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6월, 2025의 게시물 표시

Why Tigers Never Disappeared from Korean Culture

After disappearing from the Dangun myth, what role did the tiger come to play in Korean culture? This essay explores how the tiger survived not in legend, but in everyday language—through proverbs—revealing how Korean ways of thinking and cultural memory have been preserved over time. If the previous article examined the story of the bear and the tiger in the Dangun myth, this piece takes us to what comes next. In the myth, the bear becomes human, while the tiger ultimately fails and vanishes from the story. Yet intriguingly, the tiger never disappears from Korean culture. Instead, in the centuries following the myth, the tiger lives on in proverbs—embedded in everyday language as a way of explaining how the world works. This essay is written to explore precisely that transformation. Where Did the Tiger Go After Being Excluded from the Myth? In the Dangun myth, the tiger is a being that fails to become part of civilization. Unable to endure the taboo, it is excluded fr...
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What Is a Hanok? A Complete Guide to Traditional Korean Houses, Ondol, and Courtyard Life

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⭐ Hanok at a Glance A hanok is a traditional Korean house designed to live in harmony with nature . It follows the principle of baesanimsu , considering sunlight and wind when choosing the site. The layout is divided into sarangchae (men’s/guest space) and anchae (women’s/living space) . Its signature features include ondol floor heating for winter and maru ventilation for summer. The courtyard, kitchen, and jangdokdae formed a space where daily life, seasons, and rituals connected . Hanok styles vary by region, including southern, northern, and Jeju island designs. I visit the library with my child once a week, and what started as a small habit for emotional growth has become a comforting routine for me as well. On a recent rainy day, the quiet atmosphere of the library felt especially soothing. That’s when I came across a beautifully illustrated picture book about hanok, and I remember thinking, “I should share this with...
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Tteokbokki Recipe – Easy Korean Street Food You Can Make at Home

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⭐ Quick Tteokbokki FAST-ANSWER Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Main ingredients: rice cakes, fish cake, boiled eggs, green onion Sauce ratio: Sugar 2T · Soy Sauce 2T · Corn Syrup 3T · Fine Chili Powder 2T · Dashida 1t Key tip: Use fine chili powder for smoother texture and better color Flavor style: Sweet and spicy Korean street food taste Difficulty: Very easy — perfect even for first-time cooks Last time, I shared a recipe for Nokdujeon, a popular Korean street food. Today, let me introduce you to one of Korea’s most beloved dishes—tteokbokki. Tteokbokki stalls are often found near schools, usually tucked inside small snack shops. Strangely, I didn’t enjoy tteokbokki much as a student. It became a favorite later—after dating and getting hooked on the taste. Even now, I find myself craving it regularly. You can find tteokbokki meal kits everywhere now, but making it yourself is still the most fun. The steps are si...
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Korean Nokdujeon Recipe – Crispy Gwangjang Market Bindaetteok at Home

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⭐ How to Make Crispy Gwangjang Market-Style Nokdujeon Main ingredients: mung beans, pork, kimchi, mung bean sprouts Texture tip: blend the mung beans slightly coarse for a traditional crunch Flavor key: seasoned pork + chopped kimchi + extra bean sprouts Cooking method: fry on high heat with plenty of oil (almost like shallow-frying) Optional: blended onion makes the batter richer Substitute: chickpeas also work beautifully if mung beans are unavailable Dipping sauce: soy + vinegar + onion + chili Ingredients – What You Need for Nokdujeon Recently, I was reminded of the nokdujeon I had with my kids during our outing to Gwangjang Market. It tasted so good that I wanted to try making it at home. Since many people are curious about how to make Korean street food at home, I thought I’d share this simple Gwangjang Market–style recipe. In Korea, mung bean pancakes are known as Nokdujeon, Nokdu Bindaetteok, or simply...
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Spring Day in Jongno – Kid-Friendly Course to Changgyeonggung and Gwangjang Market

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I wanted to enjoy a simple day out with my first child, so we joined my child’s friend’s family for a casual outing to Jongno. We didn’t plan much in advance, but the day turned out to be surprisingly full and satisfying. So I thought this little course might be helpful for anyone wondering, “What’s a good route to explore Jongno with kids?” ⭐ Kid-Friendly Jongno Day Course With just these four stops, you can put together a simple, easy-going, and enjoyable day in Jongno with your child. Seoul-Type Kids Café (Hyehwa) → 1,000 KRW / reservations required / craft program Changgyeonggung Palace → free admission in hanbok / great photo spots Gwangjang Market snack course → mini kimbap & nokdujeon Jongno Children’s Theater → seasonal performances & package discounts ➡ Follow them in this order for a relaxed route that both kids and adults will enjoy. Seoul-Type Kids Café Hyehwa – Admission, Reservations, Craft Program T...
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