What does it mean to be Korean? This is a somewhat simple but complex question. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Korean means “a native or inhabitant of Korea; a person of Korean descent”. However, there is a lot more to being Korean than just having Korean descent or living in Korea. In my opinion, Korean is all about having pride, a warm heart, and being impatient.
Being Korean is having pride in your culture. Currently, there is a rise in Korean culture called Hallyu. Korean culture, including k-pop, k-drama, and Korean food, has become a global trend. They are proud of their culture and the fact that it is being enjoyed worldwide. Koreans also love to win and tend to feel pride in their culture when their nation wins over another country. A typical example is sports. When a Korean athlete wins an international sports event, they are praised and are considered heroic figures. For example, Kim Yuna has been called a “legend” by Koreans since she won the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Another characteristic of Koreans is a warm heart. In Korea, this concept is called ‘jeong’, and the majority of Koreans possess it. They often have affection toward someone or something and would not hesitate to share with others. In a blog, a Korean teacher told a story that portrays this concept. The story was about a Chinese student who stayed in a boarding house owned by an older woman. On his first day, he was asked many personal questions. Several months later, the student left his room to have breakfast, finding seaweed soup and a cake. The student later asked the owner, and she said that they were celebrating the student’s birthday. In a short time, the owner had formed an attachment with the foreign student.
But don’t be so relieved that Koreans are so generous and welcoming. They will start attacking you once you frustrate them. Being Korean is about impatience. Koreans are extremely impatient and cannot stand slow things. This trait of Koreans is clearly shown in elevators, for instance. These days, due to the pandemic, antibacterial films are attached to elevator buttons. People have noticed that the ‘close door’ button was worn out. This shows how many Koreans were not patient enough to wait until the elevator door closed, and pressed the ‘close door’ button. Another example is WiFi. In contrast to other countries, Koreans would become extremely frustrated when there is a slow WiFi connection, which is a common experience in other countries.
To be a Korean is to possess pride, generosity, and impatience. Although they were looked down on at first, they have become stronger and are now praised for their culture. They always work with effort, and as a result, they have been living a good quality of life. Being Korean has given me confidence, pride, and affection. It has also, in some way, made me be more productive. I am proud to be Korean, like all other Koreans.
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