Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Papa Smurf]

A student/friend of mine has invited me for dinner with his family over Chusok. He is going to pay for dinner and I think he's going to buy me a gift.

Should I buy his family members gifts, or just him? I know his wife, son and brother will be there. What kind of gifts should I buy? What is the appropriate thing for me to do?

Thanks

[Join Me]

You could just buy a big box of fruit (pears) that everyone present could share after eating. Obviously you wouldn't be expected to carry in a big box of fruit for everyone so I think one box would solve your problem and make look like a champ.

[Chris_Dixon]

ha thats a good idea

[Papa Smurf]

Thanks for the suggestion, but it seems a bit frugal to me. I'm not that bothered about expense but at the same time I don't want to go broke. The guy has been good to me.

I was thinking of buying something for each family member; wife and son (who is 10 or 11 i think).

[aka Dave]

For what it's worth, I asked my students about this today, and they said if they're "close friends" you buy a gift. I wouldn't put much stock in that as they're Univ. students and are pretty casual.

[Newbie]

For kids, the custom is to give money. Strange to us, but that's just how they roll (hell, they give money at funerals too ). Not all families do money at Chuseok like they do at Lunar New Year, but it seems a good number of them do.

For the adults: Buy one of those gift sets that are EVERYWHERE. If they like drinking, there are drinking sets. There are fruit sets, coffee sets, soap sets. Lots. Sets range in price from 20,000 to 200,000.

[Papa Smurf]

Thanks guys.

Maybe i'm over thinking this, but how much do you think i should give the kid?

I've seen those gift sets around. Hmmmm. This is a potential banana skin haha.