One thing that may seem a little unusual to foreigners in Korea is the way Koreans sit and eat on the floor.
Of course, most Korean homes have a dining table. In many homes, you will find a table right in front of the kitchen, and that is where people usually eat their everyday meals.
But there is another familiar scene: eating in front of the TV.
There may be no dining table in front of the TV, so instead, Koreans simply put down a small folding table, sit on the floor, and eat their meal while watching TV. For Koreans, this doesn't necessarily feel unusual at all. It is just a comfortable and familiar way to eat.
Restaurants are similar. Some restaurants have regular tables and chairs, while others have floor seating. If there is a table, you simply sit at the table and eat. If the restaurant has traditional floor seating, Koreans are generally quite comfortable sitting on the floor and eating that way.
For many Koreans, sitting on the floor is not something that feels particularly special or traditional. It is simply a normal part of everyday life.
There is also a cultural reason behind this familiarity. Korean homes have traditionally been designed around ondol, a floor-heating system that keeps the floor warm. Because people have historically spent a lot of time sitting, eating, and relaxing on the floor, floor-based living became a natural part of Korean culture.
Even today, many Koreans find sitting on the floor surprisingly comfortable. You can sit cross-legged, stretch your legs, change positions, or simply relax while watching TV.
To a foreign visitor, it might look like Koreans are choosing the floor instead of furniture. But from a Korean perspective, it is often the opposite: the floor itself is a comfortable place to live, eat, and relax.
That is probably what makes this culture interesting. Koreans usually don't think, “I'm sitting on the floor because this is a traditional Korean custom.”
They just think, “This is comfortable.”
