He y’all! We’re back from a short year end vacation with a new Korea Q&A! Questions include: “Are celebrities easily spotted in Seoul?” ”Why do Koreans laugh the way they do?” “Why do Korean men touch each other?” “What’s up with ‘flower boys’?” “Do Korean men actually pull/drag girls by their wrists like in Korean dramas?”

Are celebrities easily spotted in Seoul?

Celebrity sightings aren’t as common as they used to be. Back when kpop was just starting out (circa late 90′s, early 2000′s), they were easily seen in one area: Apgujeong-dong. But now that they’re international superstars, they’ve got bodyguards and super fancy Starcraft vans to take them around. If you see one of those vans, that means your favorite boy band is probably inside or close by. But actually seeing them in and about Seoul going grocery shopping or something isn’t as common as it used to be. Sorry sasaeng fans!

Why do Koreans laugh the way they do?

Korean girls tend to cover their mouths when they laugh because it’s seen as more lady like. Instead of a hearty sailor-like guffaw, it’s a cute lady-like “tee-hee.” Aside from that, Koreans also tend to clap loudly, slap their own legs, or hit other people when they’re laughing hysterically. It’s common throughout the peninsula, and we have no idea why. Watch out for overly excitable Koreans that love to slap friends with funny jokes.

Why do Korean men touch each other?

Touching among the same sex in Korea is pretty common, especially with older Korean men who are under the influence of alcohol. We all need a few drinks to tell our bro “I love you,” and that’s no different in Korea. But walk down the streets in any business district at night and you’ll see plenty of older men hand-in-hand expressing their love to their homeboys. In Korea, it’s just a very innocent way of showing affection to each other.

What’s up with ‘flower boys’?

Flower boys (꽃미남) is a description for super pretty Korean men. They’re usually seen in dramas and on Mnet countdown with heavy makeup, which result in perfect faces. But that’s the entertainment business. In everyday Korea, it’s rare to see men with makeup (although it does happen). But there definitely are pretty boys. And in Korea, it certainly is a type that women like. Everyone has their own taste. And face pack using flower boys are just one type of men.

Do Korean men actually pull/drag girls by their wrists like in Korean dramas?

Korean dramas are.. well.. dramatic. Someone’s either dying, caught in a lie, cross-dressing, etc, and that means the situations are pretty dramatic. Sure the hand wrist drag is totally plausible, but to be honest, there’s not many situations where it calls for a wrist grab/pull. If you do have situations where the wrist grab/pull is common in your life, you should write your own movie script.