Is it rude to write in red in Korea? (2023)

Why can't Koreans write in red?

These are some common superstitions in Korea: Writing names in red is thought to bring bad omens, including failure and death. This shamanistic belief originated in China as red calligraphy was reserved for execution decrees. This shamanistic belief may have spread to Korea while it was a vassal state of China.

It's wise for foreigners in Korea to adhere to the proper use of red ink, so if you want to respect this Korean superstition, remember these rules for using red ink: 1. Feel free to write using a red pen. Writing in red is permissible only if a living person's name is not mentioned.

No red ink!

Another South Korean superstition centres around the use of red ink in pens, especially if you're writing people's names. Basically, AVOID AVOID AVOID! In South Korea, writing someone's name in red ink means the person is about to die or is already dead.

I do not think that handwriting text in red ink is generally thought of as “rude” as in loutish, ill-mannered, or socially disapproved. For writing that is purely for one's own personal use, the choice of ink color is irrelevant, since no one else but the writer will be expected to read it.

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.

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.

Writing one's name in red ink is a cultural taboo in China and Korea as the meaning is traditionally associated with the end of life, indicating death to be exact. In Japan, people also avoid writing names in red for the same reason, but it is not an absolute taboo.

Writing names in red ink is a death threat

Therefore, writing someone's name in red ink meant they had either passed away, or, if they were still living, you were wishing harm or death upon them. While this is no longer the case, many Koreans still consider it very rude to write someone's name in red ink.

Signing a check or endorsing the back of a check in red ink could trigger trouble by delaying payment of the check. In extreme instances of fraud prevention, it could even void the check's validity. “Red ink has been considered a warning color since the Cold War era,” says Angleton.

The teachers in Australia have been asked to stop using red pen to mark students' work as it can harm their mental health.

Is it OK to use red pen?

Red pens have traditionally been used by teachers when grading papers – ostensibly to make their comments and markings stand out from the original work – but this new research suggests that the use of a red pen may convey unintentional negative emotions.

Subconsciously, the meanings of color transfer over to other aspects of our lives. So it comes as no surprise that some schools are banning the use of red pens. Red ink inadvertently gives students the idea that the teacher has the final say and triggers them to scan their papers for their final grade.

Among the sea of blacks and neutrals common in most formal business settings, bright red does seem to be a good way to grab attention—but not all attention is good attention.

It's vital that you consider professional colors when it comes to filling out any professional forms. You don't want to use red or purple or green. To be safe, you are better off using blue or black ink. But determining which color is acceptable doesn't have to be tricky.

RED is a dominant color that can represent passion and aggression, depending on how you use it.

The five elements of life are wood (blue), fire (red), earth (yellow), metal (white) and water (black). All of these elements – and all of these colors – were considered necessary for a healthy, prosperous, and long life. More recently, green has also come to be used commonly alongside the five original colors.

In South Korea, it's four. The reason behind the fear of the number four, known as tetraphobia, lies in the way it sounds. The Korean word for "four" sounds much like their word for "death." Some elevators in South Korea do not have the number 4.

Red is a popular color in Chinese culture, symbolizing luck, joy, and happiness. It also represents celebration, vitality, and fertility in traditional Chinese color symbolism. Red is the traditional color worn by Chinese brides, as it is believed to ward off evil.

In many non-human primate species, a display of red by a female serves as a sexual signal to attract male conspecifics. Red is associated with sex and romance in humans, and women convey their sexual interest to men through a variety of verbal, postural, and behavioral means.

What is Korea's national color?

The Korean flag is called taegeukgi (pronounced teh-GUK-key). The colors of the flag are red, blue, and black on a white background. The flag stands for the three components of a nation: the land (the white background), the people (the red and blue circle), and the government (the four sets of black bars or trigrams).

A 2009 color study from the University of British Columbia (UBC) revealed that the color red “boosted performance on detail-oriented tasks such as memory retrieval and proofreading by as much as 31 percent compared to blue.” According to Juliet Zhu, co-author of the study, red is a color often associated with danger ...

In China, there is a big red ink taboo when it comes to writing other people's names using red ink (pen).

Writing names in red pen is still considered rude and disrespectful, although many don't know why red ink came to be something bad. So if you visit Japan, it'd be a good idea to keep these in mind just in case. And you can try making a teru teru bouzu to keep the rain away during your travels!

For some, red ink can spark a potentially serious allergic reaction, turning the tattoo experience into a nightmare. Pimple-like bumps, blisters, and raised, scaly patches that flake off can appear. There could also be a watery discharge from the site.

Since the year 2000, senior bureaucrats of the level of Joint Secretary and above were given the liberty to writes notes on files in red/green ink while junior bureaucrats could only write notes in blue or black ink.

Understanding Red Ink

Red falls under the latter category and is said to signify everything from energy, passion, and sexuality to aggression, danger, violence, and war.

While both are acceptable, many people consider blue the optimal choice. The reasoning behind this is that the color will stand out among the walls of black text on the document while still being dark enough to read. Blue ink also indicates that the document is an original and not a copy.

Those working with children also agree that the colour red has a lasting negative impact. “Many students who come in for therapy have a common complaint that their paper is full of red marks. The brain associates red colour with mistakes and danger and it stays with one through the years.

Ink from pens, markers, highlighters, etc., is considered minimally toxic and in such a small quantity that it's commonly not a poisoning concern. Symptoms are typically a stained skin or tongue and, although unlikely, mild stomach upset.

Can teachers mark in red pen?

Some mix it up depending on who they are writing for, using purple as a teacher but green for peer or self-assessment. Red is preferred here, with the caveat that green needs to be used as a moderator when you're checking the work of the marker.

So, what ink color is officially legal? All colors will work. However, avoid colors other than black or blue, as copying can wash out lighter ink colors. Certain government entities require black ink, while others require blue ink.

Symbol of negativity

“The color of the message should not be the issue.” In many other schools, it's black and white when it comes to red. The color has become so symbolic of negativity that some principals and teachers will not touch it. “You could hold up a paper that says 'Great work!

Overall, the blue color scheme was perceived as most trustworthy and black as least trustworthy.

It's important to note that regardless of hair color, people can do their jobs just the same. They are not going to be any less intelligent or less professional than people with pink or purple hair. If anything, allowing for colorful expression can inspire more people to be their authentic, unapologetic selves.

The mean of male respondents for high-chroma and medium-value red was the highest among the different shades of red. Female respondents also evaluated high-chroma and medium-value red as the most attractive red compared to the others.

Another deadly Korean superstition is writing a living person's name in red ink. Traditional Korean culture uses red to write the names of the dead and doing the opposite (writing the names of the living) is a big no-no and considered very unlucky and potentially life threatening.

You may use colored cards and envelopes for mailing (as well as different ink colors) if there is no interference with the reading of the information or postmark. First and foremost, the mailing recipient's information should be clear and legible.

RED helps learners remember facts and figures. Red on white is easiest to read. But a little goes a long way so use red sparingly.

Those working with children also agree that the colour red has a lasting negative impact. “Many students who come in for therapy have a common complaint that their paper is full of red marks. The brain associates red colour with mistakes and danger and it stays with one through the years.

Why not write names in red?

Writing one's name in red ink is a cultural taboo in China and Korea as the meaning is traditionally associated with the end of life, indicating death to be exact. In Japan, people also avoid writing names in red for the same reason, but it is not an absolute taboo.

Blood type in Korea is not classified differently from ours, and is therefore divided into groups A, B, AB and 0. However, it is believed in Korea that blood type influences one's personality and therefore the way one behaves towards others, much like the zodiac signs.

Red pens have traditionally been used by teachers when grading papers – ostensibly to make their comments and markings stand out from the original work – but this new research suggests that the use of a red pen may convey unintentional negative emotions.

Another deadly Korean superstition is writing a living person's name in red ink. Traditional Korean culture uses red to write the names of the dead and doing the opposite (writing the names of the living) is a big no-no and considered very unlucky and potentially life threatening.

Red-ink people like being the center of attention. They are energetic, emotionally passionate, and enjoy the limelight. Their creativity leads them to new things. They are not afraid to show their emotions, and they love the physical aspects of life.

This myth is still popular and even if some don't believe this myth to be true is it still considered rude to write a living person's name in red ink. Also, you are still able to write in red ink as long as a name isn't included.

Soo Choi 💜 (REST) on Twitter: "TMI: Blood type of @BTS_twt RM, Jhope, Jimin & Jungkook : A Jin and Suga : O V : AB" / Twitter.

They know how to control their emotions very well, giving others a great impression of being stable and under control. Research in Korea indicates that blood type O is the most prefered blood type by CEOs and coworkers because of the traits mentioned above.

In terms of demographics, around 34 percent of the Korean population are Type A and 28 percent are Type O, while 27 percent are Type B. Type AB accounts for the remaining 11 percent, according to the pollster.