The Casual Hug isn’t So Casual
In America, a handshake is always the most professional way to greet someone, and hugs are extremely frowned upon at work. However, America is actually a country full of affectionate huggers and it’s common to greet your friends with hugs and end the evening with a hug with someone you’re meeting for the first time in social settings outside of the office.
In South Korea, hugs are overly affectionate and are only saved for very close friends or family members. It’s best not to initiate hugs with people you have a casual relationship with. A handshake will do, although it is more common for Asians to bow — a form of communication that is foreign to us.