Do Koreans celebrate Christmas?

Happy holidays! Many of our viewers were curious about how Koreans celebrate Christmas or if they even celebrate it at all. The answer lies in KWOW episode 70:

Professor Oh and friends had a conversation in Korean regarding their trip to the North Pole. When watching a video in a foreign language, there’s only time to read the subtitle. Here is the conversation written text for you to study at your own personal pace :)

BILLY JIN:
와~! 드디어 집에 왔다!
Wah~! Deudiyeoh jibeh watdah!
Yay~! We’re finally back home.

PROFESSOR OH: 빌리, 내 소중한 친구야!
Beel-lee, nae sojoonghan chingooya!
Billy, my precious friend!

보고싶었어.
Bogoshipuhssuh.
I missed you!

여행은 어땠어?
Yeohaengeun uhddaessuh?
How was your trip?

어서 다 말해줘.
Uhsuh da malhaejwo.
Tell me everything.

BILLY JIN:
북극은 진짜 추워.
Bookgookeun jinjja chuwuh.
The North Pole is really cold.

그리고 노래방이 하나도 없었어.
Geurigo noraebangi hanado upsussuh.
And there were no *noraebangs.

*Noraebang = karaoke.

TAEKWON DO:
하지만 고기 집이 딱 한개 있더라고.
Hajiman gogi jeepi ddak hangae eetduhrago.
However there was just one barbeque restaurant.

산타 할아버지랑 갈비를 맛있게 먹었어.
Santa harabuhjirang galbireul massheetgeh mugussuh.
I deliciously enjoyed Korean BBQ with Santa Claus.

배가 너무 불러서 움직이질 못해서 스타크래프트를 했지.
Baega nuhmu boolluhsuh oomjigijil mothaesuh seutakeuraepeuteureul haetji.
We were so full we couldn’t move, so we played Starcraft.

산타 할아버지가 나보다 더 잘하시더라.
Santa harabuhjiga naboda duh jalhashidurah.
Santa Claus is better at it than me.

나보다 더 한국사람 같으셔!
Naboda duh hangooksaram gateushyeo!
He seems more Korean than me!

GRANNY BONGJA:
난 산타 할머니랑 친한 친구가 됐어.
Nan Santa halmonirang chinhan chingooga dwaessuh.
Grandma Claus and I became close friends.

나만큼은 아니지만 머리에 볼륨이 꽤 있으시더라고.
Namankeumeun anijiman muhriae bollyoomee ggwae isseushiduhrago.
Though not as much as me, her hair has quite a lot of volume.

근데 나보단 쿠키는 잘 굽더라… Geundeh nabodan kookineun jal goopduhra. She bakes better cookies than me though…

GRANNY KIM:
난 미스터 그린씨를 절대로 잊지 못 할거야.
Nan meseutuh geureensshireul jeoldaro eetji mot halguhya.
I will never forget Mr. Green.

그 요정 양반이 파티를 좀 할줄 알더라.
Geu yojung yangbanee pahteereul jom halkool ahlduhra.
That elf knows how to party.

미스터 그린씨를 내 크리스마스 선물로 달라고 산타 할아버지 한테 부탁했지롱!
Meseutuh geureensshireul nae keureeseumaseu sunmoollo dallago santa harabuhji hanteh bootakhaessjirong!
I asked Santa Claus to get me Mr. Green for Christmas!

PROFESSOR OH:
모두들 즐거운 시간 보내셨군요.
Modoodeul jeulguhoon shigan bonaeshyeotgoonyo.
Sounds like you all had good time!

다음엔 제가 꼭 따라가겠어요.
Daeumehn jega ggok ddaragagessuhyo.
Next time I’m going with you for sure.

BILLY JIN: 선물 갖고 왔어. 열어봐.
Sunmool gatgo wassuh. Yeoluhbwa.
I brought you a present. Open it.

너가 좋아할 것 같아. 싫으면 나한테 줘.
Nuhga joahal gut gata. Shireumyun nahanteh jwo.
I think you will like it. If you don’t like it, then give it to me.

PROFESSOR OH:
와~ 참 귀엽다! 산타 할아버지 모자네.
Wah~ Cham gwiyeopda! Santa harabuhji mojaneh.
Wow~ It’s very cute! It’s a Santa Claus hat.

고마워, 빌리. 어때? 나한테 잘 어울려?
Gomawo, Billy. Uhddae? Nahanteh jal uhoollyu?
Thanks, Billy! What do you think? Does it suit well with me?

BILLY JIN:
응, 아주 아주 잘 어울려!
Eung, aju aju jal uhoollyu.
Yes, it suits very, very well on you.

입을 때 마다 내 생각해!
Eebeul ddae mada nae saenggakhae!
Think of me when you wear it.

Hope you enjoyed this latest episode of KWOW. Stay cozy and spend lots of quality time with family and friends this winter! 메리 크리스마스! Merry Christmas! See you in two weeks :)

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Snacks that Look Like Intestines (Snack Tub Korea #4)

Today we eat Soybean Tofu Snack (소이빈 두부스낵) and Wellbin Tofu Snack (웰빈 두부과자). Both look like intestines, but do they taste like it? Only one way to find out: dive into Professor Oh's snack tub!

The Soybean Tofu Snack is mostly bland however becomes increasingly addicting with each succeeding bite. The minimal drops sprinkled black sesame seeds are all for show. If I were to develop this snack, I'd toss in an extra handful of toasted black sesame seeds for each bag. Then rename it as "Toasty Tofu Snack." Has a nice ring to it. Abbreviation: TTS. Why do those letters sound familiar? Oh yeah, TTS also stands for "TaeTiSeo," the cute sub-group of the wink-a-licious Girls' Generation.

Just like the previous bag of tofu crackers, the Wellbin Tofu Snack (WTS) contains a lot of air in it. WTS is thicker, slightly softer and also contains black sesame seeds. Both snacks taste like cardboard.

From a kid's perspective, both tofu snacks get 2 out of 5 kpop stars. From an adults set of taste buds, 4 out of 5 kpop stars.

Time for some improv cooking. This week we create Tofu Crouton Salad. Simple. Make a salad and toss in those crunchy pieces of cardboard!

Happy responsible snacking! Don't forget to eat your veggies before and after :)

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HONEY FINGERS: Jjangeya & Jjangu (Snack Tub Korea #3)

Today we eat Jjangeya (짱이야) and Jjangu (짱구). Both look like round pumpkins without a top nor bottom and were created in the 1970s. It's the battle of the Jjangs. If you watched KWOW #41, then you know that jjang (짱) means "best." Which snack knocks out the other? Only one way to find out: dive into Professor Oh's snack tub!

The fun and right (yet not necessarily most efficient) way to enjoy these crackers is by placing them on the tips of your fingers. Then one at a time, crunch on the pieces.

Jjangeya is glazed with sesame seeds and looks sweeter than it tastes. Fruits are more flavorful than Jjangeya! From a child's point of view, 4 out of 5 kpop stars, due to the playfulness. From an adult's perspective, 2 out of 5 kpop stars.

Jjangu is a more developed version of Jjangeya. It's sweeter, thus more tastier. Dear Jjangu, you get 5 out of 5 kpop stars.

This week we make... JJANG SCRAMBLED EGG!

I can't say it was the "best" scrambled egg I've ever had, but it was definitely one of the most unique.

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