Korean Table Manners (Dining Etiquette and Tips)
“Don't panic! Here are a few small rules to follow at a Korean dining table to be well-liked.”
Keep the Bowl on the Table (Keep the Bowl Down)
Unlike in neighboring Japan or China, it is considered polite in Korea not to hold your rice or soup bowl while eating. Keep the bowls on the table and use your spoon.
Spoon vs. Chopsticks (Spoon for Soup, Chopsticks for Side)
Korea is the only country in Asia that uses both a spoon and chopsticks simultaneously while eating. It is standard practice to eat soup and rice with a spoon, and pick up side dishes with chopsticks.
Matching Pace (Respect the Elders)
If there is an elder at the table, it is a long-standing Confucian cultural tradition in Korea to wait for the elder to pick up their spoon and start eating first.