If someone is older than you, you must address them with formal Korean, call them -sshi or -sunbaenim after you say their name, pour water for them, and even serve them food first! It is considered very rude to not follow this tradition. Sounds pretty nice to be older, right? However, older friends may return the favor by making sure you eat first or pour you some water, too! As long as you are formal and nice to everyone, then everyone ends up happy in the end! The tradition of aging helps keep the environment of South Korea special from respect to older people to greetings alike! Even if someone is in the same grade as you, you are expected to be respectful and formal to them. Age, in any situation, will be the most important question asked of you. Do you want to know your Korean age? Let's do the math!
1+ Current Year (2019) - The Year You Were Born
In international age (which is what The United States follows), I am 20! However when I do the math, (1+2019-1998), I am 22 in Korean age! That means people around my age range of 20 must treat me totally different because I am considered 22 in Korea!
