One of the most surprising things when foreigners visit Korea is the fast delivery system. You can receive the food you want quickly just by using an application regardless of the location you are in. On the contrary, there is a restaurant culture that is not in Korea but is common in North America and Europe. It is a “tip culture.” Since it is a culture that does not exist in Korea, it will be very new and interesting to hear honest opinions on tip culture. As borders between countries are fainting and a global society is emerging, a mature attitude of respecting each other's culture is strongly needed. If we keep in mind on what we learned through this article today and be careful not to make mistakes when we visit these countries later, we will be able to respect other countries' cultures better.

In your country, what are the deliverable food and how do you order it?
China : China has a fast delivery system just like Korea. Typically, deliveries arrive in 30 minutes. There are also various delivery platforms like Korea’s Yogiyo and Baemin which are called Eurema and Matewooan. From getting orders to deliveries, restaurants share all the steps they go through in real time, so the customers can know how things are proceeding. Just like Korea, Chinese can get anything they want by delivery. Food, drinks, daily supplies, fruits, and even drugs are deliverable.
Malaysia : We have the same system as Korea. However, it is not super-fast like in Korea. Usually we order through delivery platform called “Grab.” Grab is the centralized platform where there are a lot of options such as food, cab, and everyday supplies.
Russia : In the big city, you can pretty much order everything, such as, Japanese, Korean, and Italian food. There are two main applications we use when we order the food; “Yandex Eats” and “Delivery Club.” Personally I think Delivery Club is more convenient because it has more restaurants and it is a little bit faster than Yandex Eats.

How much is the delivery fee?
China : It costs 1,000 won within 10 kilometers and 500 won within five kilometers.
France : Delivery fees are much more expensive in France. It depends on the distance. Usually we pay 2~3 euros but in Paris, it goes up to 5 euros.
Malaysia : It depends on the distance but because our currency is lower than Korean, so it is much cheaper than Korea.
Russia : It depends on every restaurant. If it is an Italian Restaurant serving pizza or in the case of fast food stores, they will not charge any delivery fee. But if it is a small restaurant which serves the homemade food, there would be some fee and it depends on the distance and the amount of food you order. The delivery fee costs one to three dollars.

In your country, how do you handle the delivery issues?
China : In China, customers can write reviews of the food and delivery. We can rate the service, so if we are not satisfied with it, we can write about it in the reviews. Additionally, if any problem occurs, customers will be refunded.
France : We have the “star reviews” in the delivery applications. Therefore, we can rate the delivery service through it.
Malaysia : We have the same review system and usually they either give you a refund or a discount.
Russia : The same thing. We just write about the unsatisfied point in the review. If my delivery is missing, we can call customer service. We can get a refund or a discount if the problem happens.

Which food was the most different when you tried in Korea?
China : Rice cake. There are rice cakes in China, but the texture is different. I personally prefer the Korean rice cake.
France : There are a lot of Korean restaurants in
France. Well, the most different and surprising food that I tried in Korea was live octopus.
Malaysia : Tang (Korean stew)! The stew is very different from our country. Personally I like Korean spicy fish tang the most.
Russia : Tteokbokki was quite different. The rice flour they use is very different. Korea’s rice cakes are stickier and chewier.

If there’s a tip culture in your country, how much do you usually pay as a tip?
China : We do not pay the tip.
France : We usually pay the tip except for the fast food restaurants. The cost of the tip depends on the quality of the service. We normally pay about 2-3 euros.
Malaysia : We do not pay the tip.
Russia : I am trying to pay a lot of tips not in a fast-food chain but in a local store. I want to support small businesses. The minimal wage for working at a restaurant is so low that it can be a dollar per hour. So especially for the waiters, most of their salaries would be tips in Russia. Therefore, I usually pay 10~15 percent of my order.

What is the highest amount of tips you have paid or received?
France : I had worked in the restaurant in France, and the highest tip I got was 10 euros. My parents usually pay the tips, so I do not have an experience, but the highest tip my family paid was 10 euros as well.
Russia : If the service was good, I would pay about 20~25 percent of my order as a tip. The highest tip I paid was 50 dollars. I used to work as a barista for three years, and as a bartender for two years. I think the most I got was 20 dollars at the bar.

Overall, which country’s delivery system is better?
China : China. Because it is fast and cheaper than Korea. Plus, it is more convenient.
France : Korea. It is faster and has more wellorganized system.
Malaysia : Korea. Although the delivery fee is cheaper in Malaysia, overall system is much better in Korea.
Russia : Korea is definitely better in delivery. Delivery here is much faster and it works literally every day, so we can even get the food at nighttime. Additionally, you can always get the food no matter where you are.