In Korea, it is traditionally rude to look directly into the eyes of an elder/senior/respectable person who is speaking to you, ESPECIALLY when you are getting into trouble. Find out WHY and how you can avoid this easy mistake. You might think, “Why?
In Korea, it is considered rude to look directly into someone's eyes during a conversation, especially if you are being scolded or rebuked by your seniors or elders. In some cultures, making eye contact is a non-verbal part of communication; however, this is not the same in Korean culture.
While not universally obeyed, if any staring occurs, attempts are subtle and try to go unnoticed. While likely not an isolated event in Korea, it is my understanding that those doing the staring are clueless to it's offending powers. In Korea, some misunderstand it and take it as racist behavior.
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.
Everyone has different personal preferences. Some people may like a tall and pale person, while others may not. However, in Korean society, many people still believe their beauty standard to be absolute.
Big, round eyes with double eyelids are considered beautiful, whereas monolids are often seen as unattractive. On the contrary, the West prefers sloped, almond-shaped eyes that make them appear more sultry and sexy.
In South Korea, there is immense societal pressure to conform to the community and societal expectations placed on the individual. This is evident in the theorization of what influences both Korean men and women to want to strive to achieve a strict beauty standard.
Smiling: As well as an expression of glee and humour, smiling can indicate that one is feeling ashamed or embarrassed in Korean culture. For example, a Korean may smile when they make a mistake. Sneezing: Sneezing is considered rude in Korea.
If you're dating in South Korea, it's frowned upon to engage in PDA, or public displays of affection. It's okay to hold hands, but anything more than that will result in stares of disbelief. Instead of kissing or hugging in South Korea, couples show their affection by wearing matching outfits.
Respect should always be shown to those that are older than you. This involves deferring to their opinion, waiting for their input and lowering your gaze if they are an elder. Objects, gifts and food should be offered and received with two hands.
In Korea, it is ideal for a woman to have slim features. A slim waist, thin hips and petite body are ideal. In regards to facial features, Korean women want a small petite fairy like face with double eyelids, while in the Western world, women want a thin nose with plump lips and doe like eyes.
The importance of being beautiful is deeply entrenched in Korean culture. People believe that being physically attractive is key to having a more successful life, meeting a better mate, career success, etc.
A person in a position of service may put their hands together in front of their chest when greeting you or accepting something as an expression of gratitude. Many Koreans living overseas are accustomed to hugging or kissing as a part of casual greetings among friends.
Handshakes and bows are acceptable greetings, but greeting someone with close physical contact, such as hugging or grabbing hands or arms, is bad Korean etiquette. Hugging strangers is certainly bad manners in Korea and will most likely make the other person extremely uncomfortable, especially when in public.
For example, in African-American cultures, eye contact with authority figures may be viewed as disrespectful. Similarly, among some Asian groups, eye contact between strangers could be considered shameful. In some Latino cultures sustained eye contact may be viewed as disrespectful.
It is not all that normal to use one thumb up to agree with what people say to you. South Koreans almost always see it as being rude. They believe that there is a proper way of doing things. Gesturing with two thumbs is seen as a sign of approval or saying a big yes to what people did right.
It is not merely the blood that must be hidden; the menstruating woman herself is also considered taboo. Such taboos have been slow to fade.
Every culture has a number considered unlucky because of superstitions. In the United States it's 13. In South Korea, it's four. The reason behind the fear of the number four, known as tetraphobia, lies in the way it sounds.
Illegal drugs such as opium, marijuana/cannabis, cocaine, etc. * Including but not limited to: medicines, handbags, wallets, stoles, taxidermy and ivory from animals such as elephants, leopards, and alligators. Cashier's checks, overdraft checks, postal money orders, etc.
Flirting in Korean culture is pretty much like what you see in Korean dramas. They use romantic, sweet, and cute phrases to touch the heart of the person they like. Aside from romantic phrases, they also flirt by acting cute, called aegyo (애교).
touching someone (even on the face) isn't a big deal either, as long as it is the same gender. however, physical affection of any kind with the opposite gender is kind of taboo - even for people who are dating or married. you will rarely see people kissing or anything like that in public in korea.
While short-shorts and skirts are commonplace for women in Korea's major cities, exposed shoulders and low-cut tops are still considered taboo most places.
According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Ipsos on global attitudes toward beauty, around 58 percent of South Korean respondents stated that they preferred women to be between 5 feet 5 inches (around 165cm) to 5 feet 9 inches (around 175cm) tall.
Preferred height for men South Korea 2019
According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Ipsos on global attitudes toward beauty, over 70 percent of South Korean respondents stated that they preferred men to be between 5 feet 10 inches (around 178cm) to 6 feet 1 inch (around 185cm) tall.
They have this thing called an “8-headed body figure”. This means that your face length times eight should be the total size of your body. This is the ideal size of a body in Korean beauty standards.