Chuseok in Korea is a little different from what you might expect if you’re visiting for the first time. You hear about the traffic, the packed trains, and all the businesses closing, but that doesn’t really tell you what Korean families are doing during the holiday. In 2026, Chuseok falls on September 25, with the…
Korean Age System Explained – The Day I Turned Three Years Old Overnight Every year around New Year’s Day, I watch the same scene play out. A foreign friend gets told “happy birthday” on January 1st, and their face just goes blank. Their actual birthday is nowhere near that date. As a Korean, I’ve explained…
Why Do Koreans Take Off Their Shoes Indoors? If you’ve ever visited Korea, you’ve probably noticed something right away. Nobody wears shoes inside a home. Not even for a five-minute visit. As a Korean, I’ve watched more than a few foreign friends walk straight through my front door in their sneakers, completely unaware they’d just…
