Red Pen, Bad Luck: Uncovering Korea's Quirky Name Writing Superstition

Red Pen, Bad Luck: Uncovering Korea's Quirky Name Writing Superstition

POV: I was in 9th grade, and my teacher, 선생님 (seonsaengnim, teacher), asked me to write my friend's name, ○○○○, on the blackboard using a red pen. I was like, "What's the big deal?" But my friend, who's superstitious, freaked out and told me to erase it ASAP. I was lowkey confused, but I didn't think much of it.

Fast forward to today, and I've learned that writing someone's name in red is considered bad luck in Korea. It's called 빨간 펜 (balsagan pen), and it's believed to bring misfortune or even divorce. Apparently, the color red is associated with passion and energy, but in this context, it's seen as a warning sign for potential problems. My friend was fr fr right to be worried!

But why does this superstition exist? Some people say it's because red ink is used for corrections and mistakes, so writing someone's name in red is like marking them as flawed or imperfect. Others claim it's because red is a bold and attention-grabbing color, and writing someone's name in red is like drawing attention to their flaws. Whatever the reason, it's clear that Koreans take this superstition seriously – I've seen people use blue or black pens to write names instead of red ones!

Quote: "In Korea, we believe that the way we write someone's name can affect their destiny." – My friend's mom, who's super into Korean superstitions. I'm not sure if I believe it, but it's definitely an interesting perspective on the power of words and colors.

✨ Fun Fact:

In Korea, it's customary to write someone's name in a specific order, with the family name first and the given name second. This is because the family name is considered more important than the given name.

💡 Pro Tip:

Next time you're in Korea, try using a blue or black pen to write someone's name instead of a red one. You might just avoid some bad luck!