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.[1] 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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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.[5]
Greetings
Korean usually handshake when they are meet for the first time.
Colin Powell & Roh Moo-hyun, 2004-Oct-26
Eating and drinking
Table etiquette in Korea can be traced back to the Confucian philosophies of the Joseon period like any other etiquette.[6]
Rice is generally eaten plain or mixed up with other different kinds of grains. The main crops in Korea are rice, barley, and beans, but many supplementary crops are used. Fish and other seafood are also important because Korea is a peninsula.
Eating
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.
When peoples are having a meal with others, do not speak of smelly or dirty things.
When eating a meal, neither eat so slowly as to appear to be eating against your will nor so fast as if to be taking someone else's food.
Do not throw chopsticks on the table. Spoons should not touch plates, making a clashing sound.
Drinking
A guest should not refuse the first drink offered by host.[7]
If the guest refuses three times, drink is not to be offered any more[8]
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.
Korean table manner while drinking.
Receiving drinks : 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.
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.[9]
Detail
Traditionally, the owner of a new home would invite a shaman (Korean:무당 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(Korean:들차리)’ 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(Korean:비빔밥) mixed with rice, bean sprouts and gangtu (a type of seaweed). People celebrate deep into the night by playing the hourglass-shaped drum (Korean : 장구 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.[10]
Gifts and gift-giving
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Funerals
The manner of condolence call
How to offer flowers
Offering lowers is giving the flower ceremony for the deceased. So, the blossoms are facing the deceased.
How to
How to bow
when you are older than the dead person
Special birthdays
Dol
A doljanchi or dol (birthday) is a traditional Korean 1st birthday celebration. Originating from a high infant mortality rate, reaching the first birthday became a milestone and celebration blessing the child with a prosperous future. Many of the traditional customs are still included in the modern day doljanchi. It is one of the most important birthdays a korean will celebrate.[11]
Doljabee
When medical science failed to cure many diseases and malnutrition was rampant long ago, infants and toddlers rarely survived to their first birthday.
Thus, a first birthday ceremony, called 'doljanchi(Korean:돌잔치)' here, has been celebrated at homes to rejoice a baby's survival. The highlight of the ritual is to foretell babies' future through a grabbing event, 'doljabi(Korean:돌잡이)' in Korean. If the birthday baby picks a brush, it is believed that he or she will be a scholar. A bundle of thread means the child is going to live long while money symbolizes wealth. Rice is also arrayed with hopes that the baby will never go hungry, which was an important issue when people often suffered famines. For a boy, assortments include a bow and arrow, which presumes that he is going to be a military commander. A scissor or needle is placed instead for a girl, which means the chooser is going to grow up to be a great craftsman.[12]
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 Sexagenary 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.
With the advent of modern health care this occurrence is much more common than it used to be. Many Koreans now take trips with their families instead of having a big party to celebrate their 60th birthday. Parties are also thrown when a person reaches 70 [called Gohi(Hangul:고희) or Chilsun(hangul:칠순)] or 80 [called Palsun(hangul:팔순)] years of age.[13]
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