What Are Some Cultural Faux Pas in South Korea?

If you’re visiting South Korea as a foreigner, Koreans will often overlook any minor faux pas you make, knowing that you didn’t buck local customs on purpose. Koreans often talk about “sincerity” and “intention”: sometimes, what you do is less important than what you mean. There are nevertheless some actions that you’ll need to avoid. Firstly, South Korea is a hierarchical society. This means that everyone is expected to behave in a certain way towards elders or organizational superiors. Some