[MANNAM Peace Campaign] Let’s Make An “An-nyeong-han (Peaceful)” World Together!

Hi, MANNAM International friends! Do you know how Koreans greet each other? In English speaking countries, people usually ask “How are you?”, “What’s up?”, or “How’s everything going?” While, in Korea, people will ask “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo? (How are you?)”, “Bap- meo-geo-sseo-yo? (Have you eaten rice?)”, or “Eo-di-ga-yo? (Where are you going?)”. In the sentence of “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo?”, “An-nyeong” literally means “peace”.

In fact, these Koran greetings are related to war. In the past, there were so many wars in Korea that it was not easy for people to spend every day peacefully or safely. Nobody knew what would happen in the next minute. People might have to unexpectedly leave their homes, suddenly guard against the enemy, or unfortunately lose their lives. Therefore, when Korean people spent a night and got up the next morning, the first greeting they ask was “An-nyeong-ha-se-yo?” — “Have you spent a peaceful or safe night?”

Sometimes we can consider “war” equal to “no food”. During war time, since people could not do farm work properly, there was a food shortage. As a result, Korean people were often starved. Therefore, when Koreans met each other, they began to ask “Bap- meo-geo-sseo-yo?” as a greeting.

When you came to Korean at first, you may curious why Koreans always ask you “Eo-di-ga-yo?” In some cultures, the question may be considered as a private one. However, in Korean Culture, it is a common greeting which is also related to war. In the past, once there was a war, many Korean people lost their homes and possessions that they had to move from pillar to post. From then on, when they met each other in the street, they would ask “Eo-di-ga-yo?” They may want to ask “Do you know a safe place?”

Simple Korean greetings, but sad history. Imagine you live in a place where you have to go hungry, tremble with fear by bombardment, and live in fear of death every day. Then, we can call the place “a hell”. In the world, is there anybody who wants to live in such a hell? No. MANNAM International friends, to cease wars in the world and build an “An-nyeong-han (Peaceful)” world, let’s work together!