01The gesture/sound and its expected meaning
The audible sound of nasal expulsion in public, often accompanied by noisy, prolonged nose blowing. In South Korea and East Asia, this behavior is considered deeply offensive and indicative of a serious lack of personal mastery. Noise itself is perceived as repulsive, associated with insalubrity and a lack of respect for others in shared spaces.
02Geography of misunderstanding
In the West (USA, Canada, France, Germany), blowing one's nose noisily in public is a commonplace and hygienically valued act. Handkerchieving in public transport, at the office or on the street is considered a healthy and normal practice. In Korea, Japan, China and Thailand, however, the same act provokes embarrassment, repulsion and moral judgment. Korean women, in particular, avoid blowing their noses in public for fear of social judgment, preferring to wait for private places.
03Historical background
The difference stems from two visions of the body and public hygiene. East Asian Confucian cultures emphasize emotional and physical control (mastery of qi/ki), where exposure of bodily processes is a loss of face. In the West, since the 19th century, public hygiene has become a collective health priority, hence the standardization of body-cleaning behaviors in public. Poyatos (2002) notes that collectivist cultures repress involuntary body sounds, while individualist cultures tolerate them.
04documented incidents
Western expatriates working in South Korea have reported reproving looks and murmurs when blowing their noses in professional meetings. Korean etiquette manuals explicitly advise excusing sneezing or blowing the nose. In Japan, Western tourist guides warn that nasal noise is considered extremely impolite, even obscene. Anthropological studies have documented that Korean children are socialized from kindergarten onwards to suppress these sounds.
05Practical recommendations
**Use a handkerchief discreetly, turn away from others, minimize noise. In South Korea or Japan, leave the room briefly if you need to blow your nose loudly. A discreet sniff is preferable to an audible blow. Apologize formally if noise is unavoidable ("Shilsunghamnida").
**Do not blow your nose in meetings, on public transport or during formal meals. Do not laugh or talk while visibly blowing your nose. Don't rub your nose or wipe it briefly, which gives the impression of carelessness.
Alternatives: Use tissues discreetly. Sniff lightly instead of blowing your nose. Apologize in advance ("I have a bit of a cold/allergy"). Ask permission to leave the room briefly.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- south-korea
- north-korea
Historical origins
The Confucian cultures of East Asia value emotional and physical control according to the principle of qi/ki, while in the West public hygiene has been a collective norm since the 19th century, explaining the tolerance of noisy nose-blowing.
Documented incidents
- 2010 — An American consultant blew his nose loudly in a strategy meeting, provoking embarrassed silence and reproving glances. His Korean colleague contacted him afterwards to explain that this behavior was perceived as disrespectful. (Incident documenté dans un guide d'expatriation coréenne (2010))
- 2015 — A French tourist blew his nose on the Shinkansen train. Passengers made their disapproval clear with glances, and none sat next to him for the rest of the journey. (Rapport anecdotique dans forums d'expatriés)
Practical recommendations
To do
- Utilisez un mouchoir discrètement, tournez-vous loin des autres, minimisez le bruit. En Corée du Sud ou au Japon, quittez brièvement la pièce si vous avez besoin de vous moucher bruyamment. Un sniff discret est préférable à un mouchage audible. Excusez-vous formellement si le bruit est inévitable (« Shilsunghamnida »).
Avoid
- Ne pas vous moucher en réunion, en transport en commun ou lors de repas formels. Ne pas rire ou parler pendant que vous vous moucherez visiblement. Ne pas frotter votre nez ou l'essuyer brièvement, ce qui donne l'impression de négligence.
Neutral alternatives
Use tissues discreetly. Sniff lightly instead of blowing your nose. Apologize in advance ("I have a bit of a cold/allergy"). Ask permission to leave the room briefly.