ETIQUETTE · 20
식사 예절
Table manners
Meals are shared and age matters: the eldest starts first, and many dishes go in the middle for everyone.
- 술자리 예절Drinking with othersDrinking builds bonds, and pouring for each other shows care — so who pours and how matters.
- 두 손으로 주고받기Using two handsGiving and receiving with both hands shows respect, especially toward someone older or senior.
- 신발 벗기Taking off shoesKorean homes are lived in on the floor — people sit and often sleep there, and floors are heated.
- 명함 주고받기Exchanging business cardsA business card stands for the person, so how you treat it shows how you treat them.
- 선물하기Giving giftsGifts smooth relationships, but some items and numbers carry meanings you'll want to avoid.
- 나이 묻기Being asked your ageAge decides how people talk to each other, so asking it early is practical, not nosy.
- 지하철 예절On the subwayTrains are crowded and quiet; the shared rule is not to bother others.
- 식당 호출벨Calling the waiterStaff don't hover by your table; you call them when you need something.
- 팁 문화 없음No tippingService is included in the price; tipping isn't part of Korean custom.
- 계산하기Paying the billTraditionally the eldest or the person who invited pays; splitting is now common among friends.
- 사진 찍기Taking photosPrivacy is taken seriously; filming strangers without asking can cause real trouble.
- 마스크Wearing masksMasks are a normal courtesy when you're sick, and common on high fine-dust days.
- 대중목욕탕At a public bathPublic baths are shared and nude, so cleanliness rules everything.
- 택시 문Taxi doorsTaxi doors are opened and closed by passengers — they're not automatic like in some countries.
- 엘리베이터In the elevatorNeighbors share elevators every day; a small courtesy goes a long way in apartment life.
- 말 놓기(반말 전환)Switching to casual speechDropping polite speech is a sign of closeness, so it's agreed on, not assumed.
- 집 방문Visiting someone's homeBeing invited home is a sign of trust; hosts go out of their way to feed guests.
- 경조사Weddings and funeralsWeddings and funerals are big community events where money gifts help the family.
- 흡연SmokingSmoking is banned in most public places and many streets near schools and stations.