Korean Traditions and Etiquette You Should Know

Quick answer: The Korean traditions and etiquette that matter most are respect for age and hierarchy, two hands when giving and receiving, taking your shoes off indoors, and waiting for the eldest to start a meal. Big celebrations are Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest festival). At work, use titles, bow or shake hands, and offer business cards with two hands.

Respect for age and hierarchy

Age and seniority shape almost every social situation in Korea. Older people and senior colleagues are treated with extra respect, and this shows up in language, seating and who speaks first.

• Honorifics: Korean has polite and formal speech levels. People often add the suffix -nim to a title or name to show respect. You do not need perfect Korean, but trying polite forms is appreciated.
• Asking your age: Do not be surprised if a new acquaintance asks how old you are. It is not rude. They want to know who is older so they can pick the right way to speak to you.
• Bowing: A bow is the usual greeting. A deeper, longer bow shows more respect, for example to someone much older or more senior. A small nod is fine with people your own age.

Dining etiquette

Meals in Korea are shared. Dishes go in the middle of the table and everyone eats from them.

• Wait for the eldest person to start eating before you begin.
• Do not stick chopsticks upright in your rice. It looks like incense at a funeral ritual.
• Pour drinks for others and let them pour for you. Do not pour your own drink. Use two hands when pouring for someone older.
• When drinking with seniors, turn your head slightly away from them as you drink.
• Blowing your nose at the table is considered impolite. Step away instead.

Shoes off and two hands

Take your shoes off when you enter a Korean home. The same applies in many traditional restaurants and some small offices. Look for a shoe area near the door, and if other people have left their shoes there, do the same.

Use two hands, or one hand supported by the other at the wrist or forearm, when you give or receive something. This applies to gifts, documents, business cards and drinks. It is a simple way to show respect.

Seollal and Chuseok

These are the two biggest holidays of the year. Both follow the lunar calendar, so the dates on the Western calendar change every year. Check the dates before you book travel or plan a weekend, because many businesses close and transport is busy.

• Seollal (Lunar New Year): Families gather, wear hanbok, and eat tteokguk (rice cake soup). Younger people perform sebae, a deep bow to elders, who often respond with good wishes and sometimes money. Many families also hold jesa, a memorial ritual for ancestors with a table of food offerings.
• Chuseok: This autumn harvest festival is often compared to a Thanksgiving. Families travel to be together, honor ancestors, and share food, especially songpyeon, small stuffed rice cakes.

Hanbok and birthday seaweed soup

The hanbok is traditional Korean clothing, known for bright colors and clean lines. People wear it at festivals, weddings and family holidays. In Seoul you can also rent one near the old palaces for photos.

On a birthday, many Koreans eat miyeokguk, seaweed soup. It is traditionally eaten by mothers after giving birth, so eating it on your birthday is a way to remember and thank your mother.

The Korean age system

For a long time, Korea counted age in a few different ways. In the most common one, you were one year old at birth and added a year every 1 January. In June 2023, South Korea moved to international age for most legal and administrative purposes, so your age now counts from your actual birthday. Some people still use the old way in casual talk, which is another reason people may ask your birth year.

Gift giving

• Give and receive with two hands, with a small bow.
• Avoid gifts in sets of four. The number four sounds like the word for death.
• Do not write a person's name in red ink. It is traditionally associated with death.
• A recipient may politely refuse once before accepting. This is normal.

Korean business etiquette at work

Korean workplaces tend to be hierarchical, and respect for seniority carries over from daily life. If you are interning, a few habits go a long way.

• Titles: Address people by their title, often with -nim, rather than by first name, until told otherwise. Ask a colleague if you are unsure.
• Greetings: A bow, or a bow with a handshake, is normal. Wait to see whether a senior person offers a hand first.
• Business cards: Offer and receive with two hands. Read the card for a moment, then place it carefully on the table in front of you. Do not write on it or put it straight in your back pocket.
• Hoesik: This is an after-work team dinner, often with drinks. It is a way to build relationships. Go if you can. You can politely limit your drinking, for example by saying you are full, sipping slowly, or asking for water. Most colleagues understand.
• Punctuality: Arrive on time, or a few minutes early. Being late can look disrespectful, especially to senior people.
• KakaoTalk: Many Korean teams use KakaoTalk, the main messaging app in Korea, for quick work chat. Keep your tone polite, reply in good time, and ask before adding someone to a group chat. Your company may use other tools too, so ask on your first day.

For a wider look at how workplaces differ across the region, read our guide to work cultures in Asia.

Interning in South Korea with AIP

Most AIP interns in South Korea are based in Seoul. Popular fields include software engineering, marketing, graphic design, business development, consulting and hospitality. Host companies work in English, so Korean is helpful but not needed to get placed.

For visas, Working Holiday is often the simplest route if your country has an agreement with Korea. Every AIP program includes visa assistance and 24/7 emergency support. Placement takes about 8 weeks from your deposit, and if we can't place you, you get your full deposit back. See the South Korea destination page for fields and programs, or the summer internships in South Korea guide.

FAQs

What is the most important Korean custom for a visitor to know?

Show respect for age and seniority. Greet older people first, use polite language and honorifics where you can, take things with two hands, and wait for the eldest person to start eating. If you only remember one rule, remember this one.

Is it rude to pour your own drink in Korea?

It is the custom for others to pour for you, and for you to pour for them, especially when drinking with older people or colleagues. Fill your neighbors' glasses and let them fill yours. When pouring for a senior, use two hands. You can politely turn down more drinks at any point.

Does Korea still use Korean age?

Not for legal and official purposes. Since June 2023, South Korea uses international age for most laws and administration, so your age is counted from your actual birthday. In daily life, some people still use the old year-based age, and people may still ask your age to work out who is older.

What should you not give as a gift in Korea?

Avoid sets of four, because the number four sounds like the word for death. Do not write someone's name in red ink, which is traditionally linked to death. Give and receive gifts with both hands, and expect a recipient to sometimes politely refuse once before accepting.

Do I need to speak Korean to intern in South Korea?

No. AIP host companies work in English, so you do not need Korean to do your internship. Learning basic Korean greetings and polite phrases helps a lot with colleagues and daily life, but it is not a requirement.

Ready to see these customs for yourself? Check AIP program pricing and choose the program that fits you.