Where does your enthusiasm for Korea actually come from? This is a question that I am asked again and again and which I will answer here - knowing myself in great detail.
It started – of course – in Romania
I have now been learning Korean for almost 5 years. (Wait, it's been that long? 😅) It all started in Romania in 2019 (you can read more about my volunteer service there here if you're that motivated). I was often sick, spent a lot of time in bed and spent a lot of time on YouTube. The algorithm threw Korean content at my feet and I dove in. “Oh, the language sounds nice. I wonder if it's hard to learn Korean.” And before I knew it, I had already started learning the Korean alphabet 한글 (pronounced Hangüll). This is actually very easy.
Fun fact: The Korean alphabet consists of 24 letters that look a bit like they were planned on the drawing board, e.g. ㄴ (N) ㅁ (M) ㄷ (D) ㄱ (G) ㅂ (B) ㅏ(A). This could be because the alphabet was developed in roughly the same way, by King Sejong around 1443. During the Japanese occupation (1905-1945), the Korean language and writing were banned.
세종 대왕, i.e. “King Sejong” is written at the front. The alphabet is on the left side of the base. The father of the Korean alphabet sits in the middle of Gwanghwamun Square in the heart of Seoul.
The door to the treasury
Apart from the food, I had never been particularly interested in Asia before. Due to my studies of Romance languages, my interest to date has been more in Europe. That's why it was as if I had now opened the door to a secret treasure trove. Everything I learned was new and different (and sometimes a little strange), and I found that incredibly exciting.
During my time in Romania (and in the Corona months after) I had more free time than I had in a long time, and I used it to enthusiastically throw myself into getting to know the language and culture. “As long as the enthusiasm lasts, I will continue,” that was my decision. Yes, and almost 5 years later I still pore over my books in the evenings and am happy when I understand something new!
And what are you doing with it now?
Learning a language is never free. You get to know people, places, food (!!!) that you would never have known before. Seen this way, the picture of the treasury fits perfectly. My Korean friend, who is now studying in Dresden, or my internet friend from the online Korean course, with whom I met for dinner in Hanover, are just two examples of what I have gained through the language.
분식 Bunsik ("bun-fancy", meaning snack food) is just one of the reasons why it was worth immersing yourself in Korean culture.
And even if it's clear to me that I definitely never want to live and work in Korea (keyword "work-work balance"), and we can put the issue of the Korean Prince-Not-so-Charming aside, do it I just enjoy delving further into the language and culture.
And that's why I'm looking forward to attending a language school in Seoul for three weeks in May and then exploring one or two of my favorite places on my own. Four weeks in Korea – and this time all alone. I would be happy if you would join me digitally here!
