I’ll be going to the Republic of Korea for about ten days in June to follow the USA in the World Cup. My first couple of days should be in/near Seoul, then a several days of homestay with Korean families in Daegu and Daejeon before returning via Incheon.
Any suggestions? Tips on etiquette? What should I bring? What should I avoid? Transportation recommendations? Anything?
thanks,
ShibbOleth
Sheesh, how many people have we got here and nobody even has an opinion on Korea? C’mon people, my flight leaves in 35 minutes*. Make something up.
*I’m spending a week and a half in Thailand first, so you still have time to redeem yourselves.
“Gai go gi” (sp?) is dog soup, so you might want to avoid that. IIRC the “gai” = dog.
I would recommend trying the national delicacy “kim chee” (fermented chilli cabbage) mixed through hot noodles or something, as I think it tastes rather soggy and unpleasant when cold.
fermented chilli cabbage
Band name!
Call everyone yobo.
yobo means “honey” - it’s a term of affection. Maybe don’t do that.
Call everyone “gai-sek-ee.”
Heh.
Tibs.
OK, let’s think…
Thai cuisine has the edge, but Korean food can be pretty good. Kimchee is excellent. Have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chew gum (always supplied) to freshen the breath afterward.
Don’t say it out loud, but in terms of etiquette, Korea is quite similar to Japan from westerners’ point of view.
Socially, Koreans are great fun. They like a drink. And some.
In business situations they’re a pain (frankly). They’re very nationalistic and have a bit of a persecution complex. Not too surprising given a long history of foreign invasion. A company I once worked for always had troble with staff in Korea - they demanded extra pay to compensate for the “shame” of working for a foreign company. (Assholes)
Well, I’m coming to this late, but I assume you’ll open this thread if you get Internet access in Korea.
Don’t call people “kaiseki”–it means son of a bitch and it’s much more rude in Korean than it is in English.
In Seoul, visit the National Museum and the royal palaces (Kyongbokkung, Chandokkung, Toksukung)
In Taejon, visit Kyeryongsan National Park.
Take Hemlock’s etiquette advice. Be sure to give presents to your hosts. Giftgiving is a big part of Korean etiquette.
Korean food rocks. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to eat kimch. It’s a common side dish served at every meal. Don’t worry that your hosts might slip dog to you. Dog is not common, it is served only in specialty restaurants, is way expensive, and is considered a health food.
Stay away from this big-nosed, dress-wearing guy named Max. He’s just looking for a way to get back to Toledo.
Thanks folks. I am writing this from Incheon Airport transit lounge, but I am on my way to Thailand before stopping back through Korea in about 8 days. Free, fast internet access, what a concept! I know about (and love) Kimchee, bulgogi, kalbi, etc. If someone offered me dog I would try it, when in Rome and all, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to try it or pay a premium for it. Call me sick, it’s just me.
Since I will be staying with a couple of families here the etiquette tips are especially appreciated, plus sightseeing tips. And the humor. Some language tips would also be appreciated, but keep it simple, I’m only here for two weeks.
Don’t ask for directions to the demilitrized zone.
bring a Korean<—>English dictionary. 
Actually, there are guided tours you can take to the DMZ. Most of the big hotels can arrange this for you, or you go more cheaply if you take of the USO trips, but those are ususally booked way in advance. A DMZ tour will take you to the Joint Security Are where US troops keep an eye on North Korea, then you’ll get on board a differeent bus with a military escort who will take you the thr treaty village of Panmunjom. You’ll get to go into the MAC building , half of which is in the South and half in the North. As you go around the meeting table, you’ll technically be in North Korea. Creepy, but cool.
Advice from my brother…
Good food to try: Bul Go Gee
If you go to Pusan, go to Texas Street. It’s where all the foreigners go drinking. Lots of russians own the bars there. Green Street is where you find all of the, um, babes for hire. Watch our for T-Girls. They will ask you to buy them drinks at an inflated cost. You rent their company with drinks. You’ll get drunk, they’ll stay sobor, and you’ll be broke in no time.
Transport? Take the subway. They’re easy. If you have to go anywhere by bus, it’s not worth it, because it takes too long. Trains are very good, although you may want to have someone to interpret for you to buy a ticket.
Moon jay up see oh (spelled the way it sounds) is a good phrase to know - it means “no problem”.
Standing your chopsticks in your bowl is very insulting.
Slurping is encouraged. It’s a compliment.
Prepare to do a lot of karaoke.
Always eat when you drink.
And I see that Feynn is still logged in…
lolagranola
In addition to bulgogi, try kalbi (marinated, deboned pork ribs) and samgyupsal (roasted backbacon). And no problem is pronounced more like “moon jay awp say oh.” The vowel sounds in Korean can be tricky.
Slurping is NOT encouraged in Korea. That’s a myth; it’s just as rude there as it is here. You might see people doing it, but they shouldn’t.
And a big Yep to the karaoke (called “noraebang”–singing room–in Korean). Koreans, like the Chinese and Japanese, love nothing better than getting wasted and crooning sad songs into the mike. There is a variety of song peculiar to Korea and much loved by the older folks called “trot.” They are very sad songs about loss and grief sung in a fluttery vibrato. Really, really annoying to listen to.
[qupte]Stay away from this big-nosed, dress-wearing guy named Max. He’s just looking for a way to get back to Toledo.
[/quote]
Mule fritters!
Beaver biscuits!
Go shopping in the gate markets. You can get some great clothing, electronics, toys, gifts, and random novelty crap for ridiculously cheap prices (if you know how to bargain right). By the gate markets i mean “Dong Dae Moon” and “Nam Dae Moon”, which respectively mean East Gate and South Gate. Not very clean or organized, but some great value is to be had at those places.
I’m a native korean speaker and i’m going to be there in about 2 weeks, and might be able to help you a bit though i doubt it, since i have a packed schedule. But maybe astroboy14 will be able to help you.