"During lunch at work, a close colleague handed me their wedding invitation, and we ended up talking about the preparation for the wedding. Surprisingly, they told me that they had done 궁합[gung-hap] before deciding to get married. It’s a fortune-telling practice where you analyze the compatibility between the bride and groom based on their birth year, month, day, and even the exact time. It sounded so fascinating! I’d like to know more about 궁합 [gung-hap]."
Edutainer: Yeon-hwa
📌 Heads up before you read
Not all Koreans do this, but there are two types of fortune-telling that many people find important: 궁합[gung-hap] for marriage and 신년 운세[sin-nyeon un-se] for the New Year.
1️⃣ 궁합[gung-hap]
The Compatibility Check Before Marriage
[gung-hap] refers to analyzing how well the bride and groom match each other, using 사주팔자[sa-ju-pal-jja].
In everyday life, Koreans often shorten 사주팔자[sa-ju-pal-jja] to 사주[sa-ju]. This traditional Korean practice interprets a person’s destiny and personality based on their birth year, month, day, and time.
[sa-ju] Based on
a Random Birthdate
(Born May 6, 2000, at 10:30 AM, Female)
↓↓↓
[gung-hap] involves comparing the [sa-ju] of the bride and groom to assess how well their personalities, financial fortunes, and health align.
Couples who are dating might also check [gung-hap], but it’s especially common before marriage. Often, the parents of the bride and groom will consult a [sa-ju] expert to check their compatibility. 😲😊
Although people don't necessarily believe in [gung-hap] 100%, it plays a meaningful role in the marriage preparation process. It helps the bride and groom understand each other better and plan their future life together more positively. Through this practice, couples reflect deeply on their relationship, considering each other’s strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, and even things to be cautious about in life. It's definitely one of the most interesting cultural practices in Korea!
🔥 Boosting Korean Knowledge
✅ Check [gung-hap]
궁합보다[gung-hap-bo-da]
궁합을 보다[gung-hap-eul bo-da]
✅ [gung-hap] matches well
궁합이 잘 맞는다 (The two people are a good match.)
✅ [gung-hap] doesn't matches well
궁합이 안 맞는다 (The two people are not a good match.)
Many of my close friends, college seniors and juniors, and coworkers who got married also checked [gung-hap] before tying the knot! 😁😲
2️⃣ 신년 운세[sin-nyeon-un-se]
Predicting Luck for the New Year
When a new year begins, many Koreans look at their fortunes for the year to welcome the new beginning.
Young people often treat it as a fun activity, while older people use the results as guidance for life decisions. ( In fact, I also checked my [sin-nyeon-un-se] this January! 😁🙏)
I Two Popular Ways to Check Fortunes
✨ [sa-ju-pal-jja] or [sa-ju]
A traditional method of fortune telling based on a person's date and time of birth.
✨ Tarot Cards
Originating in Western Europe, tarot readings have become a trendy and modern fortune-telling method, especially popular among young Koreans.
Aside from these, there are other methods like name-based or palm reading, but [sa-ju], which uses birth information, remains the most common in Korea.
The Rise of Tarot Cards
Recently, tarot cards have gained immense popularity among younger generations. In Korea, unique places to enjoy tarot readings are becoming increasingly popular:
Tarot Cafes: Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while having your tarot fortune read.
Hotel Events: Major hotels in Korea host fun events with tarot reading booths during the New Year.
Fortune-telling is more than just fun; it’s a unique way to gain hope and direction for the year ahead. If you ever get the chance, why not experience a fortune-telling session in Korea? ✈️
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