The plum blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. The four noble plants represent the cycle of the four seasons (the plum blossom for winter, the orchid for spring, the bamboo for summer, and the chrysanthemum for autumn) and symbolize Confucian traits such as purity, humility, and perseverance.

From Sea to Shining Sea is a KAYAT blog series that follows the three major waves of Korean American immigration.

In an echoing theater, the beat of drums punctuates a haunting voice. As the singer narrates a tale of kings, deities, and heroes, her voice fluctuates with every scene, wavering with sadness and expanding with rage. This performance, called pansori (판소리), is a form of traditional Korean musical storytelling.

Steam clouds the rim of the bowl, and the broth’s savory notes waft around the dinner table. Tteokguk (떡국), a Korean sliced rice cake soup, is traditionally made and eaten in celebration of Korean New Year, or Lunar New Year, and some Korean and Korean American families also enjoy this soup on New Year’s Day (January 1).

K-pop groups with snappy names and psychedelic music videos accumulate billions of views. K-drama characters with tragic backstories and slow-motion falling scenes capture the hearts of international fans. Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is the coined catch-all for the growing global popularity of Korean culture.

Buchaechum (부채춤) is neoclassical Korean fan dance, meaning it draws influence from various traditional Korean dances, including religious rituals and Joseon court and folk dances.

Dalgona (달고나) or ppopgi (뽑기) was a Korean street candy in the 1970s and 1980s that has surged in popularity after the release of Netflix’s hit Korean drama Squid Game.

Samulnori (사물놀이) is a genre of traditional Korean percussion. This word translates to “samul,” or four objects, and “nori,” or play, which succinctly describes the four instruments used to create music.