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Every country has its own set of dos and don'ts that you ought to be aware of and South Korea is no exception!

Korean culture has been making huge waves all over the world. From Korean pop to Korean dramas, the country's entertainment industry has become a global phenomenon. Thus, it makes perfect sense that many K-pop and K-drama fans want to visit South Korea.

But before traveling to this beautiful country, here are 17 things you need to know about Korea and you must keep these common etiquettes in mind!

1. Take your shoes off first. Before entering a restaurant or a house, check if there are any footwear lying around outside. If there are, remember to leave your shoes at the door. This is a cultural norm and so it is respectful to follow, especially when entering someone's house.

2. Don't dig right into your meal. Before picking up your utensils, be aware that it's a no-no in South Korea to start eating before your companions do - especially if you're not the eldest one there. Sitting down to a meal and picking up your utensils before your elders do is considered rude.

3. Don't place your chopsticks upright. Never stick your chopsticks into your rice bowl, as it resembles the incense burnt during funerals. Don't wield them as a spear or skewer. And certainly, don't position them like a stake, sticking vertically out of your bowl. When you finish eating, return your chopsticks to their original place on the table.

4. Avoid wearing “inappropriate” clothing. While we're all about freedom of self-expression and whatnot, it's still important to respect cultural norms. Wearing revealing tops, spaghetti straps and camis, and open-back shirts should be avoided in South Korea.

5. Don't write someone's name in red ink. Refrain from using red ink, especially when you're writing down someone's name! People used red ink to write down the names of deceased family members in funerals and family registers. Just stick to blue and black ink for the sake of proper etiquette.

6. Be extra careful about mentioning Japan. Koreans have a long, complicated history with the Japanese. They are haunted by the 35 years of Japanese rule where tens of thousands of their men were forced into Imperial Japanese Army (from 1910 to 1945) and their women into sexual slavery.

In Korea, the assortment of emotions is complicated: there are the old who lived through the annexation and forgive, there are the young who didn't and don't, and there are the ones in between just trying to make sense of it all.

7. Don't gesture at others with your palm up. Palm-up gesture is a no-no in South Korea. Some locals might still feel offended if you do this, especially when you're calling someone to come closer or hailing a cab. For context: this is how they call their dogs.

If you want to gesture at someone to come closer or when you're trying to hail a cab, you have to hold your hand up but with your palm down, and then move it up and down.

8. Don't make snide comments about cosmetic surgery. South Korea has the highest rate of cosmetic surgeries in the world, with nearly a million procedures done annually. No wonder it's deemed as the world's plastic surgery capital.

Refrain from playing a guessing game of “plastic surgery or not?” or even just staring - it's rude, you know. Whether or not their beauty is au naturel is none of your business.

9. Avoid talking loudly. In Korea, they value personal space so if you're too noisy to the point that you disturb other people, that's already considered rude. So, when you're in public transport, be considerate and always be mindful of other people.

10. Google maps doesn't work. Korean laws and regulations restrict how much map data Google Maps has access to. It is advisable to download other navigation apps to use in South Korea. Google maps will not give you accurate driving/walking directions. If you map your route, it will simply show a direct line from point A to point B, completely ignoring the layout of the street on the map.

11. Beware of black cabs. If you accidentally hail one, you'll be hit with a big bill at the end of the ride. More expensive than their non-black counterparts, Korea's "deluxe taxis" charge a premium for their supposedly safer and more trustworthy services.

12. Korean + English = Konglish. Konglish are the English words and the mashups of English words that Koreans have adopted into their own language. Eye shopping means window shopping, hand phone is cell phone, and officetel (office + hotel) is a building with business on the first floor and accommodations above. Sometimes a Konglish term translates like a true English loan word like hotel, burger, computer, and ice cream, for example.

13. Unlucky number. Going to the fourth floor of a building can be a challenge, too. In the elevators of some of Seoul's older buildings, you might notice there is no number 4 - it goes 1, 2, 3, F, 5 - because it's a traditionally unlucky number.

14. Accept things using your two hands. Politeness is being practiced all the time and everywhere in South Korea. If you're a tourist and you come across a restaurant, convenience store, among others, don't forget to accept your change given by the seller or the cashier using your both hands. It is always polite to use your two hands, say thank you and bow.

15. Segregate your trash. When you're in South Korea, don't throw your trash anywhere. Koreans are very meticulous when it comes to this. This country is the third recycling leader in the world. It is important that you segregate your trash from recyclable to regular waste.

Source: @southkoreacity (IG)

16. Learn Korean basic words. Before you visit South Korea, it is recommended to study some of the basic Korean words. No worries, you don't need to learn the whole language. Usually, even though you can't create a full sentence but you know the basic words (related to traveling), Koreans will understand you. Here are some of the Korean basic words that might be helpful for you:

Where is the...? - Eodiyeyo?

How much? - Eolmayeyo?

Thank you - Kamsahamnida/Gomapseumnida

I'm sorry - Jwesonghamnida/Mianhamnida

Hello - Annyeonghaseyo

Excuse me - Jeogiyo

Give me this, please - igeojuseyo

The meal was good - Jalmeogeosseumnida

17. Don't take pictures of someone without his or her permission. This is illegal. Yes, really illegal. Not only in Korea's culture, but it is under South Korean law - especially if you take a picture of a woman without her consent. Taking general photos and selfie is fine, but beyond that, it's rude and you might face the consequences.

Make sure to keep in mind these basic local etiquettes in South Korea. Surely, the locals will be more than appreciative of your fine manners.

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