It's 11 PM and I'm hungry, but there aren't any restaurants open. If you push open the convenience store's glass door, you'll see lots of people sitting at the window tables eating cup ramen. Next to them there's a hot-water dispenser and a microwave. It's kind of strange for a store that just sells stuff, isn't it? ## Why convenience stores became places to eat There are many people in Korea who live alone, and many who work or study late. Restaurants that stay open until dawn are rare, but convenience stores are open 24 hours. So convenience stores naturally ended up serving as small restaurants. They sell cup noodles, triangular kimbap and lunchboxes, and have a water dispenser, microwave and seats so you can pour hot water and heat things up right there. ## A rule no one wrote down There isn't a sign saying you can sit here, but there's something everyone follows. You must always pay for anything sold there before eating it. If you open something before you've paid for it, it can cause trouble. You should throw away empty cup-noodle containers and other trash yourself, and it's polite not to sit for long when it's crowded. Hot water is usually free to use. If you tell the cashier "Please heat it" when paying for a lunchbox, the staff will microwave it for you.