🎧The Women Behind Korea’s School Lunch Trays

The same school cook might be called ‘teacher,’ ‘auntie,’ or ‘ajumma,’ and each name can change what we notice about her work.
In this episode, we follow the words spoken around Korean school lunch—from a serving counter to a workers’ strike—and ask what happens when care becomes someone’s job.
The companion essay, The Women Behind Korea’s School Lunch Trays (yoonjiwon.substack.com/p/korean-school-lunch-w…), follows the skill behind the meal. Here, we listen to the language around it. Together, they give you the whole picture.
Curious about more everyday stories from Korea? Browse my visual essay archive (jiwon-yoon.com/stories) and pick a picture that catches your eye.
Korean Words and Phrases in This Episode
안녕하세요, 반갑습니다 (annyeonghaseyo, bangapseumnida) — Hello; glad to see you
저기요 (jeogiyo) — Excuse me; a way to get someone’s attention
선생님 (seonsaengnim) — Teacher; also a respectful way to address someone who is not officially a teacher
이모 (imo) — Maternal aunt; also “auntie” when addressing an unrelated woman
이모님 (imo-nim) — A more respectful form of imo
조리사님 (jorisa-nim) — A respectful way to address a licensed cook
아줌마 (ajumma) — A middle-aged woman; can sound familiar or dismissive, depending on context
밥하는 아줌마 (bap haneun ajumma) — Roughly, “a woman who cooks meals”; used dismissively in the dispute discussed here
정성 (jeongseong) — Attentive effort, sincerity, or care put into something
엄마의 정성 (eomma-ui jeongseong) — A mother’s attentive care and effort
-님 (-nim) — An honorific added to a name or title to show respect
도을순 (Do Eul-sun) — The school meal worker and union leader discussed in this episode
오늘도 들어주셔서 감사합니다 (oneuldo deureojusyeoseo gamsahamnida) — Thank you for listening today
다음 주에 만나요 (daeum jue mannayo) — See you next week
💬 I’d really love to hear what this brought up for you. Come find me here (jiwon-yoon.com/links) and share your thoughts, stories, or questions.

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