How do office workers in Korea usually handle lunch with coworkers?
I recently started working in Korea and I am still getting used to office culture. I would like to know how coworkers usually handle lunch invitations and whether there are any unspoken rules I should know.
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Lunch with coworkers here is usually a group activity, and it's one of the more relaxed parts of Korean office culture. In your early days it's a good move to join whenever you're invited, because sharing meals is how teams get to know each other and it makes the rest of the workday smoother. You certainly don't need to attend every day, and quietly opting out sometimes to run errands or recharge is completely fine, so don't feel pressured. Payment customs vary: occasionally a senior member picks up the tab, sometimes people take turns, and often the group just splits it evenly, so watching how your team handles it the first few times is the easiest guide. A few gentle etiquette notes are to wait for the eldest or most senior to start eating, and to pour drinks for others rather than only yourself, both of which are quietly appreciated.