May I take your order?

The following is a tip on traditional Korean language and customs in response to a query from a Mr. Thomas, who wrote to us from Seoul:

Q. Mr. Thomas:
I’ve seen some strange-looking trucks in southern Seoul on weekend nights. At first I thought they were barking out political propaganda, but they were too loud and outrageous. What are they for?

A. IHT-JAD:
Waiters at Korean nightclubs drive around in these promotional trucks to lure customers. The role of waiters in Korean-style clubs is substantially different from, and in fact more important than, that of waiters at Western-style clubs and bars. Most Korean-style nightclubs are operated by waiters. At the door, clients are asked for the nickname of the waiter they prefer. For a flat fee, the designated waiter will be responsible for entertaining his clients all night: finding them a table, serving them drinks and side dishes and bringing them potential dates. The idea of waiters cruising around in garish trucks is based on the logic that potential clients will remember the waiter’s name when they plan on partying.