The first time I was asked “Is everything OK with you, are you struggling?” because I was sitting on my own having lunch it took me by surpirse, but I quickly realised it was a form of cultural caring that was actually very authentic… one thing I’ve noticed is how this seems to be shifting now, this happened to me in 2007/8, by the time I left Korea in 2018 it was definitely more normal to eat alone; but there is almost a geographic element to it. If you are in certain districts of Seoul no one will bat an eyelid at you sitting alone having a meal, but if you are in Iksan or Gojae or another regional town, I still feel like even today people will still be a little taken aback by that, or at least, alot less places are set-up to facilitate it which is an interesting comment on how Seoul is driving these changes in Korean lifestyle and culture.

Please feel free to quote if you like, you can use my first name, Richard :)