12 Nov
In the U.S. and other western countries, tipping culture is a big deal. There’s a lot of intricacy involving who you tip, when you tip, how much you tip, and more. Luckily, in South Korea, it’s completely different. In a full year of living in South Korea, I have not tipped a single person and have never been asked to do so! That’s because it’s not a part of Korean culture. In fact, not only is tipping not customary, it can even be considered rude. Some say that tipping in Korea suggests the consumer thinks the worker needs charity. The general rule is that service should be exceptional at all times, with no expectation of extra pay.
Obviously, the biggest benefit of the “no tipping” culture is the amount of money you save in every day life. No one tips in cabs, restaurants, bars, hair salons, moving companies, or any other service you receive. After living in a country where tipping is never expected or required, you begin to wonder why we do it in the first place! Say goodbye to those annoying iPads asking you to tip 20% everywhere you go!
Other Ways to Show Appreciation
That being said, Koreans do show gratitude in many other ways in every day life. There are still ways to be polite and make sure that you are being respectful without giving extra money. Here are a few ways to show your appreciation to service workers while living in South Korea.
Small Gifts
Small gifts. While service workers will never expect a tip, a small gift (Ex: canned coffee, tangerines, etc.) when someone goes above and beyond is a nice gesture. For example, if you feel like your realtor put in extra effort to show you a lot of apartments and find you a good deal, buying them a coffee is totally welcomed and appreciated!
Using Two Hands To Receive Things
Give and accept things with two hands. In Korea, this is a polite way to go about a transaction. For example, when you pay for your meal at a restaurant, it’s a good idea to give them your card or cash using two hands. The waiter will likely return your card and hand you the receipt the same way. You can use two hands, or you can touch or grab your extended arm to show deference.
Say Thank You!
Say thank you in Korean. Generally, Koreans are very understanding that foreigners don’t speak Korean, but that doesn’t mean you should never speak it. Here’s how to say the most formal version of thank you in Korean: Gam-sa-ham-ni-da (감사합니다). And check out the video to hear a few other ways to say it, too!
Bowing
In Korea, it’s polite to bow to people older than you. As a foreigner, I always try to bow to service workers as well, especially because I’m not fluent in Korean and can’t properly express my thanks otherwise. If you’re worried that by not tipping you may appear rude, bowing is one way to show politeness that’s culturally acceptable, especially when coupled with saying thank you! Check out this video from the :52 second mark!
And that’s it! Now you know there is no tipping in Korea, and can show gratitude through respect and kindness instead!
Diana Richtman, Marketing Assistant
Diana Richtman is a writer and ESL teacher living in Seoul, South Korea. Originally from Savannah, Georgia in the United States, Diana holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in English & Women’s Studies. After receiving her TEFL certification, Diana moved to South Korea where she works at one of Creverse’s April Institutes. When Diana isn’t working, she loves exploring Korea, drinking warm cups of tea, and scaring away her friends with her karaoke performances.