

Cultural Etiquette and Customs
South Korea is known for its deeply rooted traditions and strong respect for social norms. If you want to visit, you need to know about their culture etiquette and customs. Following Korean practices not only makes your experience better but also shows respect to the people you're with, whether you're visiting old temples, eating at traditional restaurants, or going to a business meeting. By learning about these important cultural differences, you'll be able to handle social situations with ease and confidence.
The art of meeting is an important part of Korean manners. Greeting someone with a bow and a polite 'Annyeonghaseyo' (었뗠햘세요) means 'Hello.' The setting and the position of the person you are talking to can change the depth and length of the bow. People also often shake hands, especially in business settings. It is polite to use your left hand to support the handshake. Knowing how to use these moves will help you make a respectful and good first impression.
When you eat in Korea, you must use good table manners. It's polite to wait for the oldest person at the table to start eating or drinking before you do. It's also customary to pour drinks for other people instead of yourself, which adds to the social part of dining. It shows respect to use both hands when you give or receive a drink. Also, it's not rude to leave some food on your plate; it means you're full.
Another important part of Korean society is giving gifts, which is often done to show appreciation or build relationships. When giving or getting a gift, use both hands. To be modest, it's polite to turn down the gift at first before accepting it. It's also important how you wrap a gift; don't use dark colours because they make people think of deaths. Understanding these subtleties in Korean cultural etiquette and traditions will not only make your meetings more enjoyable, but it will also help you make stronger connections with people while you're there. Following these tips will definitely make your visit more important and worthwhile.