Nimp Culture

Valentine’s Day takes on a new element in South Korea as men are the subject of gifts and pampering.

Like a number of other cultures, babies in South Korea are considered one year old at birth. For those not familiar with this concept, (and to confuse you even more), following the New Year in South Korea, everybody automatically ages a year. If therefore, a new born baby enters the world in the last week of December as a one year old, then the same child is considered two years’ old a couple of weeks later.

The number four is considered unlucky in South Korea. In much the same way that you won’t find a hospital bed in the UK numbered 13 for example, you won’t find the ‘fourth floor’ in South Korea and houses won’t be numbered ‘4’. Bearers of gifts in South Korea are also unlikely to take gifts in blocks of four – e.g. four red roses. Why is it unlucky? Some claim that it is because it sounds like the Chinese word for ‘death’. Other superstitions suggest that you shouldn’t allow your legs to shake restlessly or your feet to tap about as you are literally shaking off any good luck that might be coming your way. It’s also suggested that you don’t give your partner new shoes as they might use them to run away in….

Partnering Japan in this honourable accolade, South Korea has the lowest number of obese citizens in the world. Well with their healthy diet no wonder!