Uptempo Global

Hello, this is Uptempo! As a result of people’s boredom due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of MBTI has surged in Korea. MBTI feeds are everywhere, on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Below is a popular meme that is titled ‘ ENFJ팩트체크 ’ https://nelna.shop/board/?q=YToxOntzOjEyOiJrZXl3b3JkX3R5cGUiO3M6MzoiYWxsIjt9&bmode=view&idx=3624727&t=board 팩트체크 means fact-checking The following are a few of the factors that are mentioned in the list: 사전 계획을 잘 세움 Good at planning ahead of time 사전 means in advance 계획 세우다 means to plan 잘 means well or good at 강한 추진력 Highly driven 강한 means strong 추진력 means driven 뛰어난 표현력 Good at expressing oneself 뛰어나다 means excellent 표현력 means expressing skills 타인에게 마음을 잘 여는 편 Open their hearts to others fairly easily 타인 means others 마음 means heart 잘 means easily or well 여는 means open 편 means fairly 타인의 비판에 민감한 편 Rather sensitive to others’ criticism 비판 means criticism 민감 means sensitive 편 means rather 현실보다는 이...

Hello, this is Uptempo! If you have ever lived in Korea, you might have seen parcels left in front of doors. It is completely normal to deliver packages on the outside of a door in Korea to avoid undesired contact, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sometimes these packages are left outside for over a week.  While most Westerners would be uncomfortable leaving their belongings in public settings unattended, Koreans do it all the time. In fact, they leave their valuables on the table to save their seats when they go to order at a cafe. One of the reasons why Koreans aren’t so worried about the theft is because there are CCTV cameras installed everywhere around the country. The above video shows how a westerner is trying to protect his stuff from theft, while a Korean guy is more worried about saving their seats.  The first comment reads: 생수병 같은 싸구려 물건 올려놓고 가면 자리 빼앗길까봐 더 비싼 걸로 자리 맡는, 비쌀수록 더 확고한 자리 표식이 되는 기이한 현 상 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ   생수 means bottled water 싸구려 means cheap 물건 mea...

Hello, this is Uptempo! A fable titled ‘장끼전’ from 장자(Zhu ā ngz ǐ ), an ancient Chinese book, was known to be written in the late Joseon Dynasty. It is literature that criticizes and satirizes the existing Confucian social image. Even though it is titled 장끼전, the main character is not 장끼 but 까투리. ‘ 장끼 ’ is a combinatin of ‘ 장(male) ’ and ‘ 끼(a bird) .’ ‘까투리 ’ is a combination of ‘ 갓(female) ’ and ‘ 두리(a bird). ’ ‘갓’ comes from the word ‘ 가시 ’ which means ‘ female. ’ ‘ 두리’ comes from ‘ 도리(tori) ,’ which is a Japanese word for ‘ bird. ’ The male Phasianus colchicus was called 장끼 , and the female  Phasianus colchicus  was called 까투리 . Here is how the tale goes: https://youtu.be/0gIB2D8Dfc8 장끼 and 까투리 went out to find food after a long winter. They were famished after not having enough food during the winter. And the beans that had fallen on the ground seemed so appetizing to them. 장끼 wanted to devour them immediately, while his wife 까투리 insisted on caution. 장기 disregarded 까투...

Hello, this is Uptempo! A person who is well-known or influential in a small group but is unknown or unimportant outside of that group is called ‘ big fish in a small pond ’. Koreans call them ‘ 우물 안 개구리 ’.  ‘ 우물 ’ means ‘ a well ’ ‘ 안 ’ means ‘ inside ’ ‘ 개구리 ’ means ‘ a frog ’ ‘ 우물 안 개구리 ’ means ‘ a frog in a well ’. Those two expressions have slightly different connotations though. The ‘big fish’ usually refers to a person who is satisfied to stay in one position, while ‘우물 안 개구리’ doesn’t really know what’s going on outside where they are from.  Photo by Adam Currie on Unsplash This proverb was originated from the phrase "정와불가이어해(井蛙不可以語海)" in 장자(Zhu ā ngz ǐ), an ancient Chinese literature book composed of a large number of tales, parables, and fables from the late Warring States period (476-221BC). •井(정) refers to a ‘well’ or a ‘small space’ •蛙(와) means ‘a frog’ •不(불) means ‘can’t’ •可以 means ‘to understand’ •語 means ‘words’ or ‘language’ •海 means ‘the ocean’ In the fable,...

Hello, this is Uptempo! Social media, a computer-based technology that allows people to share their ideas, opinions, and skills through virtual communities and networks, has become widely used these days. Every year, new social media programs like TikTok appear, joining the ranks of big social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.  Even though they are originally created for friends and family to interact with one another, it has not evolved into a new means for companies to engage with their consumers. Social media is one of the most effective ways to market to and communicate with clients since it has the ability to connect and exchange information with almost anyone on earth. https://www.almondsolutions.com/blog/why-do-people-post-on-social-media Recently, in Korea, posting pictures of oneself exercising on social media has become popular. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people started working out at home, and they began posting pictures of themse...

Hello, this is Uptempo! ‘ 빌리다 ’ usually means ‘to borrow’ in Korean. However, it can also mean ‘borrowing’ a situation/opportunity. For example, you can say “이 자리를 빌려 감사의 말씀을 드리고 싶습니다”. It means “I would like to take this opportunity to thank you”. 빌리다 can mean: 1. 나중에 갚거나 돌려주기로 하고 얼마 동안 가져다가 쓰다. 1. To use something after promising the owner to return it later. Ex) Amanda 한테서 10불 빌렸어 . I borrowed $10 from Amanda 2. 나중에 받기로 하고 얼마 동안 쓰도록 하다. 2. To give someone permission to use something after getting a promise that they’ll return it.  Ex) 내가 빌려준 책 언제 줄 수 있어? When can you return the books that I loaned you? 3. 혼자서 하기 어렵거나 제 의지대로 하기 힘든 일을 하는 데에 받아들이는 상태가 되다. 3. To use something when it is difficult to do on one’s own. Ex) A: 이거 어떻게 했어? 이 분야는 너 잘 못하잖아. A: How did you do this? I know you’re unfamiliar with these things. B: 인터넷의 힘을 빌렸지 ! B: I used the internet for assistance . Real Love, OH MY GIRL’s second Korean full-length album that was released on March 28, 2022, ranked #13 on ...