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Etiquette |
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Table Manner |
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Traditionally, Korean food is not served in courses, but instead
is placed on the table simultaneously. There is no set order to
eat the food, just your personal preference. There are usually
several communal dishes or sometimes you have only your own bowl
of rice and soup, with everyone sharing the main course.
The food is not passed around the table. Since everything is on
the table, the guest eats rice with whatever side dishes he
wants.
The main dish is almost always accompanied by rice, soup,
kimchi and several side dishes. Koreans eat their rice and soup
with a spoon (which was reportedly first invented by the
Koreans), and side dishes and the main course with chopsticks.
Chopsticks may be wooden or metal.
Use the spoon for rice and the chopsticks for side dishes, but
you can ask for forks or knives at restaurants. Do
not stir your rice or your soup.
Do not leave the spoon or chopsticks in the rice as it
symbolizes their use by the dead. Knives are used only in the
preparation of food, not as eating utensils because Korean food
is either pre-cut into bite-sized pieces or is soft enough to be
pulled apart using chopsticks.
Dessert nearly always consists of fresh fruit.
Foods of any kind should not be picked up with your fingers.
Fruit is eaten in slices with forks.
In old days conversation is discouraged while eating but this
custom is changing among new generation.
Also, do not blow your nose when anyone is present, especially
if eating. |
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Table Reminders
1. The eldest person present begins eating first.
2. Chopsticks should not be left in the rice or soup bowl during
or
after the meal.
3. The rice or soup bowl should not be held in one's hands while
eating.
4. The hand and arms should not be placed on the table while
eating.
5. One should not tear food into pieces using fingers.
6. One must remain at the table until the last person has
finished eating. |
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Drinking Etiquette |
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According to Koreans, the principle of drinking is to think of
human beings first and form better relationships for the purpose
of harmony. The bottom line is to invigorate good human
relationships with appropriate manners. Consider these manners
when drinking: |
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-Prepare the right amount of drinks
and foods.
-Prepare guests' own dishes and
bowls so they can take their own food.
-You can pass your cup around, but
you should wash it with clean water. In the past, people
passed their cups around with alcohol in it. These days,
however, an empty cup is passed.
-When you pass along the cup, do not pressure people to drink
more than 2 drinks to not give pressure to those who cannot
drink much.
-Those who cannot drink should pass
along the cup to the next person after they bow.
-When a cup is empty, you should
ask the person if he/she wants more and then fill it up for the
person.
-When drinking, drink openly. Ask
younger people or students to serve drinks in order for them to
learn the right drinking manner.
-When treated with drinks, you
should return the favor later.
-When the eldest person finishes
drinking, every one else should finish as well.
-You should deliver thank you
comments the next day after drinking.
-When an acquaintance comes, you
can suggest at least one shot of drink.
-The most important seat in
drinking is the inner side from the door and center position.
The designation of seats is usually dependent upon the host or
the eldest person.
-Prepare clean water with drinks
for cleaning cups.
-When you talk, put down your cup
or anything in your hands.
-There are no customs such as
cheomjan (pouring alcohol in a cup before the cup gets empty).
You should wait until a person's cup is empty before refilling
it.
-It is considered impolite to make
people pour their own drinks. |
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