Korean Culture: adding food to someone else's rice

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    • #59820
      Keramira
      Participant

      Hello everyone,

      I have been wondering, what does it mean when a person adds food to someone else’s rice on their spoon or in their bowl? I am sure that it has something to do with loving / caring for that person but I wondered what is the meaning for a Korean person?

      Thank you to whomever is able to help!
      Keramira

    • #59821
      sanne
      Participant

      Hi Keramira,

      Yes, that person cares about you; Koreans learn to act by someone’s feelings; sometimes, it looks like telepathy.
      But this caring doesn’t have to do anything with deeper feelings most times, it’s just overwhelming hospitality!

      You may think: “Hm, that food looks interesting; I should try…”, and a split-second later you’ve got it! ;-)

      In the vicinity of Pohang (where a German friend of ours used to work a few years ago), he was literally fed by an “ajuma” (usually middle-aged women who own and work a small shop/restaurant) – she rolled the ssambap and put it into his mouth! ;-D

      Bye, Sanne.

    • #59833
      Keramira
      Participant

      Hi Sanne,

      Thank you for answering so quickly.
      I’m amazed that someone would literally feed another person. hahah! I wonder how your friend felt by this?

      Keramira

      • #59836
        sanne
        Participant

        Hi Keramira,

        afair he acceped that the Ajuma rolled his ssambab, but he wanted
        to eat it by himself … ;-)

        Bye, Sanne.

    • #60830
      Iris W
      Participant

      Yeah it can be uncomfortable but you don’t want to called a jerk by refusing someone’s love and care for you. Very interesting tradition, by the way.

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