About Korean Lifestyle ~ Manners When Eating in South Korea

If you get a chance to stroll Korea, notice their eating etiquette still upholds the customs. Heritage thousands of years old that are still used today, including the traditional way of structuring desks. When eating, Koreans usually sit on a pillow without seats and gathered around a low table with legs crossed position. Rice supplied to individuals in a small bowl. Provided in a warm soup bowl and a larger bowl is placed on the right side of rice. Often eaten with other foods from the big pot, which is placed in the middle of the table.

In Korea, parents are the most respected, and guests should be treated with respect and have the right to eat food at least once generally provided the best dishes. Korean people remain at the table requires a bowl and spoon / chopsticks used to bribe food to the mouth. Lifting the bowl by hand is considered impolite, except in some circumstances, it is still acceptable. In ancient times, the nobility (yangban) with dining table luxury while its opposite, farmers enjoy the food in the middle of the field.

Disrespectful behavior at mealtime:

1. Exhale from the nose to the table,

2. Preceding the meal before the oldest,

3. Founded the chopsticks or spoon up, because it symbolizes the incense burned at funerals,

4. Plugging food with chopsticks and take out food by hand (no food should be taken with your fingers, but the banchan are not allowed),

5. Using chopsticks and spoons at the same time (only allowed with one hand),

6. Using chopsticks or a spoon with his left hand,

7. Making noise when chewing food or hit the bowl with cutlery,

8. Churning out rice or soup with a spoon / chopsticks,

9. Shuffles side dishes with a spoon / chopsticks,

10. Finish eating too fast or too slow,

11. Drinking facing parents (It's very disrespectful, one must rotate in the other direction / next)



12. Accept drinks from parents and received with both hands, the left hand is placed into the chest and the right hand holds a place of drink / cup when poured drinks.

13. In informal situations, these regulations are less important. In the event a family meal, the children taught by parents about how and traditional eating etiquette.

14. Talking while chewing food is okay, as long as the mouth is not opened. Is not polite at dinner talking with his mouth open. However, if you talk while eating, people familiar Korea responded by simply nodding his head or say "mm" as the word "yes" and does not open his mouth. Eating / sipping soup with a hissing sound is highly recommended. Korean people will make comments on a very silent while eating so he does not continue to eat food.Another rule to remember is that old people are respected or not necessarily have to follow the procedure of it, but the others are required. This is because the most important thing in the meal was polite and show respect to those who are above us. This does not apply when dining alone or with friends.

In the dinner portions are not required to spend all the side dishes were provided, but the rice itself should be spent. Eating too fast will make the host think that the food provided was not enough. Besides leaving dishes in large quantities is not considered polite because wasting food.


Source:
http://holicdiphe.wordpress.com/2011/09/16/tata-krama-saat-makan-di-korea/