CULTURE OF SOUTH KOREAN PEOPLE AND THEIR NON VERBAL

LANGUAGES

Core Concepts

 Harmony

 Tenacity

 Face (chaemyoun)

 Toughness

 Hahn

 Filial piety

 Adaptability

 Nationalism

 Education

Non-Verbal Communication

Greetings: The most common way to greet people in South Korea is with a bow. The casual

bow is a dip of the head with eyes closed, sometimes accompanied by a slight bend from the

waist. This type of greeting is used when informally greeting someone or walking past

someone of a higher status. Business interactions require a deeper bow, where the torso bends

from the waist by about 30 degrees. The deepest, most polite bow expresses sincerest

gratitude or apology. One bends from their torso to around 45 degrees or at such an angle

from which the head would have to stretch up to look into the face of the other person. The

head is kept lowered in this greeting.

Physical Contact: Koreans are generally not very physically affectionate with one another.

However, girls and young women may walk hand-in-hand and male friends may touch one

another more frequently than what is the norm amongst western men.

Personal Space: Personal space is not guarded very closely in Korea. People generally

expect to come into contact with strangers on busy streets and tend not to worry or apologise

when personal space is invaded.

Pointing: People do not point with their index finger but rather with their entire hand.

Beckoning: One beckons by fluttering all fingers to one’s hand with the palm facing towards

the ground.

Eye Contact: During a discussion or friendly conversation, make full eye contact with the

person you are talking to. Avoid direct eye contact if you are scolded/rebuked by someone

older or of a higher status than you. Some Koreans may also avoid eye contact with their

superiors on a regular basis.

Gestures: It is considered rude to make a fist with your hand while placing the thumb

between the middle and index finger.

Expressions: Koreans may appear quite straight-faced in conversation. However, their facial

expressions can often immediately reveal when they are angry or in disagreement.

Smiling: As well as an expression of glee and humor, smiling can indicate that one is feeling

ashamed or embarrassed in Korean culture. For example, a Korean may smile when they

make a mistake.

Sneezing: Sneezing is considered rude in Korea. It is best practice to excuse yourself from

the room if you have to.

Hands: Koreans mostly use their right hand for all greetings and gestures. This is related to

the complementary concepts of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’. The energy of the right hand is considered

more ‘yang’, which is characterized as positive, bright, and masculine. The left hand is
considered to be more ‘yin’, an inward energy that is associated with femininity, darkness

and coldness. For this reason, use two hands or your right hand alone when touching others,

exchanging objects, etc.

The left hand is used when greeting at funerals or performing certain rituals for ancestors.

Using the left hand to handshake or otherwise exchange something with another person can

be perceived as bad luck, due to its connotations with negativity and death. Most Koreans

will not be bothered if you use the left hand by mistake. However, older Koreans and those in

conventional or formal settings (e.g. business settings) may be offended. To show great

respect during a handshake greeting, one may support the wrist of their right hand with their

left as they shake. Korean women are often recommended to place the left hand on top of

their right hand when bowing or greeting elders or superiors. Women may also greet one

another by reaching out both hands to touch and clasp the other woman’s hands. A person in

a position of service may put their hands together in front of their chest when greeting you or

accepting something as an expression of gratitude.

Many Koreans living overseas are accustomed to hugging or kissing as a part of casual

greetings among friends.

Additional Body Languages (demonstrate)

 Pinky Promise (100%)

 Wanna drink?

 Come here! (Bring it on!─offensive)

 Go away!

 Money

 Kimchi pose

 Big heart ( I love you or in Korean is saranghae )

 Finger heart ( If you love KPOP )

 Bullet love