Introduction to Korean Greetings and Cultural Insights

Overview

• Congratulations on completing the Korean alphabet, 한글.
• Introduction to basic Korean phrases: "hello" and "goodbye."

Brief Introduction to Korea

• Originally one country, split at the end of the Korean War (1950-1953).
• Languages spoken in both North and South Korea, with minor differences (similar to American vs. British English).
• South Korea in Korean: 한국
  • Population: over 50 million.
  • Capital city: 서울 (Seoul).
• Language: 한국어 (Hangul/Korean language).
• Korean sentence structure: Subject, Object, Verb (SOV).
  • Example: "I eat pizza" (English) vs. "I pizza eat" (Korean).

Politeness Levels in Korean

• Different ways of saying "hello" depending on the relationship:
  • 안녕 (Annyeong): Informal, for close friends or someone the same age or younger.
  • 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo): Formal, for everyone else; bowing is customary.
• Concept of age in Korea:
  • Korean age: Born at 1 year old; everyone gains a year on January 1st.
  • Calculation: Current year - Birth year + 1.

Saying Goodbye in Korean

• Similar rules as saying hello:
  • 안녕 (Annyeong): Goodbye to close friends, same age or younger.
  • 안녕히 가세요 (Annyeonghi gaseyo): "Go in peace," said when someone is leaving.
  • 안녕히 계세요 (Annyeonghi gyeseyo): "Stay in peace," said when you are leaving.

Conversation Practice

• Formal conversation:
  • Minwoo: "안녕하세요."
  • Seon-ah: "안녕하세요."
  • Minwoo: "안녕히 가세요."
  • Seon-ah: "안녕히 계세요."
• Informal conversation between close friends:
  • "안녕, 안녕, 안녕, 안녕."

Summary

• Learned how to say hello and goodbye in different social contexts.
• Practice the phrases learned in this lesson.
• Closing remark: "그럼 다음에 또 봐!" ("Then see you again next time!")