https://urcapture.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=76bccfa0-b5f5-4247-a376-b16401323bc7&start=0

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1boQcnw7h1akWrlqqQ4WbQJfj6eAeR3hn/view?usp=sharing

I read an article about the 기업 브랜드 (corporate branding) and its significance in contemporary marketing strategies. While I was familiar with the concept of 브랜드 (brand) in Korean, it was my first encounter with 기업 브랜드. Through the article, I gained insight into how it is widely utilized in business discussions to emphasize the importance of building and promoting a company's brand identity. Another term that caught my attention was 브랜드 선호도 (brand preference), indicating consumers' preferences for one brand over others. From this article, I learned that there’s brand hierarchy within the corporate branding which is generally seen in a vertical structure. The corporate brand 기업브랜드 is typically the branding of the company name which is what we are familiar with (Samsung) and following that would be the master brand, (사업 브랜드), family brand (패밀리 브랜드), and modifier. Learning about these marketing-related terms provided me with valuable exposure to specialized vocabulary used in Korean business contexts, enriching my understanding of marketing strategies and enhancing my language skills in the field. This article was definitely harder to read than the normal ones because it was more educational based on learning about what corporate branding was in Korean. I had to ask my language partner and use a translator multiple times as I was reading this article to have a true understanding of what corporate branding was. 

To focus more on grammar, we used Yonsei University’s Korean writing textbook. I had to fill in blanks in the sentences with the proper words and was able to find which areas I was lacking in. I kept getting 되 and 돼 mixed up with each other, which are different conjugations of the same verb 되다 which means “to become” or “to be done/ to be completed.” The difference between them is in their usage in different contexts. I learned that 돼 is a contraction of 되어  while 되 is the uncontracted form of 되어 in the present tense. I also learned the proper difference between 한테 vs 에게. Both are often used to indicate the recipient of an action, similar to English’s preposition of “to” or “for.” However, 한테 is typically used in informal settings or when you are speaking. But when writing, it’s important to use the more formal and written language which would be 에게. I noticed that in a lot of my writing, I tend to be more informal with my vocabulary and grammar choices since I tend to speak and listen in Korean more than read and write. 

We also talked about the changing entertainment industry in Korea as entertainment has been moving onto YouTube instead of the typical broadcasting shows. We noticed that there would be less new TV shows coming out and more YouTube channels and programs and how this would impact the entertainment industry of Korea. 

During our recent Korean lesson, we also talked about what topic I want to focus on for the final cultural presentation. Because my main topic of learning this semester was very business and marketing focused, I decided to focus my presentation on chaebols, which is a large conglomerate or business group in South Korea that is typically owned and controlled by a single family. We both thought this topic would be the best way to wrap up my Korean learning experience this semester. 

A mukbang (먹방), also translated into an eating show/ eating broadcast in English, is an internet-based audio and visual broadcast where a host consumes a variety of food items while engaging with viewers. The term "mukbang" is a combination of two Korean words: "muk" (먹), meaning "to eat," and "bang" (방), meaning "room" or "broadcast." In essence, mukbang involves hosts broadcasting themselves consuming large amounts of food while engaging with their viewers through live streaming platforms. Mukbang originated in South Korea in the early 2010s, and it quickly gained worldwide popularity by the late 2010s worldwide. Mukbang first got introduced on South Korea’s TV service, AfreecaTV in 2009. It has now become a trend in cable channels, along with social media platforms. Early mukbang videos often featured individuals showcasing their ability to eat large portions of food, ranging from traditional Korean dishes to fast food and exotic cuisines. As viewers tuned in to watch these eating broadcasts, the trend quickly spread across social media platforms like YouTube and Twitch, garnering millions of views and followers.In addition to entertainment, mukbang content sometimes serves an educational purpose, showcasing regional delicacies or highlighting gourmet dining experiences to the audience.

Although mukbangs have gotten popular worldwide, mukbangs have faced criticism about its potential promotion of unhealthy eating habits and food waste. The content's nature can potentially exacerbate disordered eating behaviors in vulnerable individuals. Additionally, mukbang creators themselves face numerous health risks as well. There have been instances of Korean mukbang youtubers that got canceled for faking their content. The most well-known incident was when a popular youtuber, Eat with Boki’s Moon Book he, got exposed for editing her videos to cut the moments where she spits out her food after chewing. She reportedly used a secret signal to make editing clips easier for herself where she subtly held up a finger to indicate a stopping point for the transition. Before this incident, she had about four million subscribers in a little over a year and this incident, along with accepting under the table food sponsorship deals has gotten her canceled from the mukbang scene. 

Viewers find mukbang appealing because of the visual spectacle of watching someone consume vast quantities of food but also in the sense of connection it fosters among viewers. Mukbang hosts often interact with their audience in real-time, responding to comments, answering questions, and even taking food requests. This interactive element creates a sense of intimacy and community, as viewers feel like they're sharing a meal with a friend or loved one, despite being miles apart. As mukbang gained traction globally, it evolved beyond mere eating broadcasts to encompass various themes and formats. Some mukbang creators focus on ASMR elements, which stands for autonomous sensory meridian response, enhancing the auditory experience with sounds of chewing and slurping, while others incorporate storytelling, cooking tutorials, or food challenges into their videos. Mukbang has become not just a form of entertainment but also a platform for exploring cultural cuisines, culinary trends, and personal narratives. In conclusion, Korea's mukbang phenomenon exemplifies the intersection of entertainment, cultural exploration, and digital connectivity through shared experiences of food consumption.

This past month, my language partner and I continued to delve into business articles, focused on writing and grammar, and learned about the culture of Korean company dinners. 

I read an article about value invest marketing (가치 투자 마케팅) and its relevance in contemporary marketing strategies. I knew what 투자 (invest) meant in Korean before hand, but it was my first time hearing 가치 투자 마케팅. I learned about how it is commonly used in business context to discuss investment decisions that prioritize long-term value in terms of marketing. Another word that I thought was relevant that I learned was 조각 투자 which means fractional investment of an asset rather than purchasing it outright. Encountering these advanced business terms in the text provided me with valuable exposure to specialized vocabulary used in Korean business contexts, helping me expand my language skills and understanding of business-related topics.

We also did one week of focusing on writing and grammar skills using the Yonsei University’s Korean writing textbook. I had to do a writing sample after “interviewing” my language partner about her experience studying abroad. I asked her questions about why she decided to study abroad in Korea, how her experience was there, what it was like to listen to lectures in Korean, and etc. Afterwards, my language partner corrected my grammar and I created a before and after table of the things that I got wrong in terms of grammar, vocabulary, expressions, and others. My most common mistake was using gerunds, so I had to adjust phrases like 준비하는 (preparing) into 준비하기 위한 (for preparing) indicating the purpose of the action. I also had to refine a lot of sentence structure for better cohesion because my writing style would be more speaking tone than the proper writing tone. For example, I would say 아까 전에 말했지만 (as I mentioned earlier)  but the proper way to write it would be 위에서 언급했듯이 (as mentioned above), which is more of a formal and proper way. I also had to adjust comparative expressions by adding “not very many” insead of using “none” and using 비하면 to mean “compared to” instead of “than.” This helped me realize which aspects I had the most difficulty with in terms of writing and it taught me a lot about which areas I should focus on and how to improve them in my writing samples. 

On top of learning about the business world in Korea, we also added a new focus of the tradition of 회식. 회식 is known as company dinners (typically held at korean bbq restaurants), which is an integral part of Korean working culture as it serves as a platform for team bonding, networking, and informal communication. There are many social rules that employees should socially follow and my language partner taught me the do’s and don’ts along with common phrases and words that are used in these settings. One of the key social rules of 회식 is the emphasis on group harmony and hierarchy, with junior staff members expected to defer to their seniors and demonstrate respect. Like I learned last month with regards to hierarchy positions, it’s important that those who are in the lower ranking such as 사원 (staff, clerk, member, analyst) or 주임 (associates) receive drinks from their higher-ups as refusing a drink could be considered impolite.  Next month, my language partner and I will continue reading business related articles about marketing or analytics, learn about the changing entertainment industry in Korea, and do more grammar practices using the Yonsei textbook. 

Traditional bathhouses are an essential part of South Korean culture. One type of traditional Korean bathhouse is also known as 찜질방 (jjimjilbang), which directly translates to heated rooms. The history of jjimjilbang culture can be traced back centuries to traditional Korean bathhouses, which played an important role in maintaining hygiene and promoting communal well-being. Over time, these bathhouses evolved to include better amenities, such as saunas and relaxation areas. Sauna culture has been a part of Korean society for thousands of years, with early records dating back to the Goguryeo period (37 BC - 668 AD).

Upon entering a jjimjilbang, visitors are typically greeted with gender-segregated bathing areas equipped with tubs, saunas, and showers. Beyond these facilities, jjimjilbangs offer lounging areas, sleeping rooms, fitness facilities, and dining areas serving Korean snacks and refreshments. A popular snack combination includes hard-boiled eggs, often cooked within the saunas, accompanied by sikhye, a traditional fermented rice drink.

The main amenities offered in jjimjilbangs include hot and cold sauna rooms, each providing distinct benefits such as relaxation, stress relief, and health restoration for both body and mind. These sauna rooms often feature unique themes or elements tailored to enhance the overall experience. Typically, a variety of rooms with different temperatures are available to accommodate guests' preferences and desired level of relaxation. The walls of these sauna rooms are often adorned with natural materials like wood, minerals, crystals, stones, and metals, enriching the ambiance and aroma to create an authentic atmosphere. These materials are chosen not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their traditional medicinal properties, which contribute to the therapeutic environment within the rooms. For instance, one such room is the mineral salt dry sauna, where Himalayan salt is utilized for its benefits such as improved lung function, weight loss, detoxification, and hormone balance. These dry saunas represent just a few examples of the diverse offerings found in jjimjilbangs.

When visiting a Korean sauna or jjimjilbang, it is essential to observe certain cultural customs and rules. Firstly, it's customary to remove your shoes before entering the facility and wear the provided uniform or robe inside. In communal areas, such as saunas and bathing areas, it is important to maintain modesty and respect others' privacy by keeping towels or robes on. Additionally, it's customary to shower thoroughly before entering the baths or saunas to ensure cleanliness. While inside the saunas, it is common to rotate between different temperatures and types of saunas for maximum relaxation and health benefits. Finally, it is important to clean up after yourself and follow any specific rules or guidelines posted within the facility to ensure a pleasant experience for all visitors.

In conclusion, the jjimjilbang culture of Korea represents more than just a place to bathe. It embodies a holistic approach to well-being, socialization, and community bonding. With its rich history, diverse amenities, and widespread popularity, the jjimjilbang continues to play a vital role in the fabric of Korean society, offering a place of relaxation and rejuvenation for generations to come.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/first-time-korean-bathhouse 

https://travel-stained.com/jjimjilbang-korean-bathhouse-guide/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jjimjilbang

This past month, my language partner and I focused on improving my fluency in the business industry aspect. Every week, I read a business related article that my partner assigned to me. Each article had to do something with AI and marketing trends, such as the metaverse era and how the advertising strategies are adapting to that era, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring which is a new smart ring that they are planning on releasing along with a strong focus of Galaxy AI, and LG’s plan to release an XR Headset with rumors about working with Meta. Out of those three articles, common words across the three articles I learned were 인공지능 which means artificial intelligence, 사용자 경험 (user experience), and 예측 분석 (predictive analytics). I also learned a lot of new marketing vocabulary through these phrases, such as 딥러닝 기술을 활용한 마케팅 전략 (marketing strategy utilizing deep learning technology). Within that one phrase, I learned strategy, utilizing, and technology all in one. Out of these three articles, my partner and I talked in depth about the new Samsung Galaxy Ring, which will be unveiled later this week and officially launched in July. Samsung is Korea’s largest South Korean family owned conglomerate and the major contributor to their GDP. My partner and I were amazed at this new idea since not many companies have entered this field of smart fitness rings and how Samsung is able to stay ahead in the industry. Reflecting on these article assignments, I realized that deep diving into the Korean business language was definitely a challenge for me since this was my first time talking about business and the news in Korean. There were many new terms and more higher level words used in the article that made it harder for me to understand. Especially with the first article, it was hard to constantly translate but as I continued with these assignments, I began to recognize the terms slowly and noticed I had to translate less every week. Since this month was very focused on business, my partner assigned me clips and videos to watch of this Korean show called “Marry My Husband.” The show’s main character is a marketing manager of a food company. The other main character also works at the same company, so we were able to see the life of a Korean business worker from both perspectives and analyze how the language changes. On Youtube, we were able to find videos of when he was working in the show and I took notes down of the marketing related words that he used and other phrases that he said to talk about the food business itself. For example, I learned 과장님, which means manager and there are three positions that are under 과장님 which would be 대리 (assistant manager or associate manager), 주임 (associate) , and 사원 (staff, clerk, member, or analyst). There are a lot of other positions that are above the manager (과장님), so I’m excited to figure out how the hierarchical positions affect the work style and language as I continue watching. Throughout the next couple of weeks, my partner and I will continue to focus on the business topic, but learn a lot more about 회식, which is Korean company dinners. 

Korea has its own age system, where a person is considered one year old at birth and gains a year during the New Year. They called it the Korean age (한국나이) while the international age was known as 만나이. Although the global standard age was applied to medical and legal documents since the 1960s, other official forms continuously used the traditional method. 

There are several reasons for why they have a different age system than the western world. In the Confucian culture, a person is considered to be one year old at birth because the time spent in the womb is seen as part of their life, beginning their first year of life at birth. The system also emphasizes community and harmony over individuality because they are able to group individuals of the same age together, creating a sense of social unity. This explains why sometimes in Korea, they ask you what year you are born in rather than your age itself. This age system also explains the impact that confucianism has had on Korean culture, as there is a strong emphasis on respecting those who are older. There are a lot of different Korean words on how to call someone who is older than you, and you generally have to follow that “rule” in order to not seem rude. 

The age system made things easier to determine when Korean men should enlist for their conscription requirement, calculating the legal age to drink alcohol and smoke, and school entrance. Everything culturally was matched to this traditional age system, as they were able to drink and smoke after their high school graduation, a passage rite that Korean teens go through turning 20 years old and starting a new chapter in their lives. The new school year would then start in March, after gaining a year during the Korean New Year. However, in December 2022, talks of South Korea passing laws to scrap the traditional method began. In June 2023, South Korea implemented a new law that took effect, replacing the country’s traditional method and requiring only using the international method of counting age. Since this would affect the school entrance, conscription, and etc. a new system will exist where a person’s age is calculated from zero at birth and a year is added on Jan. 1. They decided to keep it this way because it is easier to manage these on a yearly basis than by birthdays. They decided to change the system because it has confused and inconvenienced South Koreans in different situations such as health recommendations, labor disputes, and social hierarchy. The government wants to minimize unnecessary confusion and conflicts related to age and establish social practices that conform to the international standards. Because the change is still relatively new, Koreans tend to use both. When you ask for someone’s age, they will say their 만나이 (international age) is 22 but their 한국나이 is 24. It would definitely take some time for South Koreans to adjust to this new change especially in informal and social settings. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/south-korea-year-younger-traditional-way-counting-age-scrapped-rcna91609 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/28/south-koreans-become-a-year-or-two-younger-as-country-changes-system-for-counting-ages

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/world/asia/south-korea-age.html 

Last week, I met up with my language partner, Hannah, and we discussed the goals I wanted to achieve this semester and the areas of Korean on which we want to focus on. We set up a rough schedule of the different topics we’re going to focus on. Since I grew up speaking Korean at home, I already have my foundations set. Given that this is my final semester before graduating, we decided to concentrate on improving my fluency in the professional and job-related aspects.

After graduation, I hope to work in the marketing and analytics industry, so Hannah will assign me business-related articles relevant to the industry to familiarize myself with the industry in Korea. Before our weekly meetings, I will read through the assigned articles, identifying and highlighting words that I am not familiar with. Then, we will delve into the articles, discussing its content to evaluate my comprehension and addressing any unfamiliar words and vocabulary.  I have never read or watched any business related news or articles in Korean, so this will definitely challenge me to move forward from the conversational Korean that I am used to. This will help me improve my reading and comprehension skills while also teaching me about the business world of Korea, allowing me to stay connected with what’s happening in the industries in Korea. 

Additionally, I will learn about the various positions within the business industry. Korea's hierarchical structure introduces numerous distinct words and positions in Korean that may differ from American companies. Learning about these different positions will help my understanding of Korean company work culture. Looking ahead, I do intend to work in a Korean company for a couple of years in the future, and these lessons will definitely help prepare me for navigating the cultural differences in the workplace.

In addition to delving into business articles, news, and vocabulary, I will explore the intricacies of Korean food and drinking culture, with a particular focus on the tradition of 회식, also known as company dinners. 회식s hold a crucial role in many company cultures in Korea, along with numerous social rules that employees should socially adhere to. Our lessons will consist of going through the various social rules, guiding me on the dos and don'ts when participating in these significant company dinners.

Beyond focusing solely on business etiquette, Hannah suggested that I watch "영국남자" to gain further insights into Korean food culture. "영국남자," also known as Korean Englishman, are YouTubers who produce content in both Korean and English, centering around Korean culture and food. To actually experience some of the food culture in real life, Hannah and I will also learn how to cook some Korean dishes from Paik Jong Won, who is one of the most famous chefs in South Korea. 

Finally, I still want to improve my writing and grammar skills, so I will also use 서강한국어 쓰기 1, which is a Sogang Korean Writing Book from Yonsei University’s Beginning Writing Class. The book has numerous college-related sections designed to teach Korean vocabulary related to university life, classes, majors, schools, small talk, and more. These sections will help me learn how to talk about my college life when I go visit my family again this summer in Korea. Last time I visited,I struggled to talk about my college life with them as I did not learn the proper terms. If time allows, we will also explore the entertainment industry of Korea and learn about how the entertainment industry has shifted from TV to youtube video contents, shorts, and reels.

Jeju Island’s Dol Hareubang (돌하르방), can be found everywhere on the island. The name of the statue stems from the Korean word for “stone” (dol) with the Jeju dialect word hareubang, meaning grandfather. Dol hareubangs are weathered stone statues with stoic expressions and robust forms, representing the island’s history, culture, and beliefs. The statues are made with porous basalt volcanic rock of Jeju Island, where they have a round face with bulging eyes, big nose, and a slightly smiling mouth. The statues typically wear a traditional hat, known as a “gat”  They tend to have their hand on their stomach, one higher than the other. If the right hand is raised, it indicates that the figure is a civil official because they hold the brush with the right hand. Meanwhile, if the left hand is raised, it is believed that the figure is a military official, since they hold a bow and spears with the left. 

Their main roles were to be protectors of the fortresses during the dynasties. Because of their appearance, they are called “grandfather” but they are considered to be the guardians of the island, warding off demons and evil spirits. Historically, they were placed at the entrances of Jeju’s three major counties, which were the three main gates, warding off danger and harms, playing their roles as a guardian deity. They were placed outside of the eastern, western, and southern gates of the Jeju City fortress between 1763 and 1765. The Dol Hareubang’s history goes back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918 to 1392) and later gained prominence during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1897). It is believed that the local artisans who created these statues have imbued them with spiritual energies, turning them into protectors of Jeju, explaining the reason why they consider these to be the protectors. 

These statues are also associated with fertility, where couples that hope to start a family often visit these statues, believing that it brings blessings for fertility and safe childbirth. There’s a belief that newly married women can touch different parts of the statue in order to increase their chances of conceiving a desired gender: nose for a boy and ears for a girl. Because of this, you could see many statues having worn down features on the nose and ears compared to the rest of the statues. Therefore, these statues are important during weddings and celebrations. 

In the modern day, these statues have become the main symbol of the island, and different replicas are sold in various sizes. Many locals still believe that the Dol Harebubang will watch over them, ensuring safety and abundance. These statues will be in traditional settings, but also modern locations such as museums, cultural exhibitions, in front of people’s houses, and even common locations such as restaurants or even tangerine fields. There are also parks in Jeju Island where there are wide varieties of statues, attracting not only visitors but also becoming a learning center for children and adults about the history and symbolization. 

https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/whereToGo/locIntrdn/locIntrdnList.do?vcontsId=90845&menuSn=351

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/what-are-jeju-islands-dol-hareubang

https://blog.onedaykorea.com/dol-hareubang-jeju-stone-grandfather/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dol_hareubang

The link below is for my cultural presentation on the Korean mandatory military service. 

https://urcapture.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=207ee1b2-958b-467d-9340-adfa00569ea8

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2WGqtg6sL9WujTUPDRF6T9YJ1FgCNHF/view?usp=sharing

Taekwondo (태권도) is a Korean form of traditional martial arts. It is a discipline that shows the ways of enhancing your spirit and life through the training of your body and mind. It is unarmed combat based on the earlier forms of taekyon, which is Korean self-defense. The tae in taekwondo means “leg” or “to step on,” and kwon means “fight,” and do means “discipline” or “way.” All these meanings are put together to demonstrate the important concept behind the word taekwondo. 

Starting with the history of taekwondo, it has been developing for 5000 years, and it has been called many different names throughout history. In the ancient kingdom of Koguryo, it was known as the training of body and mind. In the Shilla period, it was the backbone of producing leaders of the country, as young men developed strength, speed, and survival skills through unarmed combat techniques. However, in the Joseon Dynasty, people followed Korean Confucianism, so martial arts were looked down upon by scholars. However, it was still taught in the military. It slowly started making its way back as time passed on, and people studied different martial arts and incorporated elements, and it became what is known today as taekwondo. In the 1950s, a group of Korean martial artists unified their forms under a single style of hand and feet fighting, and taekwondo was recognized as a form of self-defense. In the modern days, it is known to be a discipline that gives you the art of integrating your mind, body, and spirit while also allowing you to defend yourself. 

When training in taekwondo, you first train in individual techniques of kicking, punching, and blocking. After learning the basics, you practice these individual techniques combined in traditional sets, known as Hyung. When you practice taekwondo, you have to make sure that your mind is at peace and your movements are synchronized with your movements. You then extend this harmony to your life and your society. 

Taekwondo practitioners wear dobok (도복). With the dobok, you wear belts with it. The belts are separated into the junior and senior sections. The junior section ranks are indicated by 급, and they wear belts from white (the lowest) to red or brown (the highest). They typically range from 8-12 급 rankings. The senior section (black belts) of ranks is generally made up of nine ranks, and each rank is known as 단 (dan). The degree of the black belt is indicated with stripes, Roman numerals, or other methods. In order to advance from one rank to the next, the students complete promotion tests to demonstrate their proficiency in the different aspects of taekwondo. Some examples of what is tested in the proficiency tests are breaking boards, sparring, self-dense, physical fitness, and history. 

There are five tenets of taekwondo, which are courtesy (예의), integrity(염치), perseverance (인내), self-control (극기), and indomitable spirit (백전줄굴). Along with these tenets, there is a taekwondo oath that Choi Hong Hi, an important figure in the history of taekwondo, created. The five components of the oath are (1) I shall observe the tenets of Taekwondo, (2) I shall respect the instructor and seniors, (3) I shall never misuse Taekwondo, (4) I shall be a champion of freedom and justice, and (5) I shall build a more peaceful world. With this philosophy, taekwondo helps you lead valuable lives while also giving you the ability to defend yourself for safety. I hope that taekwondo becomes even more well known than now throughout the world, and that people can get to know about the beauty behind the art of taekwondo. 

To learn more about the history of taekwondo, click here https://www.rpi.edu/dept/union/taekwon/public_html/history.html

To learn more about taekwondo, https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/sports-fitness-recreation-and-leisure-magazines/taekwondo 

In my last monthly journal, I mentioned how I wanted to change the webtoon I was reading because I began to lose interest in the storyline. However, instead of changing it, I tried to stick with it for the last few weeks of my language journey because I have been reading the webtoon since the beginning of this semester. I was happy with this decision because I ended up enjoying the rest of the webtoon episodes I have read, and I had a lot of fun writing summaries. In one of the summaries I wrote during this month, I made no mistakes in my writing and grammar, which made me feel really accomplished and happy. 

When going through my mistakes and corrections, I realized that there were two main mistakes I made. The first mistake is getting confused about using the consonant ㄹ or ㅇ. She taught me that when the noun has a final consonant, the ㅇ is used. When the noun does not have a final consonant, ㄹ is used. For example, in my webtoon summary, I wrote 소리 크게 불었다, which means he screamed loudly. However, the correct grammar for the sentence would be 소리 크게 불렀다. This is because in 불 it ends with a consonant, so ㄹ would be used instead of ㅇ. 

The second mistake I was making was confusing when to use the 를/을 and 이/가. I learned that 를/을 is the particle that attaches to the end of a noun to indicate that it is the object of the sentence, while 이/가 is the particle that attaches to the end of a noun to identify it as the subject of the sentence. I would switch these two particles, and it could make the sentence a little difficult to understand. 

These webtoons have been the main source of my improvement in my writing skills. Reading the news articles in Korean has also helped me improve my vocabulary and reading skills since the writing style of articles is more formal than the webtoons. Reading news articles also allowed me to stay in the loop about South Korea’s current events. 

Rachel and I also ate Korean food together once. We ate Bonchon Chicken, and we spoke to each other in Korean while enjoying Korean food. Although I wish we had the opportunity to go out and enjoy the Korean cuisine more, I was still glad that we were able to enjoy the Korean food from Bonchon Chicken and converse with each other in Korean. It allowed me to focus on my speaking and listening skills after focusing so much on my writing and reading skills. 

Although this experience was outside of my usual weekly Korean lesson with Rachel, I wanted to include it in my monthly journal because it has been a major help with my improvement in Korean. I have been able to put my Korean to use outside of my lessons. An exchange student from Korea came to the University of Richmond this year. Because I can speak in Korean, I was able to become friends with her, and since she is comfortable with Korean, I have been conversing with her in Korean. I learned a lot because we would always text each other in Korean, and she would correct me if I messed up a lot with my spelling or grammar. I also learned from the way she texted me, and I also learned the informal and formal ways of texting in Korean. 

Overall, I am really happy with the way that my Korean language learning journey went this semester. I feel like my goal has been achieved as I feel more confident about my writing and reading skills. The webtoon summary writing and reading news articles really helped me reach the place that I am at right now. I am excited to continue my learning journey until the end of the semester. 

In one of the most streamed Netflix shows, Squid Game, dalgona candy became a very popular candy around the world. In one of the rounds of Squid Game, the players have to pick a shape out of the candy without making any mistakes. In this cultural artifact, I am going to focus on the history of dalgona and its importance in Korean culture. 

Dalgona is made up of melted sugar and baking soda. When the baking soda is mixed into melted sugar, the thermal decomposition of the baking soda releases carbon dioxide, making the sugar thicken. You typically then pour it onto a flat surface and press it flat. When you press it flat, you use a patterned mold to mold the liquidized sugar and create a shape out of it. The customer tries to poke the outline of the mold on the dalgona without breaking the picture. If you successfully get the shape without breaking it, the customer will receive another free dalgona from the vendor. 

The typical shapes are hearts, circles, and stars. After Squid Game, the shape of the umbrella has become very popular worldwide, and many have been challenged to pick the shape out of the dalgona candy using a needle. People also create their own shapes and logos to imprint on the candy and pick at it without breaking the candy. This is known as 뽑기 (ppopgi: the game of picking out the shape using a needle without breaking it). 

During the Korean War, many American soldiers gave away free chocolates to children in South Korea. The creation of the dalgona candy was able to fill the void in postwar South Korea for children who grew accustomed to the free chocolates. After the Korean War, people could not afford to pay for the expensive American candies and chocolates, so Koreans figured out a way of getting their sweets into their system. 

Since raw sugar was very expensive, many people used glucose. However, raw sugar was imported from many different countries. Because of the import of raw sugar, it was more common for street vendors to sell them to people. For example, many street vendors sold outside of elementary schools and playgrounds, and get the children to try 뽑기 and see if they can win a free dalgona.

The name of the candy varied depending on which province and/or region you were from. In Gyeonggi Province, which is where Seoul and Incheon are located, it is mainly called dalgona and ppopgi. However, in areas such as Chungcheong Province, they called it ttigi (띠기) and the South Gyeongsang Province called it 쪽자 (jjokja) while the North Gyeongsang Province called it 국자 (gukja). 

Over the years, the street vendors who sold dalgona have slowly been disappearing because many people complained about its unhealthy aspect and the low quality of it. Because of its disappearing vendors, it became a good memory for those who used to pick at the outlines of the candy. Because of Squid Game, dalgona has slowly started rising back to its popularity, and the sales of the candy have significantly increased, not only in South Korea but also worldwide. In Korea, the memories of doing dalgona while they were young demonstrates the importance of its culture and its traditions. Although it was starting to disappear, it has made its comeback into the street vendors through the help of Squid Game and social media. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/dining/squid-game-netflix-dalgona-candy.html

This month, I continued to write summaries about the webtoon I have been reading, 랜덤채팅의 그녀! (Random chat). As I kept writing summaries, my language partner told me that she noticed my writing has been flowing a lot more smoothly compared to the first couple of times I wrote my summaries. I learned some new sentence connectors to help my sentences flow and used them throughout my summary. Something she pointed out in my writing is how often I use 는데, which means but, however, or though. For example, in one of my summaries, I wrote 시작했는데 which means it started. However, she taught me another way to write it, which was 시작했다. 하지만…, which means, “it started. However.” Using a method like this helped me a lot because I tend to write very long and continuous sentences. Therefore, it has helped my sentences flow better while writing my summaries. I also learned a new sentence connector, 그래서, which means so, therefore, and thus. I found it interesting how I did not use these sentence connectors while writing, but when I am talking with my parents, I use sentence connectors a lot. I also tend to forget to mention the subject of the sentence while writing my summaries. My language partner always comments on who I am referring to. I tend to skip the subject of the sentence, but it could be hard to understand for people who are not familiar with the story of the webtoon. My language partner also pointed out to me that the written language and the speaking language are different. I tend to use some words that are not really meant or appropriate to use for writing summaries. I have been struggling with not writing like I talk because I have never had the opportunity to write “formally” in Korean other than when I used to live in South Korea. As my language partner kept correcting the words that generally should not be used in writing, I learned different vocabulary words that have the same meaning but are more formal to spell out. 

The summaries have been showing the areas in which I am lacking the most. As I kept writing mine, I did realize that there were fewer errors of sentence connectors which I was very happy about. I hope to continue improving my writing skills through writing summaries. 

My language partner and I also watched a couple of Netflix’s Squid Game episodes together. For the episodes we watched, we discussed in Korean, and we also discussed the different Korean games the characters played, such as carving out the shape in dalgona, and red light, green light game. We discussed other children's games that we used to play while growing up because she went to high school in Korea while I went to elementary school in Korea. We knew different kinds of games since we lived in Korea at different ages, so it was really fun getting to know how to play different kinds of games.

In Korean culture, there are many general and dining etiquette rules that the general public follows. As a Korean-American who grew up following both Korean and American etiquettes, I sometimes get mixed up. I also don’t know every single etiquette rule, and I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the etiquettes in Korean culture. 

Knowing and following Korean table manners is very important because it shows your respect towards those who prepared the food and to the Korean culture in general. One of the most common and important rule is to tell the person who prepared the food or the head of the household that you will eat well. The phrase said before eating the meal is “잘먹겠습니다" (jalmeokgesseumnida). When you are done with the meal, you have to say “잘먹었습니다" (jalmeokeosseumnida) which means “Thank you I ate well.” Another common rule is to wait for the oldest to eat first. However, the oldest person in the room could also tell you to eat first, and that is when you could eat before them. Another rule is to not extend your reach too far across the table. It’s best to try not to extend your arms so far into the table that your elbows past the edge of the table. If you want food that is too far away from you, it’s best to ask someone else to pass that dish to you instead. Finally, it’s important to know which utensils to use for the dishes. Koreans mainly use spoons and chopsticks, the spoons are for the rice and soups while the chopsticks are used for everything else. One superstition regarding chopsticks is that they should not be stuck into your rice bowls as it is known to bring bad luck. This is because when the chopsticks are stuck in the rice bowls sticking up, it looks similar to the incense sticks that are stuck in the ground at Korean funeral sites. 

Aside from dining etiquettes, there are also general etiquettes to follow which will show that you respect Korean culture. Because Korean culture really emphasizes hierarchy, either by social or age, it is important to follow the etiquettes to show that you respect them. For example, when shaking hands, it is important to shake hands with both hands instead of just one. When greeting an older person, it is also important to bow to around 45 degrees to show your respect for the elder. Some people also tend to bow when shaking hands with someone older. It is also important to pour a drink with two hands. If the person is younger than you, it is okay to pour with one hand.

Body language is also very important in Korean culture. Koreans do not like to be touched by someone they are not close with or if they are not their family. Comparing it to the American culture, it is very different because many people tend to hug each other even when they are not too close.It is also considered rude to cross your legs or completely stretch your legs out in  front of you. Another body language is to never point with your index finger, but use your palms instead. 

The reason for all of the Korean etiquette is because the Confucian culture was once dominant in South Korea. The main idea of confucianism is the importance of having a good moral character, and this affects the world through the idea of cosmic harmony. It also emphasizes the respect for ancestors, age, and seniority. These beliefs from the Confucian culture have continuously been influencing Korean culture, albeit to a lesser extent than in the past as the society is always advancing. 

https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Korea/Cultural-institutions 

https://www.90daykorean.com/korean-table-manners/ 

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/a-guide-to-korean-table-manners/

https://www.90daykorean.com/korean-etiquette/

This month, I read episodes of the webtoon that I chose, which is Park Eun Hyuk’s “Random chat” (랜덤채팅의 그녀!). 랜덤채팅의 그녀 is about Jun-woo, an outcast at his high school, who enjoys spending his time on his phone, randomly chatting with strangers. Almost every conversation is odd and meaningless until he talks with a girl who is his age. Because it’s a meaningless conversation, Jun-woo lies about his identity and says he is a lot older than he is. Coincidentally, he finds out that the girl is his classmate. 

I chose this because it has a little bit of everything that I was looking for. It not only had an advanced vocabulary, but it also had the texting language in there. The plotline was very interesting and fun to read, so I am having a lot of fun reading this webtoon. For each episode I read, I write a detailed summary of what happened in the episode. I mainly focus on the plot and character development, and I send my summary to Rachel. Rachel then edits and corrects my grammar, spelling, and mistakes and answers any questions I wrote out for her. We then meet up and discuss my mistakes, and she teaches me how I could improve with the next summary and what I could fix. 

One thing that Rachel noticed in my writing skills is that I have difficulty making my sentences flow and connect with each other. I tend to put a lot of declarative sentences one after the other, but when it is all put together, it can sound really choppy. I put Rachel’s suggestions into mind when writing, and I have been working on making my sentences flow more smoothly. Another issue is that I tend to go back and forth from present to past tense. She told me that since I am used to only speaking in Korean, I use both present and past tense in my writing. This is because when speaking, using both tenses usually makes sense and is easy to understand. However, when writing, I need to be more cautious about which tense to use in order for my summary to flow and make sense. The last issue I have to work on is using connecting sentences and clauses. This will also help me improve my writing to flow better in the future. Overall, my language partner told me that I have been doing well and am improving in terms of sentence flow. 

Because this webtoon has texting language in it, I have been learning a lot about the texting style in Korean. I do not text anyone in Korean, so I have no idea what the slang is, and reading the text messages in this webtoon has been teaching me some common texting words. I was confused about what ㅉㅉ meant, and I learned that it is equivalent to English’s shaking my head (smh). I also learned that 에베베베 was onomatopoeic and it is just meaningless and random noise to text. 

Overall, I have learned a lot and feel like my writing is improving more in the way that I hoped to improve it. I also really like how this webtoon is also teaching me the informal way of texting because I don’t want to sound too formal when I text my family or friends back in Korea. I am excited to continue reading this webtoon and writing summaries about it, which will help my writing and reading skills improve. I am also excited to go to a Korean restaurant with my language partner and put my Korean into use outside of talking with my parents and language partner.

In Korean food culture, kimchi (김치) is one of the most crucial side dishes because it is included in almost every single meal Koreans eat. Kimchi is created from salted, fermented vegetables (generally cabbage or radishes) with a paste made from chili powder, garlic, sugar, fish sauce, and more (can depend on who makes the kimchi). There are many hundreds of varieties of kimchi, however, there are ten main types of kimchi that almost Korean knows about: 배추김치 (napa cabbage kimchi), 백김치 (white kimchi), 깍두기 (cubed radish kimchi), 총각김치 (ponytail radish kimchi), 오이김치 (cucumber kimchi), 나박김치 (red water kimchi), 동치미 (radish water kimchi), 갓김치 (mustard leaf kimchi), 파김치 (green onion kimchi), and 보쌈김치 (wrapped kimchi). 

The history of kimchi starts from the period of the Three Kingdoms. When Koreans first utilized agriculture, they faced problems with the weather because of the extremely cold weather in the winter. Because of this, they preserved all different kinds of food using salt. When the cabbage and chili pepper arrived in Korea, families prepared and fermented them to preserve them for the winter. This was when the kimchi recipe came to be. Finally, in the Joseon Dynasty, the kimchi recipe continued to get more diverse. As one can see, the need to preserve food to survive in the winter started such an important traditional food in Korea. 

When Koreans made kimchi in the winter, they stored it in a 옹기 (oongi),  which is an earthenware fermentation storage container. The 옹기 (oongi) would be stored in the ground, which would help prevent it from freezing during the winter months. It also helped keep the kimchi cool to slow down the fermentation process in the summer. If the kimchi is not stored underground, there is another option called 장독대 (jangdokdae). 장독대 (jangdokdae) is an outside space that is used to store and ferment food as well. The most frequent space people use would be a terrace. 장독대 (jangdokdae) would be filled with rows of 옹기 (oongi) which is shown in the picture below. Now, since times have changed and became more modern, Koreans store their kimchi in kimchi refrigerators, as they have a more consistent temperature, more humidity, and less moving air. It is crucial to properly store the kimchi because it could cause food poisoning from the fermentation process if it is not properly stored. However, it is also important to point out that kimchi has so many health benefits, such as heart protection, improvement in digestive health, nutrition, and support in the immune system.

Koreans even have a word for describing the collective practice of making kimchi: 김장 (kimjang). 김장 (kimjang) reaffirms the Korean identity because this tradition of making kimchi brings together many people to turn cabbage heads into food and nutrition. UNESCO even added this tradition to the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity because of how crucial it is to Korea’s identity.  

Kimchi is so essential to Korea's culture that 1.5 million tons of it is consumed each year, and even the Korean stock market reflects the kimchi obsession. They call it the “Kimchi Index,” which tracks Napa cabbage and other ingredients such as chili, carrots, radishes, anchovies, and more when they are at the best prices. To Koreans, kimchi is not just a normal side dish. It embodies and identifies the nation as it has become one of the most important symbolic resources for the Korean people.  For more information and pictures on kimchi, I have provided some resources and pictures below!

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/08/22/489805398/how-south-korea-uses-kimchi-to-connect-to-the-world-and-beyond

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/kimjang-making-and-sharing-kimchi-in-the-republic-of-korea-00881

This past Thursday, I met up with Rachel, my language partner, to discuss our lesson plan for this semester. I told her that I mainly wanted to focus on improving my reading and writing skills. I felt like I did not do enough reading assignments last semester and mainly focused on just writing diary entries and improving my speaking and listening skills. I also got assessed on vocabulary words, but I felt like this is not the best method for me in the long run because I tend to forget words that I do not use very often in my daily life. When I talked to my mom, I told her about my Korean language learning journey, and she complimented me on how my speaking skills in Korean improved. However, she still hopes for me to improve my writing skills, so she suggested that I should do more reading in Korean. So, instead of trying to improve every skill all at the same time, I am going to mainly focus on reading and writing since they tend to go hand-in-hand. After this conversation, I told Rachel during our session that I want to focus on reading and writing this semester, but I was not sure how I could focus on this. Rachel suggested that I should read Korean webtoons and write a summary about what I have read. I was very happy with her suggestion because I feel like reading webtoons fits my reading level. I was also thankful for her suggestion because webtoons would help me stay excited and interested during my Korean language journey. For writing, I will practice my writing skills by summarizing what happened in the story and my thoughts and reflection on the plot and characters. This will challenge my writing skills more than last semester since I won’t be talking about my daily life anymore. Rachel will also provide me with a couple of webtoon stories for me to read, and I am going to choose my favorite one and stick to it until I finish and continue this process. To challenge myself a little more with reading, I am going to read some newspaper articles in Korean. I will most likely find these articles on the Korean search engine called Naver. Although the news articles may be at a more difficult level than I am used to, I hope this will challenge me to advance my reading skills. Reading the news will not only help me learn the Korean language, but it will also learn about the culture and what is happening around Korea.  Additionally, because of the less strict COVID-19 restrictions on campus, Rachel and I have planned to go out to different Korean restaurants in Richmond. We plan on trying different foods that we may have never eaten before, talk and order in Korean, and speak in Konglish (Korean and English) as we eat. I am excited about this because I have not been able to explore Richmond because of COVID-19 restrictions. Although my main goal is to improve my writing and reading skills, I don’t want to completely ignore improving my listening and speaking skills. When we meet up for our sessions every week, I hope that we can continue talking in Konglish and get more comfortable speaking in only Korean. When Rachel and I watch Korean shows and movies, I will continue to watch them without subtitles to improve my listening skills. I am very excited about this semester and my Korean language learning journey. I feel like I was able to set a more specific goal this semester, which makes me feel more confident and excited to see how my journey goes.