Why Koreans Say “Having a Heavy Butt” Is the Secret to Success 👀 | Learn Korean Culture
저는 지난주에 키크니 전시회에 다녀왔어요.
I went to Keykney’s exhibition last week.
이 전시회를 보러 서울 동대문디자인플라자까지 갔어요.
I went all the way to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul to see this exhibition.
서울의 랜드마크. 제 눈에는 우주선으로 보여요.
To me, this Seoul landmark looks like a spaceship.
키크니는 귀여운 그림, 말장난, 감동적 이야기로 유명한 한국 일러스트레이터예요.
Keykney is a Korean illustrator known for cute drawings, clever wordplay, and heartwarming stories.
전시는 볼 게 많고 재밌었어요.
The exhibition was fun and had lots to see.
남산서울타워를 찾아보세요!
See if you can spot Namsan Seoul Tower!
전처럼 신나게 뛰어노는 거 그려주세요.
Draw me having fun and running around like before.Draw me having fun and running around like a Korean pancake.
This has a double meaning because 전 (jeon) can mean both “before” and “Korean pancake.” In the picture, the pancake is being flipped, so the sentence can be interpreted as either “like before” or “like a Korean pancake.”
사람들이 스티커에 소원을 적어서 벽에 붙였어요. 그래서 저도 하나 붙였어요.
People wrote their wishes on stickers and attached them to the wall. So I added one too.
(소원은 비밀! ㅎㅎ)
(My wish is a secret!)
아무튼 다 좋았는데, 제 눈을 사로잡은 건 바로 이거예요.
Anyway, everything was great, but this was what really caught my attention. 👇👇👇
영감의 원천 = 엉덩이 싸움
Source of inspiration = a butt battle
‘엉덩이가 무겁다’는 한국어 관용구예요. ‘한번 앉으면 오랫동안 일어나지 않는다’는 뜻이에요.
“Having a heavy butt” is a Korean idiom. It means that once you sit down, you stay seated for a long time.
특히 책상에서 오래 공부하거나 글을 쓰거나 일을 할 때 이 표현을 써요.
We especially use this expression when someone studies, writes, or works at a desk for a long time.
Examples:
공부 잘하는 학생들은 엉덩이가 무거워.
Students who get good grades stay seated for a long time.
엉덩이가 무거워야 글을 잘 써.
You need to be able to sit down and keep writing if you want to write well.
뭘 하든지 엉덩이가 무거운 사람이 이긴다.
No matter what you do, the person who can stick with it the longest wins.
저는 사실 엉덩이가 아주 무거워요. 책상에 앉아서 하루 종일 한국어 학습 콘텐츠를 만들고, 한국어 학습자를 위한 책을 쓸 수 있어요.
My butt is actually very heavy. I can sit at my desk all day creating Korean-learning content and writing books for Korean learners.
그리고 지금은 그 무거운 엉덩이로 새로운 한국 드라마 스타일의 한국어 학습용 소설 시리즈를 쓰고 있어요.
And right now, I’m using that heavy butt to write a brand-new K-drama-style novel series for Korean learners.
Sneak-peek illustration
이번 시리즈 역시 이야기를 통해 한국어를 배우는 방식이에요. 한국 드라마 같은 몰입감 있는 이야기, 현실적인 한국어 대화, 그리고 멋진 일러스트레이션을 통해 한국어를 더 재미있게 공부하실 수 있을 거예요.
Like my previous series, this one is designed to help you learn Korean through story. With immersive K-drama-style storytelling, realistic Korean dialogue, and beautiful illustrations, it will make studying Korean even more enjoyable.
총 3권으로 생각하고 있고, 1권을 올여름에 출간할 예정이에요. 제목과 자세한 내용은 곧 인스타그램에서 공개할게요.
I’m planning for it to be a three-book series, with the first volume scheduled for release this summer. I’ll reveal the title and more details on Instagram soon.
무거운 엉덩이로 이 글을 마치며,
Ending this newsletter with my heavy butt,
Saehee
Written by Saehee Um
Saehee Um is the creator of ToonToon Korean and the author of illustrated novels for Korean learners. Her books combine binge-worthy storytelling, real-life dialogue, and cultural insights to make learning Korean engaging and fun.
She writes Korean learning novels presented in a K-drama-style script, helping learners improve their Korean through dramatic stories and immersive dialogue.
