The kimchi stew has arrived. There's just one big pot in the middle. Anna, the international student, froze with her spoon still in her hand. "Does everyone put their spoons in here?" ## Koreans don't even think about it Minsu, an office worker, scoops up a spoonful of broth and puts it on top of his rice. They don't mind if the person next to them scoops out some tofu. Anna was worried about hygiene. In Anna's country, people put food on their own plates and eat from there. It's not that Anna has no manners. She just grew up at a table where everyone's share was clearly their own. ## Why One Pot? A Korean table is originally meant for sharing one spread together. Everyone eats their own rice, but soup, stew, and side dishes were placed in the middle and eaten together. Sharing the same pot meant "we are family." Also, because stew is eaten while it boils, it can cool down quickly if you serve it into separate bowls. ## It's okay to ask for a small plate Anna says to the staff, "One individual plate, please." As soon as I did, the staff brought me a small bowl right away. These days, a lot of people ask for a small individual plate or a ladle. Even people who aren't foreigners. Here's what you can say right away. - "Could I have a small plate, please?" - "A ladle, too, please." If you use the ladle to serve yourself into your own bowl first, you keep things hygienic and don't spoil the mood. It can differ from restaurant to restaurant, so if there isn't one, feel free to ask.