"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
It's a quite universal traveling rule; wherever you go, respect the host culture and make an effort to learn their customs.
Korea is a very, very, VERY, interesting place in terms of cultural aspects. Here is a list of Korean culture trivia facts that you may want to memorize before entering this unforgivingly awesome place:
The Basics
- It smells like Kim Chee. Everywhere. You get used to it.
- They drink a lot.
- Mmmmm plastic surgery mmmmmm
- They don't mind shoving. So feel free to purposefully bump into oncoming people. They won't call you out!
- Drivers are crazy! Pedestrians by law are supposed to have the right of way; Korean drivers nonetheless have no fear in speeding in front of pedestrians to make turns and what not. It's dangerous, so keep an eye out when you're walking besides the road!
- Not much chivalry here...
- They drink a lot.
- Some Ajummas are scary. You're more likely to beat Kobe Bryant in a dunking contest than defeat a mad Ajumma in a mortal combat match on the subway.
- Many people speak English, others speak Engrish, and the rest mime while speaking broken Korengrish. So practice your basic phrases! 시간있어?
- Did I mention they drink a lot?
Food and Such
- Eat out. A good meal costs $4-$6 in Seoul.
- Street food vendors serve ridiculously delicious food (sundae, odeng, ddukbokki, chicken feet, you know, the good stuff); however, beware of being overcharged, especially in tourist places like Itaewon and Dongdaemun.
- Wait for your seniors to pick up their utensils. It's a sign of respect.
- Get used to using flat, metal chopsticks. They're very difficult to wield.
- Don't raise your rice/soup bowl. I've been called out on it a couple times (yet I continue to do it...)
- Ask for more side dishes! They're free!
The Bathroom
- In every bathroom stall, there is a trash can. When you wipe after you're done, don't flush the toilet paper; throw it in the trashcan. Although gross, the reason why you shouldn't flush toilet paper down the toilet in Korea is because most of the pipes are too small for toilet paper; thus, it would clog the sewage.
- In the dorms and around campus, there is a bar of soap attached to a metal rod. To utilize the bar of soap, you literally have to...well...um...how should I say this...errr...jerk it... The soap isn't detachable, so it's the only way. Cool story, aye?
- Korean dudes, most likely because they've served in the military, have established a new tier of bro-hood, as they have no problem "X-Men-ing." Check it:
It's a quite universal traveling rule; wherever you go, respect the host culture and make an effort to learn their customs.
Korea is a very, very, VERY, interesting place in terms of cultural aspects. Here is a list of Korean culture trivia facts that you may want to memorize before entering this unforgivingly awesome place:
The Basics
- It smells like Kim Chee. Everywhere. You get used to it.
- They drink a lot.
- Mmmmm plastic surgery mmmmmm
- They don't mind shoving. So feel free to purposefully bump into oncoming people. They won't call you out!
- Drivers are crazy! Pedestrians by law are supposed to have the right of way; Korean drivers nonetheless have no fear in speeding in front of pedestrians to make turns and what not. It's dangerous, so keep an eye out when you're walking besides the road!
- Not much chivalry here...
- They drink a lot.
- Some Ajummas are scary. You're more likely to beat Kobe Bryant in a dunking contest than defeat a mad Ajumma in a mortal combat match on the subway.
- Many people speak English, others speak Engrish, and the rest mime while speaking broken Korengrish. So practice your basic phrases! 시간있어?
- Did I mention they drink a lot?
Food and Such
- Eat out. A good meal costs $4-$6 in Seoul.
- Street food vendors serve ridiculously delicious food (sundae, odeng, ddukbokki, chicken feet, you know, the good stuff); however, beware of being overcharged, especially in tourist places like Itaewon and Dongdaemun.
- Wait for your seniors to pick up their utensils. It's a sign of respect.
- Get used to using flat, metal chopsticks. They're very difficult to wield.
- Don't raise your rice/soup bowl. I've been called out on it a couple times (yet I continue to do it...)
- Ask for more side dishes! They're free!
The Bathroom
- In every bathroom stall, there is a trash can. When you wipe after you're done, don't flush the toilet paper; throw it in the trashcan. Although gross, the reason why you shouldn't flush toilet paper down the toilet in Korea is because most of the pipes are too small for toilet paper; thus, it would clog the sewage.
- In the dorms and around campus, there is a bar of soap attached to a metal rod. To utilize the bar of soap, you literally have to...well...um...how should I say this...errr...jerk it... The soap isn't detachable, so it's the only way. Cool story, aye?
- Korean dudes, most likely because they've served in the military, have established a new tier of bro-hood, as they have no problem "X-Men-ing." Check it:
"...Ball so hard..." - Jay-Z
Transportation
- Efficient and cheap. Taxi fares are ridiculously cheap.
- The subway system is very easy to use. Foreigner friendly.
- The bus system is a bit odd because the stops aren't in English; just act hopeless and a knight in shining armor (in my case, Hyuna) will come to your aid.
Shopping
- Some retailers are like housewives on Wisteria Lane: Desperate. They creep up behind you and force you to try on their cheaply made clothes. When in doubt, speak Spanish and say, "NO!"
- Haggling is the game. Play it.
- In many places (especially in Dongdaemun), many stores lined up next to each other sell the exact same thing. For example, every store on one side of a block in Dongdaemun sold bags of rubberbands. Could somebody explain this? I actually don't know why...
I probably missed a lot but I'll eventually find out...hopefully not the hard way.
- Efficient and cheap. Taxi fares are ridiculously cheap.
- The subway system is very easy to use. Foreigner friendly.
- The bus system is a bit odd because the stops aren't in English; just act hopeless and a knight in shining armor (in my case, Hyuna) will come to your aid.
Shopping
- Some retailers are like housewives on Wisteria Lane: Desperate. They creep up behind you and force you to try on their cheaply made clothes. When in doubt, speak Spanish and say, "NO!"
- Haggling is the game. Play it.
- In many places (especially in Dongdaemun), many stores lined up next to each other sell the exact same thing. For example, every store on one side of a block in Dongdaemun sold bags of rubberbands. Could somebody explain this? I actually don't know why...
I probably missed a lot but I'll eventually find out...hopefully not the hard way.
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