5 Korean culture shocks
South Korea is a wonderland of technological innovation, phenomenal food, gorgeous wildlife, wonderful people… I could go on forever! But, it can take a bit of adjusting once you initially set foot there.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul. Image: Y K on Unsplash.
Fears and doubts are made to be overcome and dispelled and that’s exactly what we’re here to do — to introduce the culture shocks that are most noticeable when you first visit Korea and to give you tips on how you can go about alleviating them.
Once you’re in the know, your trip to this fascinating country will be far more enjoyable, and you may find that some of these cultural differences will shock you in a positive way!
Smart Bus Stops
A smart bus stop in Seoul’s Seongdong District. Image: Seongdong District Government.
Imagine a freezing December night in Seoul after a long (equally as cold) day. You’re waiting for the bus. The next one comes in 12 minutes, which feels like an eternity in this blizzard. Your toes are freezing and you sit down, regardless of how cold the bench may be.
Now imagine the shock and immense relief you feel upon discovering that the bench you’re sitting on is heated! The feeling slowly starts creeping back into your toes and the cold bothers you no more. These blessed benches can be sat on at numerous stops around Seoul.
Plenty of bus stops are also equipped with ‘smart shelters’. These heated booths will keep you warm and dry during times of adverse weather, and the installed air conditioning will keep you cool in the hot summer months. You’ll also find you can access free wifi and charging stations for your mobile device, all while waiting for your bus.
You’re bound to use public transport in Seoul, so get ready to wait for your ride in comfort!
Sugar — It’s everywhere!
Recognise this sweet treat from Squid Game, by any chance? Image: sq lim on Unsplash.
I once bought what I imagined to be a regular ham and cheese toast from my local CU, but being unable to read Korean, I was blissfully unaware of one secret ingredient…
The shock of biting into that thing only to have the savoury taste of ham and cheddar cheese be accompanied by a sugary sweet red bean paste stayed with me for a while. You may find sugar in the most unsuspecting of places, and often in excess, especially if your go-to form of caffeine is an iced coffee from the convenience store.
If sugar consumption is a problem for you, I would recommend translating the nutritional facts of whatever you may suspect of having a surplus of it with the Papago app. You’ll get a hang of it pretty quickly and scoping out the sugar bombs will come to you like second nature.
Food is cheap but groceries… not so much (especially fruit)
Grabbing some street food is a great way to try authentic local cuisine for a fair price. Image: Ian Valerio on Unsplash.
With 53% of Korean 20-29 year olds choosing to eat out over cooking at home, there’s got to be a reason! The reason? It’s so much more affordable to eat out in Korea!
Certainly they have their fair share of boujee dining establishments where you’re sure to eat yourself into a financial pit, but generally speaking you’re better off going to your local mom-and-pop’s or market to get your nourishment, rather than buying your provisions from the Emart and concocting something you could have paid a fraction of by eating out.
And in any case, you’re really doing yourself a disservice by not buying tteokbokki from a street vendor at least once during your stay! The convenience stores are, aptly named as they are, ridiculously convenient. Lunch is always served — grab yourself a triangle kimbap and a bowl of ramyun and you’re set.
The biggest shocker, however, has to be the extortionate price of fresh fruit. There’s really no way around it, other than gritting your teeth and paying the price. Put aside some cash for your trip because that craving for mangoes and strawberries might sneak up on you sooner than you think.
Cleanliness
Seoul is home to some relatively clean streets. Image: Clark Gu on Unsplash.
Now, I would never eat food off the ground (and you probably shouldn’t either), but I’d rank Korea at the very top of the list of places where, if I had no choice, I would do so.
Korea is a remarkably clean country. Finding a bin anywhere in public is something just short of impossible, yet litter on the streets is somehow an even rarer occurrence. The litter you’ll find, if any, will more than likely be cigarette butts — they are pretty liberal with the distribution of ashtrays and it’s frowned upon to smoke in an area not specifically designated for such an activity.
Overcoming this monstrous shock is as simple as taking part in the joy of not littering and relishing the cleanliness that furthers the beauty of the streets you walk down.
Safety
Korean crime rates are impressively low. Image: Ryoo Geon UK on Unsplash.
During your trip, you’ll find that the streets are riddled with CCTV and the common respect for others and a sense of community in Korea is admirable. It’s not uncommon to see people leaving their bags unattended at restaurants, parks, or other public places without a care in the world, and return to find all of their possessions where they left them.
Once upon a New Year’s Eve a friend of mine lost their wallet, as one does on a night out. A couple of days later the gloom of that ominous start of the year was lifted when a nightclub contacted them on Instagram and told them to come pick up their wallet. Every single won and card were still in there!
Now, depending on where you come from, this could be a complete shock and render you clueless as to how to go about your business without worrying, and though you should always proceed with caution, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll end up having something stolen in Korea.
Edited by Chelsea Cheetham.
