Similar to many Asian cultures, specific numbers are said to be associated with luck and prosperity. In Korea, numbers like 8, 9, and 3 are often considered lucky.
Coincidently or not, in Korea, there are also lucky numbers, like 7, which are believed to bring good luck, and bad numbers like 4, which are widely avoided.
3 is one of the luckiest numbers according to Korean superstitions. First, many may be aware of the sacred meaning of the number “3” in Christianity. Korea is actually a very Christian country, and so many believe that it is a holy number. Additionally, this number also occurs several times in Korean mythology.
Koreans find the number 4 unlucky because it is associated with death. Numbers 3, 8 and 9 are considered lucky numbers, according to the blog, 90 Day Korean.
Examples of Korean superstitions
The number 4 is a symbol of bad luck. In elevators, the letter F indicates the fourth floor instead of the number 4.
Every culture has a number considered unlucky because of superstitions. In the United States it's 13. In South Korea, it's four.
After the Korean War, red came to be perceived as the color of communism, thus gaining a negative connotation, but since the 2002 World Cup, it has become a symbol of passion and the color that promotes social cohesion.
Military aircraft and ships also avoid the number 4 (such as in the South Korean and Taiwanese navies). Dates such as 4 April are also avoided for appointments and the like.
This is traditionally taboo because the color red to Koreans used to symbolize death. The belief was that if a person's name was written in red, death or bad luck would come soon.
The number seven is usually the overwhelming favorite. Why is that? In many cultures around the world, seven is considered a lucky number. This probably explains the affinity many people feel for the number seven.
In Japan, the two main lucky numbers are seven (七) and eight (八). Curiously, unlike four, the reasons behind the two's luck have nothing to do with their pronunciation. Seven is a lucky number in Japan largely because of its significance in Buddhism. Additionally, seven is used with the Seven Gods of Luck (七福神).
Bats. The number one on our Korean animals symbolism list is the bat! These winged mammals represent good fortune, despite many people being frightened by them. They became symbols of good luck because the Chinese ideogram for "bat" is pronounced the same as the Korean "good fortune."
Due to these unlucky connotations, the numbers 4 and 9 are often pronounced yon and kyuu instead. The number 13 is occasionally thought of as unlucky, although this is imported from Western culture.
Korean Lucky Numbers
Similar to many Asian cultures, specific numbers are said to be associated with luck and prosperity. In Korea, numbers like 8, 9, and 3 are often considered lucky.
North Korea's ruling family are claimed to be superstitious and so the Command's designation number is in reference to the numerological construct "9 and 6+3=9" (double nine), the number "9" being considered lucky.
The numbers 2, 3, 6, and 8 are generally considered to be lucky, while 4 is considered unlucky. These traditions are not unique to Chinese culture, with other countries with a history of Han characters also having similar beliefs stemming from these concepts.
Love, passion, and romance are all connected to the color red. It is also linked to war, ruthlessness, and violence. The balance of red and blue has great meaning in Korean culture.
Traditionally, Koreans thought of gray, taupe, beige, and brown as 'unclean' colors.
The term "samjae" means three years of misfortune, based on zodiac birth signs. In the old days, people attributed samjae to the disasters of war, infectious disease and famine. It also implied calamities such as fire, flood and wind.
Many Chinese people do not want the number FOUR in their house number or phone number. But: FOUR is a lucky number in Europe, North America and Australia. The FOUR-leaf clover is a symbol of luck.
12. “Go Go” This fun song with an irresistible dance was banned for its use of slang. “Go Go” was also released on BTS's Love Yourself: Her.
Two cities in Russia, Makhachkala, Dagestan and Grozny, Chechnya, banned the film from being released after people protested it online due to "over-the-top immoral behavior" as they believed BTS showcased homosexual behavior. They made no further comment afterward.
These five colors are blue, red, white, black, and yellow. You will find these colors to be prominent in 'Hanbok' (Korean traditional attire), Korean paintings, musical instruments and festivals, architecture, flags and traditional symbols, and of course – Korean food!
But perhaps the answer lies in the significance of the color red in Korean culture. According to the National Folk Museum of Korea, “For a long time, the color red has been believed to have shamanistic power for warding off evil spirits or bad luck.
Culture and traditional Korean colours
Traditionally, blue symbolises creativity, immortality and hope; white symbolises chastity, truth, innocence and death; red symbolises the sun, fire, production, creation, passion and love; black symbolises existence; yellow symbolises light and essence of vitality [25].