Official Korean visitor guidance is refreshingly direct: tipping is not required or expected. Prices generally already account for the service, so a restaurant bill does not arrive with a hidden social arithmetic problem.
The no-tip map
| Situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or cafe | Pay the bill | Tipping is not expected; check only for any clearly listed charge |
| Taxi | Pay the metered or quoted fare | No routine percentage is needed |
| Hotel | No routine tip | Ordinary staff service is part of the stay |
| Bar | Pay the stated total | No separate bartender-tip ritual |
| Spa or salon | Follow the posted price | Do not assume another country's service percentage |
| Private guide | Optional only | A personal thank-you may be appropriate, but it is not a universal rule |
Do not leave mystery money behind
Leaving loose cash on a table can create confusion: is it forgotten change, a mistake or something the staff must chase after you to return? If you genuinely want to thank someone for exceptional, personal help, make the gesture clear rather than disappearing and hoping the money explains itself.
Restaurants: side dishes are not a tip trigger
Korean meals often include water and refillable side dishes without separate charges. That generosity is part of the dining format, not a signal that a percentage must be added afterward. Pay the listed total unless the business has explicitly presented something different.
Taxis: the meter has already answered
Pay the metered fare and any legitimate, displayed surcharge. Cash, cards and compatible transport cards can be accepted depending on the taxi and payment equipment. Rounding up is not required, and it should never be used to avoid checking an unclear fare.
Hotels: separate luxury policy from local custom
Routine bell, housekeeping and front-desk tips are not the Korean default. A high-end international hotel may have its own service practices, but that is a property-specific policy rather than permission to assume every staff interaction needs cash.
Private guides are the genuine gray area
Private tours are more personalized and can be sold through international platforms with their own advice. Check the operator's wording. If nothing suggests a tip and you choose to give one after exceptional service, treat it as a voluntary thank-you, not a mandatory percentage copied from home.
When a terminal asks an unfamiliar question
Follow the actual total and do not assume an English-language payment screen reflects Korean custom. If a venue has added a service charge, read the bill before adding anything more. The safest default remains beautifully uncomplicated: pay what is shown.