Culture Shocks as a Foreigner in South Korea

These may not be what you would expect…

“What culture shocks do you experience?” is one of the questions I’ve gotten the most since I’ve begun spending more time in South Korea. When I first traveled there, I had no idea what to expect. I’d only been out of the country twice, and had never been to Asia.

So, when I started planning for my first Korea trip, I was curious about what kind of culture shocks I would experience. Honestly, the shocks were not as “shocking” as I was originally expecting. There are definitely differences that I’ve experienced, but most of them are just that, differences, and not extreme things people may expect when thinking about culture shocks.

Perhaps one of the first differences I noticed was that of transportation. The public transportation is so fast, clean and efficient, a stark contrast from the brief glimpses of public transportation I’ve gotten in places like Washington D.C.

Though I absolutely love the transportation system in Korea now, figuring it out was definitely a learning curve. All of the signs and announcements feature English, but it was slightly overwhelming trying to figure out where I needed to go before I could read Korean. My mind would get so caught up on the Korean writing or speaking that I would make silly mistakes that I could have avoided if I hadn’t let myself get overwhelmed and had instead listened carefully to the English announcement or read the English portion of the sign.

Now, taking the public transportation is almost second nature. If you take the time to figure it out and use an app like Naver Map or Kakao Map, it really is a breeze to learn. Now that I can read and understand more Korean, I don’t really have to listen to the English announcements anymore!

Another shock I received in the transportation category was that of riding the bus. And I’m not talking about physically riding in a bus, but experiencing the bus drivers and the traffic in Seoul.

The bus drivers drive fast! As soon as I scan my transportation card, I am moving as quickly as I can to the nearest seat or spot to hold on to. As soon as the last person is on, they take off. I’ve never seen anyone fall, which is actually surprising, but I heard that it does happen fairly often.

You’ll never feel like you’re closer to falling on your face than when you’re on the tiny lime green buses with smiley faces. Yes, those are a thing, and they will fly down the street at record speeds while honking, a lot.

Even if the train or bus is filled to the brim with people, it will almost be entirely silent. People are generally listening to music, watching a movie or show, reading a book or working. Amidst the hustle and bustle of work, the city, and their lives, the public transportation seems like a place people can stop and take a breather, if only for a short time.

Trains and buses have reserved seats for the elderly, pregnant women, and handicapped, and people who are not in that category should not sit in those seats, even if they are empty. I especially loved seeing that pregnant women could sit down without worry, even if the train or bus was very busy.

Many deliveries, food, packages, etc., are delivered via delivery drivers on motorcycles or other motor bikes rather than deliver trucks like the FedEx and UPS trucks we see in the U.S.

These bikes also drive fast, and you’d better move out of their way. They will drive up right behind you if you’re walking in their path.

Trucks and semi-trucks are fairly commonplace in all areas of the U.S., but you will not see many trucks in Korea, especially in Seoul. Parking is not easily accessible, and trucks are often too big to make sense.

After figuring out the transportation side of things, there are also customs in public that I had to learn. I love these customs. Bowing as a sign of respect is an integral part of the culture, and it may take place more often and for more reasons than you might originally think.

Times you’ll usually find locals doing a slight bow include saying hello, goodbye, thank you, sorry, and more. It didn’t take long before I found myself slightly bowing while doing these things without even thinking about it. I love the culture of respect and how these traditions make you feel like you are important to a stranger. I don’t even know how to fully explain it, but that’s the best way I can describe it.

Locals will also give and receive items with two hands, rather than one. Accepting or giving an item with one hand can be perceived as rude, but two hands show respect for the individual on the other end. I find myself using both hands to do things like hand my debit card to a barista at Starbucks even after returning home.

By now, I’m sure many of you know that my favorite band (BTS) is from South Korea. K-pop and music in general is such a big deal in this country, and I didn’t fully grasp that until I experienced it in person. You will see photos of these groups everywhere, from billboards to store shop windows to restaurants, skincare places, and more. You’d be hard pressed to find a city street that doesn’t feature at least one singer or actor somewhere, and there is fan-made and official merch galore available for these groups.

On celebrity’s birthdays, billboards and bus ads will feature happy birthday messages from fans, and cafes will host birthday celebrations. It’s so unique and really fun!

While celebrities in America seem to get a free pass to do whatever they want to do, the standard seems to be different in Korea. It almost seems like their celebrities are held to a higher standard and are expected to be good role models for the people who admire their work and them as people. I find that very fascinating as well, and think it should be more commonplace everywhere.

People love to take photos. Whenever I take photos alone with my little tripod for my Substack or Instagram, I never feel awkward. More than likely, there are three or four other people in the same location taking photos as well. If you’re with a friend and want a photo to commemorate your time together, you’ll be able to find one (or more) very high-quality photo booths just around the corner.

Photo booths aren’t the only thing you’ll see a lot of. There are couples EVERYWHERE. When I say everywhere, I really mean everywhere. I say this, mostly joking, but you’ll never feel more single than when you’re walking the streets of Seoul or sitting along the Han River. What’s more, couples love to match. I literally think it’s the cutest thing!

Matching couple outfits can range from merely wearing the same color shirt to matching shoes or wearing full-blown matching outfits, one female version and one male version. It always makes me smile seeing these sweet couples match like this.

I’ve even seen a few stores that sell matching shirts in male and female sizes, and I’m guessing one of the reasons is so couples can purchase these together.

The couple clothes aren’t the only fashion aspect of Seoul that tends to stand out.

Walking the streets of Seoul is like walking in a fashion show every single day. Everyone is always dressed so nice! I wasn’t expecting this level of fashion my first trip, when oversized t-shirts, sweat pants, leggings, and skimpy clothing is considered a norm in the U.S. The fashion has become one of my favorite parts about being in Korea, or Seoul specifically, and it really has helped shape my own style.

Everyone is always dressed so stylishly, and even girls just going to a cafe are dressed like they are going to a special event. Tank tops aren’t commonplace, and you’ll rarely, if ever, see cleavage.

Not only is the fashion amazing, it is also very affordable, at least compared to the U.S. While the malls can be more expensive, areas like Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, Myeongdong, and Gotomall (underground) in Gangnam feature street shopping or underground shopping malls that are not only super cute, but incredibly well-priced too. I don’t even really buy clothes in the U.S. anymore!

While walking through the city, you will see larger dog breeds like a Golden Retriever from time to time, but the majority of dogs are small. Many are even wearing cute little sweaters or other outfits.

Oh, and if you see a stroller? There will more than likely be a dog in it, rather than a child.

After I interned in Washington D.C., I became very wary and nervous to be in big cities alone or even to be out after dark. When I first went to Seoul, I caught myself feeling panicked when I would walk through certain areas of the city or was out after dark. I had to retrain my brain to realize that where I was at was different than what I was used to.

While it was unsafe to be in certain areas of D.C. alone or to be out after dark, it’s different in Seoul. While it’s still important to be aware of your surroundings, being out in the city in Korea is not the same. It’s much safer! Though being out after dark made me anxious when I first arrived, I now love strolling down the streets and being at the river after sundown. I’ve never felt unsafe!

Even though I’m mentioning this toward the end of this Substack, I’m sure you could guess that an obvious (expected) shock was the language barrier, though the barrier did not feel as steep as I expected my first time. I was almost prepared for it to be difficult to get around or hard to do day-to-day things, but that was not the case. The people I’ve encountered have been so friendly and welcoming, and we are usually able to understand each other with my limited Korean and the English they know. Many of the people I’ve met in cafes or other areas know a lot of English, and if not, I get a chance to practice Korean!

I love listening to conversations in Korean, even if I can’t understand all that is being said. I think it’s a beautiful language, and being surrounded by it is one of my favorite parts of being in Korea.

Now, on to the food. A lot of people have asked me about the food as well, and there were definitely a few things that shocked me. Namely, the live octopus that is apparently considered a delicacy. I’ll be honest, just the thought freaks me out, so I don’t plan on giving that a try. I’ve also seen chicken and pig feet in certain areas as a food that people enjoy, and I’ve heard more foreigners say they enjoy it than don’t, though that mental hurdle might be difficult to overcome (haha).

Before my first trip, I hadn’t really had the option to eat Korean food. I was worried that the new cuisine would cause stomach issues during my trip, but I’m happy to say that I LOVE Korean food. I’ve loved (almost) everything that I’ve tried. Korean food is pretty spicy, but as a girl who grew up eating spicy food all the time, I really do love it. I crave it all the time when I’m not there! I think many foreigners (especially those who aren’t used to spicy food) may be shocked by the spice level in many places.

On days when I feel like eating something different, however, there is a plethora of restaurants with other options like hamburgers, Italian, Chinese, Mexican and more, as well as chains like McDonald’s, Domino’s, and Shake Shack too!

Waiters and waitresses don’t usually come to your table automatically like in the U.S. Typically, there is an order option via touchscreen ordering kiosks, either when you enter the restaurant or at the table. If that option isn’t available, you will have to call out for the waiter or waitress, and they will come to your table. Though this may seem rude to do in the U.S., it is commonplace in South Korea.

While we’re on the topic of technology, I can’t forget to add that it feels like Korea is living in 2050. The technology everywhere is honestly astounding, even from places like hair salons (you have to try a scalp analysis, trust me) and skincare clinics.

People also ask about negative encounters or shocks that I have experienced, and only a few come to mind. Sometimes, older people will cut in line or push around you if they think they have the right of way. This has only happened to me twice, and I have heard stories from others who have experienced this as well. This doesn’t seem to be an exclusively foreigner experience, but a young person experience in general.

I know some foreigners worry about standing out or being stared at, but I’ve found that the people tend to mind their own business, though I know some people may have different stories. The places I’ve been to in Korea are very foreigner friendly! There are many foreigners from all over the world living and going to university in Korea now.

There have been a few times people have asked me where I’m from, act curious, or take note of my appearance, but I really don’t mind at all. I always enjoy speaking with the people who want to talk. One elderly man on the train talked to me about his time in the U.S. and gave me Seoul recommendations for nearly 30 minutes, and I really enjoyed our conversation.

People aren’t permitted to smoke unless they are in designated areas, and in those designated areas, you will see a lot of people smoking. People will also spit on the sidewalk around those spots as well. I usually just try to avoid these areas as best as I can.

If you’re heading to Korea for the first time, it’s important to know that cults will have representatives in popular tourist areas (I’ve mostly noticed them in Myeongdong or outside Seoul Station) who try to recruit people to join their organization or donate to their cause. Many times, they almost sound like Christian or Catholic missionaries on a street corner, but that is rarely the case. If you don’t stop, talk to them, or take the “free” gifts they’re offering (like a bracelet) and just ignore and walk by, they won’t bother you. I’ve never had an issue.

I’m thankful that the good shocks outweigh the bad!

There you have it! These are the culture shocks I have experienced during my time in South Korea. Though the fear of cultural differences or culture shocks can keep some people from traveling, I hope all of you who read this see that the vast majority of these “shocks” were good things that have allowed me to fully experience a country that I’ve come to love dearly. If you’re thinking about traveling to South Korea or other areas in Asia, I hope you take this as your sign ;)

Were these shocks what you were expecting? Did I miss anything you were curious about? Let me know! :)