How do you make Korean friends?

Shona Yang and Harry Jun from Say Kimchi

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As Australian-born Koreans, it can be difficult to make friends with other Koreans. Sometimes it’s because there simply aren’t many Korean people in the area you live in, sometimes it’s because you can only understand Korean, but not speak it very well. In this final episode of the season, Shona and Harry share their journey in finding and making Korean friends. They recount their experiences navigating uniquely Korean cultural dynamics such as the sunbae/ hoobae (senior/ junior) dynamic, honorific language, and showing respect to your elders. Shona and Harry each recall the first Korean friends they ever made, and offer some advice for anyone who may want to connect with Korean culture and communities.

Say Kimchi is a podcast about Korean culture but not as you know it. Hosts Shona Yang and Harry Jun offer a snapshot of Korean culture through a Korean-Australian lens.

How do you make Korean friends? Do you need to speak Korean? What if, when growing up, you only learnt to understand it, but can’t speak it? What if there just aren’t any Korean people in the community you live in?

Shona and Harry each share their experiences in navigating the complex terrain of making Korean friends as Australian Born Koreans.

Shona made her first Korean friends in high school, and shares her journey in navigating the sunbae/ hoobae (senior/ junior) hierarchy in Korean society. Did you know that in Korean, your language changes when addressing people who are older than you? In Korean we call this jondaemal (formal language) and it is important to use this, or you may be considered rude.

Harry made his first Korean friends in university during an event held by his university’s Korean social club. It was a retreat called an MT, which in Korean is supposed to stand for Membership Training, but is really an excuse for uni students to eat, drink and get to know each other.

If you’re ready to make your first Korean friend but don’t know how, Harry and Shona share some tips. Attending Korean events such as those hosted by the

Korean Cultural Centre

can be a great start in making Korean friends, and also reconnecting with Korean culture and communities.

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