As people do around the world, Koreans habitually take short walks after dinner. This is a deeply rooted daily habit, not a fitness trend. You’ll see people strolling through apartment complexes, neighborhood streets, and riverside paths like the Han River—often slowly, without workout clothes or goals.
One interesting part of modern Korean life is the late-night convenience store culture. In Korea, convenience stores are more than places to buy snacks. They are social spaces, quick restaurants, and even study spots. After work, many people stop by for instant ramen (ramyeon, 라면) or ready-to-eat meals (pyeon-eui-jeom dosi-rak, 편의점 도시락).
Seoul Design Week (Oct 15–19) has opened at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, featuring over 70 lifestyle brands in themed zones like “Maximalist Life” and “Quiet Foodie.”
Since 2024, young Koreans have been embracing a viral “Teto‑Egen” (테토·에겐) personality test, comparing behaviors to testosterone (테스토스테론 teseu-toseu‑teu‑ron) and estrogen (에스트로겐 eseu‑teuro‑gen). The quiz classifies you into one of four types—teto man/woman or egen man/woman—based on traits like dominance, sensitivity, or expressiveness .
For example, a “teto woman” is bold and outgoing, while an “egen man” is gentle and appearance-conscious . Results also give romantic‑compatibility insights: emotionally‑sensitive egen men often pair well with charismatic teto women, and strong‑willed teto men with caring egen women. A video on the subject. And more on the characteristics of each here. Types (타입스) — a widely-used personality test site in Korea, also featuring the Teto/Egen quiz.
On dating in Korea
Personality tests (MBTI, blood‑type, or Teto‑Egen) are common conversation starters on blind dates. Koreans often use them to assess compatibility—looking for traits that complement one’s own. Many couples bond over matching test types or opposite types. It’s a lighthearted way to break the ice and build rapport before dating more seriously.
Vocabulary:
-Period of boredom in a relationship part one and part two
-Predict marital harmony part one and part two
To celebrate both Korean summer (여름) and American-style fun, here’s some Fourth of July spirit in Seoul.
One highlight is the retro-inspired Oldies 핫도그, topped with Cheetos powder, blending 스트리트푸드 (street food) flair with nostalgic Americana. Other menu items include a smoky 바비큐 버거 (BBQ burger) and ice-cold 맥주 (beer) or 콜라 (cola)—perfect for Korea’s summer 야외 나들이 (outings).
It’s a tasty reminder of how Korean and American cultures come together through food, fun, and festive vibes—even across the Pacific! See links for more info.
Looking for fireworks? There’s the upcoming Seoul International Fireworks Festival – September 27, 2025.
Vocabulary:
-Fireworks part one and part two
-Something you can’t pass up
South Korea is facing a record-breaking heatwave (폭염) this June, with 59 out of 97 weather stations reporting their highest-ever average temperatures for the month. This extreme weather is straining power supplies as people rely on air conditioning (에어컨), and raises concerns about heatstroke (열사병).
If you’re visiting the Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong, Gangnam (강남) this summer, don’t miss a stop at 호과당 (Ho Gwa Dang)—also known as Tiger Pie House.
