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Tigers in Korean Culture – From Myths to Modern Stories

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From a mythic tiger to a smash-hit movie character K-pop Demon Hunters seems to be everywhere these days—people can’t stop talking about it. It’s so popular that even my pastor mentioned it once during service ;) At home, my child has probably watched it more than ten times, and on car rides we end up looping “Golden” and “Sodapop.” In my previous post, I looked at the bear and tiger in the Dangun myth. With the tiger character “Derpy” from K-pop Demon Hunters gaining so much love, I wanted to talk about tigers in Korean culture today. In the simple version of the myth, the bear endures and becomes human, while the tiger gives up and returns to the mountains. Today’s story follows how the tiger survived in the Korean imagination—taking on many forms—and became a special symbol. Fierce and formidable In premodern Korea, people called the tiger the “mountain lord,” sangun (산군), the master of the mountains. Tigers roamed our ranges commonly up through the Joseon era, so people...
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Korea’s Founding Story: The Myth of Dangun, the Bear and the Tiger

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Last time I wrote about everyday health. Today, I’m turning back to a Korean culture topic: the Dangun myth, a story long passed down to explain the origins of the Korean people. I thought you might enjoy it. The Dangun myth is a transmitted legend rather than a documented fact, yet it’s vital for understanding Korean culture and identity. In this piece, we will follow the bear and the tiger in Dangun’s founding story and consider what this origin tale has meant for Korea. The Dangun Myth, Korea’s Founding Story Viewed broadly, Korean history moves from Gojoseon to the Three Kingdoms and Unified Silla, and then to Goryeo and Joseon. The Dangun myth recounts the founding of the earliest period, Gojoseon, while the version we know today is preserved in the Goryeo-era anthology Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms). It is more than an old tale. For many Koreans it has taken root as a myth that holds our origins and worldview. Today we read it symbolically rather than lite...
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Herbal Tea Benefits, How to Drink Instead of Water, Tips, and Precautions

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In this post, I’d like to introduce the herbal blend tea I first started drinking, “Wellness Tea.” Recently, I’ve been managing my sinus issues and needed to increase my water intake. Drinking 2 liters of plain water every day wasn’t easy at all. Replacing some of that with herbal tea made it much more enjoyable. I hope this can be helpful for anyone who needs better hydration like I do :) Herbal Tea Benefits “Wellness Tea” is made from German organic ingredients, blending lemon balm, chamomile, peppermint, fennel, and rosehip. Each ingredient has its own clear qualities. Lemon Balm : Its refreshing citrus scent lifts your mood and calms your mind, which may help reduce stress and improve focus. Chamomile : A warm cup in the evening helps the body relax, supports restful sleep, and eases tension for a more peaceful night. Peppermint : With its cooling freshness, it’s a tea I often enjoy. It’s great iced in summer, helps shake off afternoon drowsiness, and aids digesti...
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Sinus Self-Care Week 1 – Initial Symptoms, Daily Routine, Supplements, and Results

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Seasonal changes have always made my sinus problems worse. This time, instead of relying on hospital treatment, I decided to try managing it myself. I committed to a week of warm towel compresses, nasal rinses, supplements, and staying hydrated—to see how my symptoms might improve, and to share which supplements I’m currently taking. Before Starting – Lingering Smell Issues and Thick Mucus Before starting self-care, I had lingering cigarette smell sensations and was less sensitive to other odors. At one point, I couldn’t even smell when my dog had an accident in the house—which meant I didn’t clean it up right away. Pretty bad, right? Deep in my throat, there was a constant feeling of thick phlegm or mucus stuck in place. I also felt sticky secretions sliding down the back of my nose, and I often started my mornings sneezing several times, with my nose stuffy and congested. My One-Week Self-Care Routine My goal wasn’t a complete cure, but to reduce symptoms and discomfort wit...
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3-Week Sinusitis Self-Care Challenge – From Failed Treatments to Strange Symptoms

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Sinus issues always find me when the seasons change—spring and fall, like clockwork. I’ve tried getting help at the clinic, but nothing really worked the way I’d hoped. So this time, I’m doing things my way. I’ll be trying a mix of nasal rinses, warm compresses, and some immune-boosting supplements for the next three weeks. Let’s see what happens. What Went Wrong at the Clinic – I Couldn’t Keep Up Back in spring, things got worse. My nose felt constantly clogged, and every swallow came with that annoying lump-in-the-throat feeling. I decided to see an ENT—conveniently, there was one right in the same building as my gym. I figured it’d be nice to knock out a workout and a treatment in one trip. The doctor was an older, experienced specialist, and he spoke with a lot of confidence. He told me that if I followed his instructions, I’d be completely better within a month—and honestly, I believed him. He used a scope to check inside my sinuses, and then calmly said, “There’s a lot ...
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Korean Chili Peppers – Heat Levels, Types, and Health Benefits

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Last spring, we planted 12 chili pepper seedlings on our rooftop garden. It was fascinating to watch how the spice and texture changed depending on the weather. Today, let’s explore five popular types of Korean peppers you can easily find in stores, along with their surprising health benefits. 1. Growing Peppers at Home – Watching the Heat Develop This spring, we planted about 12 chili pepper seedlings in our small rooftop garden. We didn’t expect much, but my husband faithfully watered them and kept the bugs away—and now we’re harvesting nearly 500g a day. They’ve grown surprisingly well! At first, the peppers weren’t spicy at all, and their texture was soft and tender. But as the summer heat rolled in, they started to get firmer and more flavorful. We found ourselves biting into spicier peppers more and more often. Apparently, peppers produce more capsaicin—the spicy compound—when they’re stressed by heat and sun exposure, as a way to protect themselves. They also lose mo...
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Korean Names – Name Structure, Meaning, and Trends

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Korean names carry deep meaning through their structure and Hanja (Chinese characters). In this post, we’ll explore how names are constructed, what each character means, and how naming trends have changed over generations. 1. Structure – Family Name, Given Name, and Generational Tradition A typical Korean name has one syllable for the family name and two or sometimes three syllables for the given name. Although simple at first glance, these few characters carry surprising depth. In many families, names include a generational syllable shared among siblings or cousins to reflect lineage. This system helps distinguish the relative order within families and symbolizes the continuation of tradition. 💡 To sum up, here are some common features of Korean name structure : 1-character family name + 2- to 3-character given name (usually 3 total) Use of generational characters or shared syllables in families Balance of sound, meaning, and harmony is valued in naming Alt...
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