Korean Proverb : Follow a Friend to Gangnam

🍂 Korean Proverb Series 1

“Follow a Friend to Gangnam”
(Chingu ttara Gangnam ganda)

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🕰️ 1. The Proverb

The Korean proverb “친구 따라 강남 간다” literally means,
“One goes to Gangnam just because a friend goes there.”

It describes someone who follows others blindly, without their own judgment.

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🪄 2. Meaning & Lesson

This proverb emphasizes that:

• Following others without thinking can lead to unnecessary actions.
• True wisdom lies in maintaining one’s own standards and making independent decisions.
• It reflects the importance of independent thinking in traditional Korean values.

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👀 3. Example from Life

• A student joins a club only because their friends did, even if they are not interested.
• A shopper buys a trendy item just because others are buying it.
• In modern terms, it can also reflect “peer pressure.”

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🌏 4. Similar Proverbs Around the World

• 🇺🇸 “Follow the crowd.” – An English phrase with a similar meaning.
• 🇯🇵 「長いものには巻かれろ」 (Nagai mono ni wa makare-ro) – “Go along with the stronger/powerful.”
• 🇨🇳 “人云亦云” (rén yún yì yún) – “Repeating what others say.”

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💬 A Warm Saying

“Walking with others is easy,
but true strength is choosing your own path.”

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📌 Note

This is a creative cultural content from the Misojieum Story Blog (kor-telling.com).
Please do not copy without permission.
Sharing is welcome with proper source citation.