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Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
SOUTH KOREA
Etiquette
|
Dining
Business
dinners and lunch meetings are common. In Korea entertaining is most
often done in a restaurant, rarely in a home. Business is not usually
discussed during the meal.
The evening
meal, the largest meal of the day, is between 6 and 8 p.m.
It is
an honor to be invited to a home and guests should call ahead before visiting
when invited.
Shoes
Shoes
should be removed when entering buildings; toes should point away from
the building. When departing, express thanks and bow slightly.
Put shoes on while facing the building. A note of thanks should be
sent to the host and later reciprocate by entertaining the host.
Entertainment
Commonly
entertainment is conducted in an informal setting where alcohol is served;
spouses are not included. Though the atmosphere may appear to be
informal, professional behavior is appropriate at all times and promises
made in an informal setting are expected to be kept. It is polite
to reciprocate and invite the host to a similar event.
The host
pays for the meal though the others may offer to pay.
Eating
Men cross
their legs when sitting on the floor when eating. Both men and women
may sit with legs to the side, but not straight under the table.
Chopsticks
and porcelain spoons are the utensils used for eating. Attempts
by guests to use chopsticks are appreciated. The chopsticks
are set in a rest or put on the table; they are not placed on top of a
bowl or left sticking in rice when not in use.
Food is
passed with the right hand, supported by the left hand. Others refill
the tea and soy sauce of the dining party at the table; expect the same.
Drinking partners will often trade filled cups to drink. Leave some
drink in the glass if refills are not wanted. Transfer food from
a serving plate a dish before putting it into the mouth. Food is
not eaten with the fingers. Sliced fruit is eaten with chopsticks.
Covering bowls or lids are placed on the floor. Unedible food parts
such as bones are put on the table or on a spare plate, not in a
rice bowl or on the dinner plate. Hosts offer more food several times.
Even if more food is wanted, it is polite to refuse at least twice before
accepting more. Food left on the plate signals another serving is
not not desired.
After
dinner, it is common to sing and it is impolite to refuse to sing if asked,
be prepared by knowing two or three American songs. Appropriate
topics of conversation include sports, family health (other topics relating
to family are inappropriate), and Korean history.
Inappropriate
topics are government, Japan, and the host's spouse.
Introductions
Seniors
and superiors are respected in Korea and will enter a room and be introduced
accordingly. Koreans may ask questions aimed at determining the status
of people they are meeting. Korean businesspersons will meet individually
with clients and then share the information gathered with others in their
company. Bow at the beginning and end of a meeting.
Korean
men greet each other with a slight bow and sometimes an accompanying handshake
while maintaining eye contact. More respect is indicated by supporting
the right forearm with the left hand during the handshake. The junior
person will initiate the greetings and be the first to bow; the senior
person will be the first to offer his hand. A weak handshake or nod
of the head may be sufficient in business circles. Women rarely shake
hands. Western men should not try to shake hands with a Korean woman;
Western women will have to initiate a handshake with Korean men.
Elderly
people are very highly respected, so it is good manners to greet and speak
to them first, and spend a few minutes with them; remark on the person's
good health. Wait to be introduced to another at gatherings and parties.
Avoid introducing yourself, and have a third person make the introduction
to a person you want to meet. When writing letters, address the recipient
as "To my respected" with the title and full name; the name is not sufficient.
Names
Korean
businesspeople do not refer to each other by their first names no matter
how long they may have known each other or how close their personal relationships.
It is acceptable to address Koreans on any level as Mr., Mrs., or
Miss when the person's title is unknown.
There
are about 273 family names in Korea, but over half are named Chai, Lee,
Kim, or Park. The name problem in one of the primary reasons business-cards
are so important in doing business in Korea. It is very important
for foreign travelers and businesspeople visiting Korea to carefully write
down the full name, title (if any), and company section of all Koreans
who they might want to call or meet again. On a personal level, it
is also wise to get their home addresses and even their position in the
family (first or second son or daughter).
Peoples'
names play a vital role in business and all other areas of Korea's clan
life. Each Korean has two given names, one a personal name and the
other a generational name. Koreans are very sensitive about their
names. First names are not used in a professional setting.
Korean women do not change their names when they marry. They may
be called by their maiden name, by the title of puin (wife) or ojumoni
(wife) or addressed as the wife of Mr. Kim, for example.
Koreans
use titles connected with their profession, place of work, and rank plus
their department in the workplace; they also use the areas where they live
to identify each other. Many of the most common names in Korea may
be spelled several different ways. Certain syllables of the Korean
language are also pronounced differently by many people, making the names
sound different, especially to foreign ears that are not totally sensitized
to the variations in the language.
Establishing
an effective working relationship in Korea can take longer than two or
three years. Friendship and trust must be both built on both sides,
but once a close working relationship with Koreans is established, they
will do everything they can to maintain the relationship for a lifetime.
Physical
Contact
It is
not polite to put an arm around another person's shoulders. People
of the same sex will often hold hands. Physical contact is inappropriate
with older people, with people of the opposite sex, or with people who
are not good friends or family.
Feet are
considered dirty and should not touch other people or objects. Men
should keep their feet flat on the floor during formal situations.
At other times men should take care that the soles of their shoes are pointing
down. Women are permitted to cross their legs.
Maintain
eye contact when conversing. Show respect to older people by touching
your left hand, palm up, lightly to your right elbow when shaking hands
or passing objects such as food or documents. Get someone's attention
by extending your arm palm down and moving your fingers up and down; moving
a single finger toward you is inappropriate. Cover your mouth when
yawning or using a toothpick.
Links
to More Information
Sources:
U.
S. Department of State |
