Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TIPPING POINTS
As in other countries in Northeast Asia, tipping is generally not practiced in South
Korea, due to the long-held and pervasive view that good service is a right rather
than a favor or bonus. Years of exposure to Western culture haven't altered this mind-
set, and in most restaurants and bars efforts to leave a gratuity would do nothing but
confuse the proprietor. If you'd like to express appreciation, a simple
sugo haseyo
(roughly “thank you for you hard work”) will suffice.
There are a few situations and places in which tipping is possible and may some-
times be expected, though it's certainly not a requirement. These include:
• Taxis: It's good form to let drivers keep the small change from a fare if they've
been nice (the same goes the other way—drivers will often round down fares for
passengers!)
• Higher-end and expat-centric bars and restaurants: Some fancier restaurants, espe-
cially in hotels, will tack a 10 percent service charge onto the bill, though there's
no need to tip on top of this. The staff at bars and restaurants frequented by a lot
of foreigners sometimes gets used to tipping because a good chunk of the clien-
tele does it, but again—not mandatory.
• Security guards: Many apartment blocks in Korea have security guards, and some
residents will make a habit of bringing them fruit or boxes of juice, soft drinks or
(if they're splurging) alcohol from time to time. This isn't a tip per se but a way
to ensure a prompt response if assistance is required in the future—and it works
like a charm. The same also works as a “thank you” gesture for helpful workers,
officials, and so on.
Shopping is one of South Korea's favorite pursuits, and the retail scene is so diverse and
highly developed that people flock from all over Asia to explore it. There was a time when
high tariffs, lackluster demand, and perhaps some lingering nationalism conspired to limit
the presence of foreign goods, but more appear on the shelves each year. It's now possible
to find a lot of the branded goods from back home, or at least passable local replacements.
There's also a wealth of products produced domestically—everything from handicrafts to
funky clothing, stationery, electronics, and rice wine—that warrant some intensive explor-
ation.
