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Korean Table Manners, Dining Etiquette


Hello! In the last lesson, you read about basic Korean manners and etiquette. Today, I'll talk about Korean dining manners.


Learn about Korean Table manners


1. The Meaning of Eating In Korea


Food, eating, meals... Those are significant matters in Korea. Eating together is a very important social activity.


When people encounter each other on the street, Koreans even ask, "밥 먹었어? (Did you eat?)" instead of "How are you?" Isn't that interesting?


People also say "Let's eat together next time! (다음에 밥 한번 먹자!)" as they say goodbye. Most of the time it is a statement out of courtesy, not actually mean they will contact you to set up the dinner appointment. But still, you can see how Koreans take eating as a serious matter.


There are quite some rules you have to follow in the dining situation. Most of these rules are influenced by Confucianism. This means you have to be polite to your superiors. A superior is someone who is older than you or who holds a higher social status than you, like a professor or a boss. Let's go through the important dining manners you can follow with me!



2. Sitting

It's polite to wait until the oldest person sit.

If you're dining in a formal setting, like a company eat-out or a meal with a professor, there are certain things you should keep in mind. Firstly, you may not sit wherever you want. Usually, the younger or lower-ranked person is expected to sit closer to an exit or door.


Secondly, it's important not to sit down right away. If you're entering a restaurant with someone of higher status, you should wait for the oldest person or the person with the highest rank to sit down first.



3. Prepare to Eat

Setting things up

Let's set utensils for others to be super polite.

Typically, Korean restaurants provide utensils and napkins at each table, either directly on the table or in a drawer on the side. Generally, the youngest or lowest-ranked individual is responsible for arranging these items for everyone, demonstrating humility and respect. To show extra politeness, you can take on this task yourself! Additionally, consider pouring water into each guest's cup.


Wait for the oldest to eat first!

To show respect to the elderly, it is customary to wait until the oldest person at the table starts their meal before you begin eating when dining with others. Once they take their first bite or sip, you can then start your meal using a spoon or chopsticks.



4. While Eating

Utensils

Aviod eating rice with chopsticks

Koreans typically use a combination of a spoon and chopsticks while dining. The spoon is used for rice and soup, while chopsticks are used for side dishes. It is generally considered impolite to eat rice with chopsticks, although younger generations often do so. When dining with someone of a higher rank, it is best to use the proper utensils to give a good impression.



Picture by Aldino Hartan Putra @ Unsplash
쌈(ssam) is a vegetable wrap. People usually eat this with Korean bbq.

It is unusual in Korea for individuals to consume food using their hands, except when eating vegetable wraps (쌈). When dining casually with friends, it is acceptable to use your fingers for foods that are challenging to eat with chopsticks, such as bone-in chicken. Nevertheless, in formal settings, this practice is not deemed polite.


Koreans use a fork and knife to eat Western food, like steak. Young children may use a fork before they get used to using chopsticks. If you're not familiar with chopsticks, you may ask for a fork. However, it's better to learn how to use chopsticks, which can be mastered with practice! People will get a good impression of you if you can use chopsticks well! 😊


Don't stick and leave a spoon in the rice.

When finished eating, it's important to put the spoon and chopsticks back where they were before. Also, don't leave a spoon or chopstick sticking up from your bowl of rice. People only stick a spoon into their rice during ancestral rites for dead people.



Bowls

Koreans don't hold a bowl up. In some cultures, like Japan, people are supposed to eat by putting a bowl on their palm. But not in Korea! You have to leave the bowls on the table. Instead, you will lower your head to not spill things.



Sharing food

Sharing food is important part of Korean culture!

Koreans love to share food! Unlike Western culture, Korean food is supposed to be set all at once on the table, not served by each course. Also, the food is usually not individually served. Instead, people will have a big main dish and share it on the table.


You'll receive a personal dish or bowl and everyone will help themselves from a large dish. Again, you can volunteer and serve everyone before you. That will make you look very polite!


When you have to share something with others, don't take too much for yourself. Only put enough you can eat and leave food to others. You can serve yourself more once you finish what you get.


For side dishes, you will probably share with others. Moreover, Korean people will share the individually served food as well. Especially when you go out with your friends, they will expect to order many different things and share. Koreans will think you are unkind or unfriendly if you don't offer your food to others.



General manners

While eating, it is important to avoid chewing loudly and opening your mouth while chewing. It's okay to talk while eating, but make sure you have swallowed your food first.


Additionally, drinking soup or other liquids with a loud slurping sound should be avoided. If you are eating at the table area, please don't put your elbows on a table or put your food on a chair!



5. Finish Eating

In some cultures, finishing all the food on your plate is considered polite, while in others, it is seen as rude. Korea falls into the former category, where people expect you to finish your meal. Eating everything on your plate is considered a sign that you enjoyed the food.


However, the host or hostess may try to keep feeding you even if you are full. If you are too full to eat more, it is polite to decline the offer by saying "너무 배불러요. 감사합니다." which means "I'm too full. Thank you."


Especially during a company lunch, it is important to keep pace with others while eating. Even if you finish first, it is rude to leave without waiting for the oldest or highest-ranking person. Wait until he or she stands up from their seats and then you may stand up too.



6. Drinking Manner

Learn about Korean drinking manner

When you have a chance to drink alcohol, you have to follow drinking etiquette too. When pouring alcohol for your superior, use two hands. When receiving alcohol from your superior, hold your glass/cup with two hands as well. As you notice, using one hand is a rude thing to do!


When clinking glasses for a toast, gently hit the lower part of your superior's cup, and don't raise your glass higher than theirs. Lastly, when drinking, make sure to look away from your superior and hide your mouth with one hand.



7. Useful Expressions

When you start or finish your meal, you will say these expressions. Those are the informal sentences. That means they are polite but still somewhat friendly, so good to use in daily conversation. Please memorize these phrases and use them when you dine with a Korean!


  • 맛있게 드세요. "Enjoy the food." If you are the one who cooks or will pay for the food, you'll say this.


  • 잘 먹겠습니다. "(Before eating) Thank you for the food." The literal translation is "I'll eat well." You use this to show gratitude for someone who cooked for you.


  • 맛있어요. "(While eating) It's tasty." If someone else cooked for you, you can tell the appreciation by saying how delicious it is. By the way, you are only allowed to compliment. It's rude if you judge other's food in any negative manner.


  • 잘 먹었습니다. "(After eating) Thank you for the food." The literal translation is "I ate well." It is one way to express "Thank you" as you finish your meal.


  • 맛있었어요. "(After eating) It was tasty!"



8. Wrap-up: Korean Table Manners

I know. There are too many Korean table manners to follow! Well, Koreans will understand you even if you make a small mistake. The important thing is you try to be polite. I hope you enjoy delicious Korean food with good people!


If this lesson was helpful, please like my post and subscribe to my website for future updates! Thank you for studying using My Korean lesson. 감사합니다! 🤗




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