MARUhttps://readmaru.com/Korea’s living room — stories explained by Koreans, in your languageenWear Hanbok, Walk In Free: Seoul's Palace Rules, Explainedhttps://readmaru.com/hanbok-free-palace-entry/https://readmaru.com/hanbok-free-palace-entry/Yes: hanbok wearers enter Seoul's four main palaces and Jongmyo Shrine free. You need a jeogori plus skirt or pants; the Secret Garden needs a ticket.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900The Birthday Soup That Is Really a Thank-You to Momhttps://readmaru.com/seaweed-soup-birthday/https://readmaru.com/seaweed-soup-birthday/Koreans eat seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) on birthdays because mothers eat it after giving birth, so the bowl honors your mom. Here is the full story.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Two Hands and a Turned Head: Drinking With Elders in Koreahttps://readmaru.com/drinking-etiquette-korea/https://readmaru.com/drinking-etiquette-korea/Korean drinking etiquette: pour and receive with two hands, turn away from elders to sip, never fill your own glass. Plus what is changing today.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900“Have You Eaten?” The Korean Greeting That Really Means “I Care”https://readmaru.com/have-you-eaten-greeting/https://readmaru.com/have-you-eaten-greeting/Koreans ask “Have you eaten?” (밥 먹었어?) the way others say “How are you?” Here's what it means, where it may come from, and how to answer it.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Oppa, Unni, Hyung, Noona: Why Koreans Call Friends Familyhttps://readmaru.com/what-does-oppa-mean/https://readmaru.com/what-does-oppa-mean/Oppa means 'older brother' when a woman says it, and is also used for older male friends, boyfriends and idols. How oppa, hyung, unni and noona work.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Why Koreans Had Three Ages — and Which One Counts Nowhttps://readmaru.com/korean-age-explained/https://readmaru.com/korean-age-explained/Since June 28, 2023, Korea uses international age by default. Here's how Korean age and year age work, and where year age still applies.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900The Missing Fourth Floor: Why Koreans Tiptoe Around the Number 4https://readmaru.com/number-4-unlucky-korea/https://readmaru.com/number-4-unlucky-korea/In Korea, 4 is read sa, just like the Sino-Korean word for death (死). That's why elevators show F and some buildings skip the 4th floor.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Not in Red: Why Koreans Never Write a Living Person's Name in Redhttps://readmaru.com/red-ink-names-korea/https://readmaru.com/red-ink-names-korea/Koreans avoid writing a living person's name in red ink because red has long been linked to the names of the dead. Here's why, and what to use instead.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Ppalli-ppalli: Inside Korea's Everyday Love Affair With Speedhttps://readmaru.com/ppalli-ppalli-culture/https://readmaru.com/ppalli-ppalli-culture/Ppalli-ppalli (빨리빨리) means "hurry, hurry": Korea's habit of speed in delivery, service and paperwork, rooted in rapid growth, now met by a slow-down push.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900Banchan: Why a Korean Meal Arrives With a Table Full of Little Plateshttps://readmaru.com/banchan-side-dishes/https://readmaru.com/banchan-side-dishes/Banchan are the small side dishes served with rice at every Korean meal. They count as part of the meal, so they come free, and refills usually do too.Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0900