I feel like America doesn't really have a set rule for any dining situation. Even the dating situation is changing now. How I was raised was that the one that initiated the invitation is the one paying. Otherwise, it's a split payment.
I’m so glad someone raised this issue! It’s one that has also confounded me at times. In the past few years, I’ve been visiting twice a year and feel uncomfortable when people keep treating me. I’ve gone early to pay the bill only to discover that my friend has gone up even earlier to pay it!!! It doesn’t feel fair just to pay for coffee and/or dessert. I’ve taken to bringing somewhat expensive presents in order to reciprocate, and when I’ve stayed with friends, I’ve brought spices from home and bought the ingredients and prepared meals for them: shakshuka, chicken puttanesca, chicken Africana, salad Nicoise, curry.
This is one of those cultural things I am SO glad I learned before going, because paying for a meal (outside of work settings) is something done primarily to indicate romantic interest where I live!
When I was visiting Seoul, I met a guy younger than me. We met in a group setting at a Korean BBQ outdoors. We quickly became close and I asked him to meet up before I left Seoul. We went to the movies, lunch and dinner. He paid for everything and even my transportation. I felt bad but he let me buy him coffee at the end of the night. Haha...I thought we were on a date, but he only thinks of me as a friend. He is such a nice and sweet guy, and I am happy to just be his friend😊 I want to treat him next time, when I see him again ^^
I know how confusing or annoying this can be for westerners here. Maybe if it's a one-off then let them pay and then thank them very much, and then it's done. If your lunch or dinner becomes a constant thing then you can insist you pay next time. Or if you go onto 2차 then you can insist that you pay for that. I've never known there to be a 'I paid for this, you owe me' attitude with Koreans when it comes to paying for food. Historically, Korea, a hundred years ago, was a very poor country and people were hungry. People eating and eating well is culturally important. That's why 'did you have lunch?' is considered a greeting. So, paying for people to eat is culturally important to them.
Thank you for this video and I have a question, please. I have already noticed from Kdramas (as long as I never visited Korea) that eating out and eating in general is a huge part of the Korean life. One thing I do not understand, though. Why is it mostly the age the factor that determines who pays for the food? Shouldn't the social status/income matter more? For instance, I am American and I am not doing well financially, To be honest, I live month to month and I can barely pay my monthly bills. Many people in Korea are in the same situation I am in. When they go out with friends/people who do better financially, should this person pay for the meal so at the end of the month he might end up being unable to pay a bill? What I mean is that this person living on a low income can afford to eat out but cannot afford to pay for a second meal, ordered by another person. What is the solution in this situation? Politely excuse yourself and explain you cannot pay for another person or politely find an excuse and never go out with other people?
![[Vlog Korean] Diverse Conversations During a Park Trip in Korea](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QLJVSqyxU4M/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you think?😄👇
1. TTMIK crew, buy Hyunwoo lunch!
2. Hyunwoo, keep buying them lunch!
Hmmm, I'm much older than Hyunwoo 선생님.
1!😂
I think it is time to break tradition and you get treated to lunch once in a while too!
1😂😂
TTMIK crew, you heard the man. Give him a meal. He needs to munch.
I feel like America doesn't really have a set rule for any dining situation. Even the dating situation is changing now.
How I was raised was that the one that initiated the invitation is the one paying. Otherwise, it's a split payment.
I’m so glad someone raised this issue! It’s one that has also confounded me at times. In the past few years, I’ve been visiting twice a year and feel uncomfortable when people keep treating me. I’ve gone early to pay the bill only to discover that my friend has gone up even earlier to pay it!!! It doesn’t feel fair just to pay for coffee and/or dessert. I’ve taken to bringing somewhat expensive presents in order to reciprocate, and when I’ve stayed with friends, I’ve brought spices from home and bought the ingredients and prepared meals for them: shakshuka, chicken puttanesca, chicken Africana, salad Nicoise, curry.
Hint hint!!😂😂
This is one of those cultural things I am SO glad I learned before going, because paying for a meal (outside of work settings) is something done primarily to indicate romantic interest where I live!
When I was visiting Seoul, I met a guy younger than me. We met in a group setting at a Korean BBQ outdoors. We quickly became close and I asked him to meet up before I left Seoul. We went to the movies, lunch and dinner. He paid for everything and even my transportation. I felt bad but he let me buy him coffee at the end of the night. Haha...I thought we were on a date, but he only thinks of me as a friend. He is such a nice and sweet guy, and I am happy to just be his friend😊 I want to treat him next time, when I see him again ^^
this is sweeet :((
Oh no...짝사랑.💘🫣
I know how confusing or annoying this can be for westerners here. Maybe if it's a one-off then let them pay and then thank them very much, and then it's done. If your lunch or dinner becomes a constant thing then you can insist you pay next time. Or if you go onto 2차 then you can insist that you pay for that. I've never known there to be a 'I paid for this, you owe me' attitude with Koreans when it comes to paying for food.
Historically, Korea, a hundred years ago, was a very poor country and people were hungry. People eating and eating well is culturally important. That's why 'did you have lunch?' is considered a greeting. So, paying for people to eat is culturally important to them.
Very nicely explained 😊
Lol message to my coworkers
Lol what a twist in the end 😅
Thank you for this video and I have a question, please. I have already noticed from Kdramas (as long as I never visited Korea) that eating out and eating in general is a huge part of the Korean life. One thing I do not understand, though. Why is it mostly the age the factor that determines who pays for the food? Shouldn't the social status/income matter more? For instance, I am American and I am not doing well financially, To be honest, I live month to month and I can barely pay my monthly bills. Many people in Korea are in the same situation I am in. When they go out with friends/people who do better financially, should this person pay for the meal so at the end of the month he might end up being unable to pay a bill? What I mean is that this person living on a low income can afford to eat out but cannot afford to pay for a second meal, ordered by another person. What is the solution in this situation? Politely excuse yourself and explain you cannot pay for another person or politely find an excuse and never go out with other people?
At least where i am and i grew up, i dont like when people pay for my food. I feel like i owe them tbh.
😂
Aruba be like, when we eat/drink everyone eat/drink, and when we paid everybody paids
😂