1) Take your shoes off at the door when entering any residence, temple, or guesthouse. 2) Greet people you meet with a short bow—essentially a nod—and soft handshake using both hands. 3) Give and receive any object using both hands.
Touching, patting, or back slapping is to be avoided during interactions. In addition, direct eye contact between juniors and seniors should be avoided because it is seen as impolite or even a challenge. Korea is one of the most demographically homogeneous countries in the world, racially and linguistically.
Can I bring my vape to Korea? Yes you can bring your vape to Korea, it is legal. There are mixed reviews but most people would agree that E-juice is more expensive in Korea so some people bring some with them.
These include smoking in prohibited areas, littering, jaywalking, drunk and disorderly behaviour, running away from restaurants without paying for meals, urinating or defecating in public, using a fake ID, and trespassing and breaking into empty houses.
No hugging: Unless you're close friends, avoid hugging or touching people in Korea. It can make strangers uncomfortable, especially older individuals. Be mindful of body language: Be cautious with your body language. Crossing your legs in front of someone or waving your arms around near others can be seen as impolite.
Under the Criminal Act, the offence of defamation and insult is punishable by imprisonment for expressing facts or feelings (swear words) that may harm the social status of others.
Writing one's name in red ink. This is traditionally taboo because the color red to Koreans used to symbolize death. The belief was that if a person's name was written in red, death or bad luck would come soon.
What is a Q-Code? The Q-Code is a South Korea QR code that holds all your vaccination information needed for entry. The travel requirement was created to help shorten the time for quarantine inspection for foreign travelers entering the country.
The number 4 is considered very unlucky in South Korea, as the words for 'death' and 'four' sound similar in Korean. When you get in a lift the button for the fourth floor will often be F, instead of 4, or sometimes skipped altogether, and you should never give sets of 4 as a gift!
Koreans consider it rude to look someone directly in the eye, cross your arms or legs, or have your hands in their pocket when you are speaking to them. Koreans usually focus their eyes on the lower neck of the person they are talking to and try to avoid staring.
South Korean law permits only licensed medical practitioners, as opposed to tattoo artists without medical degrees, to open tattoo parlors, although it is not illegal to have a tattoo. Only the army prohibits tattoos.
Besides that, if you are dating in Korea, do note that showing a public display of affection or PDA is frowned upon. While holding hands is acceptable, kissing in public may attract judgmental eyes.
Don't bring a knife or pepper spray to South Korea. You might actually need a permit to carry pepper spray in Korea, so leave it at home, because honestly, you aren't going to need it. Carrying a knife is also illegal, and there can be serious repercussions for trying to bring one into the country.
Smoking is also not permitted inside restaurants, bars, and cafés with an area larger than 150 square meters. Designated smoking areas can also be found around the city and at major transportation hubs. Cigarettes can be purchased at just about every convenience store. The legal smoking age in Korea is 19 years of age.
In Korea, it is considered rude to cross your legs in the presence of someone 'superior'. In Korea, that means higher in society, either through their job or their age. It isn't considered rude to cross your legs in front of friends and people of a similar (or lower) social standing as you.
Korean consumers often cite shielding themselves from harmful UV rays as a primary reason. Unlike Western preferences that favor tanned skin, many Koreans value pale skin and actively avoid sun exposure. Rash guards, with their strong UV protection, align perfectly with this preference.
Pointing in South Korea, like many of the other countries surrounding it, is seen as rude. While other countries in the region may prefer and outstretched palm with flat fingers, South Koreans typically have the palm facing downwards if calling someone over to them, moving their hand in a claw-like motion or waving.
Tipping in bars and restaurants is not expected in South Korea, unlike in most countries in Europe and in the United States. The general rule is the service should be exceptional at all times, and with no expectation of extra pay. Tipping in South Korea can be considered rude and frowned upon.
