Translation by Marcel Garipov - website
Before I went to South Korea to teach English, I prepared myself for a cultural upheaval. I even found out that people take "GangnamStyle" quite seriously, and I was blown away. But all my preparation collapsed in one moment, when I began direct acquaintance with the country and its culture.
1. Same-sex touching is the norm.
In South Korea, it is a common practice for boys, guys, men to touch each other. They do it non-stop. For them, it's like a handshake. Since I taught at a youth school, these constant touches, desires to feel each other platonically confused me very much. While I squinted at their strange habits, suggesting something gay, the other guys in the class saw nothing in this, except as a sign of friendliness.
This behavior is also common in the relationship between students and the teacher, it confirms that you are of the same sex. In general, in the environment in which I moved, I rarely saw a purely formal relationship. All of them were backed up by friendly pats on the shoulder, neck massages and hair plays. This is common even in high school and between fellow teachers.
There's a tradition at the teacher's lunch where you have to drink to impress your boss. During such "gatherings" Koreans love to touch each other's Poles (both from the outside and from the inside, which is even more embarrassing). I repeat, no hints of a dirty business. As a foreigner, they did not want to deprive me of attention or make me feel superfluous. No matter where you are: at a dinner, in a public shower, at a bus stop - touch plays a huge role for them.
But upon arrival in Korea, one should not immediately rush at men. As I understand it, they also know what same-sex love is and some even practice it. I once saw one student sitting on the lap of another and gently stroking him on the inside of his leg. When he saw me, he said: “Master, this is gay!”
2. They don't care about North Korea.
Imagine that you have a neighbor from above who constantly threatens you, but does nothing, because he realized after the very first time that it was useless to do something with you. Will you take his words seriously in this case?
This is what North Korea looks like in the eyes of the South. At least for adults. They are already accustomed to the daily: "We can die at any time from a nuclear explosion." For them, it's like "good morning", which they have been hearing since the 1970s.
Last year, the media publicized information that North Korea was allowed to openly use its nuclear program. I panicked. My relatives called me regularly to find out if I was still alive there. I was extremely surprised when they informed me that the UN was ready to take me out of the country as soon as possible. And when I went to work to consult with colleagues, I expected to see panic scenes like in the movie Independence Day.
But instead, when I opened the door to the building, I saw the sleepy face of a guard who was catching flies with his wide-open yawning mouth. After walking a little along the corridor, I did not notice anything unusual. It was even unusual that everything was normal. To my quite expected question, the colleague replied (as usual, hugging my waist): “They say that all the time ...”.
Since the early 1960s, North Korea has been a constant threat to its southern neighbors. And guess how many times in almost 60 years they dropped a nuclear bomb? That's right - zero! North Korea is like a little kid yelling, whining, doing stupid things or asking for help to get attention.
3. The noisiest place on the planet.
If you start making noise in America (loud music, long-awaited guests, New Year), then your neighbors will certainly call the police. You may even be taken to jail.
And here? When you come just to talk to the neighbors who listen to the same 'GangnamStyle' at full volume for hours on end, the Koreans will just laugh, and then they will tell their friends about you for a long time. I first encountered such a phenomenon on the street when a truck with a loudspeaker sped ahead of me. I thought that they were broadcasting an extremely important announcement, but as it turned out, the driver just wanted to sell pears. After all, we all know that pears flavored with a few thousand decibels are much tastier.
Opposite my rented apartment is a hardware store. Every week they turn the speakers up to full volume, and the two girls start dancing, dancing, trying to sing something. Meanwhile, in the shop itself, people buy flash drives, everything is very peaceful, calm, and blood is already flowing from their ears.
Korea also has “sound” police, but it’s just not clear what they are doing in this country. Maybe they will come to the call if the president himself calls them. And at the same time, ordinary people cope on their own.
4. Your health is someone else's business.
Westerners greatly value the secrecy of all personal information. In South Korea, you can forget about it. Here, asking regularly about other people's affairs, especially about health, and being interested in them as if they were your own, is the norm. If some unfamiliar Korean tells you that you are fat, then you should not accuse him of insulting you. He genuinely cares about your health (diabetes or other issues). They don't want you to suddenly have a heart attack when you go up to the second floor. They just want to save your life. They will do anything to keep you alive.
When I got to the hospital (I had an ear problem, probably because of that pear truck), I was served by a nurse. Later, she wanted to know how I was doing. And instead of just calling, she asked the first foreigner she came across. As if we all know each other and look the same :)
No, we certainly knew each other. But that's just a happy coincidence.
But still... this time it was just an ear, but what if I had something that I didn't want to share with the whole city? At the second appointment, the doctor gave me the results of my colleague's analysis. Maybe my friend is ashamed of her allergies, and she gave me all the ins and outs of her. The doctor just thought it would be convenient if I just brought the results to her.
But that's half the trouble. If I have depression, then my superiors, who invited me here and are interested in success, can easily find out about my condition and fire me. And then I will fall into even more depression. A vicious circle is obtained.
5. Prostitution is illegal, and it's very cool.
Prostitution is illegal. So it is written in local legislation (or in some other official document). The authorities simply cannot legalize it, otherwise they will just look like a bunch of pimps. In this case, they just close their eyes and pretend it doesn't exist. But the pimps themselves do not become impudent. There is a lot of caffeine in the city, where any man who is hungry for affection can take a young “cup of coffee” for the night. These coffee shops do without luminous signs and bright banners. Everyone knows what coffee is served there. The owners just write the phone number and that this is a coffee shop. The authorities are not particularly opposed. It's like making the wind blow in the opposite direction.
Don't like coffee? You can go to the "hairdresser", "foot care salon" or even "mountain travel agency" - you choose.
There are special clubs, like karaoke bars. You go there, choose a girl. She spends the whole evening with you: she dances, sings, gives water, feeds, and then offers a special service. It all depends on the size of your wallet or endurance. My colleagues told me that the service there is oh-so.
Nobody calls prostitution prostitution. She's illegal. Call it last resort. service.
6. They are obsessed with their own photos.
It is likely that at the very first small talk, a Korean will tell you a few words about your appearance. These can be unremarkable clichés like, “You have a pretty face!” or "Beautiful eyes!". But mostly these will be comments aimed at adjusting your appearance. And not only faces. "Your hair looks like straw!" "You look tired!" "Do squats every morning!" they say all this without wanting to offend you. On the contrary, they want you to finally start working on yourself. But that's already pretty annoying.
They are not rude, just looking good for a Korean is everything. If you look bad, then something is wrong with you. Everyone has a small mirror (even men) to adjust their curls. Even my male colleagues, at every opportunity, stop at the mirror and check the hair. Even my wife doesn't look in the mirror as much as these fashion models.
Only then do you realize that these are 18 different women. And not just the same one with different hairstyles. All of them work a double shift: their paid working day and in the morning in front of a mirror. That's where, where, and here plastic surgery is held in high esteem.
A friend of mine who teaches at a girls' school once asked his students how they would spend their holidays. One of the girls said that her mother gave her plastic surgery on her eyes or eyelids. The words of a loving mother are not enough for them, that her princess will always be the most beautiful and sweetest. They all strive for perfection. Everyone wants to be like an Asian Barbie, as I understand it.
So what else do they hate about themselves? They believe that their eyes are too small, so by reducing the inner corners of the eye, they increase them. They cut away the cheekbones and reduce the jaw to achieve a V-shaped face, and remove the ribs in pursuit of an S-shaped body.
But besides the mentality and the vanity imposed by Hollywood, there is also a practical side to the ideal appearance. Throughout the Asian world, competition is pressing on a person. In Korea, when applying for a job, along with a portfolio, you must provide photographs. Even if appearance does not matter in this specialty. A handsome person is more often hired - such is the statistics.
So we are going to Korea, find out where it is better to order a diploma so that you can be hired there and do a good photoset and a couple of plastic surgeries;)
P.S. My name is Alexander. This is my personal, independent project. I am very glad if you liked the article. Want to help the site? Just look below for an ad for what you've recently been looking for.
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Personal competition, the cult of food and plastic surgery
I have always liked Asian culture.
Ekaterina Alexandrova
left Moscow for Seoul
I entered the Moscow State University in the Department of Korean and after the second year I went to Seoul for a month-long internship.
When she graduated from the bachelor's degree, she immediately applied to the master's program at Seoul National University. It was four years ago. Now I live in Seoul, writing a thesis and teaching at a private academy of the Russian language.
Visas
For the duration of my master's degree, I applied for a D-2 study visa, which allows me to work a few hours a day. To do this, I needed a passport, an application, two photographs, a bank statement, an invitation from the university and permission from the university to apply for a visa - it says that the work will not interfere with the educational process. The visa processing fee is $60. The study visa can be extended, there is no need to leave the country.
A year ago, I changed my visa to E-2: it allows me to work as a teacher in private language academies. It can be issued by those who graduated from a university in Russia and received a bachelor's degree. To change my visa, I brought to the immigration center an agreement with the employer, an employer's license, a diploma from Moscow State University with an apostille, a certificate of medical examination, and a certificate of no criminal record. The visa processing fee is $60.
The visa was issued for one year - this is the duration of my work contract. If the employer extends the contract with me, I will extend the visa.
60 $
cost of a visa
To work full time, you need to get a residence permit - an F-2 visa. It is given for 3 years, after which it can be extended. Each applicant for a visa is evaluated according to a point system: you must score at least 80 out of 120. Age, education, knowledge of the Korean language, income, volunteer work experience are assessed. It is also usually required to pass the Korean integration program - a special course for foreigners about life in the country.
Now I just passed the exam to determine the level of the Korean language - I have the fifth, maximum. It remains to listen to 50 hours of the integration program - and you can submit documents.
For those who do not speak Korean well, it is difficult to obtain a residence permit.
public services
Every foreigner who plans to stay in Korea for more than 90 days must obtain a registration card or a foreigner's card. For a non-resident, this is the main document.
To get a registration card, you need to come to the immigration center and submit the documents: I brought an invitation from the university, an order for admission to the university, a completed application form and a photo. Three weeks later I took the finished card.
The home address is indicated on the card - if it changes, you must report this to the immigration center within two weeks. Once I forgot about this rule and I was fined $70 (3900 R).
70 $
fine for incorrectly indicated address on a foreigner's card
There are two large offices of immigration centers in Seoul. I came across only polite and friendly specialists, they were never rude. The inspectors do not speak English well, so it will be difficult without knowledge of the Korean language. Volunteer translators can be found at the immigration center - they may be able to help, but it will not be fast.
Documents are accepted here only by prior electronic appointment. This is not always convenient: during the peak months, you cannot get an appointment. Last time, I waited a month for my turn, because a new academic semester had begun and there was an influx of students. With urgent questions, they should be taken out of turn: for example, if my visa runs out, it will be extended for me on the same day. How it works in practice, I have not tested.
Salaries and work
The Korean currency is called won. 100 ₩ is approximately 5 R.
The minimum wage in Korea is ₩7,530 (R398) per hour, ₩1,573,770 (R83,278) per month. The amount is set each year by the Department of Labor. Approximately how much do people working in the service sector earn. My friend worked in the mobile communications department and after 2 years of work he received 1,700,000 ₩ (90,500 R) per month.
Young educated Koreans tend to work in large national corporations. The salary of a young specialist in such a company starts from 2.5 million won (133,000 R) per month.
Students start looking for work in their fourth year. At the beginning of the semester, Korean corporations publish vacancies, students choose the ones they like and send a portfolio. Next, applicants will be invited to take tests - psychological and on the level of intelligence. Those who pass will be called for a series of interviews, usually three. I also have to go through all this: when I graduate from the master's program, I will look for a full-time job.
Young Koreans who have received a good education complain that it is difficult for them to find a job and are angry at the system. They have equally good education, internship experience in local and foreign companies, but there are not so many high-paying jobs on the market. There are plenty of less prestigious jobs. The official unemployment rate in South Korea is 3.3%.
Koreans work hard. In the standard vacancy they write that the working day is from 9:00 to 18:00. In fact, everyone is delayed, the employee cannot leave before his immediate supervisor. The normal situation is when a newcomer works until two in the morning, in the morning he comes cheerfully by 9:00, and then he still works on weekends.
South Korea has a hierarchical system: if you are older in age or position, you can manage the younger ones. This is especially noticeable in local companies where all employees are Korean. Usually leaders, people of the old school, chase the young: if they don’t like something, they will yell or even give a slap in the face.
After work, it is customary for men to drink with colleagues. On the eve of the day off, such companies will have fun all night: they will eat in one cafe, drink in another, then go to karaoke, then go to drink coffee. Men drink a lot, drinking on weekdays is considered normal. It is even surprising that Koreans consider Russians to be a more drinking nation. Korean vodka is called soju, its strength is 20%.
The increase depends on how many years you have been with the company. When applying for a job, the applicant is told when he can be promoted and what needs to be done for this: for example, pass some kind of qualifying exam. Usually increase after 3-4 years of work.
3 years
you need to work at least in a Korean company to get a promotion
Holidays in Korea are short: a maximum of 10 days, so everyone tries to relax on national holidays. On the Korean New Year, in February, they rest for 4-5 days. At the end of October - November, three dates are celebrated at once: Thanksgiving Day, the day of Korean writing and the day of the founding of the Korean state. Last year, these three holidays stood side by side and the whole country rested for 11 days.
taxes
Personal income tax is calculated and deducted from the salary by the employer. For employees working in Korean companies, the tax rate varies from 8 to 35% - depending on the amount of income.
Our academy retains 3.3% from foreigners. But if the annual salary is less than 24 million won per year, you can apply for a tax deduction.
Value added tax - 10%. It is indicated directly on the check.
Banks
About 10 large banks operate in Seoul, their offices can be found near any metro station. There are also local banks, such as the Busan Bank, but they are not particularly visible in Seoul.
Opening an account is easy. I did not choose a bank on purpose - I went to the first branch that came across, located on the campus of my university. I filled out an application and then they gave me a card. The design of the card can be pre-selected on the bank's website.
I use the so-called check card - this is an improved debit card. Unlike a regular Korean debit card, it can be used at any time, not just during bank business hours. A check card is accepted in all stores, and when paying, you do not need to enter a password. Service is free.
You can control your spending using a mobile application. In Korea, banks are obsessed with security: in order to pay for a purchase on the Internet, you need to verify your identity four times.
This is how I pay rent. I open the application, access to the account - by fingerprint. I enter the account number and the amount, confirm it again with a fingerprint. Then I enter the card pin and password from a special card. It is issued at the bank along with a debit card, this is a mandatory requirement for all banks in South Korea.
Buying something on the Internet in South Korea is terribly inconvenient, but you can not be afraid of scammers. I have never heard of someone stealing money from a card.
Paying with a card in a store is easy: in large cities everywhere there is a cashless payment. Unless the market may not accept the card if the seller is a Korean grandmother. Sometimes sellers ask you to pay in cash, but they can be refused.
Housing
It is easy for a foreigner to rent an apartment in Seoul, but decent housing is not cheap. As a rule, apartments are rented through real estate agencies - the metro is full of their offices. The agency will charge a commission for its services.
21 500 R
per month I pay for a one-room studio
The rental price depends on the size of the deposit: the larger it is, the less you pay per month. Therefore, in Korea, there are two ways to rent a home: wolsa, with a small deposit and regular monthly payments, and cheonse, with a huge deposit, about 90% of the cost of housing, but without monthly rental payments. In this case, you pay only for utilities. For apartment owners, this is beneficial, because they will put a huge amount of collateral into circulation.
Room. I lived in the dormitory of my university for a year and a half, I had a double room with a shower room and a toilet. Monthly rent cost 216,000 ₩ (11,600 R). Separately made a deposit - the amount of the monthly rent. It was returned when I checked out of the hostel, only a small amount was deducted for the lost keys.
Students who do not have enough space in the dormitory rent "koshiwon" or "hasukchib". Koshiwon is a room in an apartment building designed like a dormitory. Khasukchib is a room in a private house where the hostess also prepares food.
Studio. Now I rent a studio apartment near the university. In Korea, such housing is called rooms. There are several types of them: "uanrum" (one room), "turum" (two rooms) and "ofistel" - studio apartments that can also be used as offices.
I have a oneroom. Singles live in such rooms, for example, a man who came to Seoul to work, or a nonresident student.
Prices depend on the area. In my area, close to Seoul University and civil service academies, there are many rental housing offers, so prices are lower. I pay 400,000 ₩ (21,500 R) per month for a oneroom. I pay separately for gas - 20,000 ₩ (1100 R) and electricity - 15,000 ₩ (800 R). I don't pay for water and internet. There is no central heating in Korea, apartments are heated with underfloor heating or air conditioning.
The rent of my one-room studio 3 years ago cost at 1,600,000 ₩ (86,500 R). I made a deposit - 1,000,000 ₩ (54,000 R), paid the first month - 400,000 ₩ (21,500 R) and gave 200,000 ₩ (11,000 R) commission to the agency.
Apartment. Renting an apartment is much more expensive. For example, an office flat with an area of 23 m² will cost 700,000 ₩ (37,000 R) per month, another 70,000 ₩ (3,600 R) will have to be paid for utilities. The problem is a huge deposit - 10,000,000 ₩ (520,000 R).
In such apartments live people who have already got a job, but have not yet started their own family.
520 000 R
deposit for one-room apartment in Seoul
It is convenient to search for an apartment through applications, the most popular are Zigbang and Da-bang. There you can filter offers by distance from the metro, rental amount, deposit, and so on.
Public transport
In Seoul, all transportation is very comfortable. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. In the subway, for example, heated seats.
In the Go Pyeongchang app, you can see the time and cost of the trip for all types of transport. It was released specifically for the Winter Olympics:
Unlike the Moscow Metro, each station has free clean toilets. The only negative is that you have to wait a long time for the train, 10-15 minutes. Unless it's rush hour, of course.
These vending machines sell transport cards. Travel money is put on the card. If you pay for the fare in cash, then each trip will be more expensive by 100 ₩ (5 R) 
Buses. The trip is paid by transport card or in cash. Large bills will not be accepted - prepare money with a face value of 1000 or 5000 ₩. The price of a trip for 12 km is 1200 ₩ (63 R). The transfer system is very convenient. If you have made up to 3 transfers within half an hour (after 21:00 - within an hour), then you pay only 100 won.
Routes are color-coded. Green buses run short distances in one area. Blue buses pass through the city, connecting outlying areas. Red and yellow buses go to the suburbs.
Taxi. The trip is paid according to the meter. The price of a trip for 12 km is 10,700 ₩ (560 R). I rarely use a taxi, only when I'm traveling with friends.
Bicycles. A convenient bike rental service was launched in Seoul a couple of years ago, and the network is constantly expanding. We made a mobile application for rental. There you can see how many bikes are at a particular stop.
The first hour of rental costs 1000 ₩ (53 R), every subsequent half hour - the same amount.
Religion
In Korea, slightly more than half of the population are atheists, in second place are Protestants, and in third place are Buddhists. Therefore, the first thing that may surprise you in Seoul is a huge number of churches that do not differ in outstanding architecture. Often a church is an ordinary building, sometimes even a residential one, over which a cross rises.
In Seoul there are churches of different directions of Protestantism. The believers want to expand their parish, so they preach in the streets. Representatives of the church can be found on the subway, on the streets near churches, at train stations and in tourist places, even at universities. Often they walk the subway cars with exclamations that it is time for everyone to believe in God.
If you decide to talk to a preacher, they will tell you that you speak Korean perfectly, they will offer you coffee and talk about problems and your life in Korea. If you listen to the end, they will begin to explain the philosophy of Protestantism to you and invite you to the service. For the coffee that you were offered, at the end of the conversation you will be asked to pay.
Therefore, I advise you to immediately answer obsessive preachers that you are busy or in a hurry.
School
Studying in South Korea is stressful.
As in Russia, children go to school from the age of 7. In Korea, age is considered differently, so in Korean it is 8 years. Education takes 12 years: elementary school - 6 years, secondary - 3 years, senior - 3 years.
Koreans study from morning to evening. After classes, they do their homework - right there, at school - and then go to additional lessons at the so-called academies. These are small private schools where they teach playing the piano and guitar, foreign languages, and additionally study school subjects.
Parents try to load their children to the maximum, so schoolchildren return home at 11-12 pm. On the one hand, parents understand that this is very difficult for children. On the other hand, sitting at home and doing nothing is not accepted in Korea. Koreans are dependent on other people's opinions: if the son of a mother's friend learns to play a musical instrument and additionally studies two foreign languages, then your child should also be enrolled in some courses.
As a rule, in primary and secondary school, Koreans go to public schools. They are free, except for additional services. In high school, they try to send the child to a private school - if the family, of course, has money. In Seoul, foreign language schools are considered the most prestigious, they are paid, there is a big competition.
12 years
studies in a regular Korean school
The main goal of an ambitious high school student is to pass the state exam with a decent grade and enter a good university. This is the only way to get a well-paid job in a large corporation - in Samsung or Hyundai. If the student did not pass the exam as well as he wanted, he can wait a year and take the exam again. So do many.
University
Higher education is paid. At Seoul National University, the cheapest departments are the Humanities, Law, and Management Departments. The cost of annual education is 2,611,000 ₩ (137,000 R). The most expensive faculties are veterinary and pharmaceutical, 4,650,000 ₩ (244,000 R) per year. Keep in mind that this is a state university, so the cost of education here is several times lower than other universities.
137 000 R
worth a year of study at Seoul National University in the humanities
Most universities in South Korea are private. To study completely free of charge, you need to receive a scholarship from a foundation or corporation. It is necessary to pass a series of tests and serious interviews, few manage to be among the lucky ones.
In all of South Korea, only about ten universities are considered prestigious. For the top three universities, the Koreans came up with the designation SKY, according to the first letters of the names: Seoul National University (Seoul National University), Korea University (Koryo University), and Yonsei University (Yonsei University). A Korean who wants to work in a large corporation will try to enter one of these three universities.
Many Koreans, especially men, finish university late - it's normal to study until the age of 30 in Korea. Study is delayed because of the army: it is customary to leave for service after the first or second year. The service takes 2 years. It is impossible to mow down: bribes do not exist, and, most importantly, the Koreans themselves are suspicious of those who have not served.
Even among students, it is customary to take academic leave and go abroad for internships - for six months or a year. They do this to increase their value in the eyes of the employer. To do this, Koreans collect portfolios - they receive certificates of proficiency in computer programs, improve their second foreign language, pass TOEIC - an exam for the level of English proficiency, which is required in all companies without exception. In this test, you can earn a maximum of 990 points. A good score is 850 points or more. In "Samsung" and "Hyundai" they accept with results from 900 points.
Medicine
Medical insurance is optional for foreigners. For example, I don’t have it, no one has ever asked about it. Nevertheless, I am going to apply for it, because medical services are expensive. The insurance will cover from 40 to 70% of the amount of treatment, and in case of hospitalization, the insurance will pay 80% of the costs.
So far, I know that the monthly cost of insurance for working foreigners depends on the size of the salary. The amount of earnings - at least 280,000 ₩ (15,000 R) - is multiplied by the insurance premium rate - 5.08%. An employee who earns 1.5 million ₩ (80,000 R) per month will pay 76,200 ₩ (4,000 R) for insurance every month. Half of the amount is compensated by the employer.
It is better to take out insurance as soon as you arrive in Korea. I did not do it in time, and now I will be charged contributions for all the months that I spent in the country. If you are going to Korea to study, you can negotiate with the university to arrange insurance for you.
All hospitals in South Korea are private, the largest are located at universities. They have a lot of Russian patients - they come to be examined or treated for serious illnesses, such as cancer. Usually institutions have centers for foreigners with a staff of translators.
I went to more budget clinics. Recently, in a large medical center, I did an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity - without insurance I paid 167,400 ₩ (9000 R), another 30,000 ₩ (1600 R) cost a doctor's appointment.
9000 R
I paid at the clinic for an abdominal ultrasound
With a cold, she turned to therapists in small private hospitals - there are many of them near the metro. The doctor examined me, wrote out a prescription for pills, I paid for it and took the medicine. No need to pre-register - just come and wait for your turn. I paid about 30,000 ₩ (1500 R) for a doctor's appointment and pills.
In Seoul, 24-hour pharmacies operate only in certain areas, the rest close at 18:00. Without a prescription, you can buy the simplest medicines, vitamins and ointments.
Hospitals are also closed after 18:00, except for emergency rooms. Koreans are ideal patients. In a situation where we will call an ambulance, they will go to the hospital themselves, in their car or taxi. I saw an ambulance on the streets only a few times.
Koreans often use droppers, including for minor ailments. There are even special droppers for hangovers. A cold can be cured with an injection if you see a doctor when the first symptoms appear.
Oriental medicine is popular among the older generation, where they are treated, for example, with acupuncture. Older people often go not to ordinary clinics, but to an oriental medicine clinic.
Cellular and Internet
Communication services in Korea are expensive. For 2 GB of Internet, 100 messages and 200 minutes of calls per month, I pay 43,000 ₩ (2300 R).
2300 R
per month I pay for mobile communications
Buying a sim card is the most difficult thing that I had to do during my life in Seoul. Although you just need to come to the cellular office and conclude an agreement. The difficulty is that you will be asked for a foreigner's card, and its registration takes time. I was able to buy a SIM card only 3 weeks after my arrival - all this time I was without communication.
Foreigners can use prepaid sim cards - they are easy to buy but very expensive. For example, a sim card for 5 days costs $28 (1600 R) - this amount includes 100 minutes of calls to local numbers and unlimited internet.
Communication quality in Korea is good. All operators have mobile applications where you can control the balance, view the remaining minutes, connect and disconnect services.
There are no problems with home Internet: as a rule, it is already connected to a rented apartment and is included in the rental price.
In large cities, it is easy to connect to Wi-Fi, there are open networks in all public places, even in hospitals. In the metro, each telecom operator has its own Wi-Fi - only subscribers can connect to it.
Products and food
In Korea, the cult of food. You can’t skip meals, you must definitely have breakfast, lunch and dinner, preferably at the same time. At work, even the busiest employees take a break for lunch. It is customary to dine with colleagues, in canteens or cafes.
The basis of Korean dishes is rice and kimchi, spicy pickled cabbage. All dishes are spicy. Koreans have two main seasonings - pepper powder and pepper paste, they are added everywhere. When I moved, it was the hardest thing for me to adapt to spicy food.
In a traditional Korean restaurant, free snacks will be brought to order - kimchi, sprouted soy sprouts, pickled radish, spicy oden - a Japanese snack made from fishmeal. Korean-style carrots, which are popular in Russia, have not been heard of in Korea, they are served only in Russian or Uzbek restaurants.
Traditional Korean dish Bibimbap. Usually, hot sauce is served separately, so the dish is loved by foreigners who are not yet accustomed to spicy Korean food. It costs from 6000 ₩ (320 R) 
There are many cafes in Korea with healthy salads. The most popular salad, especially among girls, is with salmon and avocado, it costs 11,000 ₩ (590 R) After eating, Koreans always drink coffee. There are many coffee houses in Seoul - you will find 4-5 establishments near any exit from the subway. There is always a Starbucks near the metro, where there are almost never empty seats, especially at lunchtime. Americano at Starbucks costs 4100 ₩ (220 R), in other network coffee shops - 3500-4500 ₩ (190-240 R).
I buy products in supermarkets, there is a large selection. I try to go shopping at Costco - this is an American chain. It's cheaper than Korean supermarkets and more European food.
Of the usual products, I can’t find cottage cheese, it can be difficult to find hard cheese - it is sold only in large stores and costs much more than in Russia.
The prices in the supermarket are:
- Skimmed milk, 1 l - 2400 ₩ (128 R).
- Cucumbers, 5 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
- Carrots, 4 pcs. - 1980 ₩ (105 R).
- Chicken breast, 400 g - 6000 ₩ (320 R).
- Bananas, branch - 3980 ₩ (212 R).
- Eggs, 30 pieces - 3480 ₩ (185 R).
In the hypermarket, you can issue a bonus card - in Korean “point-khady”, from the English point card. Then with each purchase you will return a certain percentage of the amount in points. You can use bonuses when buying movie tickets, cosmetics, and other things and thus save. If you are going to Korea for a long time, I advise you to get such cards immediately upon arrival and register them in the application. Then, when buying, you can only show an electronic barcode.
Sometimes I go to the markets. Thrifty housewives come here for fresh meat and fish, vegetables and fruits, national pickles. Prices here are much lower than in supermarkets. Markets are usually located in the depths of the residential area, they are difficult to find.
An application that stores information about my bonus cards. Bonus programs in Korea are very popular Entertainment and recreation
Korean families love to spend time in parks. There are many of them in Seoul, the most popular place is the park area along the Hangang River. Here you can ride bicycles and book an excursion along the river. The cheapest excursion during the day costs 15,000 ₩ (800 R). At noon, you can board a boat with a buffet - it costs 39,000 ₩ (2100 R).
The excursion can be booked on the website of the cruise company But the main attraction in the park is to sit on the banks of the river, order fried chicken and beer and enjoy. For such leisure, a special name was even invented - "chimek", it combines the words "chicken" and "beer". Chimek and picnics in general are fun for spring or autumn. Companies spread blankets on the lawn, take out or order food and communicate: they chat, watch videos, play, drink. You can bring a tent with you and relax in it - as if you left the city for nature.
Shopping is another popular holiday option with family or friends. Large cities are full of shopping centers with restaurants, bars, cinemas - you can spend the whole day in the mall.
Baths and saunas are popular in Seoul, they go with family or friends - mostly middle-aged people relax like this. A simple option with showers and a shared bath costs 10-15 thousand won (550-800 R) on weekdays and 15-20 thousand won (800-1000 R) on Saturday. There are entire spas where you can order a massage or a mask. There are also bathhouses where you can stay overnight. This option is often chosen by travelers who do not want to spend money on a hotel. Just sleep on the floor.
Schoolchildren and junior students spend time in Internet cafes playing computer games. "Peesi-ban", or computer rooms, work until late at night. Often they have their own cafes - to order food, you don’t even have to get up from your chair.
Middle-aged and older Koreans love to go to the mountains. Wherever you are in South Korea, there will always be a small mountain nearby that you can climb.
If there are several days off, they often go to neighboring provinces: to Gangwon-do, famous for its beautiful nature, and to Jeju Island, the most popular resort in South Korea.
You can go abroad for three days. The most popular destination is Japan. There is a visa-free regime for Koreans, you can get there by boat, so the trip turns out to be quite budgetary. You can also travel cheaply to China.
If there is a lot of money and vacation days, most often they go to America or the countries of Western Europe. They especially love France, every Korean girl dreams of spending her honeymoon in Paris.
Beauty and plastic surgery
Korean women take good care of themselves. They always dye, curl or straighten their hair, change the image every two months - of course, if they can afford it. Even the garbage will not be thrown away without cosmetics - this is about them.
Seoul has a huge selection of hairdressers and beauty salons. I make an appointment for a haircut in the Cocoa Hairshop app. I choose a hairstyle, master, date and immediately pay for the service.
A perm costs 182,000 ₩ (10,000 R), a haircut - 72,000 ₩ (3,800 R), a perm with a restoration procedure and a haircut "My Dear Hair" costs 266,000 ₩ (14,000 R). Koreans like to give services unusual long names, such as "A perm that will make your boyfriend open his wallet."
I go to small salons near the metro for a manicure. Manicure with gel polish costs from 40,000 ₩ (2100 R). Some hairdressers offer a cash deposit - from 200,000 ₩ (10,500 R) - and for this they seriously reduce the price, by about 30%. This is called "haewon kaip" and literally means "get a membership" in the salon. Try it if you are going to Korea for a long time.
3800 R
worth a haircut in the Cocoa Hairshop app
Beauty salons often offer sets: two services are combined and give an impressive discount. You can also buy a discount coupon for several visits - such promotions are often held when new salons open. For example, I bought a coupon for three visits to the salon, each visit included a haircut and spa treatment. The coupon cost 120,000 ₩ (6400 R), while one visit to the salon would cost 90,000 ₩ (4800 R), 40,000 ₩ (2100 R) for a haircut and 50,000 ₩ (2700 R) for a spa treatment.
Appearance in Korea plays a huge role. Beauty is the guarantor of success and high salary. Appearance is taken into account when applying for a job and is often a decisive factor. Attractive foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes can easily find jobs in South Korea - the demand for such models is huge.
Therefore, plastic surgery in Korea is as common as beauty treatments. The Koreans took the European type of face as an ideal: big eyes, a straight high nose, a V-shaped chin, a small oval face - the size of a fist, as the Koreans say. Operations that help reshape the face to this standard are the most popular.
1000 $
there is an operation to change the shape of the eyelids in South Korea. It is much cheaper than in Russia or in the USA
At the end of school, parents give their girls an operation - to make a crease on the eyelid so that the eyes appear larger.
Another popular operation is to change the shape of the face. Korean women break their cheekbones to make their chin triangular, in the shape of a V.
South Korea is considered one of the capitals of plastic surgery. Thousands of companies offer tours to Seoul to beauticians and surgeons. It seems to me that this is the result of the so-called Korean wave, when Korean music and series became popular in Asian countries. The girls who watched them wanted to look like popular actresses - and Korean surgeons came up with a solution.
Plastic surgery in Korea is much cheaper than in Europe or America. In Korea, blepharoplasty - an operation to change the shape of the eyelids - costs about $ 1,000, while in America you will have to pay at least $ 6,000.
Language and communication
The Korean language is based on the alphabet - only 44 letters, Chinese characters are very rarely used. The main difficulty lies in the abundance of sounds that are not in the Russian language. Even in the Korean alphabet, there are two letters "o", "e" and "n" - it is difficult to distinguish them.
I first came to Korea when I was in my second year, by that time I had studied Korean for two years at Moscow State University - they emphasized the study of grammar, so I did not understand the language well and did not speak well. I could say simple phrases: "How much does it cost", "It's delicious", "It's spicy", but I could not get a sim card and explain myself at the immigration center. It was only after studying in Korea for a year that I began to feel confident in everyday situations.
In major cities, you can find free Korean language courses. Volunteers work there, so I'm not sure that you can learn the language well this way. In addition, there are programs for the adaptation of immigrants in Seoul, and a center for supporting multicultural families. In particular, foreigners are taught the Korean language, told about traditions, explained how to behave in shops, banks and solve other everyday issues.
If you know English, you will have no problems in the tourist places of South Korea. At the airport, all the signs and signs are duplicated in English; in the metro, stations are announced in four languages. But English will not help in solving everyday issues: in general, Koreans do not speak this language well, because they learn, first of all, grammar and writing.
Cultural differences
During my life in Korea, I got used to the fact that employees in the service sector are polite and friendly. I have never felt uncomfortable because I am a foreigner or maybe somehow not dressed like that. Here they will always offer to sit down, drink tea, bring a pillow.
But this standard courtesy extends to personal relationships as well. Koreans never show their emotions. When you meet someone, it's hard to understand what the person really thinks of you. If a Korean does not like something, he will never say it directly. But behind your back it will definitely be discussed.
Life in Korea is a competition in all areas. I have many Korean friends, but, for example, in graduate school, I did not make friends with anyone. From the point of view of a Korean, every student is a rival. You will be treated well only if you are completely immersed in your studies and go everywhere with a teacher. If you work and because of this sometimes you have less time than others, they will try not to contact you.
Koreans are very dependent on other people's opinions. I see this from my acquaintances: if they find out that a friend has a new car or a new good job, they will worry and try to catch up with them. You can’t sit still: you need to study more, earn more, get the most prestigious job, buy a good apartment and a car. It's contagious - I also got involved in this race.
What is the result
I have been living in Seoul for the fourth year already, and I plan to continue to stay here. In Seoul, convenient transportation, a developed service sector, you can get a good education and find a decent job.
Cultural leisure (two trips to the cinema and two visits to exhibitions)
50 000 ₩ (2700 Р )
1 130 000 ₩ (60 400 Р )
If you are planning to study in South Korea or move here to live, then first of all I advise you to learn the language. It’s better not to go with a zero level: it will be too difficult to adapt. You also need to be prepared for the fact that sometimes they will look at you or even discuss you, especially if you have blond hair. Koreans who have not been abroad have a million stereotypes about Europeans - this can make communication difficult or even nullify.
Think a hundred times if you want to raise your children in the stress of endless struggle - first for a place in kindergarten, and then for a place in the office.
If all this does not scare you, you know Korean well, and ideally also English, are ready to work hard and easily adapt to a new culture, then welcome.
South Korea is a beautiful country with a rich cultural heritage. Today, the centuries-old wisdom of Taoism coexists with innovation. And, despite the love for the Western way of life, its inhabitants have preserved many customs that are incomprehensible to us.
10 facts about South Korea: interesting and downright strange
Once a Boston consulting group called her one of the promising in the field of innovation. Agree, not bad for a state that has been on the world stage since 1948. It is curious that with such results the country does not lose its "interesting" traditions.
- Alcohol. An interesting fact about South Korea is associated with the use of alcohol - for them it is quite an important part of the culture, helping to get to know each other better. Therefore, at least once a week, the inhabitants of the country must gather with friends to have a glass. Such gatherings even have their own name - hoesik. However, when it comes to liquor, there are rules. For example, if the person pouring the drink is older, then you should hold the glass with both hands.
- Red ink. Every society has its own superstitions: if Europeans bypass black cats, then the inhabitants of the Land of Morning Calm hate red ink. They believe that a name written in this color will bring misfortune and even death to its owner. This unusual fact about South Korea comes from an ancient tradition. Previously, the name of the deceased was written in red on the tombstone, believing that this would scare away demons.
- Proper handshake. When Bill Gates met with President Park Geun-hye, the people of the country were shocked by the behavior of the American and his gesture. The fact is that during the handshake, Bill's hand was in his pocket, which is unacceptable. Good manners and respect for the traditions of another country, despite financial status, have always been held in high esteem. Therefore, if you have a Korean older than you, do it with both hands.
- Education. Students and schoolchildren in Korea are very smart. According to statistics, 93% of students graduate from a university, which puts the quality of education in the country in second place in the world. What is it connected with? Through private institutions (hagwons), children have the opportunity to learn many subjects, from math to belly dancing or taekwondo. On average, the country's parents spend up to $17 billion a year on educating their children. But this technique also has its drawbacks. Firstly, only rich families can afford education, while the poor are content with little. Secondly, hagwons classes are held in the afternoon, which means that children go to school twice and come home tired.
- Which is better: Japan or Korea? If there are many examples of friendly rivalry (Australia - New Zealand) or warlike rivalry (India - Pakistan) in the world, then these Asian countries are the "golden mean". Even if they do not point nuclear weapons at each other, relations between them are always heated. This fact about South Korea and Japan is due to the fact that in the past the latter had a bad habit of invading the territory of the former. Decades later, the situation has certainly changed, but the Koreans believe that the Japanese still have not officially apologized.
- Skirt discussions. It's strange to see a lot of bare legs in a conservative country. But miniskirts are the norm in South Korea. Even a business woman is allowed to wear an outfit that barely covers her ass to a business meeting, and no one will regard this as vulgarity.
- Toilet themed amusement park. There are many strange attractions in the world, but this place in South Korea literally outdid them all. A park with an "interesting" theme, located in the city of Suwoni, was opened in honor of the beloved ex-mayor, nicknamed Mr. Toilet. The official was obsessed with sanitation and his main goal was to provide the population with good toilets and teach them how to properly maintain them.
- Plastic surgery. Everyone wants to be beautiful, especially South Koreans. According to a survey conducted back in 2009, every fifth woman in the country went under the knife. Basically, the requests are the same: a V-shaped chin, a small nose and big eyes.
- Bullfights. No, it's not about the red rag or the bullfighter. Cattle fight in Korea Ranchers are constantly on the lookout for good "fighters". More often choose massive, with a thick neck and long horns. The fight ends when one bull leaves the arena. The winner receives a cash prize, and the loser goes to drown his grief in rice wine.
- Terminator jellyfish. Perhaps the most interesting fact about South Korea, more like a sci-fi movie scenario. The oceans are teeming with jellyfish, so a group of scientists created a robot specifically to deal with them. Due to the invasion of marine animals, the country lost $ 300 million, and Sweden had to close a nuclear power plant. In this regard, the Koreans have created and are actively using terminator jellyfish that destroy real ones. Now the robot is capable of exterminating up to 900 kg of marine animals, but soon, according to scientists, the figure will reach 2000 kg.
Traditions and customs
The house is a sacred place, so special attention is paid to cleanliness, where dirt and even more mess are completely unacceptable. It is customary to be indoors without shoes (barefoot) or, in extreme cases, in socks. If in summer the rule does not cause discomfort, then in winter additional heating is required. Therefore, in the construction of houses, modern technologies are used in the form of underfloor heating.
Another interesting fact and custom of South Korea is associated with the ceremony of commemoration of ancestors - Chere. According to Korean belief, the soul does not leave immediately, but remains with the descendants for another 4 generations. Therefore, the deceased is also considered a member of the family, and on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and the anniversary of death, the rite of Chere is performed. Also, Koreans sincerely believe that if the ancestors bless them, then life will be happy.
The next interesting fact about South Korea has to do with gestures. When you call the other person, raise your hand with your palm down and wave, moving your fingers. Never make this gesture with your palm up and even more so with your index finger - only dogs are called that in the country.
Facts Proving South Korea Is Beyond Our Understanding
Residents of the country are especially careful about oral hygiene, as dentist services are very expensive. Here it is customary to brush your teeth after every meal, and you can often find a brush in a lady's bag. In addition, in the restrooms of some establishments there is always a free disposable toothbrush.
The following interesting fact about South Korea and Koreans is based on statistics. Many residents have myopia, so they wear glasses or lenses from childhood. This fact gives the impression that they are all born with poor eyesight. But it's not. As mentioned earlier, Koreans are very smart and spend most of their time studying, buried in their favorite gadgets. It is worth noting that the disease does not concern everyone. For example, Lim Dong Hyun (two-time Olympic champion) only sees 20% of what he normally sees. But the irony is that a man competes in archery!
Korean cosmetics has long conquered Western and domestic fashionistas, and here everyone uses it, regardless of gender or age. Korean women carefully monitor the appearance of their hair and skin, so they buy an incredible amount of products. They never go out without makeup. Young Koreans also take care of appearance. It is almost impossible to see a man with a sloppy or disheveled hairstyle on the street.
Contrary to popular belief, few people in South Korea have tasted dog meat. Moreover, a movement to abandon the traditional dish is gaining popularity in the state. The youth, brought up to treat animals as friends, provided wide support. By the way, government policy also discourages the consumption of dog meat.
Now about In any city in the world, cafes, bars and restaurants come across at every step, but the speed of service in Korea is simply amazing. The order is delivered literally within 10 minutes, and some establishments even send delivery men again to pick up dirty dishes. Here, instead of the usual "How are you?" you will be asked "Did you eat well?", and skipping any meal for a Korean is akin to a sin.
Let's talk about sexual touch. If in Europe two men holding hands are considered representatives of the LGBT movement, then in Korea everything is different. In society, a pair of opposite sexes who demonstrate feelings in public are extremely disapproving. But playing with hair or sitting on a friend's lap is quite acceptable for men.
Korea is the cradle of esports. At the beginning of the 2000s, the Star Craft computer game turned into a real cult. Esports players are real stars. Thousands of fans come to meet them, and stadiums with large screens are allocated for the games. And this, in turn, is another interesting fact about South Korea: a computer game is a real sport, for which players spend many sleepless nights while training.
And a few words about compulsory military service. According to the law, every Korean must complete a 21-month military training course. This iron rule is observed regardless of the social status of the resident. Only the incompetent and those who defend the honor of the country in the international arena can get away. For example, footballers Ki Sun-yong (Swansea) and Park Chi-son (Manchester United) were released from military service.
The beginning of a relationship
If in Russia and in many other countries first love is most often met at school, then in the Land of Morning Calm this is more difficult. An interesting fact about life in South Korea is connected with the fact that for every child, studies always come first. And if hyperactive children manage to start relationships at school, then for the rest there is simply no time for amorous affairs - from 9 to 5 lessons, then electives, tutors, classes ... When to fall in love?
But once you enter university, everything changes. Education is not so diligent, so many students live for their own pleasure: on Fridays they gather with a company and drink soju, join circles and interest clubs. This is the best time, because after graduation, almost all of them will work from morning until late evening for many years.
Therefore, the romantic relationship of young Koreans begins precisely during the period of study at the university.
What then
Continuing the story, here are a few facts about South Korea related to further development:
- The first date is already the beginning of a relationship, and after the meeting is over, the guy and the girl "officially" become a couple. In addition, she always comes to the meeting with an older friend in order to look favorably against her background.
- After a while, "witnesses" are not needed, and lovers can walk around holding hands, but kissing and hugging in public in Korea is inappropriate.
- Another trend of couples is the same style. The phenomenon is called Couple Look - clothing stores make good money on it.
- An important date for lovers is the hundredth day from the date of the meeting. Girls expect from guys not flowers and sweets, but designer jewelry, clothes, cosmetics, shoes, a bag. According to the calculations of one of the Korean bloggers, an average gift costs $ 800.
- To move on to a closer relationship, the couple must meet for at least a year.
Family matters
It's time to learn the facts about relations in South Korea.
A home warms hearts, and every person must have a family. The opinion of the oldest member of the family is dominant. Not a single South Korean will dare to create a new family without the consent of the older generation and parental blessing. Of course, now the freedom of action is much wider, but neither a young man nor a girl can do without the guidance of his mother and father. And excessive parental control, on the contrary, is welcome.
The main priorities are inextricably linked with the family hearth. Previously, several generations of relatives lived together in traditional small houses. But times are changing, and spacious apartments have come to replace them. The only thing that has remained unchanged is the statutory rules.
When meeting with parents, the names are not called - only "mother" and "dad". This treatment is connected with another interesting fact about South Korea. According to the sign, the meaning of the name, having a great weight, affects the fate, making a person more vulnerable. Therefore, the names of the inhabitants of an Asian country are extremely rare.
Family relations in South Korea have always been distinguished by mutual respect and understanding. Despite the fact that a woman has the same rights as a man, the duties between spouses are clearly demarcated.
The wife is responsible for coziness and comfort, keeps the hearth, resolves disagreements, and the man, being the head, ensures the existence of the family. However, despite his authority, he never interferes in matters of home improvement and conflict resolution. Even in the most difficult situation, the husband always remains on the sidelines.
About children
Another interesting fact about South Korea is related to the birth of a child. Since the country has a peculiar chronology, the baby is born already at the age of one. This is due to the fact that the child spends 9 months in the mother's womb (almost a year). But that's not all. On the first New Year (January 1), the baby is added one more. Thus, the children here are older than their actual age by as much as 2 years.
To combat discrimination, the government passed a law according to which both son and daughter are considered equal heirs, so the attitude towards the sex of the child is neutral. But Confucian traditions are still preserved. Accordingly, special attention is paid to the elder.
show business world
For many years the country was famous for its "slave contracts". This fact about South Korea is connected to the popular K-pop mainstream. For example, an ex-Super Junior member stated in 2009 that the owners of SM Entertainment did not allow him to take sick leave when he developed gastritis and kidney problems.
And this is not the only such case. Major labels justify their actions by saying that if a young artist really wants to become popular, he must overcome all difficulties - sleep no more than 4 hours a day, not start a relationship while the contract is in effect, not go on sick leave and much more.
Bad number "4"
An interesting fact about South Korea based on superstition. Residents have a "special" attitude towards the four. The problem is that the transcription of the number 4 is consonant with the word death.
Superstition has reached the point that in buildings after the third floor immediately comes the fifth. Not even in hospitals. Agree, few Koreans want to be treated on the floor called "death", especially if the disease is dangerous.
In some elevators, the "4" button has been replaced with the English letter F (four). However, in everyday speech, the four sounds without exception.
Let's go back to the past
And finally, I would like to give a few historical facts about South Korea:
- "Taehan minguk" 대한 민국 - this is how the people call the country, but most often the abbreviation Hanguk is used in the conversation, and sometimes Namhan.
- The word "Korea" comes from the name of the state "Koryo", which existed in 918-1392.
- The history of North and South Korea began in 1945, when the Soviet-American agreement was signed. According to the agreement, the first passed under the jurisdiction of the USSR, and the second - the United States.
- Although it lasted until 1953, there was no official announcement of the end of hostilities.
- The older generation of Koreans does not like the Japanese, as the colonization policy of the Land of the Rising Sun is still not forgotten.
What do you know about South Korea, except that it is the birthplace of PSY, who gave the world the unforgettable "GangnamStyle" - the most viewed video in the history of YouTube?
We have studied the notes of those who went to live there, and now we are ready to tell you about the peculiarities of life in the Land of Morning Calm.
South Korea
"Love" for foreigners
At first, people of European appearance consider themselves almost Hollywood stars in South Korea. They literally bathe in the attention of local residents. Koreans are quite friendly to foreigners.
But only those foreigners who have lived in the country for more than a year or two understand that there is practically no sincerity in this “love”. Koreans are ready to call everyone with whom they have spoken for more than 5 minutes a friend. But true friendship is rare here. People smile, however, this smile is nothing more than a mask.
Despite all the ostentatious hospitality, Koreans remain very private people. And what they really think is impossible to know. It's fashionable to have a foreigner friend - that's why many Koreans communicate with Europeans with such enthusiasm.
But is this the kind of friendship that every person needs?
On the other hand, if you have just arrived in the country, then such (albeit feigned) good nature is much better than outright hostility. Therefore, rejoice in sunny smiles, but do not hide from them.
No one knows what "personal space" is
A resident of Korea does not see anything shameful in getting very close to you in an elevator and chewing gum loudly at the same time. And in public transport, he is unlikely to “keep his distance”, even if the bus is half empty.
It's hard to be an individual
There is no betting on personality here. A close-knit (albeit mediocre) team is more valuable than a mass of disunited individuals. Koreans get used to this state of affairs from school:
if the whole class does not know the correct answer to the teacher's question, then it is better for one wise man to remain silent so as not to seem like an upstart.
If it starts to rain somewhere in Seoul, then everyone immediately runs to buy penny umbrellas. If suddenly you decide not to bother and take a walk in the warm spring rain, they will look at you with suspicion: “What kind of rebel is this ?!”.
In the same company, people will dress about the same. Even among friends it is not customary to stand out. So if you are a fan of everything extraordinary and hate to feel like a part of the gray mass, it will be hard for you in Korea.
The older the better
Perhaps one of the first questions you hear in Korea will be about your age. Here the cult of respect for elders. At the same time, even the smallest difference in years between the interlocutors matters. Twins and those are divided into older and younger!
Here is an example from one blogger. In their company for lunch, the whole department goes together. Regular employees only pretend to study the menu, but in fact they always take the same thing that their boss chooses. He sometimes asks the opinion of his youngest subordinate (not by position, but by age):
she always lowers her eyes to the floor and says that she does not know how to make such a difficult choice.
Seniors can afford everything their heart desires: slurp at the table, and talk with their mouths full, and spit at the feet of another. And it will be considered quite decent.
Nobody says exactly what they want
The average Korean will never say directly what he needs from you. He will beat around the bush, speak allegorically. But if you do not understand his thirty-three hints, the Korean will be sincerely offended:
how is it that he is crucifying for an hour in front of you, and you are not able to understand the most elementary thing ?!
This also works in reverse. If you need to ask a local resident about something, try not to speak directly. Try to speak figuratively. This is a sign of a good upbringing.
But if you nevertheless voiced a request, there is a very high probability that it will be fulfilled. For example, you can go to the police station and ask to visit their restroom.
One of the LiveJournal users talked about how he asked the police for directions, and they bluntly drove him to his destination.
One of the traditions of South Korea is eating with the family, sitting at a miniature table on small legs, of course, on the floor. Photo: peopleandcountries.com
Consider the following nuance: Koreans do not like to publicly express their point of view. It is easier for them to agree with the words of the speaker. But when he leaves, people will throw out all their indignation.
Study, study and study again
A creative person is unlikely to appreciate the Korean education system. There, the educational process is based on thoughtless memorization, there is no room for a flight of fancy.
During the final exams, panic begins in the country: parents pray in temples, asking higher powers to help the children get the highest scores, and the children frantically try to memorize everything.
In universities, the cult of learning. Many libraries are open around the clock, students can sit on textbooks until dawn. However, in Korea there is a chance to make a career without any relatives and acquaintances: if you study hard, then you can then get a good job and quickly move up the career ladder.
college student
Decent salary
The standard of living in South Korea is quite high. Here you can really not only work, but also earn. But if you are seriously thinking of moving to Korea for permanent residence, keep in mind:
this country has the shortest holidays in the world. By law, an employee is required to 10 vacation days per year, but in practice people usually take no more than 3 days.
The average South Korean works 2357 hours per year(for comparison: in Denmark, citizens work an average of 1391 hours a year), and he has no more than 15 minutes a week to communicate with children. Koreans have 11 public holidays a year.
Recruitment in South Korea
Journalists from Forbs magazine asked Koreans about their authoritarian corporate culture. They admitted: if you go home at 6 pm, the boss will definitely notice this, which means that you can forget about an increase in salary or a raise for a long time.
And if you “get bold” and at least once take a month's vacation, you can be sure: when you return to work, you will see another person at your desk.
At the moment I live on a peninsula washed by three seas - the Yellow, Japan and East China seas. This is really an amazing country in terms of fortitude, the Republic of Korea.
I first flew to Korea in March 2012 from Uzbekistan. The South Korean government allocates a certain number of work visas each year to people of Korean ethnicity living in other countries.
It was on this visa that my husband and I recovered to our historical homeland. We decided to stop in the city of Incheon. It is one of the largest cities in Korea and hosted the 2014 Asian Games last year.
First impressions of Korea
Unlike Uzbekistan, where I was born and raised, every meter of land is used in South Korea. The area of the premises is expanding both up and down through the construction of underground floors. It is not uncommon for the existence of crop areas right in the city, in the middle of busy areas.
Korean retirees love to travel.
Pensioners in Korea have become a great role model. Despite their respectful age, they lead a very active lifestyle. It is very rare to see grandmothers fiddling with their grandchildren or spending evenings knitting in their hands. They unite in small groups and travel to different countries, go to the mountains or to the sea.
In general, the nation is distinguished by high learning ability. The older generation tries in no way to lag behind the youth, mastering all modern trends. If in Uzbekistan you can find pharmacies and cafes at almost every step, then in South Korea these are plants and factories. When you drive past an endless line of factory buildings, it seems that they occupy most of the country.
The demand for labor and decent wages attract a huge number of people here not only from the post-Soviet space, but also from China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries.
mentality
South Korea has been and remains a misunderstood country for me personally. Before my arrival, I knew about this country only from series, where I admired the beauty and cuteness of the main characters, as well as the courage and breadth of the soul of male movie characters.
In real life, I was surrounded by guys painted, manicured and in tight pants, and girls on a rough and heavy platform. There is a clear cult of beauty in the country.
Interesting company name in South Korea. Does it remind you of anything?
Plastic surgery is said to be one of the most sought-after branches of medicine here. The operation to create a European century is widespread, even on the smallest children. Often they turn to clinics also to change the shape of the nose.
Women spend a lot of money on beauty treatments and skin care products. Daily application of creams turns into a real ritual and it will not be difficult for an uninitiated adept to get confused in cute and fragrant tubes. Korean cosmetics are now gaining popularity among women all over the world, thanks to natural and innovative ingredients.
Korean women almost never use bright colors in makeup, everything is designed in natural shades. And if a woman with brightly painted eyes is met on the street, then basically these are always guests or immigrants from the CIS countries.
Both men and women pay great attention to their hair. Young guys like to paint in different colors, sometimes these colors are just crazy. And older men dye their gray hair black. Almost all girls have the same straightened hair, only married ladies go for a perm.
In my opinion, American influence is felt in many areas. It would seem that in South Korea, as in China, tea should have been the most popular drink. But the local population is literally obsessed with coffee, and coffee houses are the most popular meeting place for young people.
Another American borrowing is “Hollywood smile”. Dental services are very expensive, even with health insurance. So do not be surprised, but sometimes they can even be caught on the street with a toothbrush in their hands.
Work in Korea
The Korean factory is one of many thousands.
Koreans are big workaholics, they are ready to work 25 hours a day, especially if it is an order from their superiors. Perhaps this explains the high economic performance achieved in such a short period of time.
The Eastern mentality has been preserved in almost absolute obedience to superiors and elders. It happens that the boss can even hit a subordinate, and he will take it for granted.
In all structures there is a pronounced hierarchy. This is not easily accepted by people from, since we were brought up in slightly different standards.
Family and marriage in Korea
Koreans, in general, marry late, trying to reach a certain level in their career first. Local girls are very picky in choosing a life partner, so many South Korean men bring their wives from the CIS countries. This is motivated by the fact that our girls are less spoiled and enjoy doing housework.
By the way, women in Korea hardly cook, they mostly eat in cafes or use home delivery of ready-made food. And Koreans eat a lot and often. The greatest act of love and care is to feed a person. And if a guy decides to take care of a girl, he immediately begins to feed her with all sorts of goodies.
Koreans themselves
Koreans are for the most part a friendly people, but a little grouchy. At first, hearing the grumbling, for example, of a taxi driver, I wanted to answer with some harsh word.
But getting to know the mentality and language of this nation more, I began to understand that this is just some kind of peculiarity of speech and it’s not even worth being offended or angry about it.
Adaptation in Korea
The language is learned quite easily, there are many borrowed words from English speech. It is not difficult to navigate Korea, even if you do not know the language at all. In the subway and large institutions, signs are duplicated in three languages - Korean, English and Chinese.
Artists are preparing to perform on stage.
In any place, be it a bank or a shopping center, a hospital or a city hall, everything is aimed at the convenience of a person. Toilets deserve special praise. They are available in all buildings for free use. If you need to visit the toilet, you can go to any room and there will be clean and comfortable cabins on each floor. And all this is absolutely free.
The main type of meat is pork, beef is 3-7 times more expensive than pork, depending on the country of origin. The local cuisine is very specific - having lived for almost three years, I never got used to it. Koreans consume large quantities of red and black peppers, perhaps this explains the widespread presence of toilets. 🙂
