By Bernard Rowan
I'm writing about the Korean custom of not wearing shoes in the house. Though not unique to Korea, and in fact not even just to Asian cultures, it's a general practice that may want a few minor adjustments for foreigners. I learned to accept it too. Let's take a look at this custom.
The practice of not wearing shoes reflects Korean thinking about homes and other spaces. Since Koreans often heat their floors and sleep on their floors on bamboo mats and other types of bedding, keeping a clean floor has greater importance. Who wants to sweep dirt and shoe marks all the time? In addition, Koreans often sit on their living room floors and use special tables low to the ground where they sit while eating. Who wants to feel or touch dirt when sitting or eating? Not wearing shoes makes much sense!
The practice carries over to other buildings and spaces, including restaurants, saunas, and offices. The thinking about shoes and dirt applies where Koreans work or enjoy recreation. Not all Korean places forbid shoes. It's easy to notice the difference too.
I know that Japanese households reflect similar thinking and behavior. My wife's father was from Mongolia. He was meticulous about not wearing shoes in the house. He religiously swept all the spaces near the doorway or entrance to the home.
Korean households distinguish the outside and inside in a particular way. I'm referring to the sill or threshold of the door and its prior space. In traditional homes and palaces, one steps over a prominent lintel on entering. Today's apartments and homes make a space where all the shoes belong. It's an anteway ― not a patio. The floor stands a bit lower than the space after the threshold. This place has the namehyeongwan. Its construction in Korean homes reflects the practice of not wearing shoes. Restaurants and saunas have similar but larger places for handling shoes.
There's another implication. Because of this practice, Koreans often wear slippers at home. This isn't unique to Koreans or Asians. However, a market for slippers occurs due to the custom. We can buy all kinds of simple to decorated and colorful household slippers. Others prefer walking barefooted or in their socks.
This way of setting up spaces in Korea to encourage taking off shoes reflects all manner of associated values. As a visitor, foreigners should be sure to show respect and regard for hosts by removing their shoes. Homes remain special and intimate places where families and those invited in, friends and guests, live, learn, and grow together. It shows basic self-respect for one's personal space or another's home. I think it's neat that the practice of not wearing shoes and of making a household with respect for this custom continues. That's true for Korean business spaces too.
At least for myself, I find one implication of the practice is that I don't like to wear shoes with laces. Balancing on one foot, I hold people up at restaurant doors. It's embarrassing to take off shoes around others. I've worn out the heels of some shoes with laces when I take the lazy route of just stepping into them instead of doing the balancing routine. I do like the widespread shoehorns in doorways and at restaurant entrances. That helps me to some extent with my poor balance and big feet.
Since traveling to Korea and China a bit, I've taken to the habit of not wearing shoes in my household. I don't have a special entryway, but my family deposits shoes on a shoe-shelf in our closet or outside our apartment door. I'm not sure Koreans think of this custom as an expression of hallyu or cultural diffusion. There's still dirt to clean. There is no perfect human custom.
It's a good idea not to wear shoes in Korean homes and other spaces. We should understand and adapt. When we value our spaces inside and away from the rest of the world, we show that we respect and value ourselves and cleanliness. Watch your feet!
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
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The practice of not wearing shoes reflects Korean thinking about homes and other spaces. Since Koreans often heat their floors and sleep on their floors on bamboo mats and other types of bedding, keeping a clean floor has greater importance. Who wants to sweep dirt and shoe marks all the time? In addition, Koreans often sit on their living room floors and use special tables low to the ground where they sit while eating. Who wants to feel or touch dirt when sitting or eating? Not wearing shoes makes much sense!
The practice carries over to other buildings and spaces, including restaurants, saunas, and offices. The thinking about shoes and dirt applies where Koreans work or enjoy recreation. Not all Korean places forbid shoes. It's easy to notice the difference too.
I know that Japanese households reflect similar thinking and behavior. My wife's father was from Mongolia. He was meticulous about not wearing shoes in the house. He religiously swept all the spaces near the doorway or entrance to the home.
Korean households distinguish the outside and inside in a particular way. I'm referring to the sill or threshold of the door and its prior space. In traditional homes and palaces, one steps over a prominent lintel on entering. Today's apartments and homes make a space where all the shoes belong. It's an anteway ― not a patio. The floor stands a bit lower than the space after the threshold. This place has the namehyeongwan. Its construction in Korean homes reflects the practice of not wearing shoes. Restaurants and saunas have similar but larger places for handling shoes.
There's another implication. Because of this practice, Koreans often wear slippers at home. This isn't unique to Koreans or Asians. However, a market for slippers occurs due to the custom. We can buy all kinds of simple to decorated and colorful household slippers. Others prefer walking barefooted or in their socks.
This way of setting up spaces in Korea to encourage taking off shoes reflects all manner of associated values. As a visitor, foreigners should be sure to show respect and regard for hosts by removing their shoes. Homes remain special and intimate places where families and those invited in, friends and guests, live, learn, and grow together. It shows basic self-respect for one's personal space or another's home. I think it's neat that the practice of not wearing shoes and of making a household with respect for this custom continues. That's true for Korean business spaces too.
At least for myself, I find one implication of the practice is that I don't like to wear shoes with laces. Balancing on one foot, I hold people up at restaurant doors. It's embarrassing to take off shoes around others. I've worn out the heels of some shoes with laces when I take the lazy route of just stepping into them instead of doing the balancing routine. I do like the widespread shoehorns in doorways and at restaurant entrances. That helps me to some extent with my poor balance and big feet.
Since traveling to Korea and China a bit, I've taken to the habit of not wearing shoes in my household. I don't have a special entryway, but my family deposits shoes on a shoe-shelf in our closet or outside our apartment door. I'm not sure Koreans think of this custom as an expression of hallyu or cultural diffusion. There's still dirt to clean. There is no perfect human custom.
It's a good idea not to wear shoes in Korean homes and other spaces. We should understand and adapt. When we value our spaces inside and away from the rest of the world, we show that we respect and value ourselves and cleanliness. Watch your feet!
Bernard Rowan is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Reach him at browan10@yahoo.com
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