Korean Table Manners

All Around Korean Table Manners
From the Classics to Fun and Different

✨ Korean dining culture is rich in tradition and respect, and deeply rooted in Confucian practices.

Understanding basic Korean table manners is important, especially when dining with Korean elders.

Let’s learn about the do’s and don’ts of Korean table etiquette, which will help you dine in peace for your next meal with a Native.

Respect is such a crucial part of everyday life in Korea. Like so, at the core of Korean table etiquette is a profound respect for elders and social hierarchies. This respect is connected to seating arrangements, dining practices, and interaction during meals.

Understanding these customs will help you remember the important things during a meal.

Korean Table Manners | Korean Table Etiquette

Korean Table Manners | Don’ts of Korean Table Etiquette

Korean Table Manners | Special Foods For Special Occasions

Korean Table Manners | Dining in Restaurants

Korean Table Manners | Quiz

Korean Table Manners | FAQ

Korean Table Etiquette

✨Wait for the Elders to Start Eating

One of the most important aspects of Korean dining is waiting for the eldest person at the table to begin the meal. It’s a sign of respect to let them take the first bite before you start eating. This practice is rooted in Confucian values that emphasize hierarchy. So remember, wait for the eldest to pick up their spoon before you start.

The best way to remember this is
to just wait until everyone else starts eating!

✨ Use Both Hands When Pouring and Receiving Drinks

When pouring drinks, especially for elders or guests, use both hands to hold the bottle. This gesture signifies politeness. Similarly, when receiving a drink, have your glass with both hands too. If someone older pours for you, it’s courteous to slightly turn your body away when drinking.

✨ Serve Others First

Before serving yourself, take the time to serve others at the table, especially elders. This practice shows you are respecting seniority. Koreans will appreciate your sensible gesture! 

✨ Keep Your Hands Visible

How you sit at the table is also very important. While dining, keep your hands above the table. It’s considered impolite to rest your elbows on the table, as this is usually done around peers or very casual meals.

✨ Chopsticks and Spoons Serve Different Purposes

Koreans typically use metal chopsticks and a spoon for meals. Use the chopsticks for solid food and the spoon for rice and soup. In other Asian cultures, drinking soup or eating rice with chopsticks is considered respectful, but in Korea, it’s the complete opposite. Also, don’t use the chopstick and spoon at the same time. Always leave the other cutlery on the table when using one.

✨ Stay Engaged in Conversations

Meals in Korea are often lively, filled with conversation and laughter.

It’s encouraged to engage with those at the table, share stories, and participate in discussions. Just remember to be polite and avoid speaking too loudly or with your mouth full.

✨ Finish Your Plate

In Korean culture, leaving food on your plate can be seen as wasteful.

It’s considered polite to finish what you’ve been served, although it’s acceptable to leave a small amount if you are genuinely full.

Always thank your host for the meal before eating and after the meal as a sign of gratitude.

Play 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal muk-get-sum-ni-da)

This is a very common phrase Koreans use before eating a meal. It literally translates to “I will eat well.” The purpose of this phrase is to show appreciation for the time and effort for preparing the meal.

Play 잘 먹었습니다 (jal mu-gut-sum-ni-da)

This is also a common phrase you say after finishing a meal. Although it literally translates to “I ate well” it implies-thank you very much for the meal, it was lovely!

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Don’ts of Korean Table Etiquette

✨ Don’t Gulp The Soup Out Of the Bowl

When a soup is served next to your rice, use the spoon to eat the soup. Make sure to eat it quietly. Using both hands to lift the bowl to eat the soup is not good table manners in Korea!

✨ Avoid Pointing with Your Chopsticks

Here is an important rule in Korea. Pointing to others in general is considered rude in Korea. Similarly, pointing with your chopsticks is considered impolite. Instead, use your hand to gesture or simply speak to indicate something you want to discuss or draw attention to.

✨ Don’t Stick Chopsticks in Your Rice

Sticking chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice is a major no-no, as it symbolises death in Korean culture. Always lay your chopsticks down on the table or on a designated rest when not in use.

✨ Avoid Sensitive Topics

While conversation is always encouraged, avoid discussing sensitive or controversial topics, especially in a formal setting. Discussing politics is a big no-no in Korea. Political topics could end up in arguments.

Try to avoid this kind of heavy subject and focus on lighthearted subjects, such as food, family, or travel.

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Special Foods For Special Occasions

Korean dining etiquette can also vary during special occasions or celebrations.

For instance, during birthdays, it’s customary to eat Play 미역국 (miyeokguk), a popular soup made with seaweed. 

미역국 (miyeokguk) is also served to mothers for the first month after giving birth as it helps to nourish the body.

Next, many Koreans will prepare Play 전 (jeon), a pancake made with different vegetable or meat when visitors visit their homes to eat.

전 (jeon) was traditionally served as a must eat food during major holidays and for house guests and is still a popular practice today. A popular type of 전 (jeon) for guests is Play 애호박전 (eh-ho-bak jeon). 

✨Dining in Restaurants

When dining in a restaurant, many of the rules mentioned above apply. However, there are some additional elements to consider. 

✨Ordering

In a group setting, it’s common to order several dishes to share. This might not be a common practice in Western culture, but Koreans enjoy sharing different meals. Be open to offer your food and share with others. 

✨Handling the Bill

It’s customary for the person who invited others to pay the bill. If you’re in a group, consider offering to split the bill or treat someone as a gesture of goodwill. It is also common for the eldest in the group to treat the younger. So if you happen to be the oldest in the group, take the initiative to treat your friends with a good meal!

Learning Korean table etiquette is a great way to experience Korea’s cultural values and traditions.

By following these do’s and don’ts, you show respect to your Korean friends and fellow diners. So the next time you have the opportunity to dine with a Korean friend or their family, remember these do’s and don’ts.

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Korean Table Manners | FAQ

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