Introduction
Do you believe in luck? In Korean culture, luck plays a significant role in people's lives. Koreans believe that good luck can bring success, happiness, and prosperity, while bad luck can lead to misfortune and tragedy. Hence, it's essential to understand the concept of bad luck in Korean culture to avoid any unpleasant incidents. In this article, we'll explore the different aspects of bad luck in Korean culture.
Superstitions
Koreans are highly superstitious, and they believe in various superstitions related to bad luck. For example, breaking a mirror or seeing a black cat is considered bad luck. Koreans also believe that the number four is unlucky because it sounds like the word "death" in Korean. Therefore, many buildings in Korea don't have a fourth floor, and the number four is often omitted from phone numbers and license plates.
The Death Anniversary
In Korean culture, the death anniversary is a significant event. It's believed that the spirits of the deceased visit their families on this day. Therefore, Koreans avoid doing anything significant on the death anniversary, such as getting married or starting a new business. They also avoid wearing bright colors and eating meat on this day as it's considered disrespectful to the spirits.
The Red Ink
Koreans believe that writing with red ink brings bad luck as it's associated with death. Therefore, Koreans avoid using red ink for anything other than marking errors. Students, especially, are discouraged from using red ink as it's believed to bring poor academic performance.
The Fan
A fan is a common household item, but in Korean culture, it's believed that sleeping with a fan on can cause death. This superstition is known as "fan death" and is widespread in Korea. Many Koreans believe that sleeping with a fan on can cause hypothermia or suffocation, leading to death. Therefore, Koreans avoid sleeping with a fan on, especially during the summer months.
The Chopsticks
Chopsticks are an essential part of Korean cuisine, but Koreans believe that dropping chopsticks is bad luck. It's believed that dropping chopsticks is a sign of disrespect to the spirits of the deceased. Therefore, Koreans avoid dropping chopsticks and often hold them with both hands as a sign of respect.
The Funeral
The funeral is a solemn event in Korean culture, and Koreans believe that bad luck can result from improper funeral rituals. Therefore, Koreans follow specific funeral customs, such as covering mirrors in the house, wearing mourning clothes, and holding a memorial service on the third, seventh, 49th, and 100th day after the death. These rituals are believed to honor the spirit of the deceased and bring good luck to the family.
The Shoes
In Korean culture, shoes are considered dirty, and wearing them indoors is considered disrespectful. Therefore, Koreans remove their shoes before entering a house or a temple. It's also believed that placing shoes on a table or a bed can bring bad luck as it's associated with death.
The Dream
In Korean culture, dreams are often interpreted as signs of good or bad luck. For example, dreaming of a snake is considered bad luck, while dreaming of money is considered good luck. Koreans often consult dream dictionaries to interpret their dreams and take appropriate action to avoid any bad luck.
The Direction
Koreans believe that the direction in which a house faces can bring good or bad luck. For example, a house facing south is considered lucky as it receives more sunlight, while a house facing north is considered unlucky as it's associated with darkness and coldness. Therefore, Koreans often consult feng shui experts to determine the best direction for their house.
The Year of Birth
In Korean culture, the year of birth is believed to influence a person's personality, health, and luck. Koreans follow the Chinese zodiac system, which assigns an animal to each year. Each animal has specific traits and characteristics that are believed to influence a person's life. Therefore, Koreans often consult their zodiac signs to determine their luck and avoid any bad luck.
The Wedding
In Korean culture, weddings are a joyous occasion, but bad luck can result from certain actions. For example, wearing a black dress to a wedding is considered bad luck as it's associated with death. Koreans also avoid giving gifts in sets of four or writing the bride and groom's name in red ink as it's believed to bring bad luck. Instead, Koreans often give cash in even numbers as a sign of good luck.
The New Year
The New Year is an important holiday in Korean culture, and Koreans believe that bad luck can result from certain actions during this time. For example, washing your hair on New Year's Day is considered bad luck as it's believed to wash away good luck. Koreans also avoid sweeping the floor or taking out the garbage on New Year's Day as it's believed to sweep away good luck.
The Birth
In Korean culture, giving birth is a significant event, and bad luck can result from certain actions. For example, Koreans avoid cutting a baby's hair before the first birthday as it's believed to bring bad luck. Koreans also avoid giving a baby a name that sounds similar to a deceased family member's name as it's believed to invite bad luck.
The Ghost Month
The Ghost Month is a month in the lunar calendar when the spirits of the deceased visit their families. Koreans believe that bad luck can result from certain actions during this time. For example, Koreans avoid getting married or starting a new business during the Ghost Month as it's believed to invite bad luck. Koreans also avoid whistling or singing at night as it's believed to attract spirits.
The Colors
In Korean culture, colors are associated with different meanings and can bring good or bad luck. For example, wearing a red shirt can bring good luck as it's associated with success and prosperity. Koreans also avoid wearing black or white to weddings as it's associated with death. Instead, Koreans often wear traditional bright-colored hanbok to weddings as a sign of good luck.
The Food
Food plays an important role in Korean culture, and Koreans believe that certain foods can bring good or bad luck. For example, eating seaweed soup on your birthday is considered lucky as it's believed to bring longevity. Koreans also avoid eating chicken feet as it's believed to bring bad luck. Instead, Koreans often eat rice cakes during the Lunar New Year as a sign of good luck.
The Conclusion
Bad luck is a significant aspect of Korean culture, and Koreans take various precautions to avoid it. Understanding the concept of bad luck in Korean culture is essential, especially if you're planning to visit Korea or interact with Koreans. By following the customs and traditions related to bad luck, you can show respect for Korean culture and avoid any unpleasant incidents.