On a weekend morning, I climbed the small mountain behind my neighborhood, and a foreign student asked me a question. "Why are those people waiting with big water jugs lined up in a row?" I mean, there's tap water at home, and there's bottled water at the convenience store. ## Here's how it works at a mineral spring A mineral spring is a place in the mountains where spring water comes out. You carry your water jugs there and line up in order. When the person ahead of you has filled all their bottles, the next person fills theirs. One person fills several bottles, so the line looks long. It's a good idea to wash your bottles thoroughly beforehand. There's something you must check before you go. The notice board next to the spring has the water quality test results posted. Check whether it says "pass" or "fail," and when the test was done. If it says "not suitable for drinking," don't drink it. You can also check on the website of the local district office or city hall. ## Why do people fetch mountain water? The first reason is the taste. The elderly say mountain water is cold and soft. They believe that rice cooked and tea brewed with that water taste different. The second is faith in health. In Korea, water that is good for the body has long been called "yaksu" (medicinal spring water). The word "yaksuteo" comes from that too. The third is habit and community. In the morning, people climb the mountain, fill up their bottles with water, and greet their neighbors. It's a start to the day that combines exercise and chatting. However, conditions vary a lot from one mineral spring to another. Some have failed inspections and closed, while others are kept spotless. So don't assume "it's mountain water, so it must be safe"; start by reading the notice board. The regulars do the same.