South Korean Etiquette
South Korea is a very popular country among tourists and one of the most popular travel-destinations in the world, for obvious reasons.
It is a beautiful country, so different from our own, with a culture unlike any other.
In 2019, there was 17,502,756 international visitors (Wikipedia).
But South Korea, as mentioned before, is very different from the United States.
So, before you pack your bags and hop on the next plane there, here are some things about the social-norms you should know before visiting.
It is a beautiful country, so different from our own, with a culture unlike any other.
In 2019, there was 17,502,756 international visitors (Wikipedia).
But South Korea, as mentioned before, is very different from the United States.
So, before you pack your bags and hop on the next plane there, here are some things about the social-norms you should know before visiting.
Dinosaur Ridge of Seoraksan by Taewangkorea
Basic Etiquette
The information below is attributed to Evason, Nina. (2016). South Korean Culture. Retrieved from https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/south-korean-culture
- People are expected to do nice things such as hold the door for someone, therefore it’s uncommon to hear a “thank you” (or 감사합니다 ‘gamsahabnida’) for such acts.
- There are many setbacks in life, as one can expect, and bumping into one another is one of them. You won’t often hear “I’m sorry” (or 죄송 해요 ‘joesong haeyo’) for these minor accidents because of this.
- Respect your elders! The elders are served first, eat first, and speak first.
- It is typical and most respectful for you to take off your shoes before entering someone’s home.
- When giving or receiving something, always use both hands. Shaking hands is also usually done with both hands and a slight bow of the head.
- Never pour your own drink, instead wait for others to fill it for you.
Check out this article for more basic etiquette tips!
