Korean Meals Are a Social Minefield (But Delicious)
When I arrived in Seoul in 2014, I made every possible table mistake. I started eating before my boss. I poured my own drink. I stuck my chopsticks vertically in rice. Three faux pas in one meal.
After 12 years and hundreds of professional and casual meals, I know these codes by heart.
잘 먹겠습니다 — The Korean "Bon Appétit"
In Korea, you don't tell others "bon appétit." You say 잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meokgesseumnida) for yourself, meaning "I will eat well."
- Before the meal: 잘 먹겠습니다
- After the meal: 잘 먹었습니다 (jal meogeosseumnida — "I ate well")
It's an expression of gratitude toward whoever prepared or paid for the meal.
The 5 Table Rules Nobody Explains
Rule 1: Don't Start Before the Elder
The oldest or highest-ranking person eats first. Everyone waits for their first bite.
Rule 2: Never Pour Your Own Drink
In Korea, you pour for others, never yourself. When your glass is empty, someone will refill it.
When pouring for an elder: hold the bottle with both hands.
Rule 3: Turn Away When Drinking in Front of an Elder
When drinking alcohol in front of someone older, turn slightly and cover your glass with your hand.
Rule 4: Never Stick Chopsticks Vertically in Rice
It resembles funeral incense. Major taboo.
Rule 5: Share Everything
Korean cuisine is communal. Dishes go in the center, everyone shares.
Essential Table Words
- 맛있어요! — Delicious!
- 배불러요 — I'm full
- 건배! — Cheers!
Further reading: how to order at a Korean restaurant, the complete script, Korean drinking etiquette for the drinks that follow, and basic Korean etiquette (shoes, two hands, bowing).