[KS] Re: A chopsticks question

[Gary Rector / Yu]

Disposable wooden chopsticks were a late introduction.
When I first came to Korea in the late '60s virtually all
the restaurants I went to used metal chopsticks. In any case,
antique tableware (from the Joseon Dynasty) consists of
metal chopsticks, metal spoons, and metal rice bowls and
soup bowls.

Gary Rector

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Max Christian" <max at max.tc>
To: <Koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 3:25 AM
Subject: [KS] Re: A chopsticks question


> 
> Well, here's the story I've been told on this subject (by a Korean):
> 
> Until the Olympics in the 1980's, Koreans used metal chopsticks at
> home but wooden (disposable) chopsticks in restaurants.  The latter
> was made illegal for environmental reasons and the law was strictly
> enforced for some time, although it has now been relaxed.
> 
> So it sounds like metal chopsticks are an instance of the
> Korean improve-everything attitude (cheaper, more environmentally
> friendly) rather than a longstanding cultural thing.
> 
> M
> 
> 
> 
>