Crossing your legs is seen as being lazy or disrespectful to the other person. Therefore, you should sit up straight and keep your hands on your lap. Open body language shows honesty and attentiveness.
Comfort: We tend to cross our legs when we feel comfortable, confident, and relaxed. For some people this is a naturally comfortable posture, and women who wear short skirts will often cross their legs. Others will cross to shift their weight if their legs are feeling tired.
Depending on the context, sitting cross-legged can mean a person is either relaxed or defensive. Body language experts note that if you see someone sitting this way in a meeting, it may indicate they have emotionally withdrawn from the conversation.
Bowing and handshakes
Koreans bow to those senior to them both as a greeting and a show of respect. The junior person initiates the bow, bending from the waist to an angle of between 30 and 45 degrees from vertical. A less accentuated bow is returned as acknowledgment from the more senior person.
The pig symbolizes good luck, wealth, and fortune in Korean culture. If you believe in Korean superstitions and you wake up with pigs on your mind, you may have wealth, a promotion, or other good luck coming up in your future.
The finger heart gesture has become an important symbol of affection and support, particularly in Korean pop culture and among fans of K-pop. It is often used by idols to express their love and gratitude to their fans, and by fans to show their support for their favorite idols and each other.
3 is one of the luckiest numbers according to Korean superstitions. First, many may be aware of the sacred meaning of the number “3” in Christianity. Korea is actually a very Christian country, and so many believe that it is a holy number.
If it's considered rude in your country, it's probably considered rude in Korea. Things such as spitting, shouting, hitting people, swearing, and generally being obnoxious are definitely rude in Korea.
Meeting and greeting
Foreigners will see Koreans bowing all the time, even during telephone conversations. Though doing likewise will do much to endear you to locals, don't go overboard – a full, right-angled bow would only be appropriate for meeting royalty (and the monarchy ended in 1910).
Respect should always be shown to those that are older than you. This involves deferring to their opinion, waiting for their input and lowering your gaze if they are an elder. Objects, gifts and food should be offered and received with two hands. Remove your hat when indoors.
It's okay to cross your legs in a casual setting, but in business relations it's seen as too casual and improper. It is preferable to sit in seiza, the traditional Japanese way of sitting where you sit upright and your legs are tucked underneath you.
Hands in pocket (disrespectful in Turkey) Sitting with legs crossed (offensive in Ghana, Turkey) Showing soles of feet. (Offensive in Thailand, Saudi Arabia)
It signals a person who is distant, insecure, defensive or anxious. But, Hargrave says that crossed arms do have their pluses too. It's also a comforting (self-soothing pose) pose that can help you to concentrate and stick to a difficult task.
It means she likes you and trusts you. You should really seriously think this one out.
Leg spreading
"The behaviour is based in ancient history and is rooted in being able to protect," she told the Daily Star. “When men want to be seen as both attractive and protective, they will often splay their legs or drape their arms around nearby objects, like a chair or stool."
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.
Eye Contact: During a discussion or friendly conversation, make full eye contact with the person you are talking to. Avoid direct eye contact if you are scolded/rebuked by someone older or of a higher status than you. Some Koreans may also avoid eye contact with their superiors on a regular basis.
Crop tops have been a huge hit these past few years in South Korea, especially in youthful neighborhoods like Hongdae. As long as you cover your shoulder and chest area, there will be no problem showing a little belly skin.
Many foreigners pronounce the "g" as "k" -- for instance, "gimchi" is pronounced "kimchi." So Koreans started pronouncing the Korean word foreigner as "oekuk-saram." Koreans who said it because they thought it was a form of expressing friendliness said they never thought it would insult someone.
If you're dating in South Korea, it's frowned upon to engage in PDA, or public displays of affection. It's okay to hold hands, but anything more than that will result in stares of disbelief. Instead of kissing or hugging in South Korea, couples show their affection by wearing matching outfits.
It is not all that normal to use one thumb up to agree with what people say to you. South Koreans almost always see it as being rude. They believe that there is a proper way of doing things. Gesturing with two thumbs is seen as a sign of approval or saying a big yes to what people did right.
Everything from health supplements, teas, and vitamins to red ginseng are great gifts in Korea. Ginseng works well for gifts to Korean in-laws. On that same note, you can also send high-end food products like Hanwoo beef, expensive mushrooms, and wild ginseng too.
Bats. The number one on our Korean animals symbolism list is the bat! These winged mammals represent good fortune, despite many people being frightened by them. They became symbols of good luck because the Chinese ideogram for "bat" is pronounced the same as the Korean "good fortune."
In Korean culture, white is intimately associated with purity and mental clarity. Since ancient times, Koreans have been dubbed “the white-clad people.” White represented refinement, tranquility, and wisdom during the Joseon era. As a testament to the scholar's austerity, Confucius's devotees often sported white robes.