ALLaboutkorea

Have you ever heard of a bear who became a human? Long before Korea had kings or dynasties, there was a bear, a tiger… and a test of patience. The Legend of Ungnyeo In the earliest Korean myth, a divine being named Hwanung descended from the heavens to bring civilization to Earth. One day, a bear and a tiger came to him with a wish: “Make us human.” Hwanung agreed — but under one condition. They had to spend 100 days in a dark cave , eating only garlic and mugwort . The tiger, impulsive and wild, gave up after a few days. But the bear endured the darkness and hunger. On the 21st day, she emerged — no longer a beast, but a woman. Her name was Ungnyeo (웅녀), the first human mother in Korean mythology. The Mother of a Nation Ungnyeo, now human, longed for companionship. Touched by her devotion, Hwanung took her as his wife. Their son was Dangun (단군), the legendary founder of Gojoseon , the first Korean kingdom (2333 BCE). This myth is mo...

At their recent concert in Goyang, South Korea, legendary British band Coldplay gave K-pop fans a surprising (and hilarious) treat — by shouting a now-iconic Korean meme phrase during their performance: "Yeo-reo-bun~ Nuh-mu Bo-go Shi-peo-sseo-yo~" (“Everyone~ I missed you so much~”) Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin imitated the melodic tone made popular by BIGBANG 's Taeyang , which sounds like a mini love ballad all on its own. And the crowd loved it. “Thank You, TWICE!” — The K-pop Connection After the hilarious moment, Chris Martin smiled and added: "Thank you, TWICE." Later, TWICE member Jihyo confirmed on the fan platform Bubble that she was the one who taught the meme to Chris, saying: "I told Chris that if he says 'Everyone~ I missed you so much~' like that, Korean fans would love it!!! I'm so happy he did it today hahaha." 📌 What Is This Meme, Anyway? The phrase comes from a performance by Taeyang of BIGBANG , a ...

Introduction Some words hold entire worlds inside them — and the Korean language has many of these. They reflect how Koreans think, feel, and connect with each other in ways that are often unspoken but deeply felt. Here are 5 beautiful Korean words that are nearly impossible to translate — and why they matter. This blog is supported by ads. Thank you for reading! 1. 정 (Jeong) A deep emotional bond that goes beyond love, friendship, or affection. It’s the kind of connection you build over time — with family, neighbors, or even your favorite street vendor. It’s warmth. It’s loyalty. It’s emotional glue. “You don’t need to love someone to feel Jeong for them.” 2. 한 (Han) A collective feeling of unresolved sorrow, longing, and resilience. This word comes from Korea’s complex history of colonization, division, and hardship. Han is emotional pain that doesn't scream — it endures quietly and deeply. “Han is not just sadness — it’s beautiful suffering that survives...

If you're looking for a heartfelt Korean drama set against the backdrop of beautiful landscapes and deeply human storytelling, look no further than “When Life Gives You Tangerines” — a new Netflix original starring IU (Lee Ji-eun) and Park Bo-gum . This poetic series, also known in Korean as “폭싹 속았수다” (literally, "I’ve been completely swept away"), has quickly captured the hearts of viewers around the world. This blog is supported by ads. Thank you for reading! 📺 About the Drama Title: When Life Gives You Tangerines (폭싹 속았수다) Genre: Romance, Coming-of-age, Slice of life Episodes: 16 (released weekly in 4 parts) Platform: Netflix (190+ countries) Main Cast: IU as Ae-soon — a fiery, rebellious young woman from Jeju Island Park Bo-gum as Gwan-sik — a quiet, loyal man who never gives up on her Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon as the older Ae-soon and Gwan-sik 🌸 A Story Told Through Seasons Set in the ...