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Every culture has strange superstitions and customs that make outsiders do a double-take when locals wouldn’t even think twice. Many Westerners living in Korea report feeling an inward cringe when Korean friends open umbrellas indoors or walk under a ladder. While most don’t truly believe in superstitions, they’re often still avoided - intentionally or not.
Fan Death
Arguably the most well-known Korean superstition for its absurdity, fan death is likely the most ‘modern’ on the list. Precisely as it sounds, ‘fan death’ is death by suffocation or hypothermia when one sleeps in a closed room with an electric fan. It’s mostly viewed as a joke among younger Koreans, but the belief was once widespread enough that electric fans were sold with built-in auto-shutoff timers.
One conspiracy theory is that the South Korean government spread the myth to reduce household energy consumption at night during the 1970s energy crisis. At one point, Korean media were even reporting deaths attributed to this phenomenon. In July of 2011, The Korean Herald reported that a man died after sleeping with an electric fan running. This article has since been removed from The Korean Herald website, but is available on the Wayback Machine.
Writing Names in Red Ink
The Korean version of Death Note: names written in red ink imply that the person will die soon. Historically, red ink was used to record the names of the dead in family registers. Red ink was also often historically associated with execution decrees. Criminals condemned to death had their names written in red on a death ledger. Many Koreans still take this superstition seriously. Students will shriek when native English teachers start to write their names on the whiteboard in red ink. The one exception to the red-ink rule seems to be dojang, the traditional Korean stamp that all Korean adults have for official documents. This stamp bears their name and acts as their signature on legal documents.
Shaking Your Luck Away
At restaurants all over Korea, you will see mothers scolding their children for bouncing their legs under the tables. It is said that shaking your legs will ‘shake off’ your good luck, causing you to lose future opportunities and good fortune. It’s actually a great way to teach children etiquette and to help them control their restlessness.
Golden Dreams
Dreaming of pigs means good fortune and luck are headed your way. After dreaming of pigs, dragons, or a deceased direct relative, many Koreans will head out to buy lottery tickets. These dreams are considered to be auspicious and an omen of good things to come.
While no one knows the exact origin of this superstition, it’s often thought to originate from the hanja character (don), which means pig in Chinese and money in Korean.
Interestingly, Korea has an entire dream culture dedicated to taemong (conception dreams) that foretell conception by the mother, her friends, or family. Dreaming of certain animals or fruits can hint at the baby’s sex or future.
Gifted Shoes
For all of the footwear fanatics out there, don’t give shoes to your romantic partner! It was believed that gifting shoes would cause your love to run away from you. While this superstition isn’t typically believed in 2026, many couples will exchange shoes for a small amount of money, a token 1,000 won, to avoid bad luck by framing it as a transaction rather than a gift. Other taboo gifts include handkerchiefs (tears = breakup), sharp objects (scissors = cutting off the relationship), and gifting anything in sets of fours.
Unlucky Number 4
The Korean word for 4 (사) sounds identical to the hanja character for death. Many older buildings in Korea omit the fourth floor from elevator button labeling. Instead of a ‘4’, there is an ‘F’ to avoid death omens. This superstition extends to Japan and China, where the number 4 is also associated with death. For this reason, many gift sets avoid packaging items in sets of four. In the same vein that 13 is considered unlucky in the West, 4 is seen as something to avoid in the East.
If you’re interested in learning more about Korean culture but are unsure where to start, check out Daebak’s reading recommendations for a glimpse into Korean literature.
At Daebak, we’re passionate about sharing Korean culture with the world. Beyond the glamour and bright lights of Seoul, we’re looking to connect you with the facets of culture that make Korea truly unique. If you’re looking to learn more about Korean literature, cultural insights, or want to stay up to date with the latest trends in Korea, be sure to explore our other blogs.
