When & How to Bow in Korea 

This makes me really happy because when Suga from bts spotted his parents in the crowed he did the one where you get all the way on the ground.😭

As an American, I feel that this system is awesome! I'm not a fan of hand shakes really, they get awkward when people don't use the same strength in the shake and what not. I'd prefer to not touch at all, and do a nice bow. Cheers, Korea!

I think bowing is nice.. I'm Japanse and we also bow.. Its very similar to korean. I think iTS a good way of showing respect.

I've watched lots of anime, Korean programs and I'm in k-pop for so long, so I took some behaviours. And when I'm in school or somewhere where are older people who I respect, I usually bow and it isn't normal in my country, so that's weird for them. xD

OH WOW NOW IM REALLY EMBARRASSED. This one time I was in this Korean restaurant and now I know I was accidentally bowing like the first one you mentioned like 5 times. I was wondering why the worker kept bowing back.

we say " Hai..whastupp bro.." lol

XD sometimes I bow and people look at me all awkward. Aishh! those kdramas and Kpop stuff ! Made me like that ^^

Hehe.... one of the first things I remember learning about Asia was bowing, I love respecting traditions and thats such a (seemingly) very important value in those countries, it was very well displayed. Nice video!

in my country, the people see a friend and start to scream loud BITCH HEEEEEEEY COME HERE HOW YA DOING YAAAAAASSSSSSSSS

In America we say: Sup?! or What up my Nigga.

We say what up my nigga

I'm madly in love with Korea! I love the music, animes and dramas, so ROCK ON SEOUL

In America, We wave hello to friends But If it's a new friend, you can shake hands I only shake hands for formal occasions Like job interviews and such :D

Anyone else in love with this woman besides me?

We do a handshake when meeting someone for the first time in Canada, like when a friend introduces you to someone, or for a job interview, but I would prefer bowing the way you show here. It does not pass germs and seems more elegant and sophisticated in general. Sometimes I hear people talking about how you can gauge someone by their handshake... by how hard they squeeze and how long and how much they shake.. etc... which seems like one more way to wrongly assess a person to me. I personally always have very clammy hands and hate doing it so I just keep it brief. If someone is judging my character for that then maybe we were never meant to be friends.

growing up as a second generation korean in the US I've only done the keunjeol for sebae. the only other time I've seen it is at weddings. sometimes they do it to honor the parents and sometimes they'll do it as part of a pae baek ceremony. since you like the chakeun jeol more and you say it looks prettier, I feel like you should show us :P

In Estonia, we shake hands mostly when confiming a deal in business. Shaking hands is considered pretty formal here.Otherwise we just say Tere! or Tere Päevast-means "hello" or "Tsau"- somehow derived from italian "ciao!" -very casual,to friends and family and to people you have met a few times already. Thanks for the interesting video by the way!

DUDE...The first thing I noticed was that...SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE *SUGA* OR *AGUST D* MAAAAAAAN! She's so lucky...

In France you kiss your friends&family (even family you didn't know before) on the cheek and men shake eachother's hand. If it's someone that you should show respect to like your boss, you're probably gonna shake his hand if he/she's nice, whether you're a man or a woman. If it's a complete stranger, a teacher or a boss you're not at all familiar with DON'T EVEN DARE TOUCHING THEM, srsly. That would be so weird.

Ppl should watch this before attacking idols

in Cambodia (Thailand and Laos, also), you clap your hands together and bow. You do this for greeting, thanking and saying farewell. (:

We have a lot of slang words in Sweden, for example (Hello): Hej!, Hejsan!, Hallå!, Halloj!, Tjo!, Tja!, Tjena!, Tjena mittbena!, Tjobang!, Shobre!, Yo!, Ey!, Läget?!, Morsning korsning!. But most people usually say "Hej!", "Hejsan!" and "Hallå!" (I think), the other words are more for people you know/friends etc. ^-^ Everything else is very typical western-style greetings, "Thank you" in Swedish is "Tack" :3

“Bow to elders , older the person bigger the bow” *meets queen Elizabeth* *Proceeds to break spine and do 3 backflips*

Her eyesmile~~ *heart*

Bowing is the coolest way of greeting someone in my opinion. It´s more stylish than our western handshake. Also you don´t transfer germs with your hands or get confused which handshake to use!!

in Egypt we shake hands and all the respect is shown in how you talk and how loud your voice is :)))

I really love this bowing thing . it shows alot of respect and sometimes it saves you from speaking, for example if you want to say goodbye to someone you just bow and go without saying anything ! and it saves you from awkward talking .

In Nepal depends on your caste in my caste we have to bow and touch your elders feet with your head. granny and grandpa usually. Normal greetings is joining your hands and saying namaste or sewaro.

In germany its very well... each person have an personal way... expect for respective or unkwon people. Then we make a hand shake (?) Like its also known in america.

I am from India and we say 'namasthe' by placing one hand with other which means I see the God inside you. it is a formal way of respect other people. if you met somebody really old or very respectful we touch their legs with our hand and the older person place two hands on the top of our head and give blessings. we do it during marriage.

In arabic we say marhba مرحبا = hello and socran شكراً = thank you and in Hebrew we say salom שלום =hello and toda תודה =thank you

I'm French, and like on one of the previous comments, we do "la bise". We sometimes don't do it though, especially if we are sick or sweating, etc..I guess that's how we show our respect to the other person. I greet a korean guy the French way before, he was very surprised in a good way lol But it's more like a cheek-to-cheek greeting. My lips don't usually touch the other person's cheeks, unless if I'm greeting someone I have a crush one..gotta take advantage of the situation lol

In America we just kind of nod our head or smile as a greeting, a more formal way to greet is to shake hands. We aren't very formal here though. Thank god I watched this video because I want to study abroad, specifically in South Korea so I'm trying to learn all I can about the culture so I don't look stupid or unedcuated.

감사합니다👍 here in the Philippines, we traditionally have a way of respect to elders, grandparents, parents and older relatives. We call it "mano" a Spanish word for hands. Using your right hand, you will hold your older relative or parent's one hand and put it on your forehead. They will reply "Godbless" because of the respect you did 😁 In the office, we just normally say Hello/good morning in English to boss, co-workers regardless of the rank.

Thanks for this video. It was really helpful as my daughter needed to find out traditions in South Korea for her school project. She needed to know the different bows. Thank you again. ^_^

What if I'm extremely rich. Shouldn't her parents be bowing to me?

I finally understand why my Korean best friend bowed when I first met them 😅😅😅

"que honda way!" very respectful in spanish

the more you go down.. the more respect you show? lmao!!!!! well then!...

In India you do Namaskar ( means the divine in me respects the divine in you ) which is joining your hands and a slight bow or if the person is older than you you should touch their feet with your hands and then touch your hand to your forehead.

I wish my country was like this :D Here in Brazil people tend to kiss each other in the cheeks when they meet XD and it's awkard to not like, do it, because for some people it's automatic and they will think your rude or petty.. But when they never saw the person, just a handshake.

The courteousness of air hostess in Korean Air brought me here.

Hello I'm from New Zealand at my school one of the teachers are Korean she teaches us korean how can you say hello & thank you in Korean :)

I have fun learning from you ^^ "The longer you hold your bow, the more respect it shows." ahhh..now I know why SJ bow so long, sometimes even kneel on the ground :D it's a respect for elf

every time i go to the Korean grocery shop in my town i always bow slightly when entering & say Hello...in English, not Korean...still shy about my Korean. in my part of "the states" it's varying forms of Hello. Physically...a hug is the most common with friends and when meeting friends of friends, a handshake when meeting someone through a more formal setting like school(university) or work, in general (store/walking/neighborhood) we just do some combo of smile/wave/small head movement.

In romania we say Bună and always greet with a handshake

In Canada, we do handshakes for formal occasions but I would prefer bowing because most people grip my hand real tight and Im like aaaaaaaaahhh

How do you bow to pay your respects to the dead?

Thanks for your information.. Its so so helpful

i might ask a question , how to entertain koreans in social networking sights?

in my country? Ciao! I'm from Italy

How about shop owners ? When you receive something from them, do you bow and say thankyou as well ?

@1Wuler1 yea less rules, so it's easier :)

Here in the Philipines we show respect to our elders by holding their right hand and pressing our foreheads on the back of their hand. :)

Thank you for this video!! I'd been wandering about bowing in Korea. In England, we tend to shake hands if it's a formal greeting, or if it's someone you know, you swear at them or pretend you don't want to see them. A bit like "Ugh, why are *you* here?" and then you laugh and hug them.

I've seen the korean dramas that are based in olden days and I love it when they do the ultra formal bow in the lovely traditional clothing, it just looks so cool.

I'm from India and we join our hands.. 🙏

In my country if they saw each other they'll say "OI KAMUSTA NA GRABE TUMATANDA TAYO AH LAKI MO NA LIBRE NAMAN" and I think that's cuteㅋㅋㅋ

Legends are watching this in 2021

As a Korean, sometimes I am wondering how many times I have being bow for my life. It might be more than million time? Haha. Some days in my life I bowed more than 500 times including small tilting my head. And for the Keun-jeol, the big bow, I usually do it more than 20 times a year. Because when you go to Korean funeral, you should do it. One big bow for living person, and two and half big bow for decease people. So big bow is not rare thing in Korea.

"the more you go down. the more respect you show" 0_o LMAO

Hahahah OMG she's so cute xD

There's nothing wrong with bowing in any manor to someone of similar status. But placing your head to the floor still looks like subjugation if your bowing to some corporate heads. CEO's should still have to bow the same when speaking to say, a grocery store clerk. But I do enjoy the etiquette of bowing if done properly. So long as your bowing to someone who enjoys the attention but doesn't act like a queen bee among worker bees.

There’s this one time, I was really into kpop, kdramas and I was also learning korean at that time of the year. Then one day I decided to take a picture with my crush(since he’s from another school, I need to take one for keeps lmao), after that, when I thanked him, I accidentally bowed at him like I- BITCH BYE

the first bow, i've done my whole life, i don't know where i got it from, no one in my german family does it, it just came naturally to me. .

Thank you! In 2 years I'm going to korea and I needed some advice

people in Greece greet each other with a handsake (that's the formal away), or with a hug and double cheek kiss (informal)

Many foreigners make mistakes when bowing 🙇‍♀️ Foreigners who lived in Korea for many years know how much to bow

here in my country we kiss each other but i really hate it if just i can bow

bowing is a way to say HI and THANK YOU...........KOREA THANKFUL...........the more you go down THE MORE RESPECT YOU SHOW.....hands to the side......A Slight Bow....informal Greeting Coleagues....STANDARD BOW.....close fingers hands together .....CUSTOMER SERVICE ....CEREMONIAL and APOLOGIZING....JAPANESE....greeting, a sign of respect and used to express deference, sincerity, humility and remorse..TODAY china a land of dignity and courtesy......polite and respectful to each other...... casual feet apart knees not bent...HANDS do different things...KOWTOW ....kautau WOMEN right hand on top....

Why does my Korean wife does this every time I come back home?

I do this everyday cuz I'm Korean :D

Damn I so want a Korean girlfriend!

-The Netherlands- Formal meeting (first time): Hand shake (with the right hand) and say your first and last name. In Holland we have a formal and informal word for 'You'. It's also usual to shake hands again when leaving, and thank them. Informal (1st time): Hand shake and introduce with teh first name. Informal: hand shake or bro-fist (for boys, for the 'cool' youth). For leaving, depending on the situation/place, a handshake/bro-fist is given. (usually when someone departs from the group)

Really helpful

I'm from New Zealand and I'd be too shy to do Kunja. I'm not one to perform actions that contract attention like that. But it explains a lot in movies why people bow right to the ground when meeting royal people.

In Russia there are a few variants to say "Hello": 1. The most formal way: Здравствуйте [zdravstvuite]. It is used, when you see someone, who is older than you. Also you can use it, when you see your boss/teacher. 2. Здравствуй [zdravstvui] is less formal and you can use it when you speak with your colleague. 3. Привет [privet] is unformal way to say "hello" and you can use it when you speak with friends or someone, who is in close relations with you ^___^ Second form is recently used.

I think for Denmark it's like most other western countries.. we usually only shake hands when we meet strangers for the first time, or on formal occasions, and present ourselves by name. Apart from that we just say "hi!". To show gratitude to people, a hug is usually in order if you're relatively close and if it's not a work situation. If not, just express gratitude in words.

NEVER BOW NEVER SURRENDER :P ,it's so weird that in asian countries u have to bow,if you tell someone from my country you have to bow to show respect he is gonna send you to hell:P

In my country, we have multiple gestures. Adults: When two men greet each other, and they are close, then they would shake one head casually and bump their heads. XD If they are just meeting, then it would be a formal handshake. No bumping heads. XD If two women are meeting each other, they would slightly hug and kiss the air beside their cheek as greetings. They would do this whether they are close or not. If a man and a woman are meeting each other, they wouldn't touch each other. Just a slight head nod in acknowledgement. No bowing. My country's religion states that bowing is very disapproving, and must be done only to God. Kids/teens: It's up to them if they want to hug or not. If a teen girl meets an adult women, then they would slightly hug and kiss the air beside their cheeks. Kids don't really greet adults that way. If it's a formal occasion, the most would be a handshake. Kids don't really have a greeting. They could come up with their own. XD

kawaiii 😘

I curtsy upon greeting when informal, bow when formal, and bow upon departure. There were but a few instances where this was done in the southern United States when I was little, and I decided that it was a level of civility that belonged in everyday life. Locally: Typically a greeting is done by bumping fist, or perhaps elbows if your hands are occupied. If you have extended your hand for a handshake, then you will be pulled in for a hug (if you are accepted), pulled shoulder to shoulder (if ones acquaintanceship is more of a working relationship and trustworthy), left at arms length (if one has a certain level of distrust or if it is in a competitive situation), or it could be rejected (which is self explanatory).

What's the first thing I say is " YAH! Oppa slow down I need to tell my mum goodbye!" I do it in a deep voice because I don't want to be in a high pitched voice yelling "Oppa!!" To everyone that doesnt know what Korea even is XD

I'm American my mom is Korean and lives there and am back in America and adopted this and rly wanna bow but stop myself always

Well, where I live, meeting someone first the first time you shake hands. Personally I hate shaking hands so if I the other person doesn't extend their hand first, I give a small nod (as shown in the video) and a polite verbal greeting. With people I know well it's just a verbal, what's up, or if I'm really close, I give a hug. I just have a thing about hands. :/

doing some research for writing. she is so lovely and sweet! I am of Spanish decent but in also live in a southern state of U.S.A. Respect is very important here! Mister and Mrs or Miss to any man or woman nor your family! Yes sir, and no sir to men and mam for women! always speak to adults when you enter a room, fhats a big one ..and you can call your parents close friends aunt and uncle. Aways hold the door open for someone coming behind you, especially it is a woman or an elder. xD as for the Spanish, a small kiss on the cheek (or the air around it) when your friends someone you care about :) We are very loving people!

I am guy, and when I meet a male friend I say "sup bitch" lol that's how we roll. I guess every group has their own way. Obviously if it's someone older, or a boss, etc. then it's shaking hands and all that.

I always bow to people and I'm American, I never new this!! It just felt normal. Bowing to the teacher, old people. But for some reason I was walking, and a person was behind me, I thought they were talking to me, so, I walked over there and they were speaking Japanese or something but I understood them, I didn't know Japanese that time, I just understood and noded my head at the situation and bowed for some reason and she smiled and waved good by and left.... My life is weird

In Nigerian culture you bow as well...although it looks different than Korean bowing...looks more like a curtsy or "touching of feet" when your greeting your elders...we have the laying on the floor bow too when it's somebody really old or during traditional wedding :p

In my culture (Uzbek) usually people put an open palm to the heart (mostly the right one) and clearly pronounce "Assalamualaikum" with a slight bow, of course when a person is older than you

In france it's depend of the person you with, like in korea when you meet someone for the first or if you not know each other that well much we usually shakes hands (or kiss in the cheeks only if it's a family, school or warm situation). When you're with friends or well-know people it's the famous french "bise" but attention it's mostly women with women or men with women (althought more men do this with each other but it's still depend of the kind of the relationship) and the number of kiss change between regions. We also bow our head down when we too lazy haha. Sorry for my english.

Thank u for this! I just started working with several adult Korean women and I (make) want to make sure I am being very respectful. 😊

i am american. when it's someone you see all the time, like good friend you say 'hey' or 'hi' with a smile and sometimes a slight nod upward. coworkers, 'hi, how are you' with a smile. when it's someone you're just meeting, suppose a friend of a friend, it's 'hi, nice to meet you', with either a handshake or a hug in a familiar setting (though that's more rare), or simply a smile with slight nod downward kind of like 'i tip my cap to you' without the hat. family, many people hug especially if it's been a long time and say 'hiiii' happily. when you depart family you hug and say 'love you!'

in our country to show some respect we bless our parents hands to be specific we reach elder's hand and put it on to our foreheads and we do that every time we came for a visit to our grand parents and whenever you want to leave home and we don't call older people in their names too just like in korea we call older females ate and middle aged woman tita, auntie (but actually it depends on the dialect) and older males kuya and middle aged men tito or uncle ,.. that's how we are in Philippines :)

In Brazil, if you are friends with the other person you can give a kiss on the cheek and hug, and even if you are meeting someone for the first time or just saying hi you can give a kiss on the cheek too, for example: your friend introduces you to his friend. If it's more formal, like at work or something, you can shake hands. (guys usually just kiss on the cheek if it's a girl)

I think the only way I see formality being used in the United States is the use of verbal language. Usually kids are told to call someone older Mister, Miss or Mrs. All of that formal stuff seemed to vanish as I got older through. However I do bow and call my boss Junko-San cause I work at a Japanese grocery :P

I'm at a university in the United States that has a lot of students from Korea. A Korean student I'm a bit acquainted with found my lost ID card and returned it to me. I expressed my thanks with a bow, and I came here making sure I got it right. I'll be sure to do this in the future when being introduced to my Korean classmates.

And for me despite being Canadian and having never left the country I still bow my head when I am saying thank you welcoming saying no problem sorry or hello opening a door passing a teacher or someone of a higher grade praying (catholic school) but I usually only lower my head and slightly curve my back or as you guys called it the 1st time meeting someone though I never say anything with it just a silent greeting

When you are sitting, Koreans usually do casual bowing, slight tilting your head, not standing up. But if the person is a person you think you should show more respect, then you should stand up. Sometimes you need to step outside from your desk. In one word, it depends on the person you would like to show respect. And one more thing, Koreans fully understand foreigners do not bow but they will not accept you as one of them no matter what nationality you have, unless you don't bow.

Thank you there's a bunch of Korean workers that are coming to my town Kokomo Indiana to build an electric car battery factory. I was curious about how to politely greet them. I tried to shake a factory workers hand and it was awkward I suspect that I had made a mistake.