This is something that happened to Min, an international student, at the market. A woman with a rice cake skewered on a toothpick: "Try some!" she said, suddenly thrusting it toward him. Min was so startled that he said, "I have no money," and ran away, or so I heard. Later he told me this. "I thought that if I ate it, I had to buy it." ## It's okay to try it and not buy A free sample doesn't mean "Buy this"; it means "Give it a taste." Even just saying "This is delicious" after enjoying a bite will make the shop staff happy. If you don't buy anything, just say "Thank you, that was good" with a smile and walk on. No one will feel bad about it. ## Why do they give it away for free? At the market, there is a feeling called 'jeong.' Jeong is the warmth that passes between buyer and seller. That's why they sometimes add a little extra when you buy something. Free samples are similar. To the shop owner, a regular who remembers the taste and comes back is more precious than a single sale today. In a narrow alley, similar shops stand in a row, so letting people taste the food for themselves is also the best advertising. ## Try this - Just eat one piece. It's awkward if you keep eating straight from the plate. - Even if it's not to your taste, just say "Thank you" and smile. - If you have an allergy, ask before you eat: "Does this have peanuts in it?" Go ahead and ask. - If you like it, it's fine to buy just a little. Then you might even get a little extra.