The Korean-Speaking Communities: Daily Life, Leisure and Traditions
What you must know
This domain moves from your own life to Korean community life: shopping and transport (지하철, 편의점, 시장, 카드, 현금), leisure (영화, 축구, 등산, 노래방, 여행), and traditions and celebrations (설날, 추석, 한복, 세배, 떡국, 송편, 차례). Learn the calendar words (설날은 음력 일월 일일) and the fixed phrases used on these days (새해 복 많이 받으세요, 잘 먹겠습니다, 잘 먹었습니다).
Cultural concepts examiners expect
- Age and hierarchy shape language: school years (중학교 1학년) and the senior/junior relationship behind honorifics.
- Food as identity: 떡국 on New Year's Day, 송편 at Chuseok, 김치 with most meals; the question often asks why a food is eaten, not just its name.
- Respectful behaviour: two hands when giving or receiving, bowing, older person eats first.
- Modern daily life: delivery apps, convenience stores, PC방, study hours - texts often contrast old and new customs.
Traps
- Lunar versus solar dates: 설날 and 추석 follow the lunar calendar; dates change each year. Never state a fixed solar date.
- Confusing 설날 customs (세배, 떡국) with 추석 customs (송편, 성묘, 강강술래).
- Politeness in invitations: 같이 갈래요? is casual; 함께 가시겠어요? is formal.
- Reading texts may describe a custom and ask for its purpose or meaning, so practise summarising in one sentence.
- Numbers in prices: 만 원 means ten thousand won, not one thousand.
Worked example
A short text says: “추석에는 가족이 모두 할머니 댁에 모입니다. 그리고 송편을 만들어요.” Question: What do they make? The distractors are 떡국 and 김치. Match the holiday to the food: 추석 → 송편. Answer: 송편.
Rule of thumb
For every festival, memorise a three-part card: when (calendar), what people do, what food they eat. Most questions draw on one of these three slots.