What a deposit is, and when it is kept
Some reservation-only restaurants charge a deposit when you book; others register a payment method for a possible late-cancellation fee. The amount, how it is treated on the bill and the late-arrival policy depend on the venue. Do not assume a universal fifteen-minute grace period. Ring ahead if you are late — 10분 정도 늦을 것 같아요 (I think I’ll be about ten minutes late).
The percentage a restaurant keeps is set by the restaurant and shown at booking. Read it there; screenshot it, so you retain the terms you accepted — “Restaurant cancellation windows and refunds”.
The dispute-resolution standard, since 18 December 2025
Korea's Fair Trade Commission rewrote its Consumer Dispute Resolution Standard — the reference courts and the Consumer Agency use when a diner and a restaurant disagree — and increased the reference amounts used for some no-show disputes:
| Before | From 18 December 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary restaurant | 10% of the expected bill | 20% |
| Reservation-based — omakase, fine dining, large-party bookings | 10% | 40% |
The reasoning is that a kitchen buys and prepares for a reserved seat in advance: a restaurant may have already incurred costs when a reserved guest does not arrive. Two qualifications matter. The standard provides criteria for resolving disputes; it does not automatically determine the fee on every booking. And a restaurant may charge a no-show fee only if it told you the rule in advance, by text or another plain method; the notice should explain the deposit, penalty and refund terms clearly. Read the amount and deadline stated for your own reservation.
What the survey actually measured
The government surveyed 214 restaurants. 95% of respondents offered telephone reservations and 14% required a deposit. Restaurants could select several booking methods, so these figures are not shares of all bookings. A phone reservation is not automatically free of deposit or cancellation conditions; ask when arranging it.
The government describes the standard as a recommended basis for resolving disputes where no separate law or agreement applies. It is not a universal fee automatically charged on every reservation.
