곁Melbourne Korean Community

Korean culture
a friendly first look

For friends who are curious about Korea. Here are a few things Koreans in Melbourne are happy to share.

Home › 한국 문화

A few Korean greetings

안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo) — Hello. The everyday polite greeting, fine with people you have just met.
감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da) — Thank you.
잘 먹겠습니다 (jal meok-get-seum-ni-da) — Said before a meal, a bit like “thank you for the food”.
잘 먹었습니다 (jal meo-geot-seum-ni-da) — Said after a meal to thank the host or cook.

Korean table manners

When eating together, people usually wait for the eldest to start first.
The rice bowl normally stays on the table; rice is often eaten with a spoon.
Don’t stand chopsticks upright in rice — it looks like a ritual offering for ancestors.
When pouring or receiving a drink from an elder, use both hands; some people turn their head slightly away to drink.

Seollal and Chuseok

Seollal is Lunar New Year, the first day of the lunar year. People eat tteokguk (rice cake soup) and children bow to elders and receive New Year money.
Chuseok falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month — a harvest festival. Families make songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) and honour their ancestors.
Both follow the lunar calendar, so the date changes every year. In Korea each is usually a three-day holiday.

How Korean BBQ works

At many places you grill the meat yourself on a grill in the middle of the table; at some, staff grill it for you.
Cooked meat is cut into bite-size pieces with scissors.
“Ssam” means wrapping meat with ssamjang sauce, garlic and more in a lettuce or perilla leaf and eating it in one bite.
Several small side dishes (banchan) come with the meal. Whether refills are free depends on the restaurant — just ask.

Spotted something wrong, or want to suggest a topic? hello@gyeot.com.au