<div class="editor-img-box"><picture><img src="https://newsimg.koreatimes.co.kr/2026/05/01/3fb12557-e29e-4085-a229-57254bfe4668.jpg?w=728" alt="Korean melons / Yonhap" decoding="async" loading="eager" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="caption"><p>Korean melons / Yonhap</p></div></div><p class="editor-p"><em>Click here</em><em> for more articles by Kormedi.com.</em></p><p class="editor-p">A South Korean teacher is facing criticism after claiming that children who eat Korean melon seeds are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds — a remark that has ignited online debate and drawn attention to misconceptions about food and health.</p><p class="editor-p">The controversy began when a current teacher, identified as A, posted on the anonymous workplace app Blind. In the post, the teacher wrote, "My husband eats Korean melon seeds too. I didn’t notice when we were dating, but after marriage, I started to feel differences even in small things."</p><p class="editor-p">The teacher went on to say, "I see many children at school, and those who eat fruit seeds are usually from single-parent families or households that are not well-off," adding, "I was taught properly about these things growing up."</p><p class="editor-p">The comments quickly drew backlash. Many users criticized the teacher for making assumptions about children based on eating habits. "It’s shocking that a teacher judges students by whether they eat Korean melon seeds," one commenter said. Others said, "Whether someone eats seeds or not is a personal choice."</p><p class="editor-p"><strong>Misconception about Korean melon seeds</strong></p><p class="editor-p">Health experts say the belief that Korean melon seeds are harmful is incorrect. While many people discard seeds from fruits and vegetables because they are hard to chew or assumed to be unhealthy, some seeds actually offer nutritional benefits.</p><p class="editor-p">Korean melon seeds, in particular, can be helpful for digestion. According to the Korea Food Research Institute, the dietary fiber in Korean melon seeds helps promote bowel movement and relieve constipation. Compounds such as globulin and stearic acid found in the seeds may also help reduce oral inflammation, improve oral hygiene and lessen bad breath.</p><p class="editor-p">For people who speak frequently as part of their job, eating Korean melon with the seeds may even be beneficial, as it can help maintain oral health.</p><p class="editor-p">Korean melon (chamoe), a popular summer fruit in South Korea, is also rich in folate, an essential nutrient for pregnant women. The soft, white portion surrounding the seeds — known as the placenta — contains particularly high levels of folate, reportedly about five times more than the flesh of the fruit.</p><p class="editor-p">Adequate folate intake is important during pregnancy, as deficiency is associated with an increased risk of birth defects. Experts therefore recommend consuming the seed-containing portion of the fruit, especially for expectant mothers.</p><p class="editor-p"><strong>When to avoid eating the seeds</strong></p><p class="editor-p">Despite these benefits, caution is still advised. Because Korean melon seeds contain more moisture than the flesh, they can spoil more easily. If the fruit is not fresh, it is safer to remove the seeds before eating.</p><p class="editor-p">Additionally, individuals who tend to have weak digestion or are sensitive to cold foods should be careful. Korean melon is considered a “cooling” food in traditional dietary terms, and consuming too much — especially when chilled — may lead to diarrhea in some people.</p><p class="editor-p"><em><span>This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.</span></em></p>
<br><hr><br>A South Korean teacher is facing criticism after claiming that children who eat Korean melon seeds are more likely to come from disadvantaged backgrounds — a remark that has ignited debate online and drawn attention to misconceptions about food and health.
- 한 남한 교사가 한국 멜론 씨를 먹는 아이들이 disadvantage한 가정에서 자랄 가능성이 더 크다고 주장해 비판을 받고 있다. 이 발언은 온라인에서 논쟁을 촉발하고 식품과 건강에 대한 오해를 주목하게 했다.
The controversy began when a current teacher, identified as A, posted on the anonymous workplace app Blind. In the post, the teacher wrote, "My husband eats Korean melon seeds too. I didn’t notice when we were dating, but after marriage, I started to feel differences even in small things."
- 논란은 현재 재직 중인 교사로 A로 식별되는 이가 익명 직장 앱 Blind에 게시하면서 시작됐다. 글에서 교사는 "남편도 한국 멜론 씨를 먹는다. 우리가 만났을 때는 몰랐지만 결혼한 뒤 작은 일들에서도 차이를 느끼기 시작했다"고 썼다.
The teacher went on to say, "I see many children at school, and those who eat fruit seeds are usually from single-parent families or households that are not well-off," adding, "I was taught properly about these things growing up."
- 교사는 계속해 "학교에서 많은 아이들을 보면 과일 씨를 먹는 아이들은 대개 한부모 가정이나 형편이 넉넉하지 못한 가정에서 자란다"고 말했고, "자라온 시절에 이런 것들을 제대로 배웠다"고 덧붙였다.
The comments quickly drew backlash. Many users criticized the teacher for making assumptions about children based on eating habits. "It’s shocking that a teacher judges students by whether they eat Korean melon seeds," one commenter said. Others said, "Whether someone eats seeds or not is a personal choice."
- 이 발언은 곧 비난을 불러왔다. 다수의 이용자가 아이들의 식습관으로 아이들을 단정하는 교사를 비판했고, "선생님이 한국 멜론 씨를 먹느냐로 학생을 판단하는 것은 충격적이다"고 말했다. 다른 이들은 "씨를 먹느냐 먹지 않느냐는 개인의 선택이다"고 했다.
Misconception about Korean melon seeds
- 한국 멜론 씨에 대한 오해
Health experts say the belief that Korean melon seeds are harmful is incorrect. While many people discard seeds from fruits and vegetables because they are hard to chew or assumed to be unhealthy, some seeds actually offer nutritional benefits.
- 보건 전문가들은 한국 멜론 씨가 해롭다는 믿음이 잘못되었다고 말한다. 과일과 채소의 씨를 씹기 어렵거나 건강에 해롭다고 여겨 버리는 경우가 많지만, 일부 씨는 영양적 이점을 제공한다.
Korean melon seeds, in particular, can be helpful for digestion. According to the Korea Food Research Institute, the dietary fiber in Korean melon seeds helps promote bowel movement and relieve constipation. Compounds such as globulin and stearic acid found in the seeds may also help reduce oral inflammation, improve oral hygiene and lessen bad breath.
- 특히 한국 멜론 씨는 소화에 도움이 될 수 있다. 한국식품연구원에 따르면 멜론 씨의 식이섬유가 장운동을 촉진하고 변비를 완화하는 데 도움이 된다. 씨에 함유된 글로불린(globulin)이나 스테아르산(stearic acid) 등의 화합물이 구강 염증을 감소시키고 구강 위생을 개선하며 구취를 줄이는 데도 도움을 줄 수 있다.
For people who speak frequently as part of their job, eating Korean melon with the seeds may even be beneficial, as it can help maintain oral health.
- 업무상 자주 말하는 사람들에게는 씨를 포함한 멜론을 먹는 것이 구강 건강 유지에 이로울 수 있다.
Korean melon (chamoe), a popular summer fruit in South Korea, is also rich in folate, an essential nutrient for pregnant women. The soft, white portion surrounding the seeds — known as the placenta — contains particularly high levels of folate, reportedly about five times more than the flesh of the fruit.
- 한국에서 여름철 인기 있는 과일인 한국 멜론(참외)은 임산부에게 필수 영양소인 엽산이 풍부하다. 씨를 둘러싼 부드럽고 흰 부분인 태반은 엽산이 특히 높은데, 과육보다 약 다섯 배 정도 많다고 전해진다.
Adequate folate intake is important during pregnancy, as deficiency is associated with an increased risk of birth defects. Experts therefore recommend consuming the seed-containing portion of the fruit, especially for expectant mothers.
- 임신 중 적절한 엽산 섭취는 선천기형 위험 증가와 연관되므로 중요하다. 전문가들은 임신 여성 particularly 씨를 포함한 부분을 섭취할 것을 권고한다.
When to avoid eating the seeds
- 씨를 피해야 할 때
Despite these benefits, caution is still advised. Because Korean melon seeds contain more moisture than the flesh, they can spoil more easily. If the fruit is not fresh, it is safer to remove the seeds before eating.
- 이러한 이점에도 불구하고 주의가 필요하다. 멜론 씨는 과육보다 수분이 많아 상하기 쉽다. 과일이 신선하지 않으면 씨를 제거하고 먹는 편이 안전하다.
Additionally, individuals who tend to have weak digestion or are sensitive to cold foods should be careful. Korean melon is considered a “cooling” food in traditional dietary terms, and consuming too much — especially when chilled — may lead to diarrhea in some people.
- 소화가 약하거나 차가운 음식에 민감한 사람도 주의해야 한다. 멜론은 전통 식사 용어로 “차가운” 음식으로 간주되며, 과다 섭취 시 특히 차갑게 먹으면 일부 사람들에게 설사를 유발할 수 있다.
This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
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