How to use the tableware also is a confusing part for foreigners.
Pick up the spoon at first because Koreans like to have jjigae (meat, fish, vegetable and bean curd stew) for almost every dinner. The basic daily foods in Korean families are rice, a variety of kimchi, meat soup, broiled fish along with soy sauce, red pepper paste and bean paste, bulgogi(roast meat); however, jjigae represents the cooking skill of the hostess. It is very important; therefore, to taste jjigae first as a guest in order to be courteous even if the taste is terrible.
After tasting jjigae, eat your meal as you want. When you first taste jjigae, say ?Who made it? It’s really good flavor? with satisfied smile. If you ask her for the second serving the hostess will be very happy.
As for dining utensils, the spoon and the chopsticks are picked up with the right hand. Also, chopsticks should not be left in the rice or soup bowl during or after the meal. Next, the rice or soup bowl ought not to be held in hands while eating, unlike in Japan. In addition, you should not tear food into pieces using your fingers. If you want to cut up food, ask the hostess for scissors instead of a knife. Besides, you must not take a bite from a piece and return it to the serving dish. Also, your left and right arms should not be placed on table while eating.
Even though Korean table manners are complicate, they represent an essential value of Korean. The respect for senior people and being on time are the main concern for Korean people. If you keep these manners, you can be treated as a polite person at the table in Korea.
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