To show respect in South Korea, bowing, using honorifics, showing deference to elders (like pouring drinks for them), using two hands for giving/receiving, removing shoes indoors, and avoiding direct eye contact with seniors are crucial, stemming from Confucian values emphasizing hierarchy and harmony. Age and social status are key, so actions like letting elders eat first or supporting your forearm when shaking hands with seniors demonstrate high regard.
Showing respect and honor can be done through different customs such as speaking respectfully, bowing while saying hello or goodbye or using both hands when paying or shaking hands. While it is always important to show respect to others, showing respect also is important in Korean culture for keeping face.
Greetings: Bowing and Handshakes - Bowing is the traditional way to greet someone in South Korea. A slight bow is a common gesture of respect, especially toward elders or superiors. - Handshakes are also common in professional settings, but they are often accompanied by a bow.
Here are the most famous unspoken rules in Seoul, the ones locals follow and visitors quickly notice: Give & receive with two hands 🙇♂️ Don't pour your own drink 🍶 (refill others, they'll refill yours) Turn your head away when drinking with elders 🍻🙈
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of establishing an official couple status (boyfriend/girlfriend) by the third date, moving from casual "talking" (sseom) to a defined relationship quickly, a faster pace than typical Western dating, allowing for deeper getting-to-know-you stages after becoming official, though it's becoming less strict with younger generations. It's about rapid commitment assessment, with the first few dates gauging chemistry before locking things down.
The "333 rule" in Korea is a popular oral hygiene guideline promoted by the Korean Dental Association: brush three times a day, for three minutes each time, within three minutes after meals, to combat plaque and maintain dental health, though some experts suggest waiting 30-60 minutes after eating due to enamel's temporary acidity after meals, making it a cultural practice linked to public brushing habits.
South Korea's 52-hour work rule caps most employees' weekly working hours at 52, consisting of 40 standard hours plus 12 allowed overtime hours, aiming to reduce overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity by ending excessively long workweeks previously common in the country. Implemented in phases for different company sizes, this law applies to a seven-day week, including weekends, and was a major revision to the Labor Standards Act, phasing in from 2018 to 2021 for most businesses.
Koreans consider it rude to look someone directly in the eye, cross your arms or legs, or have your hands in their pocket when you are speaking to them. Koreans usually focus their eyes on the lower neck of the person they are talking to and try to avoid staring.
The Youth Protection Revision Act, commonly known as the Shutdown Law or Cinderella Law, was an act of the South Korean National Assembly which forbade children under the age of sixteen to play video games between the hours of 00:00 and 06:00.
The most common Korean slang for "WTF" includes 헐 (Heol) for shock/disbelief, 뭐야? (Mwoya?) meaning "What is this?", and for stronger vulgarity, the abbreviation ㅅㅂ (S-B) for 씨발 (Ssi-bal), similar to the English f-word.
Common Korean Etiquette
1) Take your shoes off at the door when entering any residence, temple, or guesthouse. 2) Greet people you meet with a short bow—essentially a nod—and soft handshake using both hands. 3) Give and receive any object using both hands.
Your fist is the shape of a heart and your two fingers, which are the index and the thumb, are two main vessels. This Korean heart gesture is used to say “I like/love you” to someone and it's commonly used to show how much you adore someone (e.g. K-Pop idol singers at a concert).
Public displays of affection (PDA) in Korea are generally more reserved than in many Western countries. While holding hands, linking arms, or small pecks on the cheek are becoming more common, particularly among younger couples, anything more than that is often frowned upon in public spaces.
Raise your awareness for people around you and Koreans will appreciate your politeness and feel that they have similar values as you. The expressions above are unique to Korean culture, so using them in the right context will certainly impress your friends and maybe even get a laugh.
The words 선배 (seonbae) and 후배 (hubae) are often used in Korean Universities and workplaces to show respect instead of using oppa (오빠), hyung (형), nuna (누나), and unnie (언니). 선배 (seonbae): A more senior person in school or work, regardless of age. 후배 (hubae): A less experienced or junior person in school or work.
In contrast to some Western cultures, hugging or kissing on the cheek, especially between acquaintances, is generally considered inappropriate in Korean culture. Instead, it is more advisable to bow and shake hands.
It's considered rude to drink facing your elders, as a younger person, you're expected to turn your head to the other side while drinking so that the elder won't see you drink. For elders, it is actually very impolite to drink in front of your face.
Ureongi gaksi (Korean: 우렁이 각시, The Snail Bride) is a Korean folktale about a poor man who breaks taboo and marries a maiden who comes out of a snail shell until he loses his snail bride when a magistrate kidnaps her.
If the office of the presidency is vacant or the President is unable to perform his/her duties for any reason, the Prime Minister or the members of the State Council in the order of priority as determined by Act shall act for him/her.
3: Crossing Your Legs When Talking To Someone
In Korea, it is considered rude to cross your legs in the presence of someone 'superior'. In Korea, that means higher in society, either through their job or their age.
While short-shorts and skirts are commonplace for women in Korea's major cities, exposed shoulders and low-cut tops are still considered taboo most places.
1. 씨발 (Ssi-bal)
4B movement, South Korean feminist activist movement and political stance defined by four deliberate refusals: bihon (“no marriage”), bichulsan (“no childbirth”), biyonae (“no dating”), bisekseu (“no sex [with men]”).
South Korean law prohibits political activities by foreigners. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can lead to significant disruptions to traffic and public transportation.
Sealy Bed Surveys 20,000 People Around the World The average Korean sleep time is only 4-6 hours. 95% said, "I don't feel refreshed in the morning". According to a survey, the average sleeping time of Koreans is only 4-6 hours, which falls short of the global level.