Inside Korea | Korea vs US Life

In Korea, you can roughly predict the cost of a meal just by looking at the menu price. At a U.S. restaurant, however, it is hard to predict the final amount from the listed price alone. While looking into American tipping culture, I calculated the cost of a $25 menu item myself. After adding sales tax and a tip, the total rose to about $32. It was not simply a matter of paying more; there was a real cultural difference between Korea and the U.S. in how people see tipping. As someone used to paying exactly what the menu says in Korea, the idea of adding tax and a tip at the table felt unfamiliar enough that I wanted to work it out myself. Table of Contents 1. Why Are Koreans Surprised by U.S. Restaurant Bills? In Korea, many people assume the cost of service is already included in the food price. Taking orders and bringing food to the table are seen as basic services provided by the restaurant. In the U.S., the menu price and sales tax are separate, and there is a culture i...

  While reviewing Korean and American holiday customs, one familiar scene caught my attention. Before Chuseok, Korean stores suddenly fill with large, carefully packaged gift sets. Chuseok is one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays. It is sometimes described as “Korean Thanksgiving,” but the comparison has limits. American Thanksgiving focuses strongly on family gatherings and food. Most American year-end gift shopping, however, is associated with the wider winter holiday season, especially Christmas. This article does not claim that Chuseok and Christmas are equivalent. It compares how Koreans and Americans use seasonal gifts to express appreciation. While checking consumer surveys and gift categories, I found a clear difference. Korean Chuseok gifts often emphasize relationships, usefulness and formal presentation. American holiday gifts tend to emphasize each recipient’s interests and choices. Table of Contents 1. Why Do Chuseok Gift Sets Appear Everywhere? Chus...