1. Taking Photos
South Koreans value privacy, so try not to capture them in your photos while taking photos. Also, when uploading photos to social media, be mindful to blur their faces if necessary.
2. Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in public places such as hotels, restaurants, parks, squares, stations, and major streets in South Korea. If you want to smoke, make sure to do so in designated smoking areas. Smoking outside these areas can result in a fine.
3. Traffic Rules
South Korea has strict penalties for violating traffic rules, such as running red lights. Offenders may face fines, and such violations could also impact their travel visa records.
4. Public Transportation
In South Korea, people are not allowed to bring unpackaged drinks or food on buses.
The subway in South Korea has designated seats: pink seats for pregnant women and red seats for the elderly. Even if these seats are empty, other passengers typically avoid sitting in them out of respect.
5. Dining Etiquette
When dining with South Koreans, never hold your bowl while eating. In Korean culture, this is considered very impolite.
On drinking occasions, especially when with strangers or elders, never drink directly in front of others. This is seen as rude. Instead, turn your body slightly away and hold the glass with both hands when drinking.
When paying the bill, do not just place the money on the table, as this is considered disrespectful in Korean etiquette. You should hand the money or card directly to the person.
In fast food restaurants, cafes, and other self-service dining places, be sure to clean up your dishes and dispose of any trash in the designated recycling areas after eating.
6. Waste Sorting
South Korea has strict waste sorting regulations. Trash needs to be separated into categories such as general waste, food waste, bottles, and recyclables. For example, a takeaway coffee cup is considered a bottle, and the straw is considered general waste, so they must be disposed of in different bins.
