[duchenne]

Yes, that used to be a common misconception in Korea until recently. It is completely false but such rumors can get viral very quickly. There are also many such misonceptions in the West. For instance, in the West, many people still believe that different areas of the tongues are used for different tastes (sweet, bitter,...). You can find more such things in this famous wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconception...

[AnaniasAnanas]

> many people still believe that different areas of the tongues are used for different tastes (sweet, bitter,...)

We actually had that being stated as a fact in one of our elementary school books. Kind of concerning when even the writers of such books do not perform some basic research on the topics that they are trying to cover.

[Freak_NL]

The prevalence of male infant circumcision in South Korea (over 80%) for dubious health benefits is another one of those lingering misconceptions. Even the US, a former bulwark of this custom, is more progressive in the gradual decline of it.

[nkozyra]

That one in particular is "dubious," as you claim, whereas these others have no factual support. I don't think it's an analog in the discussion.

[Freak_NL]

'Dubious at best' may be a better phrasing, but it seems to be a touchy subject in some countries (partly because of religion). Still, South Korea is an odd statistical outlier here.

[Nursie]

Some interesting ones. Fortune cookies originating in Japan, and being seen by the Chinese as an American affectation - they're very rarely seen here in the UK so I can well believe it.

[pbhjpbhj]

Are they rare in the UK? Common enough in my city for the last couple of decades. I think I first saw them on Friends (USA tv show), or a similar show.

At our regular Chinese takeaway the kids only get them if they come in with us; other places just include a handful.

To me the biscuit is really vile.

[Nursie]

Rare enough in my experience, perhaps I shouldn't generalise!

But I've never had them from a takeaway, and only once or twice in a restaurant. My experience is almost entirely from London and the South-East though.