Introduction
When you first arrive in Korea as a traveler, all your senses will be overwhelmed. You'll see bright lights, dazzling displays, and vibrant colors; your ears will fill with K-Pop blasting out from every corner; your nose will detect unfamiliar seasonings; and your tongue will encounter a spiciness like never before. You'll make new friends every day and immerse yourself in the culture. You'll also feel a sense of safety that might be absent in your home country. At that moment, you may wonder…
"What if I moved here?"
You'll imagine a life full of exploration and excitement. Today, I want to share some differences between being a tourist in Korea versus being a local.
The Traveler's Perspective
When I first came to Korea for an exchange semester, it felt like a dream. I could experience everything I'd seen in Korean dramas and hear my favorite songs on the streets! Every day was filled with constant exploration—traveling an hour to try a special dish at a restaurant, attending concerts and events weekly, and constantly meeting new people in new places. I would repeat this cycle every year when I visited Korea for a month. My Korean friends would always make time from their busy lives to meet me during these annual visits.
For travelers, Korea is a land of endless fascination and new experiences:
- Constant Excitement: Everything seems new and exciting. From the neon-lit streets of Seoul to the tranquil temples of Gyeongju, every sight is a source of wonder.
- Warm Hospitality: Travelers often experience exceptional kindness from locals. Koreans are known for their hospitality towards visitors, often going out of their way to help or welcome tourists.
- Sightseeing Adventures: Travelers are willing to commute for hours to visit famous attractions. A two-hour journey to see Busan's beaches or Jeju's volcanic landscapes is part of the adventure.
- Social Butterfly: Friends in Korea view meeting a traveler as a special occasion. They're more likely to make time for outings, dinners, or to show you around.
- Trying New Things: Every meal is a chance to try new Korean dishes. Every outing is an opportunity to experience Korean culture, from trying on hanbok to participating in a temple stay.
- Constant Movement: Travelers often hop from one city to another, trying to see as much of the country as possible in a limited time.
- Rose-Tinted Glasses: Minor inconveniences or cultural differences are often overlooked or seen as part of the charm of traveling.
The Long-Term Resident's Reality
When I decided to settle in Korea, I needed to adjust my expectations. My Korean friends wouldn't easily meet me every week to hang out anymore. Your radius of movement also gets smaller—these days, most of my activities revolve around my neighborhood. You start to build a routine life. Your focus shifts from exploring to building up your life. The things that once excited you, like eating Korean fried chicken (the better KFC) once a year, become something you can have any time of the day. It doesn't mean your life gets boring, but your focus becomes different. As a long-term resident, you'll face more challenges with Korean bureaucracy and institutions. The language barrier that was easily overcome when ordering coffee as a tourist becomes a different challenge when trying to explain something to an immigration officer.
For those who call Korea home for an extended period, the experience is quite different:
- Establishing Routines: Daily life settles into familiar patterns. The excitement of novelty is replaced by the comfort of routine.
- Limited Exploration: Residents tend to visit fewer places. The urgency to see every attraction diminishes as you realize you have time to explore at a slower pace.
- Changing Social Dynamics: Korean friends see you as a local. While this leads to deeper relationships, it also means they have less free time for frequent meetups or tours.
- Shrinking Radius: Your regular movement often becomes confined to your neighborhood and workplace. Venturing to other parts of the city or country becomes less frequent.
- Institutional Challenges: Long-term residents face more interactions with Korean institutions, from immigration to banking. This can lead to frustrations with bureaucracy and language barriers.
- Cultural Immersion: You start to understand the nuances of Korean culture, including both its positive aspects and challenges.
- Language Development: Unlike short-term travelers, residents often invest time in learning Korean, which opens up new experiences but also new challenges.
- Work-Life Balance: If working in Korea, residents must adapt to Korean work culture, which can be quite different from their home countries.
Conclusion
From my personal experience, these are the differences between coming to Korea as a tourist and now being a resident, it’s important to set expectations for each of the purposes.
Both traveling and living in Korea offer unique and valuable experiences. Travelers get to see the highlights and experience the initial magic of Korean culture. Long-term residents, on the other hand, gain a deeper understanding of the country, its people, and its way of life.
Whether you're planning a short trip or considering a move to Korea, understanding these differences can help set realistic expectations and prepare you for the journey ahead. Both perspectives offer invaluable insights into this fascinating country, and both have the potential to be life-changing experiences.
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Kim Ninja (Nguyen Huy Kim)
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