Think Before You Speak
Someone may have advised you to think before speaking when you’ve made a mistake with your foot in your mouth. People in Western countries are talkative individuals. We’re storytellers who enjoy telling stories to several people at once and expressing what’s on our minds. Even if we stop for a second, we typically say “um.”
In South Korea, however, you must pause before speaking. This is a sign of respect. It makes the individual with whom you’re communicating believe that you considered what you would say before saying it, which is how we should all act. Consequently, Koreans are more eloquent speakers than other people in the world.