Panmal with a Korean person

[michelledoreen]

I met a language exchange partner in Korea. She's 3 years younger than me. I told her twice that she could use panmal with me, but she keeps using chontaemal.

Should I tell her a third time to use panmal? What is customary in Korea? I am confused...when my Sunbaes told me that I could use panmal, I started using it right away with them. Is that considered to be rude? Is there supposed to be some mandatory waiting period before using panmal even though an older person said that it was okay?

It's confusing to a Korean-American.

[manyakumi]

That depends on the person.

Maybe she doesn't like to be impolite to the elders even if they allow using 반말 to her.
Or she might prefer the sound of 존대말 simply.

Try to tell her once more nicely,
And just let her use 존대말 if she won't use it.
Using 존대말 is not so bad thing.