[Korean Culture & Language] Jeong

Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers!


Jeong Jun-ha is a top comedian and entertainer in South Korea. His well-known tagline is, “Whether they give love or not, I’ll always give love: Jeong Jun-ha (정주나 안정주나 늘 정주는 정준하)”. The fact that his name ‘준하’ sounds similar to ‘주나 (give)’ adds to the intrigue.

He even sang a funny song titled ‘정 주나요(Are you going to give love?)’

It goes like this: 

정주나요 안정주나요 

Will you give me love or not? (It also sounds like ‘Are you Jeong Jun-ha or not Jeong Jun-ha?’)

늘 정주는 날 알아줘

Please notice me who always gives love!

정주나요 안정주나요

Are you going to give me love or not?

내 눈 속에는 너밖에 없어

My eyes only see you

사랑하나만 믿고 살아 왔어

I’ve spent my entire life believing in love

…


source: http://www.chocopie.co.kr/

While ‘Jeong’ is one of the most common last names in Korea, it also means ‘love,’ ‘affection,’ and ‘attachment’. Unlike in Western societies, where 'loving' or 'being attached' to someone you've just met is considered almost impossible, the feeling of 'jeong' may be offered to anybody in Korea. Giving 'jeong', for example, is when an elderly restaurant owner serves a young customer far more food than the customer ordered because 'he reminds her of her grandson'.


Another example would be if you asked a friend who is often arguing with her boyfriend and is unhappy but unable to break up with him. When you ask why, she replies, "너무 정 들었어”. It means ‘she already feels too attached to him'. There is a word "미운 정’ which is a special "정” that has developed over the course of a love-hate relationship.


Have you ever had anyone with whom you have developed ‘미운 정’?

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