韓国では食事を残す文化はある？

韓国における「食べ残し」の文化：その真意と背景

日本では食事を綺麗に食べきることが美徳とされ、食べ残しは失礼にあたると考えられることが多いでしょう。しかし、お隣の国、韓国では事情が少し異なります。韓国では、ある程度食事を残すことが、必ずしも無礼な行為とはみなされないのです。むしろ、状況によっては肯定的に解釈されることもあります。

一般的に言えば、韓国では、相手が用意してくれた食事を「残さず綺麗に食べる＝もっと食べたい、まだ満腹ではない」というサインと解釈されることがあります。つまり、ホスト側にもっと食事を勧めてしまう可能性が出てくるのです。逆に、少し残すことで「お腹がいっぱいになった」「美味しかった」という満足感を間接的に伝えることができるとされています。これは、相手への配慮と感謝の気持ちを示す、一種のコミュニケーション手段と言えるでしょう。

ただし、これはあくまで一般的な傾向であり、どのような状況でも食べ残しが許容されるわけではありません。例えば、目上の人やビジネスの場で食事をする際は、ある程度綺麗に食べる方が好ましい場合もあります。また、提供された料理の量があまりにも少ない場合は、残すこと自体が失礼にあたる可能性もあります。

この背景には、韓国の食文化における「넉넉함(넉넉하다：넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝넉넉하다＝