South Korea came into being after World War II, the result of a 1945 agreement reached by the Allies at the Potsdam Conference

Elections were held in the U.S. zone in 1948 for a national assembly, which adopted a republican constitution

Table Reminders1. The eldest person present begins eating first.2. Chopsticks should not be left in the rice or soup bowl during or after the meal.3. The rice or soup bowl should not be held in one's hands while eating.4. The hand and arms should not be placed on the table while eating.5. One should not tear food into pieces using fingers.6. One must remain at the table until the last person has finished eating.

The main dish is almost always accompanied by rice, soup, kimchi and several side dishes. Koreans eat their rice and soup with a spoon (which was reportedly first invented by the Koreans),

Use the spoon for rice and the chopsticks for side dishes, but you can ask for forks or knives at restaurants. Do not stir your rice or your soup. Do not leave the spoon or chopsticks in the rice as it symbolizes their use by the dead. Knives are used only in the preparation of food, not as eating utensils because Korean food is either pre-cut into bite-sized pieces or is soft enough to be pulled apart using chopsticks.