Ever been asked how old you are right after meeting someone? Well, welcome to Korea—the land of unsolicited life advice, unexpected compliments, and questions you never knew you’d have to answer! Whether you're asked about your age, salary, or why you’re not married yet, just remember it's all part of the charm. When those questions start rolling in, you’ve got your toolkit ready: silence, humor, or a good old-fashioned “I like to keep a little mystery.
Take a deep breath, because you're about to enter the "friendly chat" zone, where questions from “How old are you?” “Are you married?” “How much do you make?” “Do you have kids?” to “You have a big pimple” and “Why are you fat?” are all part of the conversation starter pack. Nope, this isn’t a job interview gone off the rails—this is just how some Koreans get to know you!
Koreans ask about your age right off the bat, and it’s not because they’re planning a surprise birthday party. Age in Korea is like a social GPS—it tells people how to navigate conversations and behave around you. This obsession with age starts early, with kids as young as 4 or 5 already playing the age game. It’s their way of figuring out who’s the boss on the playground.
But why do they need to know a foreigner’s age since we don’t exactly fit perfectly into the social hierarchy? Trust me, I’ve been asked more times than there are candles on my birthday cake and I still wonder why!
I’ve tried every response I can think of, and let me tell you, they all backfire.
Tell them my real age: “Wow, you look older than I thought!” or “Really? You’re that young?” Uh, thanks… I guess?
Flip the script and ask their age: Cue the crickets—no answer, just a nervous laugh and a quick subject change.
Put yourself under the microscope and invite them to guess: You might get anything from “30?” to “60?”. To be honest, I can’t guess Korean ages either. They all look so young!
Say it’s a secret: “Secret? You must be old.” Gosh, in Korea, anyone over 28 is O-L-D
Ask why they want to know: “Just curious.” they say….Well, you can stay curious, my friend!
Try to be clever and ask “Why? Are you asking me out?”: Spoiler: “Oh, you’re too old for me” isn’t the smooth reply you’re hoping for.
My latest strategy? Silence. Just stare back at them like, “That’s really what you’re going with?” It’s like putting an unwanted email straight into the junk folder. And honestly, half the time they’ve already decided how old you are, so they’ll just move on to the next personal question, which you can also ignore or answer with a witty comeback if you’re feeling feisty!
Like when I was 9 months pregnant and a total stranger asked me why I was so fat. I was all baby bump, basically a human basketball. My response? “Don’t worry, I’m on a 9-month diet. I’ll drop most of the weight in one day.” Mic drop.
The silence was theirs this time, not mine. I probably could have sold her on my exclusive diet tip for the low low price of $99.99 for 9 months, if she had stuck around long enough.
The other thing I like to do is ask directly “Why is this important to you?” or “Why should you know”. They are more direct and less aggressive than “What does it matter to you?” or “Why do you care?”. They convey what you are really trying to say, which is that you are not important enough for me to want to share this with you.
The last thing you can try, especially if you want to keep it lighthearted, because after all, Koreans are some of the kindest and sweetest people on the planet, you can just pause and say “I like to keep a little mystery”. They may appreciate the humour and also catch the drift that you are not going to give them an answer.
And here’s the thing: Koreans aren’t asking these questions to put you under the microscope or to mock you. For them, it’s a natural part of social interaction, a way to navigate their language and social order. So, even when you’re caught off guard, try to respond with empathy and understanding. Behind every curious question is a genuine effort to connect, and a little kindness goes a long way in returning that warmth. In the end, that's what makes life in Korea so uniquely endearing.
So, the next time you find yourself navigating this maze of personal questions in Korea, just remember: it’s all part of the cultural charm. Whether you choose silence, a snappy comeback, or a playful “I like to keep a little mystery,” you’re sure to keep things interesting. And hey, if all else fails, just smile and remember that behind every curious question is usually a kind heart and a genuine effort to connect. After all, life in Korea is never boring, and that’s just the way I like it!
