Ding-dong! A clear bell chimes at the next table. A moment later, a staff member walks over, answering, "Yes~" You, who were raising your hand and watching for a chance, start to wonder. Is it really okay to call them like that? ## The bell means "I need something now" Many restaurants have a round button attached next to the table or on the wall. When you press it, it makes a "ding-dong" sound, and your table number appears on a screen the staff can see. You only need to press it once and wait. There's no need to press it several times. ## Why It's Okay to Call as Much as You Like In Korean restaurants, the staff don't keep standing next to the customers. They don't want to interrupt the time when customers are talking and eating. So it's more comfortable for both sides when customers call the staff themselves when they need something. There's no tipping culture in Korea, either. Staff don't keep coming over to your table hoping for a tip. And customers don't have to worry about what others think because of tipping. So calling the staff over isn't asking for a favor. It's part of the ordering process. ## If there's no call bell, do this If there's no bell, make eye contact with a staff member and raise your hand slightly. Then say "jeogiyo" or "yeogiyo" without being too loud. Both mean something similar to "excuse me." You can do the same thing when you want to ask for more water or side dishes. Snapping your fingers or shouting "Hey!" to call the staff sounds rude, so be careful. These days, some restaurants take orders via tablets or kiosks. First, check whether there is a screen at your table. It's okay if the restaurant is a little noisy. That noise carries unspoken rules about not disturbing one another.