A Guide To Tipping In Korea: Do you? Or Don’t You?
I was out with an old Korean halabeoji, or grandpa, for lunch. I’ve been going out for meals with him for about a decade. He’s the kind of guy that has a bottle of soju at lunch without qualm and wants me to join him even though I’ve got work to do after lunch. We go to all kinds of restaurants and he acts like he knows everyone everywhere… he might.
I saw something I was surprised by though… he tipped the staff on our way out of the restaurant in Korea and then he tipped the valet who brought his car around.
Is tipping in Korea common? No, but you might see it from time to time. If you’re coming to Korea and wondering about tipping culture, let me fill you in.
Here is what to know about who to tip in Korea and when not to tip too:
- Tipping is not the norm in Korea
- When is it appropriate to tip in Korea?
- How to tip in Korea
- How to show appreciation if not through tipping
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Tipping is not the norm in Korea
Tipping in Korea is not common. It’s not like in the US where you are expected to tip everywhere you go for every service you receive. It is not local custom to tip in Korea. I’ll go so far as to say that at times, tipping in Korea can actually be considered disrespectful so it’s important to know and understand when and where it’s acceptable and how to do it.
I’ve also noticed times where tourists have tried to tip and the staff aren’t offended at all but they are quite confused, often handing the money back assuming the person just doesn’t understand the currency.
When is it appropriate to tip in Korea?
You will not be expected to tip anywhere as it’s really not a part of the culture. But to make the point clearer, let’s dive into some specific situations.
Do you tip taxi drivers in Korea?
Not common and less and less common from tourists as Koreans use only cards to pay taxi drivers these days so there’s no cash that even exchanges hands. But, if you’re in a taxi and pay with cash, taxi drivers will take the tip happily if you tell them to keep the change.
When I first got to Korea, it was common to pay with cash and I would often say they could keep the bit of change. That said, when I rode with Koreans, they never did this that I noticed and when I would tell drivers to keep my change, I had Korean friends ask me why I did that. It’s not expected.
Taxi Tips: When using taxis in Korea, make sure the driver always turns on the meter. There are only a few times when you might agree upon a rate and pay something other than what is shown on the meter, but for most trips, make sure that meter is turned on and working properly. Also make sure that you have your destination address available in Korean or show them the location on a map.
Do you tip tour guides in Korea?
Similar to the taxi drivers that may have noticed that foreigners will tip if given the chance, tour guides that often work with Americans will also accept your tip understanding that it’s a very American custom. Again, not expected, but accepted.
Tours guides will appreciate the gesture as they know it’s your way of showing you liked their service. Tour guides as well as interpreters work predominantly with foreigners and thus understand the tipping culture a bit more than other industries in Korea. At the end of your tour, feel free to approach your guide and hand them a tip, with two hands and in an envelope.
Do you tip hairdressers in Korea?
No, tipping hairdressers is not common or expected in Korea. I’ve gotten my hair cut with my Korean husband so so many times over the past 16 years and nary has he tipped. It’s not expected to tip at the hairdressers in Korea.
Do you tip at restaurants in Korea?
As I said earlier, my Korean grandpa tipped at the restaurant, tipped the valet service, and none of them took offense at all. Here’s the thing, we weren’t in any run of the mill standard but delicious restaurants.
We were in high-end restaurants that he often visits and he knows the staff well and likes to show them additional appreciation. He does it in that grandpa style though and isn’t condescending or wouldn’t be taken that way. Most people wouldn’t tip though, that’s for sure. You do not need to tip at restaurants in Korea.
How to tip in Korea
Since it’s not the custom, when it is done, it is a bit different than what you might be used to. If you decide to tip your guide or tip staff at a hotel, for example, place the money you mean to tip into an envelope and hand it to them with both hands. This is a clear sign that the money is an additional thank you for service and won’t cause that confusion or embarrassment that just handing someone cash could cause.
You can find nice envelopes at convenience stores and stationary stores that are located all over the city of Seoul.
Get cash from a nearby ATM
Formerly known as Transferwise, Wise is a multi-currency travel money card that is cheap to set up and also cheap once you have it offering fee-free ATM withdrawals and you don’t have to worry about trying to visit banks or overpriced money exchange stalls.
A travel money card, also called a currency card, is a type of a card which allows you to keep multiple currencies, and use the card while travelling the world with no hidden fees to worry about.
Get cash out of an ATM and place it in an envelope if you want to tip in Korea. You can learn more about the Wise card in this guide.
How much should I tip in Korea if I decide to?
If you do want to tip in Korea, just 5%-10% is considered generous. Again though, it’s not customary so if you notice the person that you’re trying to tip is becoming embarrassed or uncomfortable, just put the tip away and thank them for their service.
How to show appreciation if not through tipping
Now you know that tipping isn’t common in Korea so how do you say thank you or show appreciation for the service that you’ve received? It’s as simple as saying thank you and giving that slight Korean bow. No need to be extremely extravagant about it. Compliment the service, say thank you, and you’re good to go.
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