Korean culture is rich with proverbs and idiomatic expressions, some of which involve fish. For example, '말짱 도루묵' ('Maljjang Doromuk') refers to something being pointless, originating from a historical event where a fish praised by a king later proved tasteless. Another saying, '너 금붕어야?' ('Are you a goldfish?'), plays on the incorrect belief that goldfish have a short memory span, though they actually remember for months. There are also expressions like '미꾸라지 한 마리가 강물을 흐린다' ('One loach dirties the river'), highlighting the impact of a single bad action on a whole group. Such sayings reflect traditional wisdom and make use of everyday experiences with nature in Korea.
