and play Korean traditions bingo with us! 📢 IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
✍️COLUMN: Napping with Bamboo Wife or How Koreans Used to Stay Cool
🎎 Checklist: Korean Traditions Bingo
🇰🇷 Funday Korea Upcoming Events + Student discount
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Fun or too hot to have fun?
The Intolerable Sun: In the days of the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), Koreans referred to the blistering summer heat as the "arrogant sun." Summer in Korea was a cauldron of sizzling temperatures and stifling humidity.
Imagine surviving all that without even a whiff of air conditioning or a trusty electric fan.
Impressive, right?
What did Koreans have to beat the heat at the time? They did some seriously creative thinking.
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1️⃣ Step One: Seek Shelter in Style |
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The structure of Hanok was a crucial factor that kept Koreans sane in the heat. Hanoks were constructed using natural materials such as wood and earth, showcasing marvelous design. The roof's clever overhang effectively thwarted intrusive sunlight, maintaining a refreshing interior coolness. For those seeking even cooler respite, the outer walls could be raised.
Situated halfway up a mountain and facing south or east, Hanoks adhered to feng shui principles. This design harnessed natural ventilation through the daecheong-maru, enabling breezes from the rear mountains to gently waft through. Mud-plastered walls served dual purposes—regulating humidity while providing natural cooling.
With doors and windows wide open and adorned with bamboo shades, which offer privacy while permitting the wind to flow in, the air inside feels crisp and cool in contrast to the outside.
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2️⃣ Step Two: Napping with Bamboo Wife |
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Imagine taking a nap on a bamboo mat, spread across a wood-paneled floor or lattice bedsteads. The faint marks they might leave behind were a small price to pay for the refreshing coolness they offered. You could choose between a wooden pillow or a pillow stuffed with buckwheat chaff. Unlike cotton-stuffed ones, neither of these options warmed up easily. Completing the perfect nap on a lazy summer afternoon was a long-woven bamboo cylinder called jukbuin or literally "bamboo wife." Its hollow body allowed for ventilation when hugged. Remarkably, these items are still used today!
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3️⃣ Step Three: Feast and Conquer, Cool and Heat |
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Before taking a nap, Koreans would enjoy a cup of cold omija tea. Crafted from red omija berries, this sweet-and-sour tea was believed to stimulate appetites when fatigue set in.
When it's time to refuel after your refreshing nap, Korean ancestors had the heat-beating menu figured out. On the cold side, there are dishes like naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and bingsu (shaved ice cream). Both have been widely enjoyed since the Joseon era.
On the hot side, there's everything hot and spicy, evoking a traditional Korean remedy called iyeolchiyeol, where heat is fought with heat. The sweltering climate and constant perspiration often led to lethargy. A revitalizing feast was in order. Enter "samgyetang," a hearty dish where chicken is stuffed with ginseng, rice, chestnut, and jujube, then boiled to perfection, with its nourishing broth served alongside.
Stay cool, everyone!
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One of the most exciting facts about Korean traditions is that they are not confined to the past! Markets buzz with whole chickens being prepared for cooking samgyetang as the hottest days of summer approach. And in hanok villages across Korea, people still live and uphold these traditions.
Foreigners coming to Korea are fortunate to seamlessly slide into Korean culture as a part of daily life. Let's assess how extensively you've explored the country.
It's Korean Traditions Bingo!
How to play:
- Cross out everything you've done.
- Take a screenshot and share it on your social media.
- Make sure to mention @funday.korea.networks, so the Funday team can check it out.
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Claim your discount, if you are a student!
Get 30,000 KRW off the participation fee for the Hanok Hideaway tour.
2-day, 1-night journey into the heart of Korean culture and history, now available for only 80,000 KRW after the student discount. Experience a memorable night at Hanok, an authentic Korean traditional house, while exploring the filming location of "Mr. Sunshine." Learn age-old traditions that have shaped Korea's rich heritage.
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[2N1D] Yeongju UNESCO Heritage Tour
Are you ready to make the most of the remaining days of summer? For those who haven't had a chance to take a vacation yet, we have a special offer for you.
Hurry up and join the tour on September 2nd - 3rd.
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Looking at the Star of Independence Heroes
We invite you to the outdoor music performance "Heroes of Independence, Gazing at the Stars," a September night transitioning from summer to fall, taking place at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The fusion of Korean traditional music and acoustic performance will sing about the theme of Korean history and independence heroes, accompanied by exciting experience programs and quiz events.
💁 Information
- Event Date: September 2nd (Saturday), 18:00 ~ 20:40 PM KST
- Venue: Seodaemun Prison History Hall
- Participants: 100 Foreigners, 150 Koreans (Including Multi-cultural Families)
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