"Don't panic! Here are a few small rules that will make you well-regarded at a Korean dining table."
Keep the Bowl on the Table (Keep the Bowl Down)
Unlike in neighboring Japan or China, it is considered polite in Korea not to lift your rice bowl 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 during a meal. The standard practice is to use the spoon for soup and rice, and chopsticks for picking up side dishes.
Matching the Pace (Respect the Elders)
If there is an elder at the table, waiting for them to pick up their spoon and start the meal first is a long-standing Confucian tradition of showing respect in Korea.