Food & Customs

Diet

Food in South Korea is generally spicy. Rice and kimchi (spicy picked cabbage) are staples at almost every meal. A popular dish in South Korea is bibimbap, a rice dish mixed with seasoned vegetables. A egg is usually put on top and sometimes meat is added.

Kimchi

Bibimbap

Typical Meals Eaten

Breakfast

The traditional breakfast usually includes rice, kimchi, and soup. The most basic Korean breakfast yet. But nowadays, more Koreans are adopting the western culture practice of breakfast. Bakery items, cereal, etc. But many families still eat the taditional breakfast.

Lunch

Lunch in Korea also includes rice, kimchi, and soup. But often there another dish to eat with the rice besides kimchi, such as meat and fish and other foods. Soup is also included. Usually along with the meal there is a little dessert or fruit to be eaten. Also, Korean people usually enjoy lunches outside with family or friends. That's when the bibimbap and noodles come in!

Dinner

Again, dinner also includes rice or kimchi. Dinner would usually be also made with a whole lot of side dishes. Side dishes like fish and meat would be popular choices, along with vegetables. After dinner there is also dessert or fruit.

Customs

When entering a Korean home, shoes should be taken off, doing any less is a great sign of disrespect. Koreans have a great relationship with their floors, the sleep on it, they sit on it, etc. A dirty floor is intolerable for a Korean home. Also, when recieving things in Korea you should always recieve things with both hands. It is to show respect, especially if the giver is older than you. Two polite phrases are "anneoyeonghaseyo" which means are you at peace? and "kamsahamnida" which means thank you.

Languages

The languages spoken here are Korean and some people also speak English. "Hanguel", (Korean) is a phonetic alphabet created in 1446 because classical chinese (the only written language available) was difficult to master. Hanguel has 24 letters, 10 which are vowels.