South Korea's national costume is: men wear coats, vests, trousers and robes, which are the same color from top to bottom, mostly white; Women wear coats, skirts and robes. The skirt is long and fat, plump and smooth. Modern men and women often wear suits and pay attention to clothes. It is their traditional habit to take off their shoes in the house. They also use kang and hot water pipes for heating.
Koreans pay attention to etiquette. When they meet, they will greet each other. Men bow slightly when they meet, shake their right hand or hand, and bow when they break up. Men are not allowed to shake hands with women. Meeting for the first time, exchanging business cards. Most Koreans entertain guests with soft drinks, and guests must accept refreshments provided by their hosts. Koreans chat together, don't talk about their own politics, economy, wives and other topics, and like to ask personal information. They have strong self-esteem and are not allowed to be criticized or disagree in public. In social situations, men and women must be separated. In public, men have to go first, and all kinds of conference spokesmen put "Mr" before "Ms". Respect teachers, use honorifics, don't smoke and wear glasses in front of elders. Home visits are used to bringing small gifts instead of sending foreign cigarettes; You must use both hands to receive things, and you can't open gifts on the spot. Don't cross your legs when sitting on any occasion.
There are many festivals in Korea. Festival activities from the first day of the first lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month are similar to the Spring Festival in China. Lantern Festival is on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and the traditional diet is fruits (chestnuts, walnuts, pine nuts, etc. ), medicated diet, whole grains rice, old tea rice, etc. April 8 of the lunar calendar is the Buddha's Birthday Festival and the Spring Festival for women. The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival. Every family eats green bread and hangs calamus to celebrate this festival. August 15 of the lunar calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and September 9 of the lunar calendar is the Double Ninth Festival. Tomb-Sweeping Day in Tomb-Sweeping Day and Solstice porridge in winter (red bean porridge mixed with sorghum batter). In addition to the above traditional festivals, Koreans also attach importance to Christmas, Children's Day (May 5th) and Enshan Bieshen Festival (March 28th to April 1). Popular sports activities include archery, wrestling, tug-of-war, swing, springboard, kite, go and chess.
Koreans prefer odd numbers to even numbers. Avoid using "four" (Korean pronunciation is the same as "death"). Don't point at people. Don't talk with your hands behind your back. A woman must cover her mouth when she smiles.
The traditional etiquette for Koreans to meet is to bow. When the younger generation and subordinates meet their elders or superiors when walking, they should bow to greet them and stand aside to let them go first to show their respect. Men greet each other, bow and shake hands. When shaking hands, they either use their hands or their left hands and only nod once. Women don't usually shake hands with people.
In Korea, if someone invites you home for dinner or dinner, bring a small gift, and it is best to choose packaged food. When toasting at dinner, you should hold the bottle in your right hand and the bottom of the bottle in your left hand, then bow and toast, and finally pour three cups. The toaster should hold its cup lower and touch the other's cup with its rim. Take a bow before you leave after drinking. When you are a guest, the host won't show you the whole house. Don't wander around alone.
Koreans accept gifts with both hands, but they don't open them in front of guests. It is not appropriate to send cigarettes to Korean friends. Wine is the best gift for Korean men, but you can't give wine to a woman unless you make it clear that the wine is for her husband.
The Korean government stipulates that Korean citizens must respect the national flag, national anthem and national flower. Not only does the radio regularly play the national anthem, but it also plays the national anthem before the theater performance. The audience must stand up. If foreigners are too negligent in the above places, it will be considered as disrespect for South Korea and Koreans.
When sitting with the old man, sit up straight. Because the Korean dining table is a small table with short legs and placed on the kang, both the host and the guests should sit cross-legged on the ground when eating. If you should kneel in front of your elders, no matter who you are, you must never straighten your legs or part, otherwise it will be considered impolite or insulting. Don't smoke in front of your superiors, and don't borrow or take fire from them privately. Don't make any noise while eating, let alone talk. You should take off your shoes when you enter a family house or a Korean hotel. Eating in the street and blowing your nose in front of people are considered rude.
Never mention the word "North Korea" in front of Koreans, and never refer to "Seoul" as "Beijing". Photography is strictly restricted in Korea. Military facilities, airports, reservoirs, subways, national museums and places of entertainment are all prohibited, as are taking pictures in the air and high buildings.
◆ Diet
There are many onions, garlic, ginger and peppers in Korea. If it is difficult to adapt, you can bring some delicious snacks (such as mustard tuber). You must eat raw seafood in Jeju Island, because the seafood there is absolutely pollution-free.
◆ Make a phone call
The hotel will increase the service charge, so it is best not to make a phone call in the room. The most economical way is to buy a phone card (available everywhere) and make a call on the card phone.
South Korea is the first country in the world to popularize CDMA mobile technology. The domestic CDMA 133 mobile phone can be used directly in Korea after international roaming and international long distance. If it is a GSM mobile phone, it can't be used in Korea. You can rent a Korean mobile phone in the business hall of China Mobile in advance. It's free to answer the phone in Korea.
◆ Shopping
Seoul has a prosperous underground business network. Many subway entrances and underground passages lead to this amazing underground commercial network, where you can buy cheap goods. However, in the business district of Seoul, itaewon, which is adjacent to the main US military station, has the largest number of foreigners. In Rensi Cave, also known as Mary Lane, there are many antique and art shops. Nandamen and Dongdaemun are the largest comprehensive wholesale markets in Korea. There are thousands of shops and stalls in the market, which are famous for their variety and low price. Every day from midnight to 4 am, retailers from all over the country come here to purchase goods, showing a busy scene of wholesale night markets. Seoul also has a large number of specialized markets, including Jingdong Market, which specializes in tonic and oriental medicine (Korean medicine), and Longshan Electronic Market, the largest electronic market in Asia. Most open-air markets in Korea are closed on Sundays, but other large profit-making shops and department stores are open on Sundays.