Seoul, South Korea – South Koreans have a fondness for various American customs. However, one American tradition that hasn’t found favor in South Korea is the tipping culture. Unlike the United States, where tipping is customary, South Koreans generally do not engage in this practice.
This issue gained prominence recently when the South Korean company Kakao Mobility’s Kakao T, the Uber style taxi, introduced an option for riders to tip their drivers an extra 75 cents to $1.50 for premium taxi services. The response was swift, with many South Koreans expressing their opinions on the matter. Some viewed it as a favor, while others saw it as a potential source of pressure. There were even attempts to identify and criticize businesses that solicited gratuities or displayed tip jars, leading to headlines questioning the American influence on South Korean tipping practices.
Tipping has traditionally not been a part of South Korean culture, with exceptions limited to certain professions like golf-course caddies and upscale restaurant servers. Local laws require businesses to include all charges in their prices, eliminating the need for additional tipping. For service workers, such as delivery drivers, tips are not expected. However, this contrasts sharply with the United States, where tipping extends beyond restaurants and is considered the norm.
The debate on tipping in South Korea continues, with some businesses experimenting with tip-related initiatives while others resist the practice. The cultural divide on this issue is evident, with some South Koreans open to the idea of tipping in specific situations, while others find it unnecessary, given the absence of a traditional service-oriented tipping culture in the country.
(Source: Jiyoung Sohn | WSJ)
