Short Korean Lessons

This post will interest the linguists. It coincides with my taking an intensive Korean language course during February here at Ewha. Here I depict and picture two words through which my English readers may find some deeper-reaching lens into today's Korean thought world.

First, Woori (우리)

Literally, it means "ours". I wonder if Western, native-English speakers (and I am one!) will ever "get" this concept-word. In East Asian/Confucian culture in general, and in Korea specifically, "me," "mine" and the "self" are second-fiddled to the collective "we" and "ours." The splinter of self usually snags the larger fabric of a collective society. 

Perhaps you may feel more confident when you bank at "Our Bank" (below)... 

... Or (above) put your money in "Our [Bank's] Investment and Securities" 

(Look for the "우리" in these pictures)

"Our University," in this case Yonsei University, one of the top three in the nation.

Above: "Our distinctive Kalbi," a kind of steak. 

I feel better shopping at "Our Agricultural Marketing Center". It feels to me that there is a collective trust and integrity to the establishment.

I need help with this one from a native speaker: "Our Wheat" is somehow connected to a National Policy which, I presume, guarantees its safety.

The last picture is of a nearby chicken restaurant: 

"Our House of Chicken Crackers"

I am told that when a man introduces what a Westerner would call "his" or "my" wife to someone, he really introduces her here thus: "Meet our wife" (The situation is not reversed, however: She cannot introduce him as "Our husband.")

The good news: Woori (우리) conveys a sense that we are all in the same chain of responsibility, so what you do to one link affects everyone else. 

The bad news: One Korean national (a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology) heard that I was considering this blog, and mentioned right away that when she heard Woori she felt more able to hide from responsibility behind the anonymous face of the crowd. (Can anyone say, "Ring of Gyges"?)

Woori: It's all a collective "We." This is hard to "get," but worthwhile to meditate upon! 

Second word - 이야기: "Story" or "Conversation"

This word can also indicate "tale," "narrative," "history," "talk," "topic" and "statement." I notice this often in signage, but I am not sure I understand it all the time:

I love it, but what does it mean?

Above and Below are from the same "Beautiful Tea Museum" in the Insa-Dong district. 

Storyways are everywhere for the traveler: in rest stops, train, bus and subway stations.

Do I understand why "Story" is so prevalent in business and public conversation? No! I call upon my Korean readers to offer their ideas.

And finally, one more picture, that incorporates both words: "Our + Story"

May our stories be good ones!

Marc