What Numbers Do Koreans Like or Dislike? The Symbolism of Numbers

안녕하세요? Do you have any favorite number? Of course, the numbers that one may like vary from person to person. However, in each country and culture, some numbers have been loved or rejected for a long time for various reasons. Koreans also have some numbers liked or disliked traditionally. Even if they may originate from superstitions with no scientific basis, knowing these numbers helps understand a country's culture. Therefore, in this post, I would like to talk about numbers that culturally be loved or disliked.

Numbers that Koreans Like

Odd Numbers

The meaning and symbolism of numbers mainly focus on odd numbers in Korea. Odd numbers are given importance because they are considered positive (yang) numbers. For example, looking at Korea's seasonal customs, January 1st, March 3rd, May 5th, July 7th, and September 9th are traditionally important seasonal days. As you can see, they are repeating odd-numbered days. Koreans believed that these numbers were positive and that they warded off evil spirits. I'll show you more specific details about each number.

3

3 is called 삼 or 셋 in the Korean number system. It is one of the favorite numbers traditionally. Three is the sum of one and two. 1 represents yang and positive and 2 represents yin and negative. So, the number 3 can be interpreted as the harmony of positive and negative, yin and yang.

In many cultures, including Korean, the number 3 is often associated with completeness or wholeness. This could be due to its representation of the past, present, and future; the mind, body, and soul; or other trinities that signify completeness.

There are various uses for this number in Korea. For example, people play games like rock-paper-scissors (가위-바위-보) in three rounds to decide the winner or loser. It is called 삼세판. Also, when a herbalist discovers wild ginseng, they shout “I saw it! (심 봤다!)” three times. These three shouts are an act of announcing that the wild ginseng has completely become one's property.

You can find 3 in lots of folk religions as well. There are goddesses called 삼신 할머니. 삼 means three, 신 means a god, and 할머니 means grandmother. They are the three gods governing childbirth. They do three jobs. They match a baby and parents and help a birth. They also help a baby grow well. So, when a baby is born, people prepare a table with three bowls of rice and soup for 삼신. They do it three times in every 7 days. This carries the meaning of praying that the baby will grow well without getting sick.

For these 21 days (3 times X 7 days), people also hang a straw rope called 금줄 around the house. People believe it can prevent any evil spirits from getting in and harming a baby. It is also a sign and warning to people to be careful around because there is a newborn baby.

When a baby is born, his or her immune system is low and they can easily get sick. So, it is an act that shows the wisdom of life gained through long experience.

We can find a tradition related to three in a funeral as well. People believed three grim reapers would come and help to take the soul. So, people prepared three bowls of rice, pollacks, and straw shoes. Hoping the dead one goes to the afterlife without any trouble. Three grim reapers also represent the closure and perfect death.

5

5 is also an important number. Have you ever heard of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements? Those are fundamental concepts in Chinese philosophy. The Five Elements theory is a concept that categorizes phenomena into five basic elements or phases: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element is associated with specific qualities, seasons, colors, organs, emotions, and more. The interactions between these elements are believed to influence all aspects of life, including health, personality, and relationships. The Five Elements theory is often used in various fields, including Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Shui, astrology, martial arts, and philosophy. Since Korea has a long history that was influenced by China, the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements(음양오행설) were very popular too.

7

7 is 칠 or 일곱 in Korean. As an odd number, it was considered a good number traditionally. However, it has definitely become more popular due to the influence of Western culture. You know, the lucky seven! Surprisingly, number seven even ranked as the top favorite number among Koreans in the poll that was held in 2019.

100

100 is called 백. It has been another beloved number in Korea for a long time. 100 is not just a number but rather a concept and symbolism that something is complete.

For example, 100 days after a baby is born, people celebrate that day. This is a party that announces to everyone that a person has passed from an infant to a human being. Or that they have survived 100 days without dying and have established themselves as a new being. People shared rice cakes with neighbors.

백화점 means a department store. You can get all kinds of stuff in there. So, we use the word 백 in the name.

We can find 100 in the myth of Dangun. It is the founding myth of Gojoseon, the first nation of the Korean peninsula. In a story, a tiger and a bear wanted to become humans so they prayed for god. A god said if they stay in a cave for 100 days and only eat garlic and mugwort, they will turn into humans. Again, 100 here shows completion and perfection.

Numbers that Koreans Dislike

4

In Korean culture, the number 4 is often disliked. This is because the word for "four" (사) sounds similar to the word for "death" (죽음) in Sino-Korean. So people consider 4 as an unlucky number.

People tend to avoid the number 4 in their daily lives. For example, in hospitals and buildings, the 4th floor is marked with an F, or in some cases there is no 4th floor at all. Mugunghwa, a communications and broadcasting satellite of Korea, was launched 5 after 3, but the 4th one was omitted. Even in cutting-edge science, 4 is considered an unlucky number.

Wrap-up: symbolism of numbers

Depending on culture, some numbers are considered good and some are bad. In Korea, usually, odd numbers are beloved throughout history. Especially 3 is considered a good and harmonized number. However, 4 is considered unlucky due to the pronunciation being the same as the word "death". Does your country have preferred or non-preferred numbers like Korea? If so, what are they?