Korean Superstitions & Beliefs Every International Student Should Know | Admissions.kr

Korea is a technologically advanced society where high-speed internet reaches every corner of the peninsula and AI is integrated into daily life. Yet alongside this modernity exists a rich tapestry of superstitions, folk beliefs, and cultural practices that continue to influence everything from architecture to exam preparation. Understanding these beliefs is not about adopting them — it is about navigating Korean social life without accidentally offending someone or missing cultural context that everyone around you takes for granted.

This guide covers the most important Korean superstitions and beliefs that international students are likely to encounter, from the infamous "fan death" to blood type personality theory.

The Number 4: Korea's Unlucky Number

If you have ever noticed that some Korean buildings skip the 4th floor, labeling it "F" instead, you have encountered Korea's most visible superstition. The number 4 (사, sa) is considered unlucky because it sounds identical to the Chinese character for death (死, also pronounced sa).

Where You Will See This

Elevators: Many buildings, especially hospitals, older apartments, and some hotels, skip the 4th floor entirely. Instead of 1-2-3-4-5, you see 1-2-3-F-5. The "F" stands for "four" in English — a creative workaround.
Room numbers: Hospital rooms ending in 4 are sometimes avoided
Gift-giving: Sets of 4 are generally avoided. If you are giving gifts, choose sets of 3, 5, or 7 instead.
Phone numbers: Some people avoid phone numbers containing multiple 4s

The Flip Side: Lucky Numbers

7: Considered lucky, as in many cultures
8: Associated with prosperity, particularly influenced by Chinese culture
3: A culturally significant number in Korean tradition, appearing in mythology (the founding myth of Korea involves the number 3)

Practical Advice

You do not need to avoid the number 4 in your daily life. But be aware that if you are buying a gift set, choosing an apartment, or selecting a floor for an event, some Korean colleagues or friends may have a preference. It costs nothing to be considerate.

Fan Death (선풍기 사망설)

Perhaps the most famous Korean superstition internationally, "fan death" is the belief that sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan running overnight can cause death. The proposed mechanisms vary — some say the fan "chops up" oxygen molecules, others claim it causes hypothermia by creating a wind-chill effect, and still others suggest it creates a vortex that depletes oxygen.

The Reality

There is no scientific evidence that a fan can cause death in a room of normal size with adequate ventilation. The belief likely originated from early 20th-century media reports and was possibly reinforced by government messaging during energy crises to reduce electricity consumption.

Why It Persists

Fan death is a genuine cultural belief, not a joke. Many educated Koreans, including doctors and professors, either believe it or respect it as a precaution. Korean fans are sold with built-in timers specifically so they turn off during sleep. These timers are a standard feature, not an optional add-on.

How to Handle It

Never mock this belief. Even if you think it is scientifically unfounded, dismissing it will offend people who sincerely believe it, including potentially your roommate, landlord, or host family.
If a Korean friend or roommate expresses concern about your fan usage, simply acknowledge their concern and use the timer function.
This is a case where cultural sensitivity clearly outweighs the urge to be "right."

Blood Type Personality Theory (혈액형 성격론)

In Korea (and Japan), blood type is believed to determine personality, much like zodiac signs in Western cultures. This belief is widespread, mainstream, and woven into daily conversation. You will almost certainly be asked your blood type at some point during your time in Korea.

The Four Types

Type A: Considered careful, organized, sensitive, and sometimes anxious. Perceived as good workers but potentially uptight. Associated with perfectionism.
Type B: Viewed as creative, passionate, and independent — but also selfish and unreliable. Type B men, in particular, have historically faced dating stigma (though this is decreasing).
Type O: Seen as confident, outgoing, natural leaders, and optimistic. Sometimes considered insensitive or overly blunt.
Type AB: Regarded as rational, calm, and somewhat enigmatic. Sometimes described as "dual-natured" — the rarest type in Korea and often treated as the most mysterious.

How Seriously People Take This

The spectrum ranges from casual fun to genuine conviction:

Dating: Some people (especially in older generations) would consider blood type compatibility before dating someone. Blood type compatibility charts exist, similar to zodiac compatibility.
Friendships: You may hear comments like "That is such a Type B thing to say" in casual conversation.
Media: Blood type personality is a regular topic in Korean entertainment, from variety shows to webtoons.
Hiring: While rare and decreasing, some companies have historically considered blood type in hiring. This is not mainstream practice but reflects how deeply embedded the belief is.

Your Response

Know your blood type before coming to Korea. Seriously. If you do not know it, get tested (you can do this at any Korean hospital or clinic for about 5,000–10,000 KRW). When asked, simply share it. Engaging in the conversation — even lightly — is a social bonding activity. You do not need to believe in it, but participating good-naturedly goes a long way.

Red Ink: Never Write a Name in Red

This superstition is one that international students most frequently violate unknowingly. Writing someone's name in red ink is taboo in Korea because red ink was traditionally used to write the names of deceased people — on death registers, funeral banners, and ancestral records.

Practical Implications

Never sign your name in red ink on any Korean document
Never write a Korean person's name in red ink — this can be deeply offensive, as it symbolically wishes death upon them
Grading: If you are a teaching assistant or tutor, use any color other than red to write students' names. Red for corrections or marks is generally acceptable, but writing their actual name in red is not.
Gift tags and cards: Always use blue, black, or another color for writing names

This is one superstition that virtually all Koreans take seriously, regardless of education level or age. Treat it as a firm cultural rule rather than a casual belief.

Exam Day Superstitions (수능 미신)

The College Scholastic Ability Test (수능, suneung) is Korea's most important university entrance exam, taken by hundreds of thousands of students each November. The culture surrounding this exam has generated some of Korea's most distinctive superstitions, many of which extend to university exam culture generally.

Common Exam Superstitions

Sticky foods for good luck: Yeot (엿, a traditional Korean taffy) and rice cakes (떡) are given to students before exams. The "sticky" quality symbolizes knowledge "sticking" in the brain and the student "sticking" to their desired university.
Seaweed soup avoidance: Seaweed soup (미역국, miyeokguk) is avoided before exams because seaweed is slippery — symbolizing knowledge "sliding" out of your head or "slipping" off the acceptance list.
No washing hair on exam day: Washing your hair might "wash away" your knowledge. Some students extend this to not showering at all.
Forks, not chopsticks: Some students use forks before exams because chopsticks can "drop" food (a symbol of failing), while forks "stab" and hold things firmly.
Praying at temples: Parents of exam-takers flood Buddhist temples in the weeks before suneung to pray for their children's success. This practice crosses religious boundaries — Christian families may also participate.

At University Level

University exam culture inherits some of these practices:

Korean classmates may avoid certain foods before midterms or finals
Study groups sometimes have pre-exam rituals
It is common to wish someone well with "시험 잘 봐!" (Good luck on the exam!) and receive small snack gifts

As an international student, participating in these traditions — or at least acknowledging them — can strengthen your friendships with Korean classmates. Bringing sticky snacks to your study group before finals is a simple, appreciated gesture.

Whistling at Night

An old Korean belief holds that whistling at night summons ghosts or snakes. The origin likely relates to historical practical concerns — whistling in the dark could attract unwanted attention in times when bandits or wild animals were genuine threats.

In modern Korea, this belief has softened considerably, but older Koreans (grandparents' generation) may still react negatively to nighttime whistling. If you live with a Korean host family or have older Korean neighbors, it is worth being aware of this.

Moving Day Superstitions (이사)

If you move apartments during your time in Korea, you may encounter these moving-related beliefs:

Auspicious dates: Some Koreans consult a calendar of lucky days (손 없는 날, "days without spirits") before scheduling a move. Days ending in 9 or 0 are traditionally considered lucky for moving.
First items in: The first things brought into a new home should be positive symbols — rice (wealth), red beans (warding off evil), and cleaning supplies (fresh start).
Sharing rice cakes: It is traditional to give rice cakes (떡) to new neighbors when you move in. This practice is declining in apartment complexes but still common in smaller communities.

For more on the practicalities of moving in Korea, see our moving in and out guide.

Dream Interpretation (해몽)

Koreans place significant meaning on dreams. Dream interpretation is a regular topic of conversation, and many people genuinely adjust their behavior based on dreams. Common interpretations include:

Dreaming of pigs: Considered very lucky — associated with wealth. Many people buy lottery tickets after dreaming of pigs.
Dreaming of ancestors: Interpreted as a message or warning from the spiritual world
Dreaming of teeth falling out: A bad omen, potentially signaling the death of a family member
Dreaming of water: Can be positive (clear water = good fortune) or negative (murky water = trouble)
Dreaming of snakes: Generally considered lucky, especially related to financial gain

If a Korean friend tells you about a dream, take it seriously in conversation. Responding with "That sounds like a lucky dream!" or "What do you think it means?" shows cultural awareness.

Feng Shui Korean Style: Pungsu-jiri (풍수지리)

Korea has its own version of Chinese feng shui called pungsu-jiri. While younger generations are less focused on it, its influence is visible in:

City planning: Seoul's layout was historically determined by pungsu principles, with mountains serving as protective guardians in each cardinal direction
Grave placement: The location of ancestral graves is still taken seriously by many families, with pungsu consultants hired to find auspicious sites
Home layout: Some people consider furniture placement and the direction a bed faces based on pungsu principles

Gifts to Avoid

Korean gift-giving has several superstition-based rules:

Shoes: Giving shoes to a partner means they will "walk away" from you — i.e., the relationship will end
Clocks: Associated with death (the Chinese character for clock sounds like "end" or "death" in some readings). Less observed in Korea than in China, but still worth noting.
Knives or scissors: Symbolize cutting ties. If you must give a knife set (common as housewarming), the recipient should give a small coin in return to "buy" the knife, thus neutralizing the superstition.
Handkerchiefs: Associated with tears and sadness
Sets of 4: Unlucky number (see above)

Good Gifts

Fruit: Especially fruit baskets — a classic Korean gift
Rice cakes: For celebrations and milestones
Health supplements (건강식품): Popular gifts for older people — red ginseng is the gold standard
Cash in odd amounts: Wedding cash gifts should be in odd amounts (50,000, 70,000, 100,000 KRW) because odd numbers cannot be "split" — symbolizing the couple staying together. But avoid 40,000 or 44,000.

Seasonal and Calendar Beliefs

Samjae (삼재): A belief that every person experiences three consecutive years of bad luck on a 12-year cycle (determined by birth year). People in their samjae years may be more cautious and visit temples or shamans for protection rituals.
Lunar New Year and Chuseok fortune: Many Koreans check their yearly fortune (운세) at the start of the lunar new year, often through traditional fortune tellers (점쟁이) or, increasingly, online and app-based fortune services.
Gwansang (관상): Face reading. Some Koreans believe facial features reveal personality and destiny. You may occasionally hear comments connecting facial features to character traits.

Shamanism and Folk Religion (무속신앙)

Underlying many Korean superstitions is a shamanistic tradition that predates Buddhism and Christianity in Korea. Korean shamanism (무속, musok) involves:

Mudang (무당): Shamans, predominantly female, who act as intermediaries between the living and spiritual world
Gut (굿): Shamanistic rituals involving music, dance, and offerings. While less common in daily life, these rituals are still performed for important life events, business openings, and to resolve persistent bad luck.
Mountain spirits: Korean folk religion venerates mountain spirits (산신), which is why you will find small shrines in many Korean mountains, even within Buddhist temple grounds.

Understanding this shamanistic foundation helps explain why superstitious practices coexist so comfortably with modern Korean life. They are not remnants of ignorance — they are threads of a deep cultural heritage.

How to Approach Korean Superstitions as an International Student

Respect without necessarily adopting. You do not need to believe in fan death or blood type personality, but showing respect for these beliefs is essential.
Learn the firm rules. Red ink names, gifts of 4, and shoes as gifts — these are not casual preferences. They can genuinely offend.
Engage lightly with the fun ones. Blood type conversations, dream interpretations, and exam day snacks are excellent ways to bond with Korean peers.
Never mock. Even beliefs that seem scientifically unfounded are held sincerely by many people. Mockery creates distance and can damage relationships.
Ask questions genuinely. Koreans generally enjoy explaining their culture to interested international students. Asking "Why do people avoid the number 4?" as a genuine question opens conversations.

For more on navigating Korean cultural norms, visit our cultural adjustment guide for international students.

Superstitions as Cultural Windows

Every superstition tells you something about the culture that produced it. Korean superstitions reveal a society that values harmony, respects ancestors, takes relationships seriously, and maintains a connection to its pre-modern roots even as it races toward the technological future. They reflect a worldview where the seen and unseen are interconnected, where language and symbolism carry real weight, and where community norms matter more than individual rationalism.

As an international student, these beliefs are not obstacles to navigate around. They are doorways into deeper understanding. The student who learns to say "That sounds like a lucky dream!" and brings sticky rice cakes before finals will build friendships that the student who dismisses Korean beliefs as "unscientific" never will.

Embrace the cultural richness. It is one of the best parts of studying abroad.

For more insights on student life and cultural immersion in Korea, explore our student life resource hub.