Chopsticks, spoons and table manners

In Korea, rice, soup and stew are mostly eaten with a spoon, while side dishes are picked up with chopsticks. Eating rice with chopsticks is not wrong, but scooping it with a spoon is more typical. It is considered polite not to hold both utensils in one hand at once; put one down when using the other.

Korean restaurants commonly use flat chopsticks made of metal such as stainless steel. They can feel heavy and slippery at first, but holding them lightly and moving only the top chopstick makes it easier. If you struggle, asking for a fork or using your spoon is not rude at all, and staff are used to such requests.

In Korea, the usual etiquette is to leave your rice and soup bowls on the table and eat with a spoon rather than lifting them. Drinking directly from a bowl may seem impolite in front of elders. In casual settings, though, many people do not mind much, so do not worry too much about it.

No. Standing a spoon or chopsticks upright in rice is avoided because it resembles offerings at ancestral rites. When you pause, rest them on a utensil holder, beside your bowl or on a napkin. Pointing at people with chopsticks or tapping bowls with them is also best avoided.

Traditionally, you wait until the eldest person picks up their spoon before starting to eat. Try to match their pace, and if you finish first, wait rather than leaving the table right away. These rules are less strict today, but following them is wise at formal meals or when you first meet someone's family.

In the past it was common for everyone to eat straight from a shared stew pot with their own spoons, but now many people use a ladle to serve portions into individual bowls. If there is no ladle or small bowl, ask the staff. Following what your dining companions do is the most natural approach.

When pouring for an elder, hold the bottle with both hands, or pour with one hand while supporting that arm with the other. When an elder pours for you, hold your glass with both hands. Traditionally, you also turn your head slightly to the side when drinking in front of an elder.

Traditionally, people fill each other's glasses rather than their own, and topping up someone's empty glass is seen as considerate. Today, many people pour their own drinks in casual settings, so it is not a big deal. If you do not want more, leaving some in your glass signals that you are fine for now.

A little slurping while eating noodles is generally not considered very rude. However, chewing loudly with your mouth open is best avoided. At quiet, upscale restaurants, it is safest to keep noises to a minimum, and watching how those around you eat is a good guide.

Spicy food can make your nose run, but many Koreans consider loudly blowing your nose at the table rude. Turn away and wipe quietly, or step out to the restroom. Tissues are usually placed on or near the table in restaurants, so you can take one whenever you need it.

In many Korean restaurants, spoons and chopsticks are in a drawer built into the side of the table or in a container on it. When you sit down, it is a thoughtful gesture to take out utensils for everyone and place them on napkins. Water and cups are often self-service as well, so look around for a dispenser.

Yes. When eating in a group, keeping roughly the same pace is considered polite. Avoid finishing far ahead and then staring at your phone or leaving the table early. When you are done, place your utensils neatly on the table to show you have finished eating.

Traditionally, the eldest person or the one who suggested the meal often paid. There is also a give-and-take custom where you treat the other person next time after being treated. Splitting the bill among friends is now common too, so read the situation and decide naturally together.

At some barbecue restaurants staff grill the meat for you, while at others customers do it themselves. When grilling yourselves, one person usually takes the tongs and scissors to cook, cut and share the meat. When dining with elders, younger people often take on this role as a gesture of respect.

Place meat, ssamjang and garlic on a lettuce or perilla leaf, then wrap it into a bundle small enough to eat in one bite. If it is too big you will need several bites, which can get messy. You can usually ask for more lettuce and leaves, and some places refill them at a self-service bar.

Leaving a lot may suggest you did not like the food, but leaving a little of the side dishes is generally fine. Take only what you can eat and ask for more side dishes if needed. At temples and buffets, finishing everything you take is considered especially important, so serve yourself modest portions.

At restaurants with floor seating, take off your shoes at the entrance. If sitting cross-legged is uncomfortable, you can shift your legs to the side, but avoid stretching your feet toward other people. Some places provide shoe lockers or plastic bags for your shoes, so keep your valuables with you.

Digging around in shared side dishes to pick out only the pieces you want is considered bad manners. Decide what you want first, then pick it up cleanly in one go. Moving food close to the plate helps avoid dripping sauce on the table, which your companions will appreciate.

Using utensils with your left hand is perfectly fine. At tight tables, left-handed diners may prefer an end seat to avoid bumping elbows with the person next to them. When passing something to an elder, using both hands is polite regardless of which hand you favor.

Glancing at your phone is common during casual meals with friends, but it is better to put it away when eating with elders or at formal occasions. If you need to take a call, step away from the table. Taking photos of food is generally accepted and very common in Korea.