korean gift giving ettiquette?

Question

I'm wondering if it is acceptable to give the Korean children I tutor and their families Christmas gifts? and if I do, will they feel obligated to reciprocate? I was thinking like giving them either a book or DVD, or a Teeshirt with my school name on it.

Answer 1

One point not thought of, and it's a big point here in South Korea; this is true, especially if the gift receiver is senior to you in age.

Although not spoken, the idea is conveyed to gift-givers that -

the expense of the gift bears a direct relation as to how sincere the gift-giver is.

In short - the more expensive, the more sincere.

The suggestion of Alcohol is the most common gift that is given, especially if it's imported from outside the country.

Believe it or not, Imported vs. domestic also bears a direct relation as to how sincere the gift-giver is.

In short - imported shows more sincerity from the gift-giver.

For example - Johnny Walker Blue Label, when it's available, can be purchased at the Camp Humphreys Class VI store for about $75.00.

Likewise, a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label, imported, could cost around 240 thousand Won in a Korean store (average $242.00).

But, a bottle of imported Wine could cost anywhere on the average of perhaps 70,000 Won for a bottle (average $71.00).

In short, which item shows more "sincerity" from the gift-giver?

Is the gift-receiver a male or female?

Honey has also been suggested as a good response for gift-giving. But the downside is this; South Korea is still considered a male-dominant society, even though thoughts are slowly changing.

In a male-dominant society, the gift of imported Alcohol vs. a gift of Honey would definitely help your chances when gift-giving to a senior in age male.

When I asked my (Korean) wife, she informed me that a gift of Honey would be considered a female gift; don't give a senior male a female-related gift.

Canned-type food; I don't suggest that either. Korean people is notoriously picky when eating foreign foods, not including imported meats.

My apologies to Boom Blatz if I offended him in any way for my truthful answer, based on experience living here in Korea for 13+ years already, not included time in Korea while serving in the Military.

Answer 2

Korean Gift Giving

Answer 3

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RE:
korean gift giving ettiquette?
I'm wondering if it is acceptable to give the Korean children I tutor and their families Christmas gifts? and if I do, will they feel obligated to reciprocate? I was thinking like giving them either a book or DVD, or a Teeshirt with my school name on it.

Answer 4

It's actually normal for Korean parents to give gifts to teachers and tutors as a thank you. Therefore, even if you don't give them anything, they would feel the urge to give you something.

An appropriate gift to a family is a box of Korean pears or apples. These boxes are the same price (if not more) than the gifts that you suggested and are very common, appreciated gifts. Korean families often sit around in the evening and eat cut fruit, so it's a gift that the whole family will enjoy.

My parents would spend hundreds of dollars at Christmas on boxes of fuji apples to give to their friends. It's a very common practice, especially around New Years.

Answer 5

For the family member in Alaska, I would send a gift thru the mail. You could send a card with a gift certificate or cash enclosed. For the family member with 6 children, since it sounds like the ages vary, give them each a gift or something all of the children can enjoy. For the fiancee, I would give them a gift they could use together. (gift cert to a nice restaurant, movie tickets, etc.) As for friends, I would only give to the people you are closest to. Your boyfriend's best friend and his girlfriend also deserve a present if you spend a lot of time together. (see fiancee suggestions) Of course, this all depends on your budget. If you can afford to give, do so. If not, don't. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get someone a good gift, you just have to know what they enjoy. Merry Christmas. Bah-humbug to the co-workers! Unless your company has a Christmas party, I wouldn't get co-workers anything. That just sets the stage for bad feelings if you get one something "better" than you got the others!

Answer 6

You're probably already getting a gift... Korean parents tend to be very generous to their children's tutors/teachers.

It would be perfectly appropriate to give them gifts. The kids LOVE teeshirts with school names on it (I brought my bosses two children sweatshirts from my university and they thought they were great)! But really the kids will love anything!

For the parents a fruit basket, nice house plant or a nice bottle of whiskey or wine is always a nice gift. Fruit is really popular.

I tend to give house plants a lot because I've found that every Korean family I've ever visited has really appreciated a nice house plant. I splurged once and bought a small lemon tree for a doctor who really helped me out and you would have thought it was the single greatest gift ever given... it cost me about $40... and I get free or discount check ups now!

Answer 7

I prefer to keep business --- business, so I wouldn't do that. You're probably going to receive something from the parents, but there is no need to reciprocate. They're not expecting anything from you.

This probably sounds cold and selfish, but this is why. I made a mistake like this a long time ago. What happened after my gift giving was I kept getting invited to dinners with the parents and the kids that I didn't want to go to. This equates to free teaching lessons for food that I didn't want when I could have been making money teaching somewhere else---serious opportunity cost. Then I was in a position where it was uncomfortable to say no. Unless this is a web you want to get yourself tangled in, I wouldn't do anything.

If you really feel the need to give something, give them a card saying that you enjoy teaching their children and you look forward to continuing to teach them next year.

I know my answer is not what you will see cut and pasted from travel guides, but it's the truth.

Answer 8

excellent question . i have a situation this year. a korean couple gave me a gift card at thanksgiving for the holidays. i need to know what is appropriate too. i'd assume that if they live here / return a holiday card and a gift.

Answer 9

it's perfectly alright, but they feel as if they do need to give you something in return, it's a korean thing. no biggie!

Answer 10

I would actually be offended if I were tutoring and I did not receive a small something from the parents. Knowing what I do of Korean culture I would think they felt I am not doing a good job.

Does LIK have that answer memorized, or is it cut and paste from a previous one? If memory serves, it is the exact same thing he posted for another gift giving question earlier.