The red ink taboo in Korea is a unique and long-standing cultural belief that may surprise those unfamiliar with Korean customs. While red is often associated with passion or luck in many countries, in Korea, using red ink to write someone’s name—especially if they’re alive—is considered a serious misstep.
So why is red ink so controversial in Korean culture? The answer lies in a mix of historical, spiritual, and psychological layers that have evolved over generations.
1. Red Ink Taboo in Korea: The Historical Background
The red ink taboo in Korea can be traced back to official documentation practices during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). At the time, red ink served formal, bureaucratic, and symbolic functions:
- Royal courts and government officials used red ink to sign execution orders or denote criminals and traitors.
- Red ink was also used to record the names of deceased individuals in family registries or legal documents.
Over time, this administrative use of red ink became associated with death, punishment, and social disgrace. Writing someone’s name in red, therefore, took on the connotation of symbolically removing them from the living world.
Even as legal practices modernized, this negative symbolism stuck.
2. Red Ink and Ancestral Worship in Confucian Tradition
In traditional Korean Confucianism, ancestor veneration is not just a religious act—it’s a core part of cultural identity. Names hold deep symbolic importance, as they represent not only the individual but also their lineage and spirit.
During Jesa (제사), a ritual performed to honor ancestors, names are often written in red ink on ceremonial tablets or offerings. In this context, red signals that the person is no longer among the living.
Writing the name of a living person in red—intentionally or not—can thus be seen as:
- Inviting misfortune or symbolically predicting their death.
- Showing deep disrespect, as if one is cutting ties with that person or suggesting their demise.
- Calling upon the spirit world prematurely, which is spiritually dangerous in Korean belief.
Because of this, many Koreans—even younger generations—avoid this practice, not necessarily out of fear, but out of empathy, tradition, and cultural mindfulness.
3. Red Ink in Korean Education, Business, and Daily Life
This taboo isn’t limited to religious or historical contexts—it’s visible in modern Korean society as well.
- In schools, students are taught not to write anyone’s name in red, including their own. Teachers also avoid using red ink when writing names on the board or grading papers.
- In business settings, signing contracts or writing client names in red is considered highly unprofessional and possibly offensive.
- In everyday communication, red ink is avoided in greeting cards, wedding invitations, and handwritten notes.
Even among digital natives, emojis or colored fonts resembling red are avoided when typing out someone’s name in messaging apps or social media.
The act has become such a strong social norm that many people instinctively avoid it, even if they don’t fully understand the historical reason behind it.
4. Is Red Ink Always a Bad Thing?
Interestingly, red ink itself is not inherently negative in Korean culture—it’s the context that matters.
- In art and calligraphy, red is used to apply “dojang (도장)”, or signature stamps, on official documents or artworks. This is seen as a mark of authenticity and authority.
- Teachers commonly use red pens to grade student work, though they avoid applying it to names.
- Stationery shops in Korea sell red pens like any other color, but many include informal warnings such as “avoid writing names.”
So, while red ink remains part of daily life, it is approached with cultural awareness. It’s less about fear and more about understanding social boundaries.
5. Color Symbolism: A Broader Cultural Pattern
The red ink taboo in Korea fits into a larger global framework of color-based taboos:
- In China, red symbolizes good luck and celebration. However, even there, writing names in red is discouraged, as it can imply severing ties or death.
- In Japan, red ink is associated with death and is never used on names or letters to the living.
- In Western cultures, red pen is often linked to correction, criticism, or negativity—think of red marks on school essays or rejection letters.
These examples show how color, though physically neutral, carries emotional and symbolic weight that’s deeply embedded in cultural systems.
6. Psychological Insight: Why This Taboo Persists
From a psychological perspective, the red ink taboo in Korea may also function as a cognitive warning system. In a society where social harmony and respect are highly valued, avoiding red ink for names helps prevent potential discomfort or misinterpretation.
In this way, the taboo:
- Preserves tradition without enforcement.
- Builds cultural continuity through daily habits.
- Acts as a gentle reminder of collective memory and shared values.
It also illustrates how a small act—like choosing a pen color—can reflect something far deeper about a society’s worldview.
Conclusion: Respecting Identity Through Ink
The red ink taboo in Korea teaches us that even the most ordinary tools—like a pen—can carry powerful cultural meaning. In Korean society, where names represent family, spirit, and identity, writing them in red ink is more than a color choice—it’s a symbolic act.
So, when writing in Korea, whether on paper or a birthday card, choosing a black or blue pen isn’t just polite—it’s a sign of respect, awareness, and cultural understanding.
A color can be just a color—or it can be a message. In this case, the message is clear: life is precious, and names matter.
