them! And trust me, you’ll recognize a few if you grew up in an Asian household. Lol.
Let’s get into it!
Let’s get into it!
1. Korean Superstition: Shaking Your Leg Makes Luck Disappear
Ever find yourself bouncing your leg out of habit? In Korea, that little shake could cost you your fortune. Legs are considered a symbol of wealth and stability. So, shaking them, especially in public, is believed to shake away your luck and money.
Honestly, this one might just be a polite way to get people to stop jittering in cafes. π
Honestly, this one might just be a polite way to get people to stop jittering in cafes. π
2. Why Koreans Believe Fans Can Cause Death (Fan Death Superstition)
Fan Death (μ νκΈ° μ¬λ§μ€) is a thing. Some Koreans believe that sleeping with an electric fan running in a closed room can cause death due to suffocation or hypothermia.
Some say it started during the 1970s energy crisis to reduce electricity use. These days, many fans have built-in timers… just in case. π
Some say it started during the 1970s energy crisis to reduce electricity use. These days, many fans have built-in timers… just in case. π
3. Chicken Wings = Breakup? Korean Love Superstition
According to Korean superstition, feeding your boyfriend or husband chicken wings will make him “fly away” — aka leave you or cheat.
Translation: stick to drumsticks and thighs if you're trying to keep your man grounded. π
Translation: stick to drumsticks and thighs if you're trying to keep your man grounded. π
4. Writing Names in Red Ink: A Korean Death Omen
In Korean tradition, writing someone’s name in red ink is basically cursing them. Why? Because the names of the deceased are written in red on funeral records or banners. So writing a living person’s name in red is like saying, “You're next.” ☠️
5. Old Korean Belief: Playing with Fire Means Bed-Wetting
This one’s straight-up a parenting hack. Korean moms would warn kids that if they play with fire, they’ll wet the bed. But did it stop kids from playing with fire? Probably. Do we know the actual origin? Not really. But it’s a vibe.
6. Korean Bad Luck Superstition: Seeing a Crow in the Morning
Like many cultures, Koreans associate crows with bad luck or bad omens.
If you spot one first thing in the morning, some believe it sets the tone for the entire day. Maybe stick to pigeons.
If you spot one first thing in the morning, some believe it sets the tone for the entire day. Maybe stick to pigeons.
7. Dreaming of Pigs in Korea = Wealth and Good Fortune
In Korean culture, pigs symbolize wealth, fertility, and fortune.
So if you dream of a pig, get excited 'cause money and success might be on the way.
Fun fact: In the past, selling just one pig could pay for a student’s entire tuition!
So if you dream of a pig, get excited 'cause money and success might be on the way.
Fun fact: In the past, selling just one pig could pay for a student’s entire tuition!
8. The Number 4 in Korean Culture Symbolizes Death
The number 4 (μ¬) sounds like the word for death (μ¬) in Korean and Chinese.
Buildings often skip the 4th floor entirely, or use “F” instead. Big events on the 4th day of the month? Yeah, no thanks.
Buildings often skip the 4th floor entirely, or use “F” instead. Big events on the 4th day of the month? Yeah, no thanks.
9. Why Giving Shoes as a Gift is Bad Luck in Korea
Giving shoes as a gift, especially to your significant other, is considered bad luck in Korea. The belief? They’ll run away in the exact shoes you gave them. π
Unless you want to break up… maybe just get them socks.
Unless you want to break up… maybe just get them socks.
10. Cutting Nails at Night: A Creepy Korean Superstition
This creepy superstition says that if you cut your nails at night, mice will eat your clippings and become your evil doppelgΓ€nger. They’ll cause trouble pretending to be you, then steal your soul.
Okay, Korea, calm down with the horror movie energy. In reality, this was probably just to stop people from cutting nails in the dark when electricity wasn’t common.
Okay, Korea, calm down with the horror movie energy. In reality, this was probably just to stop people from cutting nails in the dark when electricity wasn’t common.
11. Koreans Say Lying Down After Eating Turns You Into a Cow
I mean… same, honestly. π
The belief says lying down right after a meal will turn you into a cow, or just make you sluggish and lazy. Science backs this one, too! Lying down after eating can cause indigestion and weight gain.
The belief says lying down right after a meal will turn you into a cow, or just make you sluggish and lazy. Science backs this one, too! Lying down after eating can cause indigestion and weight gain.
12. Eating Taffy for Luck on Exams: Korean Study Superstition
Sticky foods = sticky brain.
On exam days, Korean students eat μ«λν μμ (sticky food, like taffy or rice cakes) to help their knowledge “stick.” Seaweed soup (which is slippery)? AVOID. The knowledge might slip away. π
On exam days, Korean students eat μ«λν μμ (sticky food, like taffy or rice cakes) to help their knowledge “stick.” Seaweed soup (which is slippery)? AVOID. The knowledge might slip away. π
13. Why Koreans Avoid Mirrors at the Front Door (Bad Luck Belief)
Mirrors at the entrance of your home are believed to bounce good fortune away, keeping luck from entering. Feng shui girlies will relate to this one. It’s all about energy flow!
14. Whistling at Night in Korea? You Might Summon Ghosts
Whistle a tune after dark in Korea and… a ghost party. Yikes! It’s believed that whistling at night calls spirits (or snakes π¨), so people avoid it altogether.
Imagine casually vibing and a ghost shows up like, “You rang?”
15. If You Touch a Butterfly, You’ll Go Blind (Korean Childhood Myth)
This one creeped me out growing up. The belief is that if you touch a butterfly or moth and then touch your eyes, you’ll go blind.
Turns out, in both Korea and the Philippines, this was a low-key health PSA to keep kids from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands.
Turns out, in both Korea and the Philippines, this was a low-key health PSA to keep kids from rubbing their eyes with dirty hands.
16. Korean New Year Superstition: Don’t Wash Your Hair!
Koreans believe that washing your hair on January 1 washes away all the good fortune you could’ve had. The same goes for exams. Some students won’t wash their hair, so their knowledge doesn’t “wash away.”
You may be greasy, but you’ll be smart. *wink*
You may be greasy, but you’ll be smart. *wink*
17. Why Koreans Avoid Stepping on Door Thresholds
This comes from traditional funeral customs. Back in the day, the dead were kept in homes and carried out through the door. The threshold symbolized the barrier between the living and the dead, so stepping on it = serious bad luck.
Even today, some elders will tell you: Never step on the door frame.
WHEW! Korea really said, “We don’t do boring superstitions.”
Some of these are funny, some are dark, and some are honestly just genius parenting tactics in disguise. π
What I love is that many of these are familiar to us in the Philippines, too — proof that cultural beliefs, fears, and hopes often cross borders.
Which of these superstitions shocked you the most?
Some of these are funny, some are dark, and some are honestly just genius parenting tactics in disguise. π
What I love is that many of these are familiar to us in the Philippines, too — proof that cultural beliefs, fears, and hopes often cross borders.
Which of these superstitions shocked you the most?
Do you believe in any of them? Or have a funny story about one?
Let me know in the comments — or tag me on Instagram @KoreanWithKayi and tell me your fave! π»π
Let me know in the comments — or tag me on Instagram @KoreanWithKayi and tell me your fave! π»π
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✨ From your Korean-learning friend,
Kayi (a.k.a. TheAsianBelle on YouTube)