Mistakes To Avoid While Traveling In Korea
Tips to prevent awkward moments in Korea
Hello LAK friends around the world,
How is your summer going so far? We just kicked off our summer semester here at LAK Academy. Here are some 1st day pictures of our amazing students
In our latest newsletter, we shared some awesome tips on how to have an amazing tour of Korea! In this week's newsletter, we've got some awesome cultural advice lined up just for you. It'll help you have the most amazing and respectful time during your visit to Korea. It's always a great idea to familiarize yourself with the local customs and traditions of your destination country! Let's explore some common mistakes that tourists often make in Korea.
Restaurant Etiquette
Chopsticks
Using chopsticks is a common practice in many Asian countries, including Korea! Just a friendly reminder to keep in mind the basics of chopstick etiquette. Leaving chopsticks standing in a bowl of rice is generally not encouraged, as some people believe it is connected to unfortunate events. When you're not using them, it's best to place the chopsticks horizontally on the chopstick rest or on the edge of the dish.
Having Drinks With Others
When you're having a meal with others, it's generally considered impolite to pour drinks for yourself. In Korean society, it is generally seen as more polite to have someone pour your drink for you, as it is a gesture of care, togetherness, and respect. Would you like to take turns pouring drinks for each other? It could be a fun way to enjoy our beverages together! And hey, if you happen to be the youngest in your group, it's a tradition to pour drinks for your friends and family who are older than you.
Remember To Not Overload Your Plate
We all have a tendency to not finish our plates, don't we? In Korean culture, wasting food is considered disrespectful to the effort put into preparing it. It's generally not encouraged to do so. It's always nice to enjoy a meal without wasting any food, so it's best to take only what you think you can finish. It's a great idea to start with a smaller serving and then request more if you'd like! If you happen to visit a Korean restaurant in your country, you might come across a sign that kindly mentions, "We kindly request a charge for any uneaten food."
Tipping
In many countries, tips are much appreciated and show a kind gesture for hard work. However, in Korea, tips are not expected or required. Korean people might even find it rude and offensive. Instead, show your appreciation for their hard work or even tell them that you enjoyed their food and service.
Reaching Across The Table
It is considered kind of rude to reach across the table for food in Korean society. If you can't reach the dish, just ask someone to pass it to you.
Showing Respect To Elders
In Korea, it's important to show respect for one's elders. Please use polite language (such as honorifics) and kindly avoid interrupting or contradicting individuals who are older than you. When you meet an elder or want to show gratitude, a bow is a lovely way to demonstrate respect and appreciation for Korean culture.
Enjoying a Meal with Our Elderly
In Korean culture, it is considered impolite to decline a drink or food offered by an elderly person. So, just have a small meal with them to show your appreciation and respect. Also, in Korean culture, it's considered respectful to let elderly individuals begin their meal first when dining together.
Priority Seating
Most of us are kind enough to offer our seats to seniors, pregnant mothers, and individuals with impairments on public transportation. In Korea, it is a must, and it's best to avoid going near unoccupied spaces if you don't qualify, as you might receive some curious glances.
Casual Greetings
Most people around the world often greet each other with hugs, kisses on the cheek, or handshakes. When you greet someone in Korea, it's customary to bow. If someone bows to you, it's always nice to bow back as a sign of proper etiquette and respect.
Use Honorifics
Koreans, especially those who are not very close, rarely use each other's first names, opting instead for honorifics and surnames. It is exactly like addressing someone as mister, miss, sir, or ma'am, etc. Unless you have a really strong relationship with someone, it is not polite to use just their first name.
Use Both Hands
In Korean culture It's always nice to accept business cards with both hands and take a moment to look at them before deciding what to do with them. Remember to use both hands when handing out business cards too! It's a friendly and respectful gesture. The same applies when it comes to money, credit cards, receipts, and so on. Using just one hand or touching your other arm while doing so might be seen as impolite.
Please remember to keep your hands to yourself
Just a friendly heads up, in Korea, certain types of physical touch or gestures might be seen as disrespectful or inappropriate. It's actually more polite to avoid pointing with your index finger. Instead, it's better to use an open hand or make a gesture with your whole hand. Additionally, it's generally preferred to avoid excessive public displays of affection.
Please Leave Shoes At The Front Door
Entering a Korean home without removing your shoes is considered impolite. This habit helps make your home environment healthier and cleaner! Additionally, it shows a great deal of respect for the owner's home.
Public Etiquette
Affection And Emotions In Public
Although the more traditional citizens of Korea continue to frown upon them, public displays of affection are becoming more common among younger Koreans. When it comes to public displays of emotion. Avoiding Confrontation and Direct Criticism is a common practice in Korean Culture. However, many people tend to be more forthright with their thoughts and feelings. Most Koreans are more quiet and would rather keep their emotions in check.
Eye Contact
In some cultures, where direct eye contact is typically seen as a sign of honesty and confidence, in Korean culture it can be seen as a challenge or a show of some type of disrespect. So, just be careful not to stare too hard.
Don’t Write In Red
Writing a person's name in red ink has negative connotations in Korean culture. It is considered negative in Korean culture and can be seen as a sign of bad luck.
Being Patient
It is typical for a line to be long in Korea. In Korean society, it's generally not encouraged to be impatient in lines. It would be great if we could all be patient and respectful by not trying to cut in line or rush through a process.
If you'd like to have a wonderful time in Korea, it would be great if you could take a moment to familiarize yourself with and embrace the local customs. We will provide more helpful tips in the future to ensure you have an amazing time immersing yourself in the local culture and creating unforgettable memories.
We are also thinking of having a “LAK field trip to Korea”. Where LAKers like yourself meet in South Korea and sightsee with Inae! Type “Interested” in the comment box if you would like to see this fun event happen!
Until next time,
LAK Academy
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