Korean Greetings

How do Koreans greet each other?

In most cases,  Koreans greet one another by bowing from the waist.  However, greetings vary depending on whom you are addressing.  If you are greeting someone who is your senior or someone to whom you should show deference, you bend deeply from your waist.

If you are greeting a friend or a close relation, you may bend your neck slightly, or simply shake hands. Today, many men greet one another by shaking hands, following the Western custom.

When shaking hands, however, it is common to simultaneously bow at the waist or neck.  It is important to remember that you must not to be the first to initiate a handshake if you are greeting someone who you should address formally.

What do Koreans say when they greet one another?

When you meet someone for the first time, you can say, 

처음 뵙겠습니다. ______입니다

( Cheo-eum Boep-get seum-ni-da. ______im-ni-da) - Nice to meet you.  My name is ____. 

to which the other will likely answer, 

네, 처음 뵙겠습니다. _______입니다. 안녕하십니까? 

( Ne, Cheo-eum boep-get-seum-ni-da. ______ im-ni-da.  An-nyeong-ha-sim-ni-kka) 

- Hi, nice to meet you. My name is _____.  How are you? 

When you are greeting someone of your own age or younger, you can say,  

잘 있었니? ( Jariseonni? ) - How have you been or 

어떻게지냈니? ( Eoddeoke jinaenni?) - How have you been?

while for someone who is older, you can say, 

안녕하셔요? ( Annyeong haseyo?) - How are you? or 

그동안 잘 지내셨어요? ( Geudong-an Jal jinaesyeoss-eoyo?)

- How have you been recently?

In Korean culture, it is also common to greet others by asking, 

아침 드셨어요? ( Achim deusyeosseoyo? ) - Have you eaten yet?

or 어디가세요? ( Eodi gaseyo? ) - Where are you going?