Korea is a popular study-abroad destination for students as well as one for travel. However, many students make the mistake of speaking informally or bringing strong-smelling food onto public transport, which are disrespectful actions in Korea. This article will bring you through the dos and don'ts of Korean etiquette to prepare you to study in Korea!
1. Speaking Korean Informally
Speaking "Banmal", which is an informal casual speech form, is a common mistake that foreigners make to a person whom they have just met, to a person who is older than them, to a person who is in a senior position, or basically to anyone who is not their close friend or family member.
It is common for people to learn Korean from Korean dramas and try speaking it to people who might be older than them and meeting for the first time, thinking that they are cute or showing appreciation for the language, without knowing that they are actually speaking Banmal and considered to be rude or even offensive! Common Banmal used in Korean dramas like 안녕 (Annyeong), 고마워 (Go-ma-wo), 야, 왜그래 (Ya, wae-geu-rae).
Respect is very much built into the Korean culture and there are as many as 7 different speech levels to be used based on the "level" of the person you are interacting with and the occasion you are at. Not using the correct Korean speech level can certainly offend someone as you can be seen as "speaking down" on someone and not respecting the person. If you are unfamiliar with the language, you are better off not speaking it as you would not be appreciated by the locals. Having said that, you can still speak broken Korean with your Korean friends or use it in times of need, such as trying to ask for directions.
2. Eating Loudly
Next, it is considered rude to eat loudly. While it is appreciated in Japan that you make loud slurping noises when eating ramen, Koreans consider it to be polite if someone eats without any noise.
Korean Ramen
3. Bringing Food on Public Transport
Also, while you may get away with munching a light snack in Korean subways or buses, you should not be eating full meals or strong-smelling food such as ramen.
The same applies if you are getting a takeaway. If you intend to bring home food with strong smells such as pizza or fried chicken, you should not be taking public transportation. Bus drivers are also allowed to deny passengers holding food or drinks from boarding. Instead, take a taxi.
Here's a picture of our Korean employee being a model citizen waiting for her taxi as she is bringing a pizza to a party!
Want to learn more about studying abroad in South Korea? Here at Flying Chalks, we are here to help! From securing a university spot for you to settling your Student VISA and accommodation, our education experts will help you from start to finish without you worrying a single bit. We also have an English-speaking team in South Korea to assist our students should they encounter any problems.
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