FFF (31)- 삼성전자 (Samsung Electronics)

While doing some research on Korean cell phones, I actually came across some really interesting information on Samsung Electronics (삼성전자), an electronics company based here in South Korea.  Multiple sources have noted that Samsung is the world’s largest electronics company (keep in mind that they don’t only make cell phones).

Other popular Samsung Electronics include televisions (including a 3D TV), computers (in fact my computer here at work is Samsung), digital cameras, DVD and Blue-ray players, and the list continues with much tinier things that I just can’t wrap my mind around.  Some things just never quite stick and with me, some of those things are most electronics.  Anyway, Samsung is really making its mark on the world, more so than I ever thought. 

It is number one in flat-panel TVs and memory chips and second in cell phones across the world.  And keep in mind, if your electronic doesn’t say 삼성on it, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a little bit of 삼성 inside it.  Many non-Samsung products have Samsung memory chips inside them.  Fancy that.

Every one of us is probably toting around a little bit Samsung in our pockets and purses.  If not you’ve probably have tons scattered around your home.  And again if not, I say you hop on that bandwagon, as I’ve become a huge supporter of the number one electronics company in the world.

Samsung in Yong-go and  Hangeul.

WWW (27)- Days of the Week

I’ve been trying to learn these for awhile, but my tongue always gets twisted and I just can’t quite do it.  So I’m teaching you to learn.  I quote I’ve seen often here in Korea is “When one teaches, two learn.”  This is all too true, this week especially.

I always tell my students, the more you write it, the more you’ll remember it.  So here I am, writing it out for you, trying to remember it for once.  

Korean	Korean Pronunciation	English
월요일	wawr yo il	Monday
화요일	hwa yo il	Tuesday
수요일	soo yo il	Wednesday
목요일	mok yo il	Thursday
금요일	kuhm yo il	Friday
토요일	yoe yo il	Saturday
일요일	il yo il	Sunday

FFF (30)- 한국어 핸드폰

From last week’s lesson, you’ll notice we’re talking “hand pones” today.  With the exception of my 5 year old, free of charge, pay as you go piece, all other Korean cell phones are da bomb diggity. 

Remember back in those ancient days when the iPhone and the Blackberry didn’t exist and people bought LG and Samsung phones?  Well those babies were Korean made.  Recall the days of The Chocolate and its amazing touch screen.  Yep, that was LG.  And I’ll put money on that fact that nearly all of you have owned a Samsung phone, as they are one of the leading producers of cell phones world wide.

All Korean 핸드폰 come equipped with games, an English-Korean and Korean-English dictionary, music players (iPods aren’t popular here), a “mirror”, a full subway map, including time till destination.  Some even have television applications.

Thank you ROKetship for capturing the words perfectly once again!

While Americans pack their pockets and purses with 3 different devices, each one for a single purpose, Koreans actually use their phones for everything that it’s worth.  Since iPods can be slightly expensive in Korea, Koreans rock out using their 핸드폰. 

When in Seoul, no need to stop an investigate how to get from Insadong to Wangshimni.  Who wants to use that much brain power after a long night of drinking?  With a click and another little click, you’re given the shortest route with a time until your destination.

Having a bad hair day?  Just be Korean and stare at yourself in your 핸드폰 for the next 10 minutes that it takes for you to fix it.  You’ll blend right in.  They LOVE this app- especially the high schoolers on their way to a boys’ soccer game.  Need to put on make-up? We’ve got an app. for that!

And they take their 핸드폰 games seriously.  Once I asked a Korean if she liked her newly purchased phone.  Her response- “Yes, mainly because I like the game on it.”

Although there is a shift towards touch screen 핸드폰, you’ll find that most Koreans actually still use old-school (if you’re American) flip phones.  A full key pad isn’t necessary to expedite texting.  The Korean character system is simple enough that you only need to click each button once, mayyybe twice, to get your desired character.  This makes it quite difficult for foreigners to text in English.  Needless to say- I miss my Crackberry.  But when in Korea- do as the Koreans do!

The most popular Korean cell phones. 

To end on a glamorous note, Koreans LOVE to decorate their phones- everything from stickers, to rhinestones, to dangling items.  Korean cell phones are flashy.

Korean cell phone dangles.  Loads and Loads of them.

Don't be surprised if your see full-sized stuffed animal dangles.