[1] In Korean funerals, the sangju is the chief mourner, usually the eldest son of the deceased. He takes on the responsibility of leading the funeral rites, performing ancestral rituals, and welcoming guests who come to pay their respects during the traditional three-day mourning period.
[2] Pelmeni is a type of Russian meat dumpling.
[3] Gochugaru is a Korean spice made from sun-dried red chili peppers, ground into coarse flakes or fine powder.
[4] Ramyun is a Korean-style instant noodle soup cooked quickly in a seasoned, often spicy broth and enjoyed as a convenient meal.
[5] Sunbae is a Korean title for someone senior in a specific setting, like school, work, or a club. It refers to someone who joined the same organization before you.
[6] Hubae is a Korean term used to refer to someone who is junior to you in a particular context, such as school, work, or an organization. It's commonly used to address or refer to juniors who entered the same institution or group after one did.
[7] The Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament, tasked with drafting and passing legislation.
[8] In Korean culture, the suffix "-nim" is commonly added to a title when addressing someone as a sign of politeness and respect. It's customary to refer to seniors as "sunbae" and only drop the suffix "-nim" when one shares a close relationship with them. Meanwhile, seniors who don't share a personal relationship with their juniors would be referred to as sunbaenim, the suffix included.
[9] Shibal is a Korean profanity equivalent to the English F-word. It is commonly used to express emotions such as anger, frustration, or annoyance.
[10] And said, “In the midst of a great sea lies an island shrouded in silence. No human lives there, and no boat can find its way to its shores. Only creatures of the sea, the land, or the sky may pass, for the island is under a powerful watch. On this island grows a mighty oak tree, its girth greater than ten men’s embrace. It is said to be as old as Koschey himself. To the south of that oak, buried deep, rests a chest. Inside is a rabbit, within the rabbit, a duck, and inside the duck, an egg. If that egg breaks, so too does the life of Koschey.” World Folktales Collection, Volume 2: Russia. Translated by Ahn Sanghoon, Minumsa Publishing Group, 2013, p. 157.
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[11] Nu ty i glupaya zayka, a Russian phrase that translates to “You silly little bunny,” in English.’