From Balloons to Betrayal: How President’s Guards Turned Against Him

One “sent by heaven” sent to prison

안녕! It’s Ari, your chatty Korean friend and weekend reminder. 🎉🥳 Today’s newsletter covers a noodle recipe, how the president’s guards turned against him, and how to congratulate anything in Korean. Let’s dive in!

Soy Sauce Egg Noodles

If you are looking for a healthy alternative to instant ramen that you can quickly whip up during your lazy weekend, this dish is for you. Soy sauce egg noodles is a popular home meal in South Korea, often considered the noodle counterpart to the classic egg rice.

This dish is savory and nutty, with the perfect balance of soy sauce’s umami flavor and the rich aroma of sesame oil. The crushed sesame seeds and seasoned seaweed flakes add a delightful crunch, while the egg yolk creates a creamy texture that ties everything together. 😋

Check out this recipe I found on YouTube.👇 Watch the cooking video for a visual guide, and bon appétit! (Recipe and image credit: 진지는 잡쉈어?)

Ingredients:

• 1 serving somyeon (thin wheat noodles, about 100g)

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 4 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (crushed)

• 1 egg yolk

• Gimjaban (seasoned seaweed flakes)

• 1 hot chili (optional)

Instructions:

1. Boil thin wheat noodles for 3–4 minutes.

2. Rinse the cooked noodles under cold water and lightly squeeze out excess water.

3. In a bowl, mix sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and crushed sesame seeds until the sugar dissolves.

4. Add the noodles to the sauce and toss until well-coated.

5. Place the noodles in a serving bowl and top with gimjaban, an egg yolk, and chopped hot chili (if desired).

6. Break the egg yolk, mix well, and enjoy!

From Balloons to Betrayal: How President’s Guards Turned Against Him

Finally, President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested. 😌 On Wednesday morning, in the upscale neighborhood of Hannam-dong, Seoul, the impeached president’s long-anticipated arrest marked a pivotal moment in South Korea’s ongoing national crisis. Over 3,000 police officers were mobilized amid fear of potential violence during the operation. His residence, fortified with chains and surrounded by barricades of buses, was guarded by heavily armed Presidential Security Service (PSS) members. However, to the nation’s relief, the arrest unfolded peacefully.

Although reports had hinted that the PSS members might stage symbolic resistance while ultimately complying with the law, their cooperation far exceeded public expectations. The barricaded buses had their keys conveniently left inside, and some members were even seen guiding prosecutors and police officers to the house where Yoon was hiding. The only equipment police used were ladders to climb over the buses and clear the path. What could have been a bloody confrontation became a moment of lawful accountability, all thanks to the PSS members’ quiet defiance.

The cooperation of the Presidential Security Service was a demonstration of their commitment to the law. However, recent revelations suggest their actions may also stem from the outrageous demands imposed on them during Yoon’s presidency. These professionals, whose primary duty was to protect the president, were routinely degraded and forced to perform humiliating personal tasks. They were required to give massages to the president and, for the First Lady’s birthday, they were ordered to purchase balloons and decorate the trunk of a Maybach—a luxury German car—with them. Meanwhile, for the President’s birthday, they had to spend three months preparing talent show performances, practicing singing in harmony, and even participating in a poetry contest where they had to create poems using the president’s name. I wish I’m joking 🙃

Perhaps the most shocking detail of all was the choral song they were forced to sing, which praised Yoon as a leader “sent by heaven.” 😇 Check out the lyrics below in mini Korean lesson. This song was adapted from a famous birthday song in South Korea, and musicians involved in its recording were required to sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure the song’s secrecy.

Though much remains to be done to resolve the “sent by heaven” crisis, the news of his arrest is the first piece of good news South Koreans have heard in a long time. Perhaps now, they can sleep a little better at night.

Mini Korean Lesson: Happy Birthday!

Like I said earlier, part of the song the Presidential Security Service members were forced to practice has been revealed. You can find the lyrics in the image above (credit noted in the picture), and it can be translated as follows:

“For a new Republic of Korea,

Sent by heaven to us,

On this meaningful day of the President’s birthday,

We all celebrate together.”

Since the song was made to celebrate the President’s birthday, let’s learn how to say “Happy Birthday” in Korean with this lyrics!

생일 축하해 (Saeng-il chooka-hae)

축하해, as you can find at the end of the lyrics, 👆 is the verb meaning “congratulate.” So 생일 축하해 literally means “I celebrate your birthday.” This is a Korean way of saying “Happy Birthday.”

You can also use 축하해 to congratulate or commemorate other meaningful days and events. For example:

1. 결혼기념일 축하해 (Happy wedding anniversary)

2. 취업 축하해 (Congratulations on getting a job)

3. 체포 축하해 (Congratulations on the arrest)

Feel free to use 3 to congratulate me (and other your Korean friends) and listen to the song if you want.

Thanks for reading! I finally brought back a full newsletter, all thanks to the good news and your support. If you’d like to help make future issues even funnier and better, please consider buying me a coffee! 🥰 I’ll be back next week with more. 안녕!