15 Things NOT to DO in South Korea 

This is by far the best “top things not to do in Korea” extremely genuine and casual tips and advice. Job well done.

For a society that values manners and politeness so highly, the cutting the line/not saying thank you for the door being held open will never cease to baffle me. Also, I find eye contact extremely uncomfortable so I like that one 🤣

I honestly hate people cutting in line. That's just RUDE! 😑

Tea ceremony invitation that's something new to me. That's good to know.

Really enjoy your content! Real things that I love to learn about before traveling (hopefully post pandemic) so love these tips & advice!

Love your channel man. Keep up the great content.

I've been watching a ton of videos like this one and I have to say I learned a lot more in this video than I have in most others.. thanks for making this..

It's the best video of this kind I've ever seen! Great job!

should make more vids like this ... seems fun, light hearted and you all enjoy making it

You guys were a delight to watch! Thanks for the awesome and funny video

I LOVE LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDS!

Great tips gang! Thanks 🙏

Super interesting! Thank you 🙋🏻‍♀️

great video, super informative :) thank you!

👍👍So far you three are the best!! Very informative, thank you!!

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful!

This was great! Very entertaining and insightful 😂

Thank you Will, Johnny and Felicia very interesting video. Thank you for your advices e for sharing your experiences.

You guys are adorable...... well done. Kept me watching to the end with some smiles along the way.

I really love this video 🥰🥰👍 it’s gonna help for future for sure

..and i subscribed! Love your vibes guys! (and the thoughtful wily)

Please make more videos, I'm planning on applying for spring intake I need as much information as possible. Thank you for your help

Thanks guys. I love the info about them trying to invite you for 'tea'', it's like most countries in Asia and South America, they all invite you to these "special" events. The asking the 9 million personal questions, again it's typical Asian style. Except I though it was only Chinese 'thing", but at my new job when my Korean co-workers started getting this uneasy feeling when they kept asking my age and where I live, your annual income and how many people live in your home... Those are MAJOR red flags for me, so I tried to avoid them like COVID19.. hahaha. Thanks for the head up. Great job.

Love this! Thanks 😊

Totally enjoyed the sharing!

Great video. I need this because I will be visiting.

This is so interesting to me... Thank you for sharing.

This was wonderful! For older people (me) I would love to see the behavioral do's and don'ts.

Thank you so much for making this list! I'm trying to teach abroad in South Korea in the next 6 months or so and get my documents ready and do as much research as I can in the meantime. :D

Thank you You all are adorable and very informative about korea. You seem to be having good time in spite of the cultural differences. So I guess I can do the same when I arrive to Korea.

Really enjoyed this segment. I like that you added your friends. Johnny sounds like he's from east coast. ❤🇺🇸✌

Really great info. Thanks

thank you for this video i wanna know a lot before going to Korea so i don’t feel like i’m doing something wrong. i want my experience to go smoothly and you guys are super helpful i appreciate it thank you.

Man In Yellow Hat you are super cute! This was very interesting and explained a lot of things I don't understand in k dramas. Thanks!🤗

Very good and informative. Greetings from LV. Thank you.

This was super insightful!! Loved this video, I definitely want to visit Korea and I find it so interesting to learn about it this way. You guys seem like you would be great tour guides too. Your funny and I can tell you guys are friends with shared experiences. ✌🏻

Nice points! I agree with most of them except for the google maps point. Google maps isn't completely unusable. I use it a lot to find out where I am and in what direction I'm walking. Naver maps is good because it's useful for finding bus routes.

New sub! Hope to visit one day! My father is half Korean and was born there, where my grandfather met my homeoni. I've lived in NJ my whole life but culturally some of these things I either learned or inherited. Definitely the no shoes in the house, strangely the eye contact thing, to older Korean people here I do shake their hand with two hands, and the occasional slight head bow to certain people.

Good to know, In the future I am planning to travel to Korea. So many different things that I did not even imagine though. Thank you so much for a good tips guys.

I find this really insightful! Im from Sweden and i feel like we are kind of socialy awkward at times. People try to not make it obvious if we stare.. i mean, we arent always good at it but we try to be discreete. I have experienced many times when you accidently gets eye contact with a stranger and both starts to panick... so naturaly both look away immediatley.. but then you need to see if theyre still looking. The problem is that both have the same idea and then you repeat it until one walks away. We also have this unwritten 'rule' if you use public transportation. Usually there is two seats per line on the side of the bus and god forbid if you get seated next to someone if theres empty "two seats".. we are so awkward that we would rather stay standing than to sit down next to someone. I remember riding the bus and an american decided to sit next to me and to make things 'worse' he started chatting. I mean, i realized its a cultural difference but i felt so awkward and uncomfortable. We swedes usually advoid talking to strangers just like that. If someone sit down next to and just start chatting AND there are empty seats, we usually feel like youre crazy or something lol 🤣

this was insightful!

I am a retired teacher and visited South Korea in 2017 just as a tourist. I spent time in Seoul, Busan and on Jeju Island. I experienced nothing but courtesy and respect. I had a travel service, but I traveled on the express train from Seoul to Busan on my own on my second evening in country. Unfortunately, I mistook the announcement of Ulsan for Busan and got off the train after dark at the Ulsan stop. There was no one around; I was devastated and the battery on my phone was down. Suddenly, I saw a neon vest coming toward me. It was a Korean policeman or security person, but he did not speak English. I was close to tears and tried to explain to him that I wanted to go to Busan, but he walked away. About 5 minutes later, he came with a civilian who spoke English. He let me use his phone to call the hotel in Busan, and the two waited with me for the next train and helped me scurry on--scurry on because the train hardly stops. That was one of many instances; I was blessed every day with young and old who were helpful. Oh, and I never once was approached by a cult! However, two Russian girls tried to sell me a book; I didn't buy. Your video is very helpful, but one could also gather the same thing by watching lots of k-dramas! I have one question: I do not understand how Koreans get in and out of their shoes so fast! And I never see them tie or untie them. It mystifies me!

By the way, thank you for the information, it was very interesting.

This was awesome!

Thank you for sharing the ideas how to awareness if you don't want to expecting happened

Nicely presented.

Cool video!!! You guys are funny and smart. New subscriber. 👍

Lol, when Korean elders (my friend's mum) insists on feeding me rice nonstop, I either say that I am full or that I am on a 'hwangjae die-yi-eo-tteu' (low carb diet). That weasels me out of being force-fed nonstop. Her cooking is awesome, but I just couldn't finish all that food or rice.

The door holding has improved though, I see a lot of people holding doors or saying thank you for holding doors nowadays. I guess some celebrity mentioned it on tv or something.

Love this! I was born and raised in Hawaii. Interesting how a lot of these "rules" have been integrated into my upbringing even though we are miles apart.

Very informative! Some I’ve seen in Kdramas especially the pairing/setting up. I did wonder if Korean mothers are really that intense about getting their kids married once the kids hit 30!

I didn’t know this tea ceremony/cult recruitment was a thing! I was in Seoul early last year and was approached by a random lady near a bus stop to join some activities at a cultural centre a few blocks away. I politely said no bcos I was really busy tht day although she was vey insistent. But I didn’t think too much of it until I saw this video. But now I know if I ever find myself in tht situation again haha. Thanks!

Still remember this crazy Korean buses where you need to grasp the handle with all your strength not to fly to another corner of the bus

I’ve never even thought to get out of a car or taxi on the left unless we were parked. Getting out of a taxi or public transportation on the left would seem strange. Common sense would tell you to get out on the side that is closest to the curb. And typically that’s the right side. Or at least in left-sided driver countries. If the driver sits on the left, you’re expected to exit the car on the right.

Some Korean customs are similar to Indian ones. Leaving your footwear outside peoples’ homes, waiting for the elders to start eating during traditional ceremonies- these are the ones I can think of.

I like the sharing aspect of Korean culture.

This was great, practical advice. I enjoyed listening to the three of you discuss these.

Thank you for this video very insightful. I love the tradition with leaving your outside shoes at the door and putting on inside shoes. I am in Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 Africa and I don’t allow outside shoes to be worn inside. It’s just my preference 😃😃😃

Awesome tips! I think we should adopt a few of these general rules here in the US! Thanks for sharing!

You guys are so crazy in a nice way. Take care out there.

As a British person, a few of these will be quite a challenge to not be offended by, because it is is seen as polite manners. But that is the joy and thr challenge of travelling to a country eith a different culture! You have to put aside your expectations of normal and be open to fitting into the locals' ways of life

Great tips :D The inside/outside shoes is also very normal in Europe. in my world its an American thingy to use your outside shoes indoors

That was very interesting. I knew none of these things about Korea.

My host was amazing while I lived in SK he found out that we went to the same University in the USA and started introducing me as his Alumni... he was a little over 20 years older than me but I was in my 30s and he was constantly dragging me out of my "fortress of solitude" lol... he would yell my name and demand we go "travel" which was to say he would take me to eat and walk from Sinchon to Hongdae... or jump on a bus and go see a fortress or walk past the Ewha University up to the mountain... he wouldn't let me just be a home body lol... he took me to a wedding of his friend's and I found a couple more Alumni... they were all older but very happy to meet me lol... I wasn't what they normally saw I guess since I was in my 30s and living alone and also not a teacher in SK.. though I found a lot of cmon ground with them as I had teaching in my work history... lots of drinking holy crap... and he never let me for pay for crap lol... the Jr/ Sr culture was very present... he even took me on a tour of Jeju-Do when I tood him I was going to visit for a week vacation... I stayed in Seogwipo... but his family lived in Jeju city and he takes care of his mother there when he's not in Seoul... it was a lot fo fun.. didn't get to go diving though because the dive shops there didn't seem to trust an American search and recovery diver to know what she was doing lol ... 😆 I loved my time there and didn't want to leave but I definitely encountered a lot of things on those lists including a surprise grope ... though the ladies who owned the place I was at were really quick to defend me .. they kind of adopted me while I was there we were around the same age and I found out that women are very touchy when they "adopt" you as a sister type lmao... leaning and hand holding and teasing... made me feel very comfortable lol

I’m American. I lived in South Korea for 9 years. I loved my experience living and working there. I love South Korea.❤️I plan on visiting in 2022.

I only just now found this wonderful video, more than a year late. It was fun and educational. I think I know why people stare at Johnny: they are wondering, is he a movie star? He's so handsome! I hope I can visit Korea one day but the pandemic has left me doubtful. I'll just have to keep watching K-dramas. Thanks for posting your video.

I’m new to your channel and it seems you are teachers there in South Korea? How has your teaching experience been? I’m not finding many who have had a very good experience.

The Google maps tip is very important tip!

it's funny because, As a Korean living in one of the English speaking countries, when I moved here I found staring really uncomfortable. Sometimes I just stare back...I don't mind eye contact but this 'staring' is so uncomfortable...literally some people stare at me top to toe... I feel like I am a object in a museum...to be fair, there aren't many asians in the city I live in..

This was well done.

This was very helpful. You guys were a lot of fun to listen to. I will be bringing my daughter to Korea after she finishes getting her master's in four years. It will be a surprise/congratulations. I am just now learning the language, with the help of my mother-in-law. She laughs at me a lot for my American pronunciations. She is very honest. Thank you.

@0:56 also, closing a door in the winter (summer) to keep the interior of a building warm (cool) is not frequently practiced.

I’ve always noticed the pointing with the middle finger! I kinda do that too n some older ppl I’ve seen will do that if they have arthritis. I always just thought it was an older person thing! (I live in America tho)

Thank you for the information. I hear so many younger people say similar things as you have, however I am much older (40+) and I am wondering if these things would apply to every age group? Obviously I am not interested in partying with the younger kids, but eating is essential for all humans. I've heard stories that restaurants turn white foreigners away and some street vendors will try to rip you off making you pay more money than a Korean or just flat out ignore you. That is really sad. Are there places that a middle-age, white woman should just not go, or rather stick to for a more pleasant experience? I would love to travel to see and experience South Korea, but I am hearing more negative racist things about it than pleasant things. I would like to know what your thoughts and/or recommendations would be for a middle age white women with no friends or connections in South Korea. Maybe you cannot relate since you are much younger and obviously cannot speak from experience in this age group, but anything might help even if you have older friends or have witnessed anything. It's usually younger people giving their thoughts and advice on travel to South Korea for younger people.... everyone forgets that there are middle age people who travel as well. Thank you again! Be safe.

shout to you guys for doing this video outside. u guys look cold and squashed together.

The hand giving/ receiving thing and the eye contact thing is really similar to African cultures!

I just found your channel and subscribed and I wanna thank you guys for being open and honest about it... 💯😁🇵🇹🇬🇧

My daughters family are moving out in the next month I’m excited for them but sad for us cause it’s 3 yrs they’ll be gone and my first granddaughter will graduate high school😢there. Do you have ideas on getting affordable tickets to visit? Thanks for the videos Dolores

Around 23:41 the fact that there is status says loads about the culture. Which makes it foreign to me. I knew about the two hands, respect behavior from a Korean companion on my proselytizing mission in LA area. She taught me that. And she was a great and gentle person. Love 💘 her still.

17:06 Can you please give examples of language club websites in Korea?

Being stared at .people dont say thank you when you open the door .This is also there in india .People do feel thankful but we just dont have the western communication style .

nunchi knowing your place in the order of things.. like a big family.. you take the appropriate position depending on who is in the group with you. you might be older in one group and youngest in other group.. which would drastically alter your behaviour with the group.

Good I hate feeling like if I don't hold the door for someone I'm rude 🤣 and then it's awkward when someone's not far away enough to not think about it but still kinda far away and you don't know if you should still hold the door for them 😭 I have a 2 year old and I literally couldn't hold the door for some lady once because he was trying to run ahead and she got all pissed at me saying how rude young ppl are 😅🙄🙄

I lived in Korea for 12 years, and I think you hit on many really important things. As mentioned, be observant and culturally sensitive. There are so many things that might not make sense unless you have spent time in Korea. But once you have....it all makes sense.

Can you touch on dating practices next time? Like what age difference is accepted, proper age to be dating or be married, dating practices etc 😊

I’ve had that experience of being called to some ceremony of learning Korean culture try hanbok when I was in Korea for a vacation.. good that I didn’t go :D

good to know about korian culture

As a swede i find this very funny. Some things are completely normal to both cultures that would be wierd to americans. For instance not wearing outside shoes inside, or walking around with candy wrapping in your pocket until you find a trash can. But the eye contact thing made me laugh. Swedes are KNOWN for our intensive eye contact, like we keep eye contact for as long as the conversation goes on. It's completely normal for us. When talking to foreigners (americans, etc.) i actively find myself consciously trying to distract my sight away from their eyes while talking to not creep them out. xD

Funny because I didn’t even know this about Korea but I also have inside shoes and outside shoes. I even have inside sneakers for working out. 🤣🤣🤣🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️. I also make people take their shoes off when they enter my home.

i think you forgot the meaning of bowing... i only noticed it on kdramas like if some1 bump into you then bows, what does it mean or when you meet

Where'd you get your jacket, i love it !

I'm from Texas and thought it was generally the norm to wait until everyone has their food to eat, until I studied abroad and dated a guy from Belgium for around half a year. First time eating dinner with his family, I was seeing what I could do to help set the table/prepare food, but they just wanted me to sit down and relax since I was their guest. They already had my dish served up in front of me, so I was just doing what I normally do and was waiting for everyone else to get situated before I started eating. Well, his parents then asked me if I didn't like what they made or had an allergy to it which I responded to with, "No, it looks fantastic". After seeing the clearly confused looks on their faces and thinking I did something wrong while meeting the parents for the first time, they said, "Oh, you just haven't started eating yet so we were worried you wouldn't like it or couldn't eat it". Long story short, we ended up laughing and talking about our cultural differences in meal etiquette (which ultimately became a running joke during every meal after that).

100% real. i lives in korea and i know all thinks which you shared here. tnx

Use some of that learned peer pressure to encourage Johnny to make a RU-vid channel!

on asking about relationships, I'm a little worried about that because not only am I single, but I'm gay. what would you suggest I mention or not mention, will they be understanding with the hard truth, or should I tread lightly and say that I'm in a long distance relationship with a female? lol

My first lie when I met my Co-teacher... “do you like coffee?” (Me who never drinks coffee in the US) “oh I love coffee” so my coffee addiction started in Korea 😂

Fortunately I come from a tradition of regular religious fasting, and so I simply tell those who offer me unwanted food that I am fasting. Of course, this also means that I miss delicious food, but dislike eating unwanted food more than I like eating delicious food.

A mythical creature had me in stitches! 🤣🤣🤣😭

How do you address people older and younger than you? Plus, is it impolite to bow you head if you're a foreigner?

For my European self: what's shoe size 10 and 7 in centimeters/ europ. size? 🙈😅