Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Bingo]

Are Koreans aware that we find their table manners disgusting? Or do they simply not care? After all, it's Korean 'culture.'

A secondary question. When eating lunch with your Korean colleagues
do you ever give any indication to them that you're kinda grossed out. Or do you just suffer in silence. Usually I do the latter, but if I'm not in a particularly good mood I'll briefly lift my eyes from my meal and look towards the person in question, hoping the silent protest registers. It never does. Anyway, has anyone here ever let their colleagues know, even in a very polite manner, that you're offended by their table manners? Or do they already know and just don't give a damn?

Never really figured this one out. But I'm seriously considering going out for lunch in the future rather than eating with my colleagues. The noise is that bad.

[kat2]

It's just their thing, but I try to demonstrate impeccable manners when they are around in hopes of inspiring a miracle. It hasn't happened yet, but I have had a few people say "your eating is beautiful." So i guess they kind of take notice that you can still eat without doing it like a pig.

If they told me that I should make noise to show my appreciation to the cook because it is their culture, I still wouldn't do it. My parents and grandparents trained me too well. I don't blame them, but I do leave the staff room sometimes when its more than I can take (like when its suck yogurt out of a paper cup time).

[antoniothegreat]

well, if you were back home eating at work very quietly, and some Korean glared and you then slurped his noodles even more, would you realize your ways are wrong and you should eat more like a pig?

of course not.

and they also think you are crazy for trying to impose your imperial ways upon them.

if it bothers you, dont shoot them a look, tell them politely, and if they dont change, remember you are in their country and you play by their rules.

sorry, but that is the tough truth.

[venus]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's yet another thing they just don't get. It's not that they can't comprehend that we might find it disgusting; it's that they just can't see why shovelling or slurping as much food into one's mouth as possible and then eating with one's mouth open would be. Today for lunch I went down to the toast sandwich shop where three of my students and an older sister were also getting lunch. They were such pleasant company until they sat down at the long, thin table along the wall with their massive, sloppy sandwiches and smoothies, at which point I decided that the sandwich they were making for me would be take-away.

Last week I met up with a friend who just got back from three months in Australia. I was so hopeful when we went out for lunch that she had figured it out but no, three months of being around people who find your table manners animalistic isn't quite enough.

[kat2]

[itaewonguy]

[venus]

[kat2]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ajgeddes]

Although it doesn't really bother me that much anymore (well usually anyways), from all accounts of talking to co-workers about eating manners, they say it is rude to make noise and eat with your mouth open in Korean culture. I mentioned that I saw it all the time, and they just said it is because people these days have bad manners.

[kalkamagi]

i think the eating like a pig phenomenon is a recent, not traditional, cultural trait.

but i agree with the OP, disgusting table manners are pervasive throughout korea! this one man that i see at lunch every thursday GRUNTS while eating. at this point, i finish up and leave. there's really nothing you can do, except (try to) ignore it and then aviod the situation in the future.

what would it accomplish if you said or did anything?

[kat2]

[Qinella]

[ajgeddes]