3.3. Eating habits & Table Manners
South Korea is a country that follows strict rules when it comes to eating habits and table manners. Below are some of the rules that the Koreans follow when eating with their business counterparts.
South Koreans uses a stainless steel chopsticks (refer to appendix C1) called Jeokkarak to eat their food. During the course of the meal, do note that the end of the chopsticks used for picking up food should never touch the table.Thus, always rest the chopsticks on the ceramic chopstick rest or on the side of the plate. Also, never place the chopsticks parallel to each other across the rice bowl as it is deemed by the koreans as being disrespectful.(Yellowstone Publishing, 2015) Another thing to note is to
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It is their culture to refuse the first offer of the second helping. Only until the Koreans insist that you take the second serving of food, then it is alright to accept it. (HubPages, 2015)
The rice and soup bowl should always be on the table and you should refrain from holding the bowl in your hands. Always avoid picking out food or seasoning from the dish as it is considered impolite. However, it is not necessary to eat the food you dislike. (HubPages, 2015)
There are usually side dishes presented at the table during dinner. Only eat the food belonging to your section and do not cross over to the other side of the table to eat their side dishes even if yours are running out. Always ask for refills instead. (HubPages, 2015)
It is considered impolite to use hands to pick up food. Rather, always use the utensils provided.(HubPages, 2015) Also, it is impolite to reach across the table to get food. An alternative is to get the person nearer to the food to get it for you instead.
After the meal, the host will usually pay for the meal. However, the guests should always make an effort to pay as well. In some circumstances, the payee also depends on the seniority and the person with the highest ranking will do the paying. (Yellowstone Publishing,
Clark, Donald N. "1. The Story of the Korean People." Culture and Customs of Korea. Santa
“Generally, eating with another is a way of saying, ‘I’m with you, I like you, we form a community together.’ And that is a form of communion” (Foster 8).
Chang, C., Chang, A., and Freese (2001) states gift giving in South Korea is defined as behavior based on social norms for congratulation, gratitude, condolence, attention, and reciprocity. Gift giving is one of the most important practices in South Korea and a person business may be in jeopardy if the individual fails to send a gift. Although a gray area exist between gifts and bribes South Koreans did not miss an opportunity to give gifts especially to prominent figures in hopes of obtaining a favor in the future. Furthermore, South Koreans both the giver and re...
At large parties, you may introduce yourself. When dining, you should not sit until you are told where to sit and you should not eat until the hostess starts. It is polite to keep both of your hands visible while eating and to leave some food on your plate when finished. Only men are permitted to give toast.... ... middle of paper ...
Korea is considered one of very few homogenous cultures within the world. With the exception of a population of about 20,000 Chinese immigrants located mostly in the city of Seoul, people of both North and South Korea identify as ethnically Korean, all sharing a common language and culture, with a slight sense of regionalism between different parts of the peninsula. (Soh, 2006) The people of the Korean peninsula either call themselves Korean or Choson. The names used to identify themselves come from the two longest lasting dynasties in their history, the Koryo dynasty, which ran from 935 to 1392, and the Choson dynasty, which lasted from 1392 to 1910. (Seth, 2011)
For example, forks had not been invented yet; the people thought it took away from the meat itself, so the people used their hands. And as of 1608, it was still really unknown to many in England. On the other hand, the people of Italy would refuse to use their hands to eat because “…all men’s fingers are not alike clean” (Chamberlin 52). Spoons and knives existed, spoons were meant for soft foods and broths, while knives were and are still meant to help cut harder foods. You should also eat slowly and do not cram food into your mouth, therefore you will not hiccup or gasp for air in a way, which may be seen as a disgusting sound.
...ate the tea culture in Korea. Buddhist ceremonial tea was first brought to Korea by the monks who had come back from China to bring Buddhist culture to Korea. Although it was already used in ancestral ceremonies, it then became widely used in Buddhist ceremonies. It remained this way until Confucianism took over in the 14th century and tea became prohibited (Overview).
...have guest for dinner they make sure the guest is comfortable. When at the dinner table it is impolite to not have your hands visible when eating. Having elbows resting on the table is seen as rude as well as using a toothpick. The host will usually say a prayer and bless the table. Everything is eaten with utensils including fruit. Unlike other cultures where not finishing your plate is consider rude in Colombian culture it is polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate.
Besides, a duty for a banquet server is serving of the various dishes and courses. While the banquet server is serving, they have to observe the important rules, such as the correct way of carrying the tray and greeting the guest. Therefore, banquet servers are also required to walk around to the guest tables frequently to check for any special request, questions or complaints from the guest. The banquet servers usually serve beginning with the ladies at a table, and they have to serve the dishes from the left side of the guest. After one dish or course is finished, the empty plates or bowls should be removed from the right side of the guest, so that the next dish can be served from the left.
A friend invites you over and has cooked enough food to feed an army. When she piles it onto your plate, you eat because you don 't want to be rude. Or a friend drops by your apartment with a pizza and some beers. You weren 't in the mood for either, but you let him in and munch
Chopsticks are a set of well-known eating utensils which are widely used in parts of Asia. They are nothing more than just two identical thin sticks with pointed or blunt ends which are made of wood, bamboo, plastic, silver, etc.. It is very simple to operate chopsticks, I would say, just hold them and use them. Apart from liquid food such as soup and porridge, I eat with chopsticks for nearly all meals. I found this practice relatively dominant particularly in Chinese community where it is not always convenient to obtain an alternative to chopsticks. Using chopsticks, this bodily practice has been typically associated to Asian culture (not merely Chinese culture since Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. are also commonly reviewed as typical
The meal I am going to analyze took place last weekend. My children and I met up with 3 other parents and 4 other children adopted from Ethiopia that have kept in touch over the last 7 years that we have been in the same area. In the past we had gotten together quite regularly to talk and let all the kids play with their Ethiopian friends. Jennifer and I still make it a point to meet up fairly regularly, however, Lisa and her partner Erica moved to the Bay Area with their kids a few years ago and have not had a chance to get together with us since then. They happened to be in town for a wedding so we all met at our favorite Ethiopian restaurant to catch up and let the kids all reconnect.
The hosts come to our table and escort us to the buffet. The buffet is set up in a different room adjacent to the dining room. A long table is covered with a white table cloth. Large white plates start off the buffet line followed by multiple silver chafers. I pick up my plate and make my way down the line. Apple roasted pork shoulder with pan jus fills the first chafer, with beef tenderloin in the next. As I continue, I scoop garlic whipped potatoes onto my plate along with bacon maple balsamic Brussel sprouts. Continuing with the exceptional staff, bus boys line the room making sure the chafers never run low on their content. I head back to the dining room anxious to begin devouring my
Korea is one of the most homogeneous countries in the world. It has its own culture, language, d...
When I hang out with my friends sometimes one of us pays for the food or snacks that we get when we are going to watch a movie or in