Etiquette in South Korea

Korean chopsticks and spoon are never put into food standing up, particularly rice. This is considered to bring bad luck since it resembles food offerings at a grave to deceased ancestors.

The code of etiquette in South Korea governs the expectations of social behavior in the country and is considered very important. Etiquette in South Korea is largely based on Korean Confucianism, including such concepts as respect for elders. Like many other social cultures, etiquette varies greatly depending on one's status relative to the person in question.

Some conventions may be very regional practices. In this reason it may not exist in all regions of South Korea. Some customs have changed over the course of Korea history. The following are generally accepted modern customs in Korea. Moreover, Its geopolitics reasons, etiquette in south korea has been affected by other countries, such as China, Japan, even United States of America.

General

General

• The number 4 is considered unlucky as the pronunciation of 4 is similar to one Chinese character '死, it means death' So gifts should not be given in multiples of 4. In this reason, it is taboo that mark 4 in building elevator, even some lift do not have fourth floor button.

  

  Missing Floor 4

  Giving 7 of an item is considered lucky.
• Blowing one's nose at the table, even if the food is spicy, is mildly offensive. If necessary, take a trip to the toilet or at least be very discreet.
• In restaurants and bars, pouring one's own drink is a faux pas. Keep an eye on your neighbors' glasses and fill them if they are empty; they will do the same. To avoid over drinking, simply leave the glass near full. When pouring drinks, hold bottle in right hand, lightly place left hand on forearm near elbow.
• When someone of a significantly higher social position pours you a drink, it is considered proper to turn away from that person when you drink it.
• A couple kissing each other in public is a faux pas, since it is not seen as modest. The old generation do not let permit this action in the public place, on the other hands, the young generation who has open thinking are used to doing. Sometimes generation conflicts are happened.

Eating and drinking

Rice is generally eaten plain or mixed up with other different kinds of grains.

• In restaurants and bars, pouring one's own drink is a faux pas. Keep an eye on your neighbors' glasses and fill them if they are empty; they will do the same. To avoid over drinking, simply leave the glass near full. When pouring drinks, hold bottle in right hand, lightly place left hand on forearm near elbow.
• When someone of a significantly higher social position pours you a drink, it is considered proper to turn away from that person when you drink it.

Pouring drinks

In South Korea, a tradition is that when a person gives an alcoholic drink to an adult, the person has to offer the drink respectfully with two hands. When pouring a drink, the cup should be held with the right hand, and the wrist of your right hand held lightly with the left hand. It is customary to fill empty cups immediately.

Receiving drinks

Korean table manner while drinking.

There is also a tradition for receiving drinks too. When receiving drinks, the same etiquette applies when pouring drinks. When elders give alcohol to a younger person, the younger person should receive the drink politely and with gratitude by saying "thank you". The next step is to hit the bottle, and then put it down. This pleases the elders. Also, when drinking beer, it is proper for the younger drinker to turn their head.

Housewarming

Definition

The housewarming in Korea is not really same with the West country's Housewarming party. It called Gib-Deul-YI(In Korean : 집들이) The customary practice of hosting a small gathering after moving into a new home. Friends, relatives, and neighbors are shown around the house and served with food and drinks.

Detail

Traditionally, the owner of a new home would invite a shaman (mudang) to perform a shamanist ritual (gut) on the evening of the day of the move. These days, however, people prefer to celebrate the completion of the construction of a home somewhat differently.

In Ongjin-gun, Gyeonggi-do, it is also called the ‘deulchari’ and evening the “good day” selected by feng shui, the owner invites friends and people from the village and serves them with food. The food served is usually bibimbap mixed with rice, bean sprouts and gangtu (a type of seaweed). People celebrate deep into the night by playing the hourglass-shaped drum (janggu) and singing. In the Seongnam area, people also have a similar celebration when building or moving into a new home. The guests prepare matches or candles signifying their wish for the household to rise and prosper like a file or bubbles. However, people offer detergent as a moving-in present. And also a toilet paper is good present for host. It means everything will go well.

Special birthdays

Dol

Special birthday of 2 years baby is called Dol(Korean:돌). In South Korea we got one age when we born. Newborns start at the age of one year. So the first year of life is counted as one instead of zero, so that a person is two years old in their First birthday. This special birthday for two-year-old baby is celebrated for the first birthday of a child. When Korea had little medicinal knowledge, many newborns would die from childhood diseases or because of Korea’s seasonal temperature differences. When a child lived to be a year old during that period, it was a very joyous occasion.

Doljabee

At this birthday, the main course is Doljabee(Korean:돌잡이) The doljabee is the main celebration of Dol. A large table is prepared with over a dozen different types things which are for baby. There is a bowl of rice and various other foods placed on the table. Food is not the only thing on the table, however; there is also a large spool of thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, a pencil, a book, money (10,000-won bills) and a needle, ruler and pair of scissors. After the table is set, the parents sit the baby on a traditional Korean mattress (bolou) and Korean cushions (bangsuk). This is done so that relatives can get better pictures of the infant. There is also a traditional screen in the background. The doljiabee then begins. The baby picks up various items on the table that attracts him or her.

The items that the child picks up are said to predict the child’s future. If the child picks up the thread, the child will have a long life. A child who picks up the pencil, book or calligraphy set is forecast to be a good scholar. A child who picks the rice, rice cakes, or money will become rich; some say that choosing the rice (or a rice cake) means the child is unintelligent, or that they will never be hungry. If the ruler, pair of scissors or needle is chosen, it is said that the child will be dexterous. If the child chooses the knife, they will become a good chef. Nowadays the kind of things is changed. Something which the baby's parents want like baseball (want to be baseball player), mike(want to be singer) that.

Hwangab

Hwangab (Hangul: 환갑; hanja: 還甲) in Korean, Kanreki (還暦/かんれき?) in Japanese or Jiazi (甲子) in Chinese, is a traditional way of celebrating one's 60th birthday in the East Asia. The number 60 means accomplishing one big circle and starting another one in one's life as the traditional 60 year calendar cycle of the lunar calendar. In the past, average life expectancy was much lower than 60, so it also meant a celebration of longevity. The celebration party is also a wish for an even longer and prosperous life. This party is customarily thrown by the children of the one who is turning 60. On one's Hwangab, family and relatives prepare a big birthday celebration with lots of food.

Etiquette in Other Regions

• Etiquette in Africa
• Etiquette in Asia
• Etiquette in Australia and New Zealand
• Etiquette in Canada and the United States
• Etiquette in Japan
• Etiquette in Latin America
• Etiquette in the Middle East

See also

• Culture of Korea
• Korean cuisine
• Public holidays in South Korea
• Korean birthday celebrations
• Traditional Korean thought
• Marriage in South Korea