Social etiquette
Koreans advocate Confucianism and respect the elders. When the elders enter the house, everyone should stand up and ask them how long they live. Take off sunglasses when talking to the elders. Greet your parents when you get up in the morning and after meals; when your parents come back from going out, your children must welcome others before they can eat. When riding a car, give way to the elderly. Pick up. When eating, you should serve food for the elderly or elders first. After the elderly move their chopsticks, others can eat. When riding a car, give way to the elderly.
The traditional etiquette of Koreans when meeting is to bow. When juniors and subordinates encounter elders or superiors when walking, they should bow, greet, and stand aside to show respect. Men meet and greet each other and bow and shake hands. When shaking hands, either use both hands or the left hand, and only nod once. Bowing etiquette is generally not used in businessmen. When dealing with Korean officials, you can generally shake hands or give a light nod. Women generally do not shake hands.
In social groups and banquets, men and women socialize separately, even at home or in restaurants.
In Korea, if someone invites you to a dinner or dinner, you should bring small gifts, preferably packaged food. When making a toast during the banquet, hold the bottle with your right hand, hold the bottom of the bottle with your left hand, then bow to give a toast, and finally pour the wine, and three glasses in a row. The toaster should raise his glass lower and touch the other person’s cup with the rim of his glass. After the toast, you can only leave after bowing. When you are a guest, the host will not let you see the whole house, and do not walk around by yourself. When you are about to leave, the host will send you to the door, or even to the door, and then say goodbye.
Koreans receive gifts with both hands, but will not open them in front of the guests. It is not advisable to give foreign cigarettes to Korean friends. Wine is the best gift for Korean men, but wine cannot be given to women unless you make it clear that the wine is for her husband. When giving gifts to Koreans, it should be noted that Korean men like brand-name textiles, ties, lighters, electric shavers, etc. Women like cosmetics, bags, gloves, scarves, and kitchen seasonings. Children like food. If you give money, it should be placed in an envelope.
If there is a visit, it must be agreed in advance. Koreans attach great importance to reception in social interactions. Banquets are generally held in restaurants or bars, and the wife is rarely present.
Taboo
The government stipulates that Korean citizens must respect the national flag, national anthem, and national flower. Not only the national anthem is broadcast regularly on the radio, but the national anthem is also played in theaters before the performance, and the audience must stand up. Foreigners who show too much neglect in the above places will be considered disrespectful to Korea and the Korean people.
Koreans have a lot of taboos. When you meet each other during festivals, you can’t say unlucky things, let alone get angry or quarrel. You can’t take out garbage, sweep the floor, or kill chickens and pigs on the first three days of the first lunar month. Don’t make fires on the Cold Food Festival. Zodiac consonants are married, and the wedding period is taboo. Fishermen are not allowed to turn over when they eat fish, because they are not allowed to capsize the boat. Don’t go to other people’s houses to cut their nails, otherwise they will be wronged after death. Don’t wear hats when eating, otherwise you will be poor for life. Don’t sleep with pillow books, otherwise you will not be able to read them. Don’t kill dogs born in the first month, otherwise you will die within three years.
When sitting with the elderly, the posture should be correct. Since the Korean dining table is a low-legged table placed on the ground, guests and hosts should sit cross-legged on the ground during meals. If you kneel on the soles of your feet in front of your elders, no matter who you are, you must not straighten or spread your legs, otherwise it will be considered impolite or insulting. You cannot smoke in front of your superiors or elders, and you cannot borrow or catch fire from them until you have obtained consent. Don’t make any noises while eating, let alone talk. Take off your shoes when entering a family home or a Korean restaurant. Eating on the street or blowing your nose in front of people is considered rude.
In front of South Koreans, don’t mention the word “North Korea”, and don’t refer to “Seoul” as “Beijing”. Photography of “Seoul” is now strictly restricted in South Korea. Military installations, airports, reservoirs, subways, national museums and entertainment venues are banned, and photography of aerial and high-rise buildings is also prohibited.
