Uptempo Global

Hello, this is Uptempo! In July 2021, a Chinese man in his 50s got arrested for killing two people in China and fleeing to Korea. It took years to catch him because he has ‘ 신분세탁 (washed his identity) ’ . Photo by   Jeremy Sallee   on   Unsplash https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/24104555#home According to Korea JoongAng Daily, this murderer killed two people in Yantai, Shandong Province, China in 1987, when he was 20. While hiding in China, he made a new passport after ‘ 신분세탁 (washing his identification) ’. He entered Korea in 2016, and has obtained a permanent residency (F5) visa by marrying a Chinese woman who had obtained Korean citizenship a while back. The term 신분세탁 (Washing one’s identity) refers to a person’s attempt to conceal their prior identity to rebuild a new life . Prostitutes and ex-convicts, for example, are likely to strive to 신분세탁 (rebuild their lives by concealing the fact that they have ever committed a crime or worked as a prostitute).   Belo...

Hello, this is Uptempo! In Western cultures, ‘to be thick-skinned’ means ‘to be unaffected by criticism and rejection’. People with ‘thick skin’ are usually mentally tough. ‘Being thick skinned’ is often considered an admirable and useful quality since it allows people to not take things personally when others express their feelings. It makes it easier for people to be themselves when they’re with them, just as they are when they are with others. Photo by   Jeremy Bezanger   on   Unsplash Similar expressions exist in Korea, such as ‘ 얼굴 ( 낯 ) 이 두껍다 (One has a thick face) ’ or ‘ 얼굴에 철판을 깔다 (One lays an iron plate on one’s face) ’. These expressions also describe s omeone who is unaffected by criticism and unconcerned about what others think of them . In Korea, however, it has a more negative connotation. It indicates that they are unafraid to act in ways that others may find disrespectful . ‘ 역대급 철판 깐 빈대 ’ is the title of the video below.   ‘ 역대급 ’ means ‘ of a...

Hello, this is Uptempo! In Korea there is a saying ‘ 여우 같은 여자랑은 살아도 곰 같은 여자랑은 못산다 ’.  It means ‘ You can live with a fox-like girl, but not with a bear-like girl ’. The word ‘fox’ in Western countries has qualities like cleverness and attractiveness. If you call someone a ‘silver fox’ it refers to ‘a handsome middle-aged guy with gray or white hair’.  Photo by   Yuriy Chemerys   on   Unsplash Likewise, calling someone a ‘ 여우(fox) ’ in Korea means they are charming , usually with a lot of ‘ 애교(acting adorable, especially to get their way or something they want) ’. 애교 includes babyish behaviors, voice, hand gestures, and facial expressions. Even though those behaviors are frowned upon in many Western cultures, Korean men love ‘ 애교’ . So, having a lot of ‘ 애교 ’ or being a ‘ 여우 ’ implies that they are likely to attract men’s attention.  Since ‘애교’ is often done to get what they want, however, calling someone a ‘ 여우 ’ can also mean that someone is cunning and m...

Hello, this is Uptempo Marketers! Do you have a favorite color? What color do you think best symbolizes your life?  문문(Moon Moon) , a South Korean Indie pop artist, sings about the colors that represent his life in his song “ 물감(paints) ”. The lyrics are as follows: 내 목에 줄 세 개  내(my) 목(neck)에 줄(line) 세 개(three)  The three lines on my neck 내가 살아온   내가(I) 살아온(lived)   The life that I have lived 그때에 느낀 색깔  그 때 (Then) 느낀 (Feel) 색깔 (color) The colors that I’ve felt then 두고두고 담아왔던 생각  The thoughts that I haven’t expressed yet. 위로 풀었지  I squeezed them on top 빈틈도 없이 가득  Filled (the palette), leaving no space 파란 빨간 초록 물감으로  With blue, red, and green paints. 엄마는 남이었지  My mom was a stranger (to me) 불러본 적도없이  I’ve never called (someone a mom) before … 그 흔한 조명없이 밝았던 아이었지  I was a kid who was bright without a light 대부분 열이붙던 내 나인 파랑이었지  That’s when my age was ‘blue’  내 목에 줄세개  The three lines on my neck 내가 살아온   The l...

Hello, this is Uptempo! There are rules or standards of behavior shared by members of a social group. Even though those rules aren’t written down or outspoken, most people know and follow them. For example, it’s a social norm to not look at other photos when someone hands you their phone to show you a picture. ‘ 국룰 ’ directly translates to ‘ national rule ’. However, it actually refers to ‘ unspoken/unwritten rules , ’ ‘ interesting facts ,’ ‘ social norms ' or ‘ trends ’ that everyone follows. It is used in a casual statement to highlight that something is a ‘ must ’. At the beginning of the video below, they say that there are ‘ 한국인의 버스 국룰 ( unspoken rules regarding buses in Korea)’.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3epc3QYrVUw The meme below is titled: 한국인들 버스기사님 배려방법이래 ㅋㅋㅋ (I heard that this is how Koreans express their considerations for bus drivers lol). It reads, ‘ 자기가 타지 않는 버스가 정류장으로 오면 자기가 안탄다는 걸 온 몸으로 표현한대 ㅋㅋㅋ 핸드폰만 보거나 , 노선도 보거나 , 뒤로 물러나거나 ㅋㅋㅋ (...

Hello, this is Uptempo! Did you know that Shin Ramen is sold at the top of the Swiss Alps? This fun fact is just one example of the truly global popularity of Korean 라면 (ramen), or rather, ramyun, the more accurate Romanization. Korean 라면 was first introduced post-Korean War in 1963, by Samyang Foods, now one of the biggest food manufacturers in South Korea. The founder of Samyang, Jung Yun Jeon, incorporated ramen-making techniques from Japan, the origin of instant noodles as well as cup noodles. 라면 was sold for 10 won, which is equal to about 1 cent in U.S. dollars, and was meant to provide low-cost nourishment to impoverished Koreans during the devastating post-war period. https://nongshimusa.com/ In the 1980s, Shin 라면 entered the game. Created by Nongshim Group founder Choon-ho Shin, these noodles weren’t just his namesake—the Chinese character for Shin also happens to mean “spicy.” After graduating from college, Shin began working for his older brother who had established Lotte Gr...

Hello, this is Uptempo! The below video is titled ‘ 신분증 없이 담배 사는 방법 , ’ which means ‘ How to buy cigarettes without an ID card ’  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYKqAv6uLv4 신분증 refers to an ‘ ID card ’ or a ‘ photo ID ’. 없이 means ‘ without ’ 담배 means ‘ cigarette ’ 사는 means ‘ to buy ’ 방법 means way(s) In the video, a girl claims to be 24 years old and repeatedly asks the cashier for a pack of cigarettes. The cashier tells her that he won’t be able to help her unless she shows him her photo ID. After arguing with him for a while, she finally brings her ID and tells the guy “See? I’m 24”. Only after checking her ID, he lets her buy the cigarettes. The purpose of the video was to remind the public that there is no ‘ 신분증 없이 담배 사는 방법(way to buy a cigarette pack without an ID card) ’.  It's interesting to observe, on the other hand, that many Koreans take delight in being asked to present their ID cards. That is because ‘ 동안(Babyface) ’ is such an important aspect of Korean beau...