When i went to Korea... Ppl got more offended when I'd say "Excuse you" after they got done banging (not bumping) into me. They didn't look back, Say nor nod but when i said excuse you... The look they gave was priceless.
But the 1 thing i definitely don't like is the Korean age. If im not mistaking... Doesn't months come before years and that Zero is also a number. 🤷♂️
sameeee. the only issue is that i am bad with directions so if i needed to ask about a station i would be even more conflicted trying to ask and break the silence
Yeah busses are too loud in my opinion And especially on the train I would like it to be silent so that you know when your stop is It often goes under in the loud chatter
I agree. I also like that many of the restaurants I went to in Korea had an order board so I ordered then went to my seat and it was already paid for, I could easily leave when I'm done without waiting on any staff to bring a bill.
Ur so right, me being an introvert and having social anxiety it’s so much better.. it’s here in Japan too so I’m so very thankful for it lol buy some place doesn’t have it so I wait for the waiter to pass by 😂
I have seen those in a specific restaurant franchise here and when I went there for the first time, all by myself, I was so confused what I was supposed to do 😂 But with time I got used to it and found it so convenient
David, being logical: we don't make small talk with strangers, they're strangers. Me, being italian: ... so, anyways, I went to the hair dresser today and it was pouring like you wouldn't believe and there was this guy that was throwing buckets of water from his shop to the street and I saw a car kind of floating around like a circus act and I thought "Why am I going to get my hair done with this weather?, it doesn't make any sense!", but I went anyways because I was already there so... (short version: what do you meeeeaaaaaannnnnnnn?!)
I hate that the U.S still uses that system because when I try to buy some items online I get thrown off because everybody uses centimeters to measure items these days
I wish we were taught more than the Imperial system. Anytime watching something Korean or Asian related and they use cm or kg, I always got to pause it and see what it translates into pounds, Feet or Inches.
5 years ago the bar soap already grossed me out lol. It took me a while to get used to it. It also took me a while to get used to the bumping, but you're absolutely right, eventually you become numb to it. Also the thin line of personal space. They won't touch you on purpose, but there is really no personal space. People, usually older, used to fall asleep on me on the subway, and when I moved for them to wake up, they would apologize, and a few minutes fall asleep on me again 😂🙄 The yogurt cart ladies are new to me. Never saw them before. So cool.. Floor heating is da bomb! I wanted to do it in my house here 😩 And I refuse Korean age 🤨😏
@@hi-ve1cw yeah, I’m from the UK but I live in South Africa - air con is not needed in the summer in the UK, the weather is almost never over 30C (and if it does, it isn’t for more than a few days)…in Durban, very few people have heating in their homes - I guess the split air con units also heat (as well as cool), but I have never seen anyone use it like that. Pretoria/Joburg and Cape Town get a lot colder in winter, so homes usually have heating in those areas, or an open fireplace. Personal space is not understood here, people get very close/squished together with no issues - and it is considered rude to not engage in small talk with strangers - when standing in a queue, sitting on a bus, in a lift etc, we smile at each other and chat about nonsense like the weather… As someone who mostly grew up in the UK, it was a little uncomfortable - Brits will engage in small talk at times, but usually only when something is a problem and we are looking for common ground or an ally - like if we are all waiting to make a complaint about something similar… It’s not that common to chat away to strangers in lifts in London
If someone fell asleep on my shoulder I would only feel sorry if I had to get up or move my arm since that would wake them But at the same time I'm conflicted thinking "hopefully they don't miss their stop"
@@lunariika357 I have had strangers sleep on my in airplanes - it’s a bit awkward 😂🤷♂️ I don’t really feel comfortable about having a strangers head on my shoulder, so I tend to freeze and over-think it, then I become desperate to go to the loo (or something) and all I can think about is how to move them without looking rude… I fell asleep on a bus once, coming home from night duty, in a country and city I did not know, I was new to both - the bus driver eventually stopped (when he got to the turn-around point on his route and the bus was empty except for me) and woke me up, he ended up taking me to the actual street I was staying on, he was amazing - I would have expected him to just kick me off the bus no matter where we were 🙈😂
@@allisonB123 yeah some bus drivers are really sweet, When I was sleepy and had a seat I would look that it's a window one so I would only fall against the window If I had no seat I would literally fall asleep while standing XD not that you could dose of for long tho
I intentionally bought a blue long padding coat so I could stand out a bit, lol. And after 4 years of living in Korea, I still can’t get used to the communal bar soap, or as my friends like to call it “jerk-off” soap.
In Bulgaria we have table bells too. Not everywhere, but in some restaurants. So it was not a surprise for me at all. It's convenient especially if the place is huge.😎
Probably in Sophia!? I haven't seen them, but yeah....I don't go to restaurants that often anymore...I do agree it is a convenient way for a customer to call for service, unless you are not in one of those restaurants with keen waiter, ready to serve you in a glance.
The public bar soap is horrifying to a germaphobe like myself. But in Korea, street food ahjummas also feed you with communal chopsticks that they probably used to feed 200 people before me. Like if they're giving you a sample of the food they're selling. It's terrifying but endearing at the same time.
Oh my god that sounds horrifying. I could kinda understand communal chopsticks at a table of your friends/people you know at a restaurant (i still prefer to use my own though), but communal chopsticks at a food cart that tons of random strangers have used... That sounds pretty disgusting not gonna lie lol.
@@carmendelabellemotte7865 It's possible for bacteria to live in the water droplets on the bar soap and thus be transferred into you in theory. Bar soap isn't disinfectant like sanitizer is. Soap breaks a germs hold on your skin is all and the water washes it away. Alcohol in sanitizer actually kills the germs and soap doesn't do that. So in theory, dry bar soap, or wet bar soap with germs living in the water droplets before you touch it could transfer from person to person. Not super likely, but possible.
i'm a germaphobe too and i'll pick korea over the US any day every day in terms of cleanliness. and only dirty vendors do that kind of stuff, if you call them out on it, they'll bust out a fresh pair instantly. chopsticks are cheap, people.
I'll add * The truck selling random thing that screams is the street with a speaker * No deodorant being sold (Korean solemnly sweat) * being able to shop super late at night (Europe can close up to 5pm-7pm ) * Street spitting (mostly by men) * Paying at the entrance of the restaurant when leaving (super convenient) * Food delivery anywhere ( ok now it exists in Europe to but in 2014 is was a novelty for me) * Randomly talking to foreigners ( because in multi-ethnic country you can't know if someone is a foreigner just by looking at them there isn't this circus-attraction-like thing)
The silence on public transport would be weird. Here in Melbourne you can’t catch a train without at least 1 person being on their mobile phone having a ‘private’ conversation that we all have to pretend we can’t hear.
That's the worst... But my mom is shouting so loud on the other side if I had her on the phone even if I'm just listening everyone would still be able to listen in (if it's silence) And if she were in the bus and got a call well you can guess that's really loud I wouldn't want to call someone while in the bus or train I don't like being listened in on Even when I'm home I go outside or into my room just somewhere where no-one comes Easiest solution turn up the music in your headphones and either look outside or close your eyes But don't miss your Endstation
same. i have bad posture so i like to sit close to the table so i can force myself to sit straight. i think i would sit on the cushion side if i was wearing a skirt or a dress which i don't often
American airplanes have call buttons for help from the flight attendants, so I don't find it weird for such buttons to exist in restaurants. In fact, those buttons would be very helpful for introverts like myself who are a little too sheepish to call out to a waiter.
Me reading along: cool, cool, cool I could do or get used to all these... Number 9: Korean age Me, born in December: Nope, nope, NOPE. I am NOT adding on two years. I will just never let a Korean person know my birth year and insist my international age is also my Korean age
No kidding. Hotel rooms are like a Petri dish. I saw a documentary where they went to 5 star hotels with a UV light.... It was terrifying..😱 Bodily fluids of every description from every body part literally everywhere. Walls, ceiling, floors, remotes.
As a Danish-Korean I absolutely love the table-bells due to my (mostly Danish) reserved nature. No hassle with the waiters or awkward interactions. Likewise the atmosphere in public transportation is very similar between Korea and Denmark so the transition between the countries is seemless!
Yes! Some but not all! Soap, table bell, tissue napkins, quiet subway, people banging into each other without acknowledging. Next time, I'll look for the other things!
I loved this video! Small things that I wouldn’t otherwise have known. The biggest culture shock I experienced in Hong Kong was the restaurant washrooms didn’t have toilet paper; it was expected that you’d bring your own!
Yeah I heard there are a lot of Japan descendents and thus made it possible for some of Japanese corporations to make it to Brazilian market.Yakult originally started in Japan so..makes sense.
This list is interesting! The public bar soap is definitely new…. I don’t know how I feel about that 😶🤔 my germaphobic self is screaming from the inside.
It’s actually probably more hygienic than using a liquid soap dispenser (unless it’s one if those automatic ones that you don’t have to touch) since the germs (like 98% or something) can’t survive on the bar soap. :)
@@mikk5540 this is why if its not automatic i use sanitiser - you actually pick more germs up washing in public toilets than if u didn't wash ur hands at all
At the convenience store they do sell paper sheet soaps in a small container or like soap in the form of a glue stick so u dont have to worry about public bar soap ahaha just go the convenience store and buy one😊
Many Korean ppl feel the same way actually I never saw them when I used to live in Korea 20 yrs ago, anyway even back then Korean women carried their own paper soap in their bags just in case some public restrooms are out of soap. Not sure about men but I’m sure you can easily find them at the convenient stores that Korea have everywhere ;)
you forgot the small towels, my relatives don't have big towels, they only have the hand towels to dry off with...in fact when I go to Korea I always bring some towels with me lol
I’m personally an ethnic Korean who’s lived in New York all my life and moved about a year ago to South Korea, and I can’t tell you how many of these things I’ve either noticed or taken for granted as a Korean niche. Especially the Yakult Ladies.
Thanks for this video, there's some points that we can find even in Occidental countries (I am French). The bar soap : when I was at school, in the 90's we used it, as for the long down bomb jacket, it was fashion too. Touching someone passing by in the street is natural in all big countries... So as for me, the weirdest is the age, I am 36 but 38 in Korean age. It's truly depressing 🤣
I visited South Korea in high school back in the late 80s. The impressions that stayed with me: - It is so mountainous that I felt like you were always going uphill, even when going back the way you just came. - I have never been so politely nudged out of the way in a crowded street. It was actually kinda cool. I grew up in NYC, and the sense of “I’ll stop if you’re bleeding or are in need, but otherwise I got a life to get on with, dawg” felt strangely… welcoming. - I came a cross a whack-a-mole game. Except it wasn’t rodents tunneling into the farmer’s field that one was supposed to hit with the club… it was North Korean infiltrators tunneling south. - My uncle whom I was visiting was stationed in Seoul with the IMF, and he had a driver with a son relatively my age. My uncle wanted to introduce us, but his driver said that I was a physician’s son in addition to the nephew of the official he was driving for, so the son of a driver and I “couldn’t be introduced that way”. -When I visited in the 80s, there were lots of store with “No haggling” signs. I seem to remember that there was a government push for standardized pricing, particularly in retail stores. My Korean never got past pure basics… but I did learn enough to haggle for some dried squid at an open-air market. I was rather proud of not paying list price for that.
This video was so helpful. I'll know now to be super quiet when riding public transportation although will be difficult if i have to confer with my friend about our destination since we will probably not have any clue what we are doing lol. And thanks about the bumping tip - now i won't think that they are rude. So much to learn lol. The toilet paper thing doesn't bother me at all. I do that at home when i run out napkins lol.
I have hears about Yakult lady of Korea, but I thought they were of the past because the older entertainers talk about them as a childhood memories on variety shows. I never thought they have been totally upgraded, that is so 😎.
Women sitting on the cushioned seats reminded me of an old chivalry concept in England where the woman would sit facing the room and the men face the wall. It may be part of that too.
Black padding jacket (or puffer jacket as we call in Australia) are a STAPLE in Melbourne! I was out at a bar on Saturday night and a guy was wearing a puffer vest only!
Wow... the no talking on public transportation is a huge change from when I was there in 1997-1998! I remember the train from Munsan to Seoul Central being a bustle of conversation - especially the closer we got to Seoul. Subway's were a little quieter, if I recall, but there was still interaction between people who knew each other, I think. (I was always too busy making sure I was on the right line and getting to the right stop! I barely knew any Hangul and was super focused on not getting lost. lol) Cool video though! Makes me want to go back again!
0:43 In my city (Naga City, Camarines Sur) in the Philippines there's a restaurant called Coffee Project and we have those types of things except we order on the counter and afterwards we are given that bell thing and when our orders are finished it rings up for us to claim it.
About the tissue roll on the table, we don't have that in our country but I do bring it or wet tissues when we eat outside just so I can wipe the tables just being extra careful this days, and some restaurants at least in our community have those seats where the otherside is cushioned, but in our case specially if we dined out with the parents, automatically the cushioned seats are designated to them and if their is still extra space the first born got to seat next to them. And of course as the youngest in the family I always got seated on those wooden or regular chairs
The bumping thing we’ve got where I’m from too; I live in a city so most of the time it’s crazy crowded and it’s not uncommon for people to shove past you. The subway is also dead silent unless there’s a big event or holiday going on. Bit of a culture shock going to places where people are wicked loud and noisy.
The table bells are amazing! We have these in Russia but only in Korean restaraunts. Some asian restaraunts here give you a bell that rings when your order is ready so you can get it. The yakult delivery is so cute, i really wanna try that drink. Total silence in the transport is a bit weird - where I live it really depends on a time. You should never make any noise in the morning, when people go to work, but afternoon or weekend, people talk in a lower voice without disturbing others. Cool video, I love the way you present the material! Would you mind making a vid about Hanok stay in the future?
In my country, Bulgaria, when there is a bell it usually has three buttons. Call the waiter, asking for the bill, and cancel if you pushed it by accident. :)
I like the silence on their transportation. I mean, going to work, school or going home, I would like to use it to relax or have a peace of mind from stress then think about problems when arrived at school or work and just eat then sleep at home. I know it's boring but peace of mind is so important to me🤣
1. the table bell: if you go to a Korean restaurant, you probably experience it too (In Toronto, I've seen a few) 2. long padding: I bought one in Artizia (?) I love it so much since the cold in Toronto is sometimes just unbearable
Actually the long padding coat is similar with the Korean traditional coat called "doo-loo-maa-gi" as a winter version. So It's said the long patting coat is another culture expression of the korean own, not just fashion.
Honestly the silence while traveling would make me a bit uncomfortable because I'm so used to the noise here in India lol. Me and my group are SO loud we've been told quite a few times to tone it down in some public places 🙈🤪🤐
how do koreans stay so quiet on public transports wow... they have some huge manners. here people are sometimes yelling or shouting for no reason on busses and trains and its so annoying smh
Here in my country we also have ajumma with Yakult carts lol I always wait for them so I can buy yakult when I was really young. The difference is you have electric carts in SK, not here. Where I’m from, literally manual carts you push around 😐
The bell thing and yakult ajumma( even though our ajummas use manual carts) are quite common in Brazil, but the yakult ladies are also getting harder to find here, it's kinda sad cause I used to love them as a kid
I would add the following: 1. Utensils in table drawer. It is usually located on the side. 2. People not holding the door open for you. Actually, do not expect that at all. 3. Daredevil delivery driver of moped/scooter, who is driving on sidewalk. Do not expect you are safe walking on sidewalk. 4. Car parking on sidewalk. There are actually car parking spots next to the building where the cars drive on sidewalk to get to those spots. 5. People drinking alcohol in convenience stores. more...
we have specific "silent" train compartments.. because everybody is so loud. and a special family compartment with a play area for kids. ..so I prefer silence.. ( when i was in Amerika and random strangers started talking to me.. on buses trains and stuff.. was also a little bit weird ) .. at least there is soap at public restrooms ;) .. toilet paper or flimsy napkins.. yeah.. the worst would be super thin toilet paper.. the padded jacket stands out because "everybody" old and young is wearing it. in other countries, you most likely see the age groups with the same style.. little old European ladies all wear that blue apron /Kittel. and the same short haircut as queen Elisabeth II... and younger gens sneakers without socks and ankle-free tight jeans..
I actually never really thought about it but if I go with my family to a restaurant (I'm from Germany) my mom and I tend to sit on the cushioned benches like 9 times out of 10 while my older brother and dad tend to take the chairs instead On a dates though it doesn't really matter manner wise, it's just more of a preference thing I guess
I saw a table bell last night in a Korean restaurant (Syd, Australia). First time I saw that. Bar soap - yuck. It used to be everywhere here over a decade ago, but not on a stick though.
so interesting! greetings from Tricity in Poland! thx to BTS I am so educated in Korea (history, kitchen, architecture, traditions etc) and I want to learn korean but I am over 30 and afraid of your alphabet ! :D
Hey, so, about the age. You said for legal things you use international age. what age is taking into account for military enlistment for example? Korean or international age?
Even Londoners who are deemed rude try to say sorry once in a while, so I am sure I will not fit in very well. It will be me saying sorry to the person who has bumped into me. "Sorry, sir. Sorry, ma'am. So sorry child. I am already scolded for saying yes, please. It would be interesting if I visited Korea - maybe I would be liberated from myself.
Bottle caps and magnetic holders are common in Pakistan as well! Used to be. Now they're just so many fancy soap dispensers or trays to use the classic.
The seats thing sounds really practical since padded seats are wider, so women can keep their bags near. Purse with long belt can slip off the chair's back and someone passing by could easily trip.
Oh man! I saw two yakult ajummas (with the BTS army codes) when I visited Busan and had no idea they actually sold Yakult! I thought they were street sweepers 😩 totally missed out on some fresh yakult.
One thing I found different and interesting when I went to Korea were those cafes where you have a closed room (룸카페). There was just the regular cafes, but there were also the ones with videogames and dvds (멀티방) and you had like a buffet of snacks to choose from. I understand that some of them are meant for couples who live with their parents to spend time together, but it’s such a nice idea! I would love to have that in my country.
Many of the Korean Restaurants in my area have table bells and I love it. I hate calling the waiter over vocally or awkwardly trying to catch their eyes to wave them over cuz I have pretty bad social anxiety so this table bell is just awesome for me
The Yakult lady is a thing too in the Philippines (minus the yellow cart and yellow outfit ☺️). They often walk with a yakult container trolley and often have bells or they would shout "Yakult" and honestly was surprised that they still have this up to now.
Honestly, I used to overly apologize for every little thing so when I did the same in Seoul I always had so many people look confused or try to reassure me I had nothing to apologize for and it actually really helped me to unlearn it so I really appreciated that it wasn't super common there
that chivalrous seating arrangement is common in the US too! I'm not even sure if it's conscious decision.. but yes I am always on the booth/cushion side hahahah
I really enjoyed Korea when I went for a BTS FanMeet… I can’t wait till there’s no more quarantine period to visit again. I did notice that most people on the public transportation were quiet but I also enjoyed talking & practicing Korean with the grannies on the train. My hubby spoke to a middle aged man in English on the train too… I think you should’ve put the toilet paper things in the public bathrooms as weird things to know… At first I had to keep translating the signs in the stalls to know if I could put TP in the toilet or a trash can… I should’ve done my homework & memorized various signs before getting there… I would never wanna be the cause of backing up an old plumbing system especially with warnings. How embarrassing. Also, people said that TP is not in each stall but centrally located before getting in the stall so you better not forget before getting in there… I don’t remember if I ran into that… I may have once though… Oh my gosh tho!!! The food is sooo yummy! We loved 약 김밥, 떡볶이, 김밥, 족발, 비빔밥, 프라이드 치킨, 전복 비빔밥… Wait was it called 마약김밥? I think so… So delicious
We also have the Yakult lady here in the Philippines, but it's just a cooler-like cart that they push around while walking and there's ice inside to keep the Yakult cool. And in terms of age, Filipino-Chinese also considered a year old once they're born and then we add another year at New Year's. Like with my aunt, since she was born a day before New Year's, on New Year's day she's already two years old. So, whenever a relative would ask for her Chinese age, she has to add two to her international age. As for me, I would just add one since I was born just a couple of months after New Year's.
The reason for 2 year difference is the following I believe: Koreans start birth at inception, namely 9 months of gestation. Because there were a lot of deaths after being born, Koreans waited 100 days (approx 3 months) before they celebrate their 1st birthday. Namely translated 100 day celebration. Also, the biggest celebration of any Korean tradition is new years. Not like in the US but because it is a celebration of EVERYONES birthday. Everyone become one year older. And hence Koreans by tradition are 2 years older.
Toilet paper on the table ? My father gonna be at home in Korea xD I'm the same age as suga, same year, same month (two weeks apart i think) Imagine my face when he and IU released 28 lol. For the seat, i think men do the same in France, but nobody would stare or be offended if a dude want to seat on the most comfy chair :) (Except maybe for a date ?)
My take... 1. Call bell to call waiter/waitress ------sounds very convenient 2. Common Soap in Public toilet---------I'll use the alternative 3. Black Long Padding Coat ---------------I'd like to get one because I'm always cold 4. Bumping -----------------------------------------Used to back in my own country 5. Silence in Public Transportation -----I wished it is like this in U.S. public transpo 6. Toilet paper other use ---------------------No problem. Less paper for less mess. 7. Yakult Lady on electric car --------------Love Yakult! 8. No bed --------------------------------------------Been doing it. It does help the back. 9. Korean age --------------------------------------If it makes me younger, OK! 10. Seats gender-based ----------------------"First to the seat"
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When i went to Korea... Ppl got more offended when I'd say "Excuse you" after they got done banging (not bumping) into me. They didn't look back, Say nor nod but when i said excuse you... The look they gave was priceless.
But the 1 thing i definitely don't like is the Korean age. If im not mistaking... Doesn't months come before years and that Zero is also a number. 🤷♂️
That silent train is my introvert dream. No small talk? Everyone minds their own business? Sign me up!
Same though. Ayo introvert!! xD
sameeee. the only issue is that i am bad with directions so if i needed to ask about a station i would be even more conflicted trying to ask and break the silence
Me too, I’m an introvert.
Ikr, it sounds like a dream, Imagine not being asked questions..!
Yeah busses are too loud in my opinion
And especially on the train I would like it to be silent so that you know when your stop is
It often goes under in the loud chatter
New retirement plan: move to SK and become a yogurt lady
the bell system should be common thing in the world, my social anxiety could never call a waiter by putting my hand up 😫
True! I rather find it rude when people snap fingers, shout across the room or even whistle (🤦🏻♀️) to call the servers
I agree. I also like that many of the restaurants I went to in Korea had an order board so I ordered then went to my seat and it was already paid for, I could easily leave when I'm done without waiting on any staff to bring a bill.
Ur so right, me being an introvert and having social anxiety it’s so much better.. it’s here in Japan too so I’m so very thankful for it lol buy some place doesn’t have it so I wait for the waiter to pass by 😂
I have seen those in a specific restaurant franchise here and when I went there for the first time, all by myself, I was so confused what I was supposed to do 😂 But with time I got used to it and found it so convenient
We have tablets in America...
You can hit the "call server" button, order food/drinks, play games, and pay with them...
Didn't know about the ajumma with their yakult carts. So cute.
I love yakult.,drink it every day!💕
We also have that in the Philippines but its not as seen much as before and also its not electric cart for us its just a normal cart
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakult_lady
We have the same in Mexico but they just use a bicycle 🇲🇽🚲
David, being logical: we don't make small talk with strangers, they're strangers.
Me, being italian: ... so, anyways, I went to the hair dresser today and it was pouring like you wouldn't believe and there was this guy that was throwing buckets of water from his shop to the street and I saw a car kind of floating around like a circus act and I thought "Why am I going to get my hair done with this weather?, it doesn't make any sense!", but I went anyways because I was already there so... (short version: what do you meeeeaaaaaannnnnnnn?!)
Hahaha this is funny
Korea using Korean Age is the equivalent of us in the U.S. still being stuck on the Imperial system lol.
Yes! It's so dumb.
I hate that the U.S still uses that system because when I try to buy some items online I get thrown off because everybody uses centimeters to measure items these days
I like being 1 to 2 years younger lol
I wish we were taught more than the Imperial system. Anytime watching something Korean or Asian related and they use cm or kg, I always got to pause it and see what it translates into pounds, Feet or Inches.
@@DennisTheInternationalMenace omgg I thought I was the only one who does this😭 I’m slowly being able to convert it without using google
5 years ago the bar soap already grossed me out lol. It took me a while to get used to it.
It also took me a while to get used to the bumping, but you're absolutely right, eventually you become numb to it.
Also the thin line of personal space. They won't touch you on purpose, but there is really no personal space. People, usually older, used to fall asleep on me on the subway, and when I moved for them to wake up, they would apologize, and a few minutes fall asleep on me again 😂🙄
The yogurt cart ladies are new to me. Never saw them before. So cool..
Floor heating is da bomb! I wanted to do it in my house here 😩
And I refuse Korean age 🤨😏
I had floor heating in the uk untill I moved to a new house it was awesome
@@hi-ve1cw yeah, I’m from the UK but I live in South Africa - air con is not needed in the summer in the UK, the weather is almost never over 30C (and if it does, it isn’t for more than a few days)…in Durban, very few people have heating in their homes - I guess the split air con units also heat (as well as cool), but I have never seen anyone use it like that. Pretoria/Joburg and Cape Town get a lot colder in winter, so homes usually have heating in those areas, or an open fireplace.
Personal space is not understood here, people get very close/squished together with no issues - and it is considered rude to not engage in small talk with strangers - when standing in a queue, sitting on a bus, in a lift etc, we smile at each other and chat about nonsense like the weather… As someone who mostly grew up in the UK, it was a little uncomfortable - Brits will engage in small talk at times, but usually only when something is a problem and we are looking for common ground or an ally - like if we are all waiting to make a complaint about something similar… It’s not that common to chat away to strangers in lifts in London
If someone fell asleep on my shoulder I would only feel sorry if I had to get up or move my arm since that would wake them
But at the same time I'm conflicted thinking "hopefully they don't miss their stop"
@@lunariika357 I have had strangers sleep on my in airplanes - it’s a bit awkward 😂🤷♂️ I don’t really feel comfortable about having a strangers head on my shoulder, so I tend to freeze and over-think it, then I become desperate to go to the loo (or something) and all I can think about is how to move them without looking rude… I fell asleep on a bus once, coming home from night duty, in a country and city I did not know, I was new to both - the bus driver eventually stopped (when he got to the turn-around point on his route and the bus was empty except for me) and woke me up, he ended up taking me to the actual street I was staying on, he was amazing - I would have expected him to just kick me off the bus no matter where we were 🙈😂
@@allisonB123 yeah some bus drivers are really sweet,
When I was sleepy and had a seat I would look that it's a window one so I would only fall against the window
If I had no seat I would literally fall asleep while standing XD not that you could dose of for long tho
Saying 'sorry' is so ingrained in me (Canadian here 😋) that I'll say it even if I bumped into an inanimate object 😂😂
Haha right??
Me too. 😂
lol same but i'm american. people have looked at me weirdly for that
In Ireland too
Japan too
This is really helpful while waiting for travels and tours to go back to normal. Please do more Korea fun facts, please.
I intentionally bought a blue long padding coat so I could stand out a bit, lol. And after 4 years of living in Korea, I still can’t get used to the communal bar soap, or as my friends like to call it “jerk-off” soap.
Yeah I was just thinking it looks like "w**k soap" lol
In Bulgaria we have table bells too. Not everywhere, but in some restaurants. So it was not a surprise for me at all. It's convenient especially if the place is huge.😎
Probably in Sophia!? I haven't seen them, but yeah....I don't go to restaurants that often anymore...I do agree it is a convenient way for a customer to call for service, unless you are not in one of those restaurants with keen waiter, ready to serve you in a glance.
@@ixoraroxi Yep in Sofia, Varna and some other cities. :)
The public bar soap is horrifying to a germaphobe like myself. But in Korea, street food ahjummas also feed you with communal chopsticks that they probably used to feed 200 people before me. Like if they're giving you a sample of the food they're selling. It's terrifying but endearing at the same time.
Oh my god that sounds horrifying. I could kinda understand communal chopsticks at a table of your friends/people you know at a restaurant (i still prefer to use my own though), but communal chopsticks at a food cart that tons of random strangers have used... That sounds pretty disgusting not gonna lie lol.
I wonder if communal chopsticks at street vendors will become a thing of the past, Covid may have changed that practise permanently.
How do you expect germs live on a bar soap?
@@carmendelabellemotte7865 It's possible for bacteria to live in the water droplets on the bar soap and thus be transferred into you in theory. Bar soap isn't disinfectant like sanitizer is. Soap breaks a germs hold on your skin is all and the water washes it away. Alcohol in sanitizer actually kills the germs and soap doesn't do that. So in theory, dry bar soap, or wet bar soap with germs living in the water droplets before you touch it could transfer from person to person. Not super likely, but possible.
i'm a germaphobe too and i'll pick korea over the US any day every day in terms of cleanliness. and only dirty vendors do that kind of stuff, if you call them out on it, they'll bust out a fresh pair instantly. chopsticks are cheap, people.
I'll add
* The truck selling random thing that screams is the street with a speaker
* No deodorant being sold (Korean solemnly sweat)
* being able to shop super late at night (Europe can close up to 5pm-7pm )
* Street spitting (mostly by men)
* Paying at the entrance of the restaurant when leaving (super convenient)
* Food delivery anywhere ( ok now it exists in Europe to but in 2014 is was a novelty for me)
* Randomly talking to foreigners ( because in multi-ethnic country you can't know if someone is a foreigner just by looking at them there isn't this circus-attraction-like thing)
@@hi-ve1cw shop closing fully depends on which European region/country. Us in Finland have 24/7 grocery stores.
They sell deoderant now in department stores . Not as many variations. But they have it
@@Lxmxn97 oh they were already in bigbigstores but it's super expensive and hard to find....
I'm not surprised by the 1st and the 4th one cause I grew up with those things in my country too.
I actually don't mind the whole toilet paper thing. I would rather have a few squares of toilet paper vs a big sheet of paper towel
The silence on public transport would be weird. Here in Melbourne you can’t catch a train without at least 1 person being on their mobile phone having a ‘private’ conversation that we all have to pretend we can’t hear.
That's the worst... But my mom is shouting so loud on the other side if I had her on the phone even if I'm just listening everyone would still be able to listen in (if it's silence)
And if she were in the bus and got a call well you can guess that's really loud
I wouldn't want to call someone while in the bus or train I don't like being listened in on
Even when I'm home I go outside or into my room just somewhere where no-one comes
Easiest solution turn up the music in your headphones and either look outside or close your eyes
But don't miss your Endstation
I would probably sit on chair rather than the cushion side... cause its easy to rest my back on a chair. its more comfortable.
same. i have bad posture so i like to sit close to the table so i can force myself to sit straight. i think i would sit on the cushion side if i was wearing a skirt or a dress which i don't often
Dead silence is common in Finnish public transport too!!! So when I visited Korea I found myself in a very familiar environment.
American airplanes have call buttons for help from the flight attendants, so I don't find it weird for such buttons to exist in restaurants. In fact, those buttons would be very helpful for introverts like myself who are a little too sheepish to call out to a waiter.
Me reading along: cool, cool, cool I could do or get used to all these...
Number 9: Korean age
Me, born in December: Nope, nope, NOPE. I am NOT adding on two years. I will just never let a Korean person know my birth year and insist my international age is also my Korean age
Same here, why should I waste my time calculating it, yet they use international age on legal documents and other stuff?
True
Usually korean would ask your birth year rather than your age
@@nhjeihdu we use international age because globalisation lol
It would be interesting to use one of those special UV lights that detects germs on the bar soap.
😅 Igorance is a bliss . Some stuff , you dont want to know . Like hotel rooms
No kidding. Hotel rooms are like a Petri dish. I saw a documentary where they went to 5 star hotels with a UV light.... It was terrifying..😱 Bodily fluids of every description from every body part literally everywhere. Walls, ceiling, floors, remotes.
@@mikayla9146 haha in a public bathroom the soap will probably not be the most dirty thing you get to touch
being a biologist, i dont think its possible for germs to grow on soap but it can have dirt.
@@mikayla9146 well I guess that will differ depending where you went
But I guess it can also be very true
As a Danish-Korean I absolutely love the table-bells due to my (mostly Danish) reserved nature. No hassle with the waiters or awkward interactions.
Likewise the atmosphere in public transportation is very similar between Korea and Denmark so the transition between the countries is seemless!
Did you come across any of these mentioned things while you were in Korea?
What were some other weird experiences you had in Korea?
the only thing i didnt know about were the yogurt ladies and the seating arrangement
Yes! Some but not all! Soap, table bell, tissue napkins, quiet subway, people banging into each other without acknowledging. Next time, I'll look for the other things!
yeah.. all of them.. meet the yogurt lady every weekdays....
I am also not grossed out by toilet paper 🧻. I mean it’s just paper 😅
You finally got sponsors. Looking forward to more contents
I loved this video! Small things that I wouldn’t otherwise have known. The biggest culture shock I experienced in Hong Kong was the restaurant washrooms didn’t have toilet paper; it was expected that you’d bring your own!
We use to have Yakult ladies in the 90s all over Brazil too 😊🥰 nice times.. the nostalgia
Seriously? That so cool, i'm brazilian too but I born in 2004 so I had no idea
Yeah I heard there are a lot of Japan descendents and thus made it possible for some of Japanese corporations to make it to Brazilian market.Yakult originally started in Japan so..makes sense.
I’m literally 5’1. Whenever I move to SK and get one of those jackets I’m going to look like I have no legs LOL
This list is interesting! The public bar soap is definitely new…. I don’t know how I feel about that 😶🤔 my germaphobic self is screaming from the inside.
It’s actually probably more hygienic than using a liquid soap dispenser (unless it’s one if those automatic ones that you don’t have to touch) since the germs (like 98% or something) can’t survive on the bar soap. :)
@@mikk5540 this is why if its not automatic i use sanitiser - you actually pick more germs up washing in public toilets than if u didn't wash ur hands at all
@@justvibing2171 you should look up hand soap flakes it would be easier- or just use sanitiser
At the convenience store they do sell paper sheet soaps in a small container or like soap in the form of a glue stick so u dont have to worry about public bar soap ahaha just go the convenience store and buy one😊
Many Korean ppl feel the same way actually I never saw them when I used to live in Korea 20 yrs ago, anyway even back then Korean women carried their own paper soap in their bags just in case some public restrooms are out of soap. Not sure about men but I’m sure you can easily find them at the convenient stores that Korea have everywhere ;)
you forgot the small towels, my relatives don't have big towels, they only have the hand towels to dry off with...in fact when I go to Korea I always bring some towels with me lol
I’m personally an ethnic Korean who’s lived in New York all my life and moved about a year ago to South Korea, and I can’t tell you how many of these things I’ve either noticed or taken for granted as a Korean niche.
Especially the Yakult Ladies.
The Yakult got me really. Now I will be thinking about those ladies with their carts.
Thanks for this video, there's some points that we can find even in Occidental countries (I am French). The bar soap : when I was at school, in the 90's we used it, as for the long down bomb jacket, it was fashion too. Touching someone passing by in the street is natural in all big countries... So as for me, the weirdest is the age, I am 36 but 38 in Korean age. It's truly depressing 🤣
I visited South Korea in high school back in the late 80s. The impressions that stayed with me:
- It is so mountainous that I felt like you were always going uphill, even when going back the way you just came.
- I have never been so politely nudged out of the way in a crowded street. It was actually kinda cool. I grew up in NYC, and the sense of “I’ll stop if you’re bleeding or are in need, but otherwise I got a life to get on with, dawg” felt strangely… welcoming.
- I came a cross a whack-a-mole game. Except it wasn’t rodents tunneling into the farmer’s field that one was supposed to hit with the club… it was North Korean infiltrators tunneling south.
- My uncle whom I was visiting was stationed in Seoul with the IMF, and he had a driver with a son relatively my age. My uncle wanted to introduce us, but his driver said that I was a physician’s son in addition to the nephew of the official he was driving for, so the son of a driver and I “couldn’t be introduced that way”.
-When I visited in the 80s, there were lots of store with “No haggling” signs. I seem to remember that there was a government push for standardized pricing, particularly in retail stores. My Korean never got past pure basics… but I did learn enough to haggle for some dried squid at an open-air market. I was rather proud of not paying list price for that.
ok but the bell thing. rfbwdcfnkrfwe ITS SOO FCKIN USEFULL, it rlly should be international-
This video was so helpful. I'll know now to be super quiet when riding public transportation although will be difficult if i have to confer with my friend about our destination since we will probably not have any clue what we are doing lol. And thanks about the bumping tip - now i won't think that they are rude. So much to learn lol. The toilet paper thing doesn't bother me at all. I do that at home when i run out napkins lol.
Thank you this is awesome! ☺
Really loving these informative videos. So interesting 💖✨
Hey David! Thanks for this content! Really informative!
I have hears about Yakult lady of Korea, but I thought they were of the past because the older entertainers talk about them as a childhood memories on variety shows. I never thought they have been totally upgraded, that is so 😎.
The bell is the best! I love it. It’s one of my fave things! ❤️
Thank you David for this video it really a help
thank you for this interesting vid david! more please!! 🖤🇰🇷🌏
Thanks for the info, Enjoyable.
Epitome is a great word. The American pronunciation is e’ pi de mē
Women sitting on the cushioned seats reminded me of an old chivalry concept in England where the woman would sit facing the room and the men face the wall. It may be part of that too.
Black padding jacket (or puffer jacket as we call in Australia) are a STAPLE in Melbourne! I was out at a bar on Saturday night and a guy was wearing a puffer vest only!
Nice video. I'm glad I was able to learn something new. I definitely didn't know about the seat one.
Wow... the no talking on public transportation is a huge change from when I was there in 1997-1998! I remember the train from Munsan to Seoul Central being a bustle of conversation - especially the closer we got to Seoul. Subway's were a little quieter, if I recall, but there was still interaction between people who knew each other, I think. (I was always too busy making sure I was on the right line and getting to the right stop! I barely knew any Hangul and was super focused on not getting lost. lol) Cool video though! Makes me want to go back again!
The toilet paper on the table sounds like a great idea! Not in nice places, but in fast food restaurants.
0:43 In my city (Naga City, Camarines Sur) in the Philippines there's a restaurant called Coffee Project and we have those types of things except we order on the counter and afterwards we are given that bell thing and when our orders are finished it rings up for us to claim it.
I like this type of videos, good job and keep it up :) also, good luck with your thesis, David!
I loved how silent the trains were in Seoul. I'm from NYC where it's the opposite and I much prefer traveling around in Korea (and they're clean)!
Thanks for this, David!
thank you for your insights David!
i really wish the table bell was a thing everywhere, i've only seen them in mcdonald's here and it's honestly SO convenient
About the tissue roll on the table, we don't have that in our country but I do bring it or wet tissues when we eat outside just so I can wipe the tables just being extra careful this days, and some restaurants at least in our community have those seats where the otherside is cushioned, but in our case specially if we dined out with the parents, automatically the cushioned seats are designated to them and if their is still extra space the first born got to seat next to them. And of course as the youngest in the family I always got seated on those wooden or regular chairs
The bumping thing we’ve got where I’m from too; I live in a city so most of the time it’s crazy crowded and it’s not uncommon for people to shove past you. The subway is also dead silent unless there’s a big event or holiday going on. Bit of a culture shock going to places where people are wicked loud and noisy.
Oh boy, if you ever plan to travel to India, you'd better be prepared 😄
@@implodingstar1649 I would definitely love to, probably gotta prepare for that first though lol
The table bells are amazing! We have these in Russia but only in Korean restaraunts. Some asian restaraunts here give you a bell that rings when your order is ready so you can get it. The yakult delivery is so cute, i really wanna try that drink.
Total silence in the transport is a bit weird - where I live it really depends on a time. You should never make any noise in the morning, when people go to work, but afternoon or weekend, people talk in a lower voice without disturbing others.
Cool video, I love the way you present the material! Would you mind making a vid about Hanok stay in the future?
In my country, Bulgaria, when there is a bell it usually has three buttons. Call the waiter, asking for the bill, and cancel if you pushed it by accident. :)
I like the silence on their transportation. I mean, going to work, school or going home, I would like to use it to relax or have a peace of mind from stress then think about problems when arrived at school or work and just eat then sleep at home. I know it's boring but peace of mind is so important to me🤣
thanks, that was so helpfull
These were some actually interesting fun facts!
1. the table bell: if you go to a Korean restaurant, you probably experience it too (In Toronto, I've seen a few)
2. long padding: I bought one in Artizia (?) I love it so much since the cold in Toronto is sometimes just unbearable
This was interesting. Thanks.
some Korean restaurants in Australia have that button too :)
Actually the long padding coat is similar with the Korean traditional coat called "doo-loo-maa-gi" as a winter version. So It's said the long patting coat is another culture expression of the korean own, not just fashion.
Watch the video background @ 8:15 😅 It's funny
Btw if you click, the "8:15" on my comment it'll start the video from that minute automatically.
@@spicyylemonade4429 wtf did not know that. That’s a great info 😂 been on UA-cam for so long lmao
@@xSkyLa awwww. Reminds of when i learned about video descriptions. So much info!
Yakult... SO GOOD!
Honestly the silence while traveling would make me a bit uncomfortable because I'm so used to the noise here in India lol. Me and my group are SO loud we've been told quite a few times to tone it down in some public places 🙈🤪🤐
how do koreans stay so quiet on public transports wow... they have some huge manners.
here people are sometimes yelling or shouting for no reason on busses and trains and its so annoying smh
Here in my country we also have ajumma with Yakult carts lol I always wait for them so I can buy yakult when I was really young. The difference is you have electric carts in SK, not here. Where I’m from, literally manual carts you push around 😐
where are you from tho?
I am now convinced that Skillshare sponsors every single video on youtube
The bell thing and yakult ajumma( even though our ajummas use manual carts) are quite common in Brazil, but the yakult ladies are also getting harder to find here, it's kinda sad cause I used to love them as a kid
I would add the following:
1. Utensils in table drawer. It is usually located on the side.
2. People not holding the door open for you. Actually, do not expect that at all.
3. Daredevil delivery driver of moped/scooter, who is driving on sidewalk. Do not expect you are safe walking on sidewalk.
4. Car parking on sidewalk. There are actually car parking spots next to the building where the cars drive on sidewalk to get to those spots.
5. People drinking alcohol in convenience stores.
more...
we have specific "silent" train compartments.. because everybody is so loud. and a special family compartment with a play area for kids. ..so I prefer silence..
( when i was in Amerika and random strangers started talking to me.. on buses trains and stuff.. was also a little bit weird ) ..
at least there is soap at public restrooms ;) .. toilet paper or flimsy napkins.. yeah.. the worst would be super thin toilet paper..
the padded jacket stands out because "everybody" old and young is wearing it. in other countries, you most likely see the age groups with the same style..
little old European ladies all wear that blue apron /Kittel. and the same short haircut as queen Elisabeth II...
and younger gens sneakers without socks and ankle-free tight jeans..
I actually never really thought about it but if I go with my family to a restaurant (I'm from Germany) my mom and I tend to sit on the cushioned benches like 9 times out of 10 while my older brother and dad tend to take the chairs instead
On a dates though it doesn't really matter manner wise, it's just more of a preference thing I guess
I saw a table bell last night in a Korean restaurant (Syd, Australia). First time I saw that.
Bar soap - yuck. It used to be everywhere here over a decade ago, but not on a stick though.
I would love to visit South Korea one day. Thank you for this video.
so interesting! greetings from Tricity in Poland! thx to BTS I am so educated in Korea (history, kitchen, architecture, traditions etc) and I want to learn korean but I am over 30 and afraid of your alphabet ! :D
Hey, so, about the age. You said for legal things you use international age. what age is taking into account for military enlistment for example? Korean or international age?
I spent some time living in Armenia before and a few restaurants had the bell/button system also. Very convenient!
ME, a canadian, being told I shouldn't say sorry >_>
Even Londoners who are deemed rude try to say sorry once in a while, so I am sure I will not fit in very well. It will be me saying sorry to the person who has bumped into me. "Sorry, sir. Sorry, ma'am. So sorry child. I am already scolded for saying yes, please. It would be interesting if I visited Korea - maybe I would be liberated from myself.
@@nhjeihdu canada has a law protecting people because we say sorry so much. It doesn't count as an admission of guilt if you say it outside of court.
I would have loved the quiet commutes I have a face that makes strangers want to small talk to me all the time 😩 luckily now I don’t commute
Lolll
also those toilet paper on the table have been touched/coughed / sneezed on by so many - can you tell this videos is highlighting my inner OCD :D
# 1 is actually pretty geniuses if you ask me I mean like it’s better then having people shout waiter or something
Bottle caps and magnetic holders are common in Pakistan as well! Used to be. Now they're just so many fancy soap dispensers or trays to use the classic.
The seats thing sounds really practical since padded seats are wider, so women can keep their bags near. Purse with long belt can slip off the chair's back and someone passing by could easily trip.
Oh man! I saw two yakult ajummas (with the BTS army codes) when I visited Busan and had no idea they actually sold Yakult! I thought they were street sweepers 😩 totally missed out on some fresh yakult.
One thing I found different and interesting when I went to Korea were those cafes where you have a closed room (룸카페). There was just the regular cafes, but there were also the ones with videogames and dvds (멀티방) and you had like a buffet of snacks to choose from. I understand that some of them are meant for couples who live with their parents to spend time together, but it’s such a nice idea! I would love to have that in my country.
Many of the Korean Restaurants in my area have table bells and I love it. I hate calling the waiter over vocally or awkwardly trying to catch their eyes to wave them over cuz I have pretty bad social anxiety so this table bell is just awesome for me
The Yakult lady is a thing too in the Philippines (minus the yellow cart and yellow outfit ☺️). They often walk with a yakult container trolley and often have bells or they would shout "Yakult" and honestly was surprised that they still have this up to now.
Honestly, I used to overly apologize for every little thing so when I did the same in Seoul I always had so many people look confused or try to reassure me I had nothing to apologize for and it actually really helped me to unlearn it so I really appreciated that it wasn't super common there
that chivalrous seating arrangement is common in the US too! I'm not even sure if it's conscious decision.. but yes I am always on the booth/cushion side hahahah
I really enjoyed Korea when I went for a BTS FanMeet… I can’t wait till there’s no more quarantine period to visit again.
I did notice that most people on the public transportation were quiet but I also enjoyed talking & practicing Korean with the grannies on the train. My hubby spoke to a middle aged man in English on the train too…
I think you should’ve put the toilet paper things in the public bathrooms as weird things to know… At first I had to keep translating the signs in the stalls to know if I could put TP in the toilet or a trash can… I should’ve done my homework & memorized various signs before getting there… I would never wanna be the cause of backing up an old plumbing system especially with warnings. How embarrassing.
Also, people said that TP is not in each stall but centrally located before getting in the stall so you better not forget before getting in there… I don’t remember if I ran into that… I may have once though…
Oh my gosh tho!!! The food is sooo yummy! We loved 약 김밥, 떡볶이, 김밥, 족발, 비빔밥, 프라이드 치킨, 전복 비빔밥… Wait was it called 마약김밥? I think so… So delicious
We also have the Yakult lady here in the Philippines, but it's just a cooler-like cart that they push around while walking and there's ice inside to keep the Yakult cool. And in terms of age, Filipino-Chinese also considered a year old once they're born and then we add another year at New Year's. Like with my aunt, since she was born a day before New Year's, on New Year's day she's already two years old. So, whenever a relative would ask for her Chinese age, she has to add two to her international age. As for me, I would just add one since I was born just a couple of months after New Year's.
The reason for 2 year difference is the following I believe: Koreans start birth at inception, namely 9 months of gestation. Because there were a lot of deaths after being born, Koreans waited 100 days (approx 3 months) before they celebrate their 1st birthday. Namely translated 100 day celebration.
Also, the biggest celebration of any Korean tradition is new years. Not like in the US but because it is a celebration of EVERYONES birthday. Everyone become one year older. And hence Koreans by tradition are 2 years older.
10:54 at first I was like oh that’s very specific
Usually cushions are taken by people who need their back to the wall. That way they can see who comes in the door (law enforcement, military, etc).
Toilet paper on the table ? My father gonna be at home in Korea xD
I'm the same age as suga, same year, same month (two weeks apart i think) Imagine my face when he and IU released 28 lol.
For the seat, i think men do the same in France, but nobody would stare or be offended if a dude want to seat on the most comfy chair :)
(Except maybe for a date ?)
My take...
1. Call bell to call waiter/waitress ------sounds very convenient
2. Common Soap in Public toilet---------I'll use the alternative
3. Black Long Padding Coat ---------------I'd like to get one because I'm always cold
4. Bumping -----------------------------------------Used to back in my own country
5. Silence in Public Transportation -----I wished it is like this in U.S. public transpo
6. Toilet paper other use ---------------------No problem. Less paper for less mess.
7. Yakult Lady on electric car --------------Love Yakult!
8. No bed --------------------------------------------Been doing it. It does help the back.
9. Korean age --------------------------------------If it makes me younger, OK!
10. Seats gender-based ----------------------"First to the seat"