Red Pen, Bad Luck: The Weird World of Korean Superstitions
POV: I was in 2nd grade, and my teacher, 선생님 (seon-saengnim), was teaching us how to write our names in Korean. She handed me a red pen and said, "이름을 적어 (ireum-eul jeog-eo), write your name." I was so excited to show off my new writing skills, but little did I know, I was about to make a big mistake. As soon as I finished writing, my teacher took the pen away and said, "빨간 펜으로 이름을 쓰면 불운이 온다 (ppalgan peon-euro ireum-eul sseumyeon bul-un-i onda), writing your name with a red pen brings bad luck." Lowkey, I was like, "What?! Why?!"
It turns out, in Korean culture, writing someone's name with a red pen is considered a big no-no. It's believed to bring bad luck and even cause arguments or conflicts. My teacher told me that it's because red is a color associated with passion and energy, and when used to write someone's name, it can stir up strong emotions. I was like, "Fr fr, that makes sense, I guess?" But honestly, I was just happy to have a cool story to tell my friends. Now, when I'm writing names in Korean, I make sure to use a black pen instead. It's just easier to avoid the drama, you know?
But here's the thing: even though I know the "rules," I still get a little nervous when I see someone writing a name with a red pen. It's like, my brain is all, "Wait, what's going on? Is this person trying to summon bad luck or something?" It's a weird feeling, but it's also kind of fascinating. I mean, who knew that something as simple as a pen color could have such a big impact on our lives?
So, the next time you're in Korea and you see someone writing a name with a red pen, just remember: it's not just a pen, it's a symbol of bad luck. And if you're feeling brave, you can always try writing a name with a red pen and see what happens. Just don't say I didn't warn you, bestie! ✨ Fun Fact: In Korea, it's also considered bad luck to give someone a clock as a gift, because the word for "clock" (시계, si-gye) sounds similar to the word for "funeral" (시식, si-sik). Who knew that time could be so... unlucky? 💡 Pro Tip: If you're planning to write a name in Korean, make sure to use a black pen and a nice, steady hand. Trust me, you don't want to stir up any bad luck!