March 31, 2026
If it’s your first time in Korea, there are a bunch of little moments where you kind of pause and think, “wait… is this okay?”
Nothing crazy, just small stuff that feels off because you’re not used to it.
Ironically, once you get used to it, you might wish you had the same convenience or innovation back home!
Here are some of the ones most people notice.
In a lot of places, leaving your laptop or phone alone at a cafe is a bad idea.
In Korea, people do it all the time.
They’ll leave their things at the table to save a seat, go order, or step out for a bit. Cafes, food courts, libraries… it’s pretty normal.
You can find videos of people doing social experiments, Koreans tend to have no desire to steal.
It feels weird at first, but you get used to it quickly.
Korean society is high-trust, largely due to the concept of "face," which is basically reputation.
Saving face is very important to Koreans, hence why they tend to not commit petty crimes like theft.
A lot of restaurants have a button at the table.
You press it, and someone comes over.
No trying to catch a server’s eye or waiting around. It’s simple and honestly pretty convenient once you try it.
It's important to note that if a restaurant has a button system, the staff will prefer if you use it rather than shouting "Jeo-gi-yo!" at them.
This one throws people off the first time.
You’ll be eating and suddenly there are scissors on the table.
They’re used for cutting meat, noodles, even kimchi sometimes. It sounds odd, but it actually makes things easier in a lot of cases.
Ask a Korean what they are for if you're confused. They used scissors instead of knives for cutting.
In fact, there are few occasions where you'll be given a knife with your food, namely if you're ordering katsu or steak.
Scissors are used for just about everything else.
At first, this felt really alien to me, but once I got used to it, I found it much more convenient than using a knife.
If you’re coming from the U.S., this takes a second to adjust to.
You don’t tip at restaurants. The price you see is just the price.
Service is still good, it’s just built into the system differently.
The taxes are also calculated into the sales price, so you literally just pay for what you see.
Something that costs 10,000 won costs 10,000 won.
This is one of those things that you tend to miss about Korea after going back to the states. It's just... simple.
Instead of waiting quietly in a restaurant or cafe, people will just call out “저기요!” (Jeo-gi-yo!) to get attention.
It means "Over here!"
It’s not seen as rude, just a normal way to get service.
You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, but you’ll hear it a lot.
This is important to note, because Korean staff will not attend your table; the burden of communication lies on your shoulders should you need anything.
You can grab a drink from a convenience store and have it outside.
Parks, sidewalks, by the river… it’s pretty relaxed.
For a lot of visitors, that’s a bit surprising at first.
You'll also probably see some passed out drunks if you walk around nightlife districts late at night on the weekends.
The police usually don't interfere unless there's an extreme case where someone needs medical help.
This is pretty cool, honestly.
You can stop by a convenience store before going to the cinema and stock up on snacks and drinks, even booze.
The staff don't care at all if you bring snacks or drinks in.
As an American, this really felt illegal the first time.
It's a fun experience to drink in the cinema and leave with a buzz.
Subways and buses tend to be pretty quiet.
People keep to themselves, and it’s not common to hear loud conversations or phone calls.
In fact, if you're being noisy, you'll probably get dirty looks and the occasional shushing gesture.
You’ll order one thing and suddenly your table fills up with small plates (usually different varieties of kimchi).
And if you finish them, you can always request more.
There are so many different side dishes, and of course they are usually paired with certain foods, or otherwise have some intended purpose in your meal.
It's easy to get confused and overwhelmed. Find a Korean friend to ask about pairings if you're curious.
Some convenience stores aren’t just quick stops.
People sit, eat, have a drink, and hang out for a bit. Look for one with outdoor (and occasionally indoor) seating areas set up. You'll be sure to find some ajussies hanging out drinking soju and smoking cigarettes there at night.
It’s a nice, low-key part of everyday life, and like most things in Korea, it's super convenient.
Most of this isn’t a big deal, it just feels unfamiliar at first.
After a bit of exposure, it all starts to feel normal, and you stop thinking twice about it.
If you’re planning a trip and want more practical stuff like this, we share a lot over on Instagram (@korea_unboxed).
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