Social rules

The entire society is built on social rules…and would take years to learn as an outsider, luckily Koreans are very tolerant of foreigners making social mistakes.

Koreans will often smile, but this could be understanding or awkwardness. Koreans will tend to laugh lightly from embarrassment if they find themselves in the wrong, it's an attempt not to lose face and can be disconcerting to westerners.

Asians as many of you know care a great deal about 'face' and not losing it. It is particularly strong in Korea. You will notice that they don't put the South in front of Korea - they simply call it Korea

Generally people bow to each other when greeting as a sign of respect.

Aviation and the Korean Culture

Papabear kindly provided this link to an aviation related book...An addition to your reading list. For a peek into Asian culture and the aspects of "keeping face", there's an interesting read in Malcom Gladwels "Outliers", on how culture caused plane crashes in Korean Air up untill 10-15 years ago. In chapter 7, "The ethnic theory of plane crashes", he describes several lethal accidents where the co-pilot did not feel it was in his place to speak up to the captain. It's a great chapter to aviation enthusiasts to read, and it gives insight into Korean culture.

Table manners

Generally, the oldest male or the person paying is allowed to sit first and to start eating first.

Meals are a communal sharing item, so it is frowned upon to order something just for yourself. Generally a wide number of dishes are ordered and then shared amongst the group.

One should not wave ones chopsticks around (if you are of the gesticulating nature) and one should not use the chopsticks to point at people or things.

It is considered bad manners to use your own chopsticks to get something off of a communal plate and there are serving utensils for such things…

When not using your chopsticks (the standard utensils here) then they should be placed side by side on the table or rim of the bowl. Do not leave them sticking up in a bowl or in some rice (this has some significance related to death)…

Do not worry if you are not very adept at using chopsticks as you are not expected to be able to use them!

Rules regarding drinks are easy and very much of an FT nature!

-Do not pour your own drink

-Make sure no one has an empty glass

There are some rules about accepting drinks should be done with two hands and how to pour drinks but they will make exceptions for foreigners!

itsmeitisss kindly provided this nugget: a reliable guide to drinking etiquette - Gun-baye! (pronounce Kun bay the K is soft)

http://matadornetwork.com/nights/dri...and-endurance/

here's a short quote from that:

"Drinking yourself into a drooling stupor is not shameful in Korea. You will be expected to cut anyone who does it some slack.

The last and most important thing to remember is to never mention it again. Whether your buddy got into a belligerent, drunken shouting match or simply fell asleep upright and snoring in his captain’s chair, protocol is to pretend that it never happened.

It may be difficult to refrain, but perhaps someday you will have a reason to appreciate this rule."

Do NOT blow your nose at the table…apparently this is the most embarrassing thing one can do!

Attitude towards the North

Best to go to see the DMZ or the War Memorial (a museum in reality) dedicated to the Korean war…I won't talk about it here…google is your friend or one of several books on the topic.

Regarding attitudes in general and over North / South Korea:

One poster mentions some points to remember if you are at the border: And no nice comments about the North either - they have laws about that sort of stuff. Must remember to delete DPRK photos from phone / iPad beforehand (nice people (mostly), but completely brainwashed) - shame the DMZ tour to the border doesn't operate on Sundays

Another adds: The attitude of the ordinary people towards the North is generally of longing. Many families are split up by the border, and the South does want reunification, but obviously not on the North's terms. There are quite few poor people in some areas that have escaped the North and fear being resettled.

Don't mention the war

This famous line can be applied to South Korea…best to avoid any discussions of the Japanese occupation altogether.

Also, some have mentioned that it is maybe worth remembering that over 2 million civilian casualties during the Korean War…some discretion advised when talking about such sensitive subjects.

Useful Websites

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/reso...y-profile.html

http://koreanfood.about.com/od/korea...le-Manners.htm

http://www.southkorea.alloexpat.com/...southkorea.php

http://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/South-Korea.html#b

EDIT: Please see this post about the recent news North Korea wishes to launch a rocket during the month of Dec.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19776413-post784.html

Food and Drink related

Meckju Chu Seyo which translates to 'A beer please!' or substitute Champagne Chu Seyo for bubbles...

BBQ Restaurant: gogi gupneun sikdang

General

yes: ye

no: aniyo

(numbers): one is hana, two is pronounced similar to dul and three szet

Please: butak haeyo

you will get a smile if you say Kahsamnida - it means Thank you very much

Please give me the bill: gyesanseo juseyo

Ann yang haseyo: Good morning / good day.
Ann yang kashep se yo: good bye
Yokwon: Passport

Resources:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/korean/guide/

http://www.learn-korean.net

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/korean.htm