South Korean Cultural Rules: 5 Important Don’ts
Those afflicted with wanderlust understand the yearning of unfamiliarity. They set out across the globe in search of new flavors, faces, and experiences. If there is one thing that separates a true nomad from the average tourist, it is their uncanny ability to pick up on subtle cultural differences when venturing forth into a new country. With keen eyes, they study the locals around them. They notice, imitate, and adopt the specific hand gestures, words, and unspoken social rules that apply to the culture. The art of observing and blending while traveling takes time to cultivate.
For those who have not mastered the skill yet and still declare themselves amateur travelers (no shame in that), other means of learning about the culture must be found. The most obvious being, of course, internet research. Cultural rules can always be learned the hard way during travels, but the transition to a new country is made seamless when research is done and the traveler already knows the dos and don’ts of the culture.
In this 2-part piece, the top 5 dos and top 5 don’ts of South Korea will be shared for all novice wanderers to take note.
1. Don’t Call A Person Over With Your Palm Facing Up
Whether beckoning a student to your desk for praise or flagging down a taxi after a night of boozing on the town, never gesture to another person with your palm facing up. Koreans consider this a rude way to ask someone to come over. The reasoning behind why it’s rude seems to differ on who is asked, but the majority seem to answer that it is the way dogs and other animals are called. Avoid offending anyone by learning the polite way to ask someone to follow or come close. Simply flip your hand over so that your palm is face down and make a digging motion toward your body.
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