Korean spoons and Korean chopsticks

Koreans use a spoon and chopsticks when eating. All food is cut in the kitchen before being served, or will be cut at the table so that it is easy to grab with the chopsticks. If the food has not been cut, the chopsticks will be used to tear the food apart. If one person is having trouble, it is not unusual for another person to help out by using a chopstick as an anchor while the other person pulls the food apart. 

Korean spoons are not like Chinese-style or Japanese-style spoons, but like Western soup spoons. It is considered improper to hold the chopsticks and spoon together at the same time. (Actually Westerners are amazed that Koreans are able to do so at all!) Since Korean rice is sticky, it is not difficult to pick it up with chopsticks. This is why it is considered improper to bring the rice bowl to your mouth. 

In fact, the rice and soup bowls should never leave the table. If you need to use a spoon to eat the rice because you have placed other food on top of it, be sure that you don’t leave anything on your spoon. Also, never leave your spoon stuck in the rice. That is considered improper because it is done only during ancestral rites; that is, for dead ancestors.