When they finish eating, my foreign friends raise a hand and draw a rectangle in the air. But in Korean restaurants, you can often just get up and leave. ## The sounds near the exit Near the restaurant door, a card terminal goes "ding," and a receipt comes out with a "brrrt." The cash register is usually next to the exit. That way, customers who have finished eating can pay right on their way out. If you wait at the table, the bill won't come. ## Why don't people pay at their seats? Staff at Korean restaurants are always busy refilling water and bringing more side dishes. Bringing a bill to every table and taking cards back and forth takes even more work. So it has become more common for customers to go to the counter themselves. Also, if the bill arrives while you're still eating, it can feel like they're saying, "Time for you to go." So there's also a side where people talk slowly and just let things wind down before getting up. At a gathering, sometimes one person quietly gets up first and heads toward the counter. That walk often means "I'll pay today." ## What to do in this situation If there's a small paper order slip on the table, take it with you. If there isn't, just say "I'd like to pay" at the counter. At cafés, food courts, and kiosk restaurants, you often pay first. Some places, like barbecue restaurants, have staff come to your table. If you're not sure, "Where do I pay?" and ask.