Why Writing In Red Ink Is Prohibited In South Korea

Superstitions are deep-seated irrational beliefs that can lead to something good or bad. No matter where you go, every culture will have superstitious beliefs. In India, one of the most common superstitions is that if a black cat crosses the road, it will bring bad luck. In the USA, walking under a ladder is considered bad luck. But did you know that in some countries, writing in red ink is prohibited?

Writing in red ink is prohibited in countries like South Korea, Portugal and Japan. In South Korea, it is believed that even if someone writes in red ink, the person may die. But what is the reason behind this superstition? Well, in South Korea, red ink is considered to be evil. Hence, red-coloured pens are kept away from kids. The superstition is that if someone writes someone’s name with a red pen, that person will die. Hence, South Koreans do not keep red pens in the house. This superstition has been followed for centuries. But is it possible for someone to die after using red ink?

As per reports, writing in red ink will not cause death per se. However, in the traditional Korean culture, the names of the deceased are written in red-coloured ink. Hence, people do not use this pen to write the names of the living. If anyone writes a person’s name with red ink, then it is believed that they want to get the person killed. Even in Portugal, writing with red ink is considered to be rude.

Historically speaking, the colour red symbolises death in South Korea, so it has been forbidden. Another theory might be that the seventh monarch of the Joseon dynasty of Korea, Grand Prince Suyang, the second son of King Sejong the Great plotted a coup against his nephew King Danjong. Reportedly, there have been claims that Grand Prince Suyang used red ink to create a hit list of his enemies. One more theory claims that during the Korean War, red ink was used to remove the names of deceased civilians or martyred soldiers. The red colour quickly came to be associated with inauspicious events like death; hence, people were discouraged from writing it.