In the Korean culture, respect for elders is a necessity in the culture. This respect is displayed in various ways, including bowing (인사) when greeting elders, using a different form of language that shows respect (commonly adding “-요, -합니다, -세요” to an end of a phrase), waiting for elders to eat first, turning your head in the opposite direction of elders when drinking, and more. This pressure to respect those who are older than you may cause struggles in some situations. In the Korean culture, they place emphasis on when in the year you are born. This may cause difficulty for students in schools. For example, I am born in January of 1998; therefore, I would be considered “early” (빠른). Because I am “early”, I could befriend those who are born in mid to late 1997. However, those who are born in mid to late 1998 would have to formally respect those who are born in 1997. In my case, I would be able to casually talk to my language partner, Jimin, who was born in 1997. However, my friend who is born in May of 1998, but is a grade younger than Jimin and I, would be able to casually befriend me, but would have to formally respect Jimin.
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