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Showing posts with the label Real Korea

$800 a Month to Learn ABCs? Inside Korea’s Wild English Kindergartens

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“$800 a month to learn ABCs?” In Korea, that’s not shocking at all. Welcome to the world of English kindergartens — a common yet intense part of Korean early childhood education. What Are English Kindergartens in Korea? These kindergartens aren’t just about learning a few English words. They’re full immersion programs, often run entirely in English from morning to afternoon. Native-speaking teachers lead classes, playtime, mealtimes, and even nap time — all in English. It’s like sending your kid to a mini international school… inside Korea. How Much Do They Cost? On average, over ₩1 million per month (around $800). Some elite kindergartens charge even more — and that’s not including extra fees like admission, textbooks, transportation, and after-school programs. Is It Worth It? Let’s be honest. ₩1 million is a lot of money in Korea. For some people, that’s what they might earn from a month of part-time work. Yet many parents still make the financial stretch to enroll thei...

Is This a Club or a Baseball Game? The Wild World of Korean Baseball Culture

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Is This a Club or a Baseball Game? The Real Face of Korean Baseball Culture Korean baseball stadiums are more than just sports venues. With high-energy cheering, diverse food, and an enthusiastic crowd, the experience feels like a full-on cultural festival. Cheering Culture That Feels Like a Concert One of the most unique features of Korean baseball is its cheering culture. Every team has its own cheerleaders, hype leaders, and even custom songs for each player. Thousands of fans sing, clap, and dance together in perfect sync, creating an atmosphere that honestly feels like a K-pop concert. If you sit in the first base section, you’ll witness fans performing full choreographies together—like a coordinated show put on by the crowd itself. Chicken, Beer, Ramen, Pizza, and Even BBQ Eating at the stadium is another key part of the fun. Fried chicken and beer—known as “chimaek”—are just the basics. You’ll also find ramen, pizza, bubble tea, coffee, and even churros. Some sta...

Ever Thought of Living in Korea? Teaching English at a Hagwon Might Be Your Best Ticket In

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Have you ever dreamed of living in South Korea—not just visiting, but actually staying for a while, soaking up the food, the culture, the late-night convenience stores, and yes, even the K-dramas on a lazy Sunday? If that’s you, there’s one path you’ve probably heard whispers about but might not have seriously considered: becoming an English teacher at a Korean hagwon (private academy). What is a "Hagwon"? Hagwons are private after-school academies in Korea that students attend for extra lessons—like math, science, and of course, English. For many foreigners, teaching English at a hagwon is not just a job. It’s a fast-track way to immerse yourself in Korean society, meet locals, and yes, even pay your rent while you’re at it. Why Teaching English Works (And Why It's More Than Just "Work") Let’s be real: you don’t need a PhD. Most schools are looking for native English speakers with a bachelor’s degree. Some even provide housing, paid vacatio...

Squid Game Isn’t Fiction – Here’s the Real Game Korean Kids Grew Up With

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🦑 Squid Game Isn’t Fiction – Here’s the Real Game Korean Kids Grew Up With Image from Pixabay 1. The Most Iconic Game in Squid Game? Definitely This One When Squid Game exploded on Netflix, it left people speechless. But among all those shocking scenes, the one game that stood out most? “Red Light, Green Light” — or as we call it, “무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다.” For Koreans, it wasn’t new. It was nostalgia. 🏃‍♂️ 2. Red Light, Green Light – But More Intense You might know the game as “Red Light, Green Light.” But in Korea, we call it “무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다” — which literally means “The rose of Sharon has bloomed.” Sounds pretty, right? But in real life, it was all tension and panic. 😨 3. How the Game Actually Worked (No Guns, Still Scary) Here’s how we played it as kids: The tagger (술래) turns toward a wall or tree and shouts: “무궁화~ 꽃이 피었습니다!” At “다!”, they spin around to catch anyone moving. If you’re caught moving? You’re out — and must stand behind the tagger holding hands. ...