Foreigners Shocked! Is There an 'Unspoken Rule' in Korean Elevators?

A Korean Elevator Button Culture Experience – “Pressing the Button Before Arriving?”

A building in downtown Seoul. The elevator stopped with a ‘ding’ sound, and before the door even opened—someone already inside pressed the button for the floor I was going to. At that moment, I paused.

“I haven't even gotten on yet... How did they know?”

It’s a pretty common scene in Korea. Korean elevator culture has a delicate mix of consideration, efficiency, and the ‘hurry-hurry’ culture in a small space.
Many foreigners search on Google for terms like ‘Korean elevator button culture’, ‘reasons for repeatedly pressing the close button’, ‘why Koreans press the floor buttons for others’, and ‘how to use the elevator cancel button’. Because it’s a daily detail that initially comes as a culture shock, but later as a small touch of emotion.

In this article, I'll introduce the Korean elevator button culture I've actually experienced, moments that often surprise foreigners, and the underlying consideration and tendencies of Koreans hidden within.
Repeatedly pressing the close button, canceling the wrong floor, the culture of someone who gets on first pressing the button for the next person…

Are you ready to feel the rhythm and emotions of Korean society in very small and trivial actions?

1. The culture of pressing the floor button first… even before you get on

At first, it was hard to believe. Seeing the number of the floor I was on already lit up before the door even opened, I wondered, “How did they know I was going to get off here?”
But in Korea, this scene is like everyday life. The person who gets in the elevator first has the habit of “automatically pressing the 1st floor or the lobby, or the most common floor first when they see someone outside”.

Sometimes they ask.
“Which floor are you going to?” It’s not just pressing the button; it’s a natural consideration to take care of the other person's destination first.
This can be seen as a collaborative culture beyond simple kindness, to maintain a fast flow. From a foreigner's perspective, it’s a really amazing and warm culture.

2. Why do they repeatedly press the ‘close’ button?

Koreans who, as soon as the elevator door opens, press the ‘close(▶◀)’ button repeatedly like lightning. It might seem a bit hasty and impolite to foreigners.
But in Korea, this behavior is almost a reflexive habit. It's proof that the ‘hurry-hurry culture’ has become a daily routine.

• Even the time the door is open is a waste
• Rather than having time to wait for people on other floors
• “It’s a consideration for each other to move quickly when I get on”there is also this recognition.

Especially during the busy morning commute, or in office buildings with many offices, there is even a recognition that “not pressing the close button is being rude”.

3. Cancel button to ‘get rid of my floor before arrival’?

If you get in the elevator and the light for the floor you pressed suddenly goes off? You might feel bad or confused. In fact, many foreigners are also puzzled, asking “why did you cancel my floor?”
But Korean elevators have a ‘cancel button’ function to cancel the wrong floor, and many people use it frequently.

For example:
• If I thought I pressed 5th floor, but 6th floor was pressed
• If I cancel it because I thought, “Oh? We are not going together?” after pressing it
• If the already pressed floor is different from the destination, cancel immediately → re-enter
This is a behavior that comes from a culture that values the efficient operation of the elevator, and it's also a delicate system that is rare in foreign countries.

4. Koreans' unconscious consideration even in a single button

A word asked to someone in the elevator, “Which floor are you going to?” and immediately pressing the button for them.
It's not just ‘help’. It's part of the social atmosphere, consideration within the group, and role-playing within the space.

Koreans are accustomed to considerate behavior in public spaces, and the tendency becomes stronger in narrow spaces like elevators.
• Even if you are riding alone, pressing the ‘door open’ button if you see someone following
• Pressing the floor button for someone you've never met is an expression of invisible community consciousness.

5. A shock to foreigners, but a culture that soon becomes familiar

At first, you may be bewildered, and think a little, “Why are they in such a hurry?”—but if you stay in Korea for a few days, you’ll find yourself repeatedly pressing the close button without even realizing it.
Because this culture is not just about manners or procedures, but a daily consideration that naturally blends into the rhythm of Korean society.

That’s why there are often responses on YouTube and blogs like, “Korean elevators are different,” and “This was a bit strange”.

Koreans’ consideration and rhythm contained in a button

The elevator is small in space, and the time spent is also short. But in that short moment, the unique Korean delicacy, consideration, and fast rhythm are completely contained, which you will never know unless you experience it directly.

At first, you may have small questions like, “Why are they pressing the close button so quickly?”, “Why are they pressing the floor button when I haven't arrived yet?”, “The button I pressed suddenly turned off, why?” But after a few days, you’ll feel that all those actions are polite and efficient Korean communication.

That’s why, even at this moment, these search terms are trending on Google.

‘Korean elevator button culture’, ‘reasons for repeatedly pressing the close button’, ‘Korean elevator cancel button’, ‘why they press the floor button in the elevator’…

Like this, even trivial actions in a narrow space like an elevator leave a significant impression on foreigners, and sometimes it becomes an unexpected cultural experience where you can experience the rhythm and emotions of Korean society up close.
If you're in Korea right now, take a careful look next time you take the elevator. Korea is in that small button.

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