Category Archives: Trends

디엠 보내! Learn the Korean of DMs, Reels, and Being Left on Read

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You find a funny video, think of a friend, and tap “send.” No long explanation needed. The video itself says, “This reminded me of you.”

That everyday moment is a useful doorway into Korean internet culture—and a handful of expressions you might not find in a beginner textbook.

Today’s phrase is 디엠 보내! (Diem bonae!), meaning “Send me a DM!”

Why talk about DMs now?

KakaoTalk has long been closely associated with messaging in Korea, but it is not the whole picture. Somako’s October 2 trend report highlights teenagers’ use of DMs as a recent topic. 

There is also a fresh connection to how people share content. Opensurvey’s September 21 Social Media Trend Report identifies DM sharing as a notable response to content on Instagram. Its summary contrasts this with likes and reactions on TikTok and watching without further action on YouTube. 

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텍스트힙: Why Korea’s Latest Book Trend Comes With Bread

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Imagine walking into a Korean convenience store for a snack and leaving with a tiny piece of literary culture. A cream-filled bun, a collectible bookmark, and a famous book cover: suddenly, buying bread becomes a bookish adventure.

That unexpected combination is a timely way to discover 텍스트힙 (tekseuteu hip), a Korean expression connecting reading with personal style.

텍스트힙
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Why Foreign Tourists Are Stocking Up on Isaac Toast Sauce

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Foreign tourists visiting Korea are always looking for interesting Korean products to take home. These days, one unexpected item is attracting attention: the yellow container of sweet sauce associated with Isaac Toast (이삭토스트).

Isaac Toast and their famous sauces
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Where Tourists Meet Whiskers: Cat Cafés in Myeongdong

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In the middle of busy Myeongdong, I found a surprisingly calm escape: several cat cafés. These cafés combine coffee culture with Korea’s love for pets, offering visitors a chance to relax with friendly, well-cared-for cats.

Are the cats lined up for feeding time
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Strawberry Nights & Street Bites: A Spring Walk Through Myeong-dong

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Strawberry Nights & Street Bites: A Spring Walk Through Myeong-dong

Spring transforms Seoul’s Myeong-dong into a lively night market filled with bright lights, street food, and fresh strawberries. Vendors line the streets from late afternoon until around 11 PM, selling strawberry tanghulu, cream-filled waffles, and skewered meats. Dessert cafés and cat cafés stay open late, offering a break from the crowds. Seasonal strawberry treats are especially popular from March to April.

And with six Olive Young K-beauty stores, there’s plenty of health and beauty products to shop for too. (Pro Tip- use your home-country Costco membership to get K-Beauty products even cheaper than Olive Young.)

In-season Korean strawberries
Myeongdong Street with two rows of food carts
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The Quiet Superpower of Korea’s Public Libraries

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In South Korea, public libraries are far more than places to borrow books. They function as study hubs, cooling centers in summer, and quiet refuges from crowded city life. Many libraries offer spotless facilities, free Wi-Fi, personal desk lamps, and designated zones for students, adults, and seniors. It’s common to see people spending entire afternoons reading, preparing for exams, or simply resting.

Libraries 
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The Rise of “Phone-Free Hours” in Korea

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In South Korea, a quiet lifestyle trend is growing: phone-free hours. Instead of quitting smartphones completely, people intentionally set aside one or two hours a day with no scrolling, messaging, or notifications. Cafés promote “no-phone tables,” couples agree to phone-free dinners, and parents model this habit at home.

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