Abstract
This study was conducted to generate fundamental data required by food coordinators and food space creators for planning and directing table settings. The results of this study were then used to suggest an ideal model of table settings for Korean-style food equipped with simple, sophisticated, and practical characteristics. Specifically, this study evaluated the importance of hygiene (safety, cleanness, arrangement), decoration (dignity, form, stylishness, presentation of food on plates), naturalness (seasonal beauty, comfortableness, natural beauty), and modernity (modern style, chic style, urban style). These factors were evaluated according to the preference of the table setting and the characteristics of the meeting, which fit various meal cultures, times, places, and objectives. The results of this study indicate that people prefer hygiene and decoration for family meetings (bansang setting), hygiene and modernity for friendly meetings (simple buffet setting), hygiene and decoration for company meetings (simple buffet setting), and hygiene and decoration for academic meetings (tea party). Hygiene and decoration were highly evaluated in most cases, which indicates that individuals at meetings for special purposes give weight to the meeting's atmosphere, but also consider the hygiene and cleanliness of the food.