예의
Etiquette: do's & don'ts
There are some essential etiquette differences when it comes to drinking and dining out in South Korea. At a glance, here are the most important things to be aware of. There are reasons behind these, which we explain further on.
✓ Do:
- Respect your elders – the oldest person should pick their seat and take the first bite; the youngest passes out bowls and napkins
- Use two hands – when giving or receiving dishes or pouring drinks for other people
- Share – dining is communal and dishes are for the whole table to enjoy (see dining in practice)
- Be accepting – of soju cups, makgeolli bowls, or beer glasses. Even if you don’t want to drink, you’ll need these to cheers at the beginning of the meal. People may also raise a glass when you say something they agree with; you don’t have to drink, but don’t miss clinking cups!
X Don't:
- Pour your own drink – instead, keep an eye on others’ and top them up when empty. Don’t finish your drink unless you’d like more!
- Raise your bowl - it's more polite to hunch down to your food rather than raise the bowl off the table
- Commit chopstick faux pas - don't use chopsticks to eat rice (Koreans use a spoon!) or leave them sticking out of rice
- Ask for the check/bill – when you’re finished eating, simply stand up and walk to the cash register to signal that you want to pay and leave.
Etiquette explained: there are some key tenets to South Korean culture that give context to the above do's and don'ts. For details, read on below.
Yielding to the older person – Korean people show respect to those who are older (even just a year!) or more senior than them. That means the older person gets the best seat (usually far from the kitchen or entrance, and somewhere they can get peoples’ attention) and takes the first bite of food, while the younger person distributes utensils, personal plates, and cups, pouring water along with the first round of alcohol. The rules aren’t as strict in less formal settings, so don’t stress too much!
Using two hands – offering and receiving things with two hands shows respect in Korea. Whether you’re pouring or receiving a drink, using two hands shows you respect the person you’re interacting with. This doesn’t stop at the dinner table – you'll notice it in shops and hotels, too.
Utensil placement – in Korea, it’s considered rude to put your dining utensils on your plate in between uses. Use the chopstick and spoon rest, or just place them directly on the table. Don’t leave them in your food, either, and never place them straight up sticking out of your rice, as it resembles incense sticks at a funeral or memorial table. It’s also the placement that’s used in offering. Although many younger Koreans aren’t bothered by this, the older generation still get a chill!
Enthusiastic eating – slurping your noodles is a sign that you enjoy them, and so is making sound while you eat. Lots of Koreans eat food as soon as it’s brought to the table, but if it’s too hot for you, place some on your personal plate and wait for it to cool down. While eating noises are good, don’t blow your nose loudly – no matter how spicy the food!
Drinking alcohol – Koreans have been drinking alcohol with meals since the Three Kingdoms period in 18BC, and they say you can’t truly enjoy jeon (Korean pancakes) without makgeolli (rice wine). You’ll find soju cups on every table at a BBQ restaurant, and anju refers to the food that pairs best with a particular beverage.
When glasses are being passed out, accept one even if you’d rather not drink – it allows your tablemates to show respect by pouring a drink for you. You can simply leave it full on the table (raising it for cheersing) and, as it’s considered rude to refill a glass before it’s empty, leave it at that.
It’s rude to pour for yourself, so make sure you keep an eye on your party’s glasses. Typically, the person opposite is responsible for filling up the opposite’s cup, but anyone who notices might offer.
Saying cheers – Unlike in the west, ‘cheers’ isn’t just for the beginning of the meal: Koreans often clink glasses anytime something was well-said, impressive, or quite funny.
It’s a continuous action to bring the table together over something – whether it’s a hilarious joke, an impressive story, or something you heartily agree with.
