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| In Korea, eating together is a way to bond and build relationships. |
In Korea, food isn't just about filling your stomach — it's about building relationships.
Looking back on my life, I can hardly remember a time when I ate alone.
Growing up, breakfast and lunch were sometimes rushed or separate, but dinner?
Dinner was special. It was the moment when the whole family gathered around the table, not just to eat, but to talk, laugh, and connect.
This culture of shared meals didn’t end at home.
In schools, during military service, and even in workplaces, eating together was the norm.
Unless something unusual happened, we ate in groups — not because we had to, but because that’s simply how things were.
Today, solo dining has become more common, and the term “honbap” (eating alone) is widely used.
But even now, sharing a meal is still the natural way for most Koreans.
Why?
Because in Korean culture, eating together means sharing life.
It’s more than just a meal — it’s a moment of emotional connection.
You listen, you speak, you nod, you laugh — and through all of that, you get closer.
I remember back in my college days, eating lunch with friends was an everyday thing.
And whenever I saw someone sitting alone in the cafeteria,
I’d sometimes wonder, “Do they not have anyone to eat with?”
They looked a bit lonely — at least through my eyes back then.
Now, I understand that eating alone isn’t strange, but back then, it just felt… different.
To us, eating together meant being connected.
Even now, when I meet a friend, we almost always grab a meal together.
And if I want to grow closer to someone — maybe a colleague or someone I recently met —
I often say, “Let’s grab lunch sometime soon.”
It’s more than an offer to eat. It’s my way of saying,
“I’d like to get to know you better.”
That’s why in Korean social life, the phrase
“Let’s have a meal sometime” is so common.
It’s not just politeness — it’s a warm, indirect invitation to deepen a relationship.
So, if you’re visiting Korea and someone says,
“Let’s eat together sometime,”
don’t take it lightly.
It might just be their way of saying,
“I want to be your friend.”
If you feel the same, maybe it’s worth saying yes.
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