I'm an Ohio native living in South Korea. I keep catching tourists making these same 7 mistakes.

Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is densely populated, with some 9.7 million people living there. It's also filled with small alleyways and crowded streets, so personal space is a luxury when out and about in the city.

If you're wandering around the big cities, you are likely to get bumped on the sidewalk, squashed on the subway, and generally feel like you have less space than you would in the US.

South Koreans are used to sharing public spaces with others, so they often don't apologize if they bump into you. Refrain from taking it personally if someone doesn't say sorry after they accidentally knock against you, especially if it's in a busy part of town — they probably don't have any ill intent.

Like in many parts of Asia, not taking your shoes off is considered taboo in South Korea. Many locals would also feel offended if tourists get upset about having to take their shoes off when entering an indoor space.

While not every restaurant requires you to remove your shoes, many, especially traditional restaurants, do. I've met tourists who didn't want to take their footwear off before entering these restaurants, and I had to inform them that there was no way they'd be allowed to dine inside. At some restaurants like the one pictured above, diners are required to remove their shoes before sitting on the heated floor, where a low table is set.

Tourists need to be aware of their surroundings. If there's a shoe shelf, make sure to take off your shoes. Additionally, since you'll probably be taking your footwear off a lot, wear shoes you can slip on and off easily, like sandals. Finally, avoid wearing socks with holes because everyone will see them.

Public displays of affection aren't common in South Korea, even in big cities like Seoul. I see people holding hands as they walk down the streets, but that's usually as far as affection between couples goes.

Over the years, I've learned that South Koreans are often conservative regarding public displays of affection. I usually give my South Korean husband a quick peck on the lips when we greet each other. But when my husband and I were still dating, he told me that he felt uncomfortable, although he knows it's just something we do in the US to show how much we love our partner.

If you're a tourist, refrain from making out when you're out and about. Even in nightlife areas like Hongdae or Sinchon, the farthest I would go is a kiss on the lips — it's probably a good idea to avoid going any further.

South Koreans are often quiet when traveling on public transportation like buses and trains. Many prefer listening to music on their headphones instead of chatting with someone. It's different from places in the West, where commuters often engage in conversations with other people or speak to friends and family on the phone.

In South Korea, being loud on public transportation is another sure-fire way to show everyone you're a tourist. While most people won't go out of the way to hush you, if you're being outrageously loud, you'll definitely get looks and murmurs from older women showing that they're annoyed.

Another one that tourists do — and shouldn't — is yell for waiters to come over in a restaurant. In South Korea, waitstaff at restaurants don't come and check on you incessantly, like they do in the US.

If you want attention, you'll need to call "yogiyo!" — which means over here in Korean — to get their attention. If you just wait for them to come to your table, or try to make eye contact with them, you'll never get served.

These days, there are a lot of areas with "self-service bars," where customers can pick up their own water, side dishes, and cutlery. This means that you'll have to do certain things yourself.

South Koreans often ask questions that people in the West would consider personal. I've been casually asked if I'm religious or how much money I make, even by people I don't know all too well.

I've found that many South Koreans ask personal questions about money and religion to see if they think you will get on well or have something to talk about. So if anyone gets too close or asks questions that you feel invade your privacy, remember that they're probably not being rude, just curious, and maybe keen to start up a conversation.

While it's common in the US for customers to ask chefs to change ingredients if they have allergies or preferences, that's not the case in South Korea.

One reason for this is that many traditional Korean dishes are prepared for a long time with specific ingredients. That means that you can't just ask for a dish to have no meat if you're a vegetarian — and that's not because the chef is rude or stubborn — but it's likely that they cooked the broth for many hours to make a hearty soup. So when you're dining at restaurants, make sure you order something that fits your dietary needs.