Min, an international student, was eating a fish cake skewer at a street food stall when he just got up and left. The woman called out, "What about the bill?" and his face turned bright red. Minh had thought the owner would count up what he ate and figure it out on their own. As it turns out, in Korea it's often the other way around. Customers tell the owner themselves how many they ate. ## After eating, I count and tell them At many fish cake street stalls, you eat first and pay afterward. When you're done, you just say, "Six, please." The owner often takes your word for it. Foreign friends find this the most fascinating. Of course, not every stall is like that. Some places have you pay first, so take a look at the other customers around you. ## Why You Can Trust Them First, you can see the skewers. Fish cakes are threaded on long skewers, so after you eat, the empty skewers stay in your hand or pile up in the bowl. It's a setup that's hard to cheat and gives little reason to. Also, neighborhood street food stalls have lots of regulars. Once you lie, it gets hard to face them next time. On a cold day when customers crowd in, trusting what they say can even be faster than counting each one. So this way of paying is a method of collecting money, but it's also a promise of mutual trust. ## Try it like this Don't throw away the finished skewers; collect them in a paper cup or a bowl. When you pay, just say the number. If Korean numbers are difficult, just point with your hand at the skewers you've gathered. The owner will understand right away. Speaking honestly, that's the rule of this shop.