Expectations Vs Reality of Living in Korea | Living Abroad 

are you currently living abroad? which country are you living in and what's your expectations vs Reality of Living in that country?

Hello~ I'm Parnika the Indian girl in the video, it was so fun talking about my life in Korea, thank you for having me!

I am the only American in the Apartment Complex and have lived here for years. I have always been treated nicely and have no complaints about my life in The Republic Of Korea,

Korea is not a multicultural country with a long history of immigration unlike the United States or some European countries. The foreign population was 1.1% of the total population in 2006, about 1 million 10 years ago and now 2.5 million(4.9% of the total population). Most of them are from Asian countries and Westerners are less than 0.5% of the population(Black people are less than 0.05%) So when they see a westerner they're not used to it so they still tend to think it's amazed or different from them. That's why they stare at Westerners a lot. Korea is still in its early stages of multiculturalism and the locals need time to adapt to foreigners. As the number of foreigners increases, laws and culture will gradually improve to become more foreigner-friendly. It takes time so it will be difficult for people who lack patience to live there. People don't realize how few Westerners there are in Korea. Let me show the government statistics below. ------------------------------------------------------ Status of Foreign Residents by Nationality (Region) (2023.10.31.) Source: SK Gov Total 2,496,092 Chinese 920,025 Korean Chinese (623,912) Vietnamese 277,517 Thai 203,448 American 176,602 Uzbek 86,815 Russians (Federal) 68,548 Filipinos 67,523 Nepalese 61,648 Indonesian 58,027 Cambodians 56,163 Mongolian 54,312 Japanese 47,981 Kazakhs 46,255 Myanmar 40,382 (Taiwanese) 31,550 Canadians 29,664 Sri Lankans 29,408 Bangladeshis 25,902 Indian 16,714 Pakistani 16,083 Malaysians 14,131 Australians 13,898 French 12,068 Other 141,428 - Status of Foreign Residents by Nationality (Continent) (2023.12.31.) Total 2,507,584 Asia 2,147,186 North America 189,502 South America 9,021 Europe 113,045 Oceania 24,221 Africa 24,334 ---------- This includes not only residents but also visitors. South Korea has a population of 51 million, with about 2.5 million foreigners (4.9% of the total population) but more than 70%(2.1 million) are from other Asian countries. It is a homogeneous country with only less than 0.5% Westerners and less than 0.05% black people.

These interviews are fantastic! As someone who was born in Seoul and immigrated to the US as a child and have a shallow understanding of my own culture, I find your interviews and topics educational and fascinating. Cheers!

WOW, that girl from Bangalore was STUNNING!

Hi I’m Seylove the guy from Japan! 🇯🇵 Thank you for the interesting and fun interview! It was really nice to talk about how it is to live in Korea and also to know how others think! I hope the video can reach so many people and be helpful 😊🙌🏽

There’s snobby rude people in every country! There’s friendly people in every country. It’s just mostly fear of approaching because of language barrier etc.. maybe accept people’s culture rather than labelling them as rude. Just assimilate and have a positive mindset. Negative brings negative ❤

Great video! I love how diverse the interviewees were, coming from all over the world and having their own unique experiences in the country

Great interviews with all the different backgrounds of people. This definitely shows how everyone experience in Korea is different. I feel like after listening to all the different people reasons and experience in Korea definitely can give you a better knowledge about the country if you plan to visit or live there in the near future. 😊❤

Korea has become famous recently, and many foreigners visit Korea. Thank you, but Koreans have never been taught to be discriminatory, so they may be rude. However, you should keep in mind that it is not intentional. They are just curious and genuinely asking questions.

I like how you post short clips from a longer video on other platforms and then posted the actual video after! That’s a great idea!

As far as it is for every country, learn the language and try assimilating into the culture, then you’ll have a good time.

I want to give advice to foreigners as Koreans.. I want to learn the culture and language of the country other than Korea and tell them to approach the locals first.... I have been to many places abroad, but the locals did not approach me first. But I don't know why I want Koreans to approach me first when I come to Korea... If you respect Korea and try to learn the language, Koreans will be happy to be friends with you... Sometimes when I see a foreigner who complains in Korea, I don't know why they came to Korea without even trying to learn about Korea... Why do they think Koreans should be tailored to them when they don't do anything... I saw a lot of foreigners who were too rude.

I don't understand how come people get fantasy on a country from watching dramas. How dumb should you be to believe that the reality will be like drama? Drama is drama. Even kindergartners will know that.

A rhetorical question to the lawyer from Algeria, is there any country in the world where the law is not favorable towards its own citizens vs foreign visitors? Also it's interesting how she claims that the "law" favors men over women? In all honesty this was very true in the past, but not so much anymore. As a Korean-American who travels to Korea often to visit family and for business I've noticed that women enjoy a very high degree of legal protections, almost on par with advanced Western nations.

It depends what your goals are and what your mindset is. I currently live in Daegu in a part of the city where I don't see any foreigners and I like it that way. I'm not trying to make friends with ex-pats or English-speakers. I'm trying to assimilate as much as possible.

Lived in Korea nearly 7 years and "rude" is not the word I'd use to describe Koreans. Self-absorbed and perhaps oblivious to the world outside their tiny peninsula, but not rude at all. In my experience living in 4 separate cities (Seoul, Daejeon, Chuncheon and Daegu), Koreans tended to be quite nice, kind and genuinely good-hearted people. I'm surprised that people think that they are rude. Be respectful, learn some of the language and obey the rules--you'll be fine. Just don't overstay your welcome. Know when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, and when to get up and walk away. :)

00:00 💰 Common misconception: foreigners in Korea are often assumed to be rich. 00:10 🧳 Misconception: foreigners do not get treated well in Korea; reality can vary. 00:18 ⚖️ Legal advice: Korean law tends to favor locals over foreigners, especially men. 00:36 🌏 Diverse backgrounds: foreigners in Korea come from various countries and backgrounds. 01:08 🌟 Motivation: foreigners often come to Korea for unique cultural experiences and opportunities. 01:35 😊 Friendly locals: contrary to online stereotypes, many find Koreans friendly and open. 01:59 🚗 Traffic: traffic congestion in Seoul surprised some foreigners. 02:23 👋 Social interactions: mixed experiences with locals; some find them friendly once acquainted. 02:38 🗑️ No trash cans: lack of public trash cans in Korea is surprising for many. 02:55 🚏 Ease of navigation: English signs and some English speakers make it easy to get around. 03:04 🌆 Urban scale: Seoul's size and 24/7 availability of amenities impressed some. 03:30 😄 Kindness: many are surprised by how kind and nice people in Korea are. 03:45 🧼 Cleanliness: Korea's cleanliness and development over the years are notable. 04:09 🇰🇷 Foreigner struggles: visas are hard to get and some foreigners struggle to find jobs. 04:17 📚 Coping strategies: students find solace in making friends and engaging in activities. 05:03 🍽️ Dining culture shock: restaurants often require a minimum order for two, making solo dining challenging. 05:33 👫 Making friends: forming friendships with other foreigners is crucial for combating loneliness. 06:35 🕋 Religious coping: some find spiritual solace in religious practices like reading the Quran. 07:06 🧠 Mental health: some foreigners have used services like BetterHelp for emotional support. 08:01 🌐 Language barriers: some find communication with non-native English therapists challenging. 08:48 🎓 Initial experiences: some were pleasantly surprised by the ease of learning Korean. 09:26 🎂 Food expectations: food, especially desserts, differs from what some expect based on media. 09:59 🛍️ Unrealistic expectations: media often glamorizes life in Korea, leading to misconceptions. 10:27 👨‍👩‍👧 Misconception: some foreigners feel that they are assumed to be wealthy based on media portrayals. 11:00 🎭 K-pop and K-dramas: these media can set unrealistic expectations for life in Korea. 11:18 📚 Academic life: study abroad students often have to balance fun with serious academic work. 11:56 🗣️ English proficiency: more Koreans speak English than some initially thought. 12:22 📈 Hustle: foreigners need to actively seek opportunities rather than expect them to come automatically. 12:35 🌏 Cultural differences: North African and Muslim cultural expectations can lead to misunderstandings. 12:51 📋 Visa challenges: getting visas and being treated as foreigners despite citizenship is challenging. 13:08 🚉 Racism: some foreigners experience racism, though they might understand the language. 13:29 🎨 Fashionable trends: Korean fashion and trends are highly appreciated and closely followed.

19:34 "dont bring your culture with you and expect people to accept it" that was the best line. i see a lot of people that try that and and get mad when people dont accept it

Korea is super welcoming and everything, people are kind and living there is super comfortable especially if you speak decent Korean, unfortunately it is super hard to get a job as a foreigner, unless you want to teach English to kids. For studying or travelling, definitely go for it, amazing country!

I love these kind of interviews!!! Pls keep doing it!! 🩷✨

The tall Australian girl is so spot on with her views and analysis.. right attitude.. that's the kind of mindset that'll be successful in Korea but any other country foreigners are going to to live..

They actually all gave really great advice!

1:35 - I am SO glad that this lady brought this topic up. All you see nowadays on social media are people talking really bad about Koreans saying they're rude and what not, always gets compared against Japan, etc.. and these negative, poor stereotypes gets amplified unnecessarily and gets generalized.. and they're at the end of the day, view baiting because Korea is a hot topic many people search and explore now.. as an American, living in Korea, I couldn't stand seeing these posts because it's just not true.. majority of Koreans are super sweet and nice to all.. yes, there can be outliers but they exist everywhere not just in Korea.. I've visited Japan, Spain, France, and Malaysia.. I've experience odd people but do I judge them or generalize the whole country? No. So the next time you see clips of these people, take it with a grain of salt and keep an open mind. That is all.

I believe that improving women's rights is essential in every country around the world. South Korea still has room for progress and is currently making strides in this area. However, from an objective standpoint, I would like to provide more accurate information about how South Korea compares with other countries regarding laws, crime rates and gender equality issues. (For foreigners living in South Korea, having a clear understanding of Korean laws is crucial for effectively navigating and utilizing them in the future.)

Thank you for another great video. Hopefully people will finally stop looking at korea through rose-colored glasses. The struggle with socio-cultural issues is real, and Sk is no exception. Since im Gen x i would love to see more content of older foreigners coming to korea.

thanks for amazing video!!

What a great and informative video!

One of your favorite videos so far! And I've watch A LOT! Keep up the good work 🔥

I can see why that loud voice lawyer woman hard time having friends 😂 Girl chill a bit.

Always great contents and perfect editing. Always learning a new thing everyday. Thank you for the informative video.

at 19:35 there's a typo. don't bring your culture with you and expect* people to accept it wise words btw.

대부분 관광객으로서 다녀간게 전부일텐데 한국인들이 관광객에게 어떻게 인종차별을 한다는 것인지? 요즘 인도 중국 동남아 남미쪽 국가들의 일부 질투심 많은 사람들이 악의적으로 한국에 대한 부정적인 평판을 조성하는 것임

Always informative

한국에서 한국어 못 하면서 한국인 친구를 사귄다 ?

I live in Tahiti, and my wife is South Korean. I like watching this kind of street interview with foreigners living in Korea. It gives a different perspective on Korea. I was surprised to learn about 2.3 million foreigners live in Korea. Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.

여러 시각과 관점에서 사람들의 생각을 들을 수 있게 해 줘서 고맙습니다. :)

Great video!

Finally seen someone from Portugal 😊

this guy is the most stylish best korean interviewer on youtube.

Nepal loves Korea ❤❤

Very interesting interviews, thank you! (from a Korean living in Louisiana)

K Explorer, I just found your shorts, man what a great voice you have, if I had your voice I would do something cool like you do. keep up the effort, wish you well.

Your Shirt looks good like that!

damn his waist is SNATCHED

"Muslim" women saying that Korean law doesn't support women is ironic

외국인들 인터뷰중에 가끔 이상한 소리하는 사람들 있는데 본인들 나라에서도 안하거나 못하거나 하는 일들을 왜 한국에서 원하는겨? 생각하는게 졸라 웃겨 아주

Have a translator with you as you travel to a foreign country. I recommend Immersive translate. It's been great for me

All the interviewees here are so lovely.

Everyone has their own experiences. Some people go there for college or to teach English and they don’t have a good experience and they say Koreans are rude and don’t talk to you and it’s hard to make friends. Then you have people who go there for college or teaching and they end up still there maybe 5 years later with a Korean boyfriend or girlfriend and with lots of friends. Everyone has their own experiences. I’d say visit the country first before making the decision to move there. I got into K-pop and K-dramas starting in February 2022 and by May 2022 I was learning the language and learning about the culture (I haven’t learned as much as I should by now though. Lol). My love for K-pop, the language, the Korean culture, and K-dramas grew over the past 2 and a half years. But I also visited Korea in April and I was there for almost 2 weeks. I stayed in Seoul. It was kind of lonely at times because I did go there by myself but I did have 2 K-pop friends I met up with there but they left when I still had a week left. I didn’t really communicate much with Koreans except I did ask a girl for help reading the map one day and someone came up to me and my friends when we looked lost and helped us. And I did have a little bit of a culture shock but I think it’s more of my anxiety when I experience new things. I wish I had experienced more, especially outside of Seoul but I did go for a day to Daegu to visit a couple that I know where the husband is Korean. That time in Daegu close to the end of my trip was great because it was a lot less crowded and busy and I got to experience nature with a park and animals compared to just the city. I think next time I visit for 2 weeks, I will visit more cities than just Seoul. Overall, I’m working for my bachelors degree after not being in college for 4 1/2 years and I’m leaning towards getting the degree so I can apply to be an English teacher there. For me, the good outweighs the bad. If all else fails, at least I’ll have my bachelors degree for getting a job in the States.

Such an interesting video. And such a nice aftercare after the latest episode of House of the Dragon lmao

0:18 이건 뭔 말 같지도 않은 소린가. 알제리는 개나 소나 변호사하나보네

Could you please do an interview with SEA ppl?

I really appreciate the responses from these people, they are nice and optimistic. All are very beautiful and handsome 😍 😂

that thumbnail ❤️‍🔥

내가 애기해줄께 한국의 젊은 남자들은 군대를 가야하지만 여자는 안가 한국 일반 가정에서는 엄마가 대장이야 아빠들은 엄마의 말을 거역할수 없어

when I study at college since 2023 I want to go abroad like America, Singapore and Korea. I lived in an environment with no English before, so I couldn't use English to write, listen or speak. Day after day passed until May 2024. I made the decision to consistently try to learn English. However, it was not easy because I studied autodidactically and didn't have partners or friends to study and practice with. Until now I haven't been able to find a partner or friend to study with. If you see my comment, can you help me or give me suggestions for learning English?😢🙏

Is there a site or an app to connect to all the foreigners in Korea ?

Do you have the lawyers information? It’s really interesting what she mentioned. I’d like to know more and just be prepared before coming there. Thanks

I'm coming to Gaegu next month. I hope to make new friends

Korean people once u get to know them they are angels they are literally nice like angels

Muito interessante!

wow that girl speech so powerful

❤❤❤❤❤

brother pleeeeease make a fashion video sharing brands/stores in Korea, styling advice etc your drip is too good not to share some of that with the world 🧎

Technically speaking, Koreans can't become rude people if foreigners can keep their good manners toward Korean society. Supposing all people from overseas can follow Korea's national law and citizens' social vibes, nobody would show some bad attitude toward them. But many Chinese people don't want to accept South Korea's laws & orders, so most Koreans don't have positive thoughts for Chinese people who want to live in Korea. That's why Koreans don't love Chinese guys. For instance, many Chinese people don't want to learn Korean to communicate even though they live in Korea. However, most Westerners know how to respect Koreans. That's the difference between other foreigners and Chinese guys.

There are no trash cans cause back in the day older people would fill them up with their garbage, remember the older generation did not live in the modern Korea (Seoul) you see today hence a lot of the odd things you may find between other developed countries and Korea

Most annoying thing is, you can't ride the electric scooters without a helmet.

Article 32 of the Korean Constitution states, “Women’s labor is under special protection, and they shall not be subjected to unjust discrimination in employment, wages, and working conditions,” while Article 34 states, “The state shall endeavor to promote the welfare and rights of women.” Women’s rights are specifically managed by the Constitution, and as far as I know, there aren’t many countries like this. In South Korea, rape victims are limited to women under criminal law. There are no separate laws protecting men who are raped. And it has been deemed constitutional that only men are required to serve compulsory military service. In the Korean legal system, if a woman identifies a specific man as a sex offender, an investigation begins immediately based on the woman’s report and testimony. The former president (President Moon) ordered that once an investigation into a sex crime perpetrator begins, the perpetrator’s workplace or affiliated institution must be immediately notified, ensuring that the perpetrator suffers more than just the consequences of the crime. Notifying the workplace or affiliated institution at the investigation stage, when the individual is merely a suspect and not yet proven guilty, clearly violates the principle of presumption of innocence. There are many aspects of this country’s judicial system that can be seen as discriminating against men. What do you think?

That lawyer is telling the truth, listen to her girls and boys.

Korean culture and Islamic culture are very different. In Korea, atheists are the majority of the population, and most Koreans distance themselves from people who are too deeply involved in religion. It is a thoroughly secular country, and each religion respects other religions, so there are no major conflicts caused by religion. And even when people of different religions meet, they all live according to basic Korean etiquette and customs, so there is no difference in behavior due to religion. Even if you believe in Buddhism, everyone eats meat. And there are many cases where the mother goes to a temple and the daughter goes to church. Therefore, people who prioritize the laws of their religion while ignoring Korean etiquette and customs do not fit in well with Korean society. And there are many Koreans who are worried that certain religions will cause social problems.

you're so beautiful, I love how well dressed you are.

Damn Portuguese guy mogged tf outta me

The women from algeria! Did you ger divorced from Korean man ? Or am I misunderstanding

The Indian girl in the video is so pretty!

Law is with woman in korean. That laywer is wrong. Recently in military, man died due to intense training order from female commander. Soldier said many times he needs medical help. Commander continued training and he died. That female commander went on vacation for two weeks because of court order. She should have been areested right away for killing that soldier. Also man can get arrested for sexual assult without even evidence. Just verbal statement will be enuf.

2 servings?? no problem bruh let me in you good lmao

Hi!! We are an AMBW couple visiting my husband’s hometown of Daejeon, Korea for a little over a month (leaving early August) and it would be a dream to collaborate with you before we go!! Please lmk 😭❤️❤️🥰

요즘 한국에 있는 외국인들의 질나쁜 태도때문에 별로 안좋아함. 한국인 탓만하겠지. 그럼 방송 컨텐츠 바꿔서 외국인들이 현지에 잘적응하고사는지 한국인들한테 물어보는 영상 만들어보디그래요?

😂😂😂 agree, she does give rich Dubai vibes

이 썸네일은 정말 너무했다.

19:24 this is true in any communities

한국법을 안다고하는 여자분 한국법을 하나도 모르는거 같은데. 한국법은 애초에 남성 여성을 구분하지 않음. 특별한 경우에만 남녀를 구분하는데 그렇게 남녀를 구분하는 경우는 100% 여성이 불리하지 않게 하거나 또는 여성에게만 혜택을 부여하는 경우임. 법적으로 남녀를 차별하는 예를 하나도 들지 않고 한국법이 남성에게 유리하게 제정되어있다니 너무 헛소리임. 만약 개별 판결이 남성에게 유리하게 작용하는 경우도 있다고 하면 뭐 그건 해당 판사의 개인적인 법률 해석이라 그런경우도 있을수있으니 반박하지 않겠지만 법률 자체가 남녀 불공평하다는건 한국법을 전혀 모르는 사람이 하는 혓소리. 그리고 한국 법률은 굉장히 어렵게 쓰여있어서 국어 능력이 높은 한국 사람이 읽어도 그 의미를 제대로 이해하기가 굉장히 어려운데 아무리 한국어를 잘하는 외국인이라도 한국 법률을 제대로 이해한다는거는 예외없이 불가능함.

😊😊

As me being her ex - I’m happy she doesn’t miss me - we sucked BUT IM HAPPY SHES HAPPY. I’m happy 😊 8:48

the fact that they will always see you as a foreigner no matter what is so painful when we're all equal as people

Girl from Egypt...gah 🥰

Hi, why is Steve Lacy interviewing? 😂

11:42 funny that. Isn’t that pretty much the standard when you go abroad? 😂

Woah, 2.3 million foreigners in Korea is a big number.

Haha… “Yes… I.. was married to a Korean…”

In like 20-25 years, foreigners will be at least 10% of the population. With the decline in the Korean population and the rise in the foreign population.

Anyone can verify the info for that Algerian lawyer? I don't think she knows Korean law at all.

Your audio less high bro

keep korea korean

This video should be titled, "Let's see how many times foreigners can use the word 'like' in a five minute conversation." 🙄

1:45 It's fact!!!!

13:32 * through 𖦹‎꒰˵• ﻌ •˵꒱‎𖦹‎𓂃𓈒♡‪

"The law is not with women in Korea." Uhh men statistically get much harsher fines and sentencing than women when comparing the same crimes in Korea, but okay lady from North Africa. Apparently being a lawyer on the other side of the planet gives you insight into the prosecution situation everywhere you visit