Nostalgic isn’t exactly healthful

Here’s this week’s tip on Korean language and customs:

Q:
One of the hardest things to deal with in Korea is that most Koreans don’t seem to care about how their food is handled or the sanitary conditions of the restaurant they choose to eat at. I’ve noticed that very clean-cut people I know prefer to eat at dingy-looking eateries that are not necessarily cheap, and they don’t mind at all using the “communal” dipping sauce or drinking glass. I normally go along with them because no one makes a fuss. Is it okay to tell them that I mind?

A:
Popular dining culture in Korea today is derived from the country’s poor past. Even as they display a Westernized appearance and mannerisms, modern Koreans find it not only nostalgic but also comfortable to eat in old diner-style eateries where homemade food is prepared by matronly cooks. It is part of sharing food with friends, one of the oldest customs.

But Koreans, too, find the old culture outdated and unsanitary, so they have begun campaigning for healthier practices in restaurants and bars. For example, they promote the fact that used soju glasses can transfer hepatitis. Thus, a polite request to have food or drinks served individually is no longer considered rude.