2. Lots of cheap stuff, if you know where to look.
3. English is on the rise, so you can get by without speaking Korean (but seriously learn some to make your life easier).
4. Speaking of English, Korean borrows many English words into their vocabulary--they just "koreanify" them to follow Korean phonetics.
5. Gorgeous scenery in all 4 seasons, if--and only if--you can escape the crowds.
6. The people are very hospitable and generally understanding and forgiving of foreigners. They'll go out of their way to help you and accommodate you. There have been occasions when I felt I should pay them for their help.
7. The healthcare system works very well and is very affordable. I remember a doctor warning me about an "expensive" procedure that costs less than $30 USD. What a lovely memory.
Some Negatives about Korea (again, in no particular order)
1. Korean society is vertical with a ton of unwritten social norms that you must have in mind at all times, so you don't insult anyone--especially someone older than you. As a foreigner, you're exempt from most of them. This can be both good and bad.
2. Critical thinking isn't encouraged.
3. GOD must fit into Korean ideals, as in culture is god.
4. You're not free to be yourself if it involves something that goes against the Korean ideals/your group.
5. If when you go to wash your hands after using the toilet, 1 other person washes their hands with soap, you have witnessed an oddity. I'd say that is one thing COVID-19 has changed in Korea for the better.
6. The grand majority don't cover their mouths when they cough, sneeze, eat, etc.
7. They go to work/school/etc. sick, then infect everyone else and wonder why everyone around them is sick.
Abusive Elders
Korean culture is based on Confucianism's ethical codes of relationships. There is a way you treat your seniors, your juniors, those your age (automatically "friends," more on that later), your parents, your spouse, and so on. Culturally, Koreans respect their elders. I agree; we should respect our elders--but I also believe they (like everyone else) should earn said respect.
I don't like how "the older ones" in Korea tend to abuse their cultural, traditional, and social rights. Just saying "no" to an elder is considered rude. One can say "no" and be polite; Korean society just doesn't believe that--especially the elders. Oh, power...
Workaholics
Korean society, at large, has a solid work ethic. Koreans are so hard-working and so dedicated to their jobs, they allow themselves to become enslaved. The bosses take advantage of two main factors: the hierarchy and the economy. We already read above that the older (and higher up in rank) you are, the more power you hold. Unfortunately, power has corrupted many. Korea's economy is the kind where very few jobs are available, and there are too many workers per potential position.
Health is not a priority. Are you sick? If you can get out of bed, you can go to work. I don't know if Korean society believes in germs. According to how they act, apparently not. The society values going to work sick--and exposing all your vulnerable co-workers around you to getting sick--than staying home (or go to the doctor, then return home) and recovering.
Oh, don't get me started with the drinking culture . . . I'll go into that later under "Drunkards."
The bosses generally have poor time-management skills, and it's their subordinates who pay the price. The bosses give out so much unnecessary, busy-work--and they pass them out at the last minute. Workers are discouraged from leaving work at quitting time ("you are not dedicated to the company," or "you are lazy," etc.), but are made to work overtime--for free! If the worker doesn't like it, the worker will be forced to quit. Firing is something most companies don't want to deal with (apparently, there's more paperwork involved). How are workers forced to resign? Bosses (and others) bully their victims passive-aggressively. Yes, bullying is a thing even in corporate circles, they are just more sophisticated. The passive-aggressiveness in Korea is intense--and then some.
Appearances are King
Korean society values appearances, aesthetics, and general beauty. Who doesn't? Yet Korean society takes it to another level.
This society is obsessed with appearances. They have proved over and over that in Korea, "Appearance is everything. Substance is nothing." It's so bad, if they have an attractive applicant and a more qualified one, they will hire the more attractive person. Outward beauty has become a requirement for success in Korean society. Where else do parents pay for their children's (especially girls') plastic surgery as a high school graduation present? This is absurd to me.
What is also ridiculous is that we can see this in the West too. It's most likely not to the same degree, but it's there. The West is multicultural, with people from all backgrounds, shapes, skin tones, features, etc. We are taught that each person has their own inherent beauty. Plastic surgery (unless for health purposes) is looked on as a lavish waste of money and a sign of superficiality. In Korea, on the other hand, the situation is different. Korea is a homogeneous society--they all basically look alike. They have "clearer" standards of beauty since they haven't experienced anything else. Since things are as they are (beauty is a sign/requirement for success), plastic surgery is held at a similar level (or higher) to getting a degree. That's just how it is.
To the credit of Korean society, Koreans are more honest about others' appearances. In the States, if a woman asks you what you think of her make-up, she will be reassured she looks fine, even when she doesn't. Ask a Korean, and she will honestly, yet carefully, tell her she should wash her face and get something more appropriate. The Western woman would be offended, but in Korea, that is how one shows concern and that they genuinely care about you--though some use it to hurt others, too.
So Korean society, in general, may be shallower when it comes to appearances, but they are more honest about it than Westerners.
Safety
Generally, the country is pretty safe. Crime does happen, but not so often and in particular places (or so it seems to me). I know sexual slavery and rape is rampant, but it's one of those things that's hidden in plain sight if you know where to look and where to go. I don't drink and haven't been to any clubs, so I'm not an expert in this field. I delve further into this in the "Sexual Harassment" section.
Public Transport
The public transportation is excellent. Cars are not all that necessary, except in certain instances. Public transportation is cheap, efficient, and abundant. I never felt the need to get a car. Then again, with the traffic, I was very discouraged from driving in Korea.
Skincare
This may have to do with the beauty-obsession, but I'd say this is where Korea can teach the world. They put more emphasis on skincare than on make-up. Even their make-up goes towards the more natural look. They generally take outstanding care of their skin.
Drunkards
Drunkenness is an epidemic in Korea. Drinking is almost the only method used for bonding and dealing with stress. Some people can be harmless, but others can get quite violent. At least the government is starting to not accept drunkenness as an excuse for committing a crime (as they did about twenty years before or so--best research that and don't quote me). You want to drink, that's up to you, but please be careful and responsible.
You Can Never Belong
Foreigners will always be foreigners. You want to integrate into Korean culture and be adopted into Korean society? That will NEVER happen. It does not matter if you master the Korean language; adopt all the customs, traditions, and nuances and essentially "become Korean;" or even if you cut yourself off from wherever you're from. If you're a foreigner in Korea, you'll stay that way forever. Korea is not like many Western countries where anyone can eventually be integrated into the host country and become "one of us." Children of mixed marriages are becoming more common but still have a hard time. Think about that if you want to marry and raise a family in Korea with a Korean.
Tradition!
Korean tradition (or anything else Korean) will always be defended. Anything that is not will be rejected.
Superficial Relationships
Human relationships (again, in general) are so shallow! There are very few true friendships, real friendships. When they don't want to deal with you anymore, they will drop off the face of the planet. I have been ghosted countless times by Koreans. You try to contact them, but they will never respond--unless they want something from you. With that said, I do have a few Korean friends who are real friends. I am grateful for them, as they were tough to find.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Korea's technology is probably the most advanced in the world. Korea's internet and wifi are the strongest and of the highest quality in the world. I don't understand why Japan is considered the technology hub, Korea is ahead of Japan by a good 5 years or so. Perhaps this is because I've never been to Tokyo. But still, I stand by my opinion until I experience otherwise.
Couples to Young Families
Korean society (and Korea in general) is one that caters directly and exceptionally well to couples, newly-weds, and young families or families with very young children. Koreans adore little children. Korea has so many services and facilities that cater to families with young children. However, when the children are old enough to enter school, that is the moment to emigrate to another country--especially if those children are of mixed ethnicities!
Education System
When children enter school is when they enter afterschool academies (some start before school, but that's beside the point). A child may go to only one or two while in elementary school. Then in middle school, they (i.e., their parents) may enroll in more academies. High school is the worst. I learned that it was not strange to see children as young as eight returning home from academies at 7-8pm. Middle school students might return home after 10pm. High school students? You may find some returning home from afterschool academies past midnight--and they still need to do their homework for their high school classes.
Something that boggled my mind was students passing grade levels when they do not pass their classes in the previous grade level. Students are just passed through the conveyor belt, regardless of them understanding what was in their classes or not. Perhaps this is more common worldwide than I think, but my time teaching in Korean public schools was when I witnessed this for the first time.
Staring
Koreans don't think--or don't care--that staring at a person (especially a foreigner) is rude. They can't say they've never seen a foreigner before (at least not on TV). If out in the country, that's more understandable since foreigners are generally in the larger cities. But in said larger cities (like Seoul), Korean residents there have no excuses. But no, they still go on staring (my experience).
However, even though Koreans will stare at you until the cows come home--and after too, they are harmless. They are just curious or consider you to be interesting.
Sexual Harassment
Many middle-aged (and some older) men try to solicit "favors" from young (foreign) women. This usually happens when the men are drunk and forget the social norms for that moment. To get a better grip on the idea of sexual harassment in Korea, let me share this fact: Rape was first ruled a criminal offense in 1992! Many accused rapists claimed they were drunk and got off easy, but that is becoming less and less of a viable excuse.
If a man sexually harasses a woman in Korea (I mean generally) and she responds, whatever happens later is considered her fault. Why? The belief is, "if you ignore the problem, the problem will go away."
From one English teacher's account of being raped, she said she went to the police, and they were not helpful. The police even gave her rapist and his family her contact information so they could resolve the matter out of court. Apparently, this is/was common practice (google it). These situations are typically resolved by the guilty party paying the victim "blood money," then the victim drops the charges. Also remember, if a foreigner and a Korean are involved in a crime one commits against the other, the foreigner is always at fault.
As far as self-defense is concerned, whoever is the more injured is considered "the victim," even if that same person was the perpetrator. Basically, to be recognized as "the victim" in a court of law, you have to let yourself be attacked.
The By-Stander Effect
The By-Stander Effect is alive and well in Korea. If you're in trouble or anyone attacks you in a crowded area, no one will step in and help you. Crowds will gather around to watch and record on their smartphones, but no one will help. That's mostly due to the reasoning that it's none of their business, and they don't want to get in trouble.
***One more important point: a rich, powerful, famous Korean man is untouchable and above the law. He can get away with anything. The courts are starting to crack down on them, but many can bribe their way out of punishment too easily and too often. Stay away from them (you can find many in leadership roles in the K-pop industry, for example)
Foreigner Freedom
Foreigners have much more freedom and are under lower-expectations by the Koreans. Koreans are very understanding that foreigners have different customs and don't know "The Korean Way." Therefore, foreigners are quickly and often forgiven their cultural faux pas. Koreans know we don't know Korean (and many are not confident in their English ability, even though some have excellent English-speaking skills), so this they could either use to help us and benefit us or to take advantage of us. It really can go both ways.
Any questions? Is there something you believe I missed? Please share in the comments. Let's help each other out while it is still legal.
