57 Things That Might Surprise You When You Live In Korea
I’ve been living in Korea for 15 years and I still walk down the street and find things surprising. I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way to do things, there are just a lot of different ways to do something so with that in mind, here are 57 things that might surprise you when you come to Korea.
From fans that might kill you to bidets everywhere… there’s a whole lot of cool, interesting, and different things you might not have realized. Here is what to expect when you come to Korea.
My biggest tip if you’re planning to move to Korea is to come with an open mind and no expectations. When you’re trying to be a square in a round hole, it’s not going to work. Come, be open, and go with the flow or else you’ll be grumpy, frustrated, and bitter.
These 57 things might help you get started so you’re less surprised and flustered in Korea though.
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1. Elevator buttons can be un-pressed.
We’ve all seen the sitcoms; the little kid enters the elevator, presses all of the buttons and then gets off one floor later while the other guy has to go up 20 more floors stopping on every one. Well, if that were to happen here… it just wouldn’t happen. You can un-press the button!
On the note of elevators, another surprising bit is that there is no 4 but instead the fourth floor is labeled “F”, for “four” obviously. The number four is an unlucky number.
2. Motorcycles and scooters can get away with parking almost anyplace and drive ON the sidewalk. So… watch out!
This is actually changing. Rather recently due to the influx in private scooter companies that are a bit like an Uber rental system so you can just stop wherever and put them down literally anywhere, the government stepped in to say, “hey, stop it!”.
Literally, people were just leaving their scooters in the middle of streets and at the bottom of escalators. Thinking about others much? Clearly not. While general motorcyclists weren’t on the sidewalks so much as deliverymen, the rules are a changing so expect to see far less wheels on the sidewalks… hopefully.
3. Lack of police brutality.
The police in Korea will try to do everything except be brutal. This might come from the history of the government using police in the past to shut down riots and protesters in pretty violent ways in the 1970s and 1980s.
Today, even when there are large scale protests, as there were in 2017 to call for the removal of President Park Geun Hye, police don’t even carry guns, batons, or pepper spray but just have large plastic shields.
4. Bidets… everywhere.
I wouldn’t say people are using them everywhere… but then again, maybe that’s just me. But yes, they are everywhere!
5. No “zero time constant”.
Everything is really rushed here in Seoul and that includes the traffic lights. While there’s usually a bit of lag between when the pedestrians have finished crossing and when the light actually turns green, there isn’t here so make sure you skedaddle across that street quick like.
6. Everyone pulls there car in backward to park.
One of the biggest things for me to get used to when I began driving here was that I hard to pull in backwards everywhere. Took me a bit to get confident but now I’m damn good…. and then I get confused all over again when I go to the States and pull forward to back in and the guy behind me steals my spot. Want to drive in Korea? Here is how to get a license in Korea.
7. Free carts at the airport.
I always forget I have to pay for them until I return to the States and then I’m real confused and very out of luck because I rarely have the change to get one. Flying into Incheon Airport? You’ll love it, it’s one of best airports in the world.
8. Food delivery everywhere.
You can get food delivered everywhere from your home to the park on the Han River banks and the deliverymen will be able to find you no matter where you are… like they’ll even find you picnicking by the river. If you haven’t picnicked on the Han, then you haven’t really experienced Seoul yet. There are 11 Han River parks to choose from so get out there and enjoy them Korean style.
9. Super fast internet at way less cost.
When I came here I remember my friends back home asking me if I had Internet. Yes, it’s fast. Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world so we have no want for fast Internet here.
10. Gifts when you make a phone/cable contract.
While phone and cable are pretty much necessary at this point so companies shouldn’t need to give you anything extra to sign up, the companies here still do. We’ve received 20 free CGV movie tickets, W250,000 to sign up. There are numerous options that customers are given when they sign up… just take your pick.
11. “Yogiyo” buttons on restaurant tables.
While it might be rude to yell across the restaurant where you come from, it’s fine here if you want your waiter to come over. A lot of restaurants don’t want you to yell either though and then they’ll place a little button on your table. When you want the waiter, just press it and they come over to help you. Service when you want it.
12. Death by fan.
Is it controversial? It seems to cause some controversy in expat groups in Korea every year at some point. To leave a fan on in a room at night while you sleep or not to. Some Koreans might tell you this the way to die and others have no qualms with the action. You’ll probably hear about it at some point when you’re here though.
13. Hazard lights used for everything.
I never saw so many people using hazard lights back home when I drove but in Korea hazard lights are used for everything from saying “thank you” to “sorry”, “my car is hurt” to “I’m stuck” to… well.. just get used to pressing that button if you’re a driver.
14. Sweet garlic bread.
Don’t trust anything labeled garlic bread… just don’t. Despite how legit that Italian restaurant looks, the garlic bread WILL be sweet.
15. Internet and TV censorship.
I remember watching Grey’s Anatomy with my husband for the first time back home while we were eating and he almost threw up. He did NOT want to see those surgeries while we were eating but more importantly, he just wasn’t used to seeing it at all. Any show with blood, guts, cigarettes, etc will have them blurred out when the show is aired. Gives off a whole different vibe when you can’t see the gore.
16. Two addresses for the same place.
Some years back the Korean government decided to change the address system. Originally, the system was size oriented with biggest to smallest starting with the city, the neighborhood, then the street and the house number. They wanted to switch it to a more western style of house number, street name, city situation. The problem is that no one knows street names.
Most Koreans work off of neighborhood names so that’s why they’ll talk about “Hongdae“, “Gangnam“, or “Insadong“. They don’t say, let’s meet up on 131 Sejong Street. Because of that, there are old addresses and new addresses and basically you can use either and you’ll still get your mail. And, if you’re in a taxi, use the old because the driver will be able to get you to the area a lot faster if you just tell him your hood rather than an actual street address.
17. No trash cans.
Something that is gradually changing, at some point the government took away public trash cans to help with recycling. People were throwing everything away in one bin and so they took public trash cans away which led to trash piles and people having to go through them anyway.
Over time, public trash cans are coming back and with the options to separate trash. Check out this guide for throwing away trash in Korea to learn how to do it properly. Do your part people!
18. In Korea you say “Kimchi!” instead of “Cheese” when smiling for a photo.
A lot less cheese and a lot more kimchi so no surprise here, right? Still gets you grinning.
19. Love Motels are a thing.
Be careful when you book that next hotel in Korea… it might just be a love motel. Good for a quick, easy, and even a boutique stay, you may find vending machines with condoms and, well, just a lot of couples checking in.
20. “Have you eaten?”
The way to ask “How are you?” in Korea. Similarly to the answer “fine” when asked how you are, just say, “yes” in Korean to this question too or else you’ll get some puzzled looks.
21. Do you know your blood type?
You might not, but don’t be surprised when you’re asked.
22. Silk Worms For Street Food
Beondegi (번데기), or pupa, is a street food item you can smell down the block. If you’re brave enough, try some.
23. Easy Shoe Repair
In Seoul, people walk A LOT so this shouldn’t come as too big a surprise. But say you’ve broken a heel or the insole is coming out of your shoe or the bottom of your shoes need a little fixing, well you can easily find shoe repair stands with expert shoe repairmen all over the place. It takes just minutes to fix the shoes and be on your way keeping shoes lasting as long as possible on the busy streets of the city.
24. Your only friends can be the same age as you.
A difficult lesson for me to learn coming from the west where you can be “friends” with anyone, in Korean, technically your friend or 친구 can only be someone who is the same age as yourself. PS, 친구 being translated to friend is completely inaccurate for what friend means to most English speakers and is my least favorite translation. Learn more about how you can’t have “friends” in Korea here.
25. You’re 1 to 2 years older in Korea.
Asking someone their age is usually one of the first few questions that Koreans ask in order to accurately place you in the hierarchy and then converse with you. However, if you tell someone you’re 24, you’d be wrong if you’re speaking Korean, because you’re 1 or even 2 years OLDER in Korean as they count the gestational period and all babies are 1 upon birth.
My daughter, born in November, was 1 and then turned 2 at the New Year just two months later… so she has a two year gap in her English and Korean ages.
26. Side Dishes Are FREE.
My husband and I were shocked to go to a Korean restaurant in New York City some years back when we realized side dishes weren’t included automatically. In Korea, be assured, that whatever you order, be it a soup or a rice dish, will come with a number of side dishes included without request.
27. Christmas is a couple’s holiday and New Year’s is a family holiday.
I found this really interesting when I first came that the vibes are opposite what I knew back home. Instead of Christmas being a family holiday and New Year’s being a couple’s or friend’s holiday, in Korea, if you go out for Christmas, you’ll find many restaurants have switched their tables to a two person setting yet for New Year’s, many people head home to celebrate with their family.
Want to learn more about holidays in Korea? Did you know there is a couple’s holiday every month of the year?
28. Koreans use metal chopsticks.
While you may have gotten wooden chopsticks with your food back home, in Korea, metal chopsticks are the norm and they definitely take some getting used to. Heavier and longer than most wooden chopsticks, metal chopsticks are what you’ll get in every restaurant here.
29. Spam and toothpaste are popular gifts in Korea.
If you have a job in Korea, don’t be surprised if you receive a gift box full of spam or toothpaste to celebrate the Korean Thanksgiving or New Year’s. Want to give a gift in Korea? Here is a guide to gifting at various occasions so you’re not caught off guard.
30. Toilet paper is the housewarming gift of choice.
Speaking of gifts, if you’re headed to a housewarming party in Korea, make sure to take toilet paper with you.
31. Plastic surgery is really common.
Not seen in the same light as we have in countries abroad, plastic surgery is often seen as a necessary way to get ahead. Beauty begets better jobs and more money in many aspects so it’s a logical decision to go under the knife. Plastic surgery is more common in Korea and more affordable and common surgeries are the double eyelid surgery, nose, and chin surgeries.
32. Trash can for toilet paper.
Many pipes are very old and it’s not surprising to see a trash can next to the toilet and a sign in the stall requesting that all toilet paper go in the bin over the pot.
33. No Names In Red!
It’s bad luck to write someone’s name in red ink as this is usually used when writing a deceased person’s name down. If red is the only thing you have… just go find another pen.
34. No Tipping
Unlike the US, there is no tipping required so no extra math either. What you will get is “service” though. Free gifts like tissue or bottles of water are given when you buy gas. You never know when you’ll get “service” but it’ll happen and you’ll be pleasantly surprised that’s for sure.
35. Lots of Kims
Don’t be surprised when you learn the names of your new coworkers and realize a lot of them are Kims. No, they’re probably not related but 1 in 5 Koreans has the surname Kim. Other common surnames are Lee, and Park.
36. Conservative with a side of sex.
I remember the first time I learned about the various penis parks or sex parks in Korea and I was shocked. There is a lot of talk on conservatism but for all of that, there are a lot of statues devoted to sex and the penis. Visit Haesindang Park and you’ll see.
37. Kitchen scissors
I never used scissors to cut food until I came to Korea and now I can’t live without that pair of food-cutting kitchen scissors. At a restaurant and need to cut up those buckwheat noodles? Ask for scissors. Have a kid and want to cut up that pork? Get the kitchen scissors. It really makes slicing and dicing so much easier.
38. Busiest air route in the world is here.
Did you know the busiest flight path in the world is right here in Korea? More than 26 million people a year travel from Seoul to Jeju Island. Haven’t been to the Hawaii of Korea? You need to go now! There are a whopping 178 flights to Jeju a day on average!
39. Stick Coffee Abounds
Did you know that instant coffee mix packets were invented in Korea? On top of that, it’s good!
40. More Nature Than City
While a lot of pictures would lead one to believe that Korea is a whole lot of skyscrapers and very little nature, the country has a ton of natural landscape to explore. Sure, Seoul has Lotte Tower, the tallest building in Korea, and lots of tall apartment buildings, but 64% of the country is covered in forest.
41. At war… but not scary
Technically South Korea and North Korea are still at war. They signed the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953 but technically no peace treaty was ever signed. There are sirens that go off each month so residents can practice what they would do in the event of invasion, and every so often there is a stand off and maybe a missile fired, but South Koreans are pretty nonchalant about it.
Want to learn more? Here are 6 places where you can learn about war in Korea.
42. Carry Your Toothbrush
It’s common for workers and students to take their toothbrush to work/school or keep one there even. After lunch, everyone brushes their teeth.
43. Comfortable Slippers
No, they’re not really house slippers, but comfortable slip on sandals. Workers and students will often go and work/school and change from their outside shoes to indoor shoes. At restaurants, it’s also common for customers to take off shoes. Don’t worry, there will be sandals in the bathroom to slip on or sandals to walk around in too.
44. Lots of personal questions
Don’t be surprised if you’re asked personal questions that have been deemed forward in the west. Common questions include:
- How old are you?
- Are you married? Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?
- What is your blood type?
- How much money do you make?
45. Squat toilets or regular toilets
It is still common to walk into a place and find squat toilets. In subway stations, many bathrooms have the choice between the squat toilet and the toilet bowl. Newer buildings don’t tend to have squat toilets anymore, but older buildings and even schools can have them. Might want to start practicing your squat now…
46. Communal eating
If you’re coming from the States, you’re probably used to ordering what you want from the menu and even asking for your meal without something like onions or garlic. In Korea, if you’re out with a group of friends or coworkers, you won’t have much of an option.
Meals are often served in big pots or collective bowls to be dished out at the table and if you try to ask for it without something, the waiter will probably say sure to appease you but it will still come with it in there. It’s not great for picky eaters.
47. Allergy what?
On the note of food and asking for a particular dish a particular way, be careful if you have allergies. I often tell the tourists I take around to make up a card that says they’ll die if they eat something in Korean just to get the point across. You’d be surprised how often they assume you’re just being picky and you’ll be fine and still serve what you ask about.
48. No planning
If you’re a planner like me, this will take some adjustment. Sometimes, despite the numerous planners and calendars available in stationary stores, it’s as if no one knows how to plan ahead. You’ll be asked for lesson plans at school for the entire semester by tomorrow or for work that will take 10 hours by the end of the day.
At the same time, you might walk into work to find that all of your classes were cancelled and it’s sports day. What I’ve learned is that you need to ask consistently and often for updates and get ready to go with the flow. No use getting frustrated… it’ll just keep happening and you’re the only one that will be upset about it.
49. Dust is a thing
Unfortunately, the fine dust in the air has become a huge issue in recent years. Yes, you absolutely need a mask when you go outside sometimes and you should monitor the dust levels daily to know when. This is one of the reasons that Koreans weren’t averse to wearing masks when Covid hit… they had already been using them regularly unfortunately.
50. No one holds the door
Even when I was pushing a stroller, I’d find that people were very uninterested in helping to hold the door open so I could get through. It would have made it much faster for them to get through as well, but still, it is very uncommon.
Doors also don’t seem to have that mechanism where if you get them open enough, they’ll hold themselves so imagine me, a stroller, bags, trying to push it through and hold a heavy door with passerby just standing there while I did it. It can be super frustrating at times.
51. Slurp to show your enjoyment
While slurping your noodles stateside might be looked down upon, no one here will believe you enjoyed your soup if you don’t slurp. I don’t slurp spaghetti or other noodle dishes, but when eating Korean noodle soups, it’s all about that slurp.
52. Be careful what you say
Defamation is taken really seriously here. If you’ve been to a business and didn’t find it satisfactory, be careful not to publish a bad review. That business can literally sue you for your honesty. This goes for private groups online too.
You’ll find in most expat groups related to Korea that people will not say the name of a place due to the defamation laws, but will try to tell you just enough so you know to stay away for whatever reason.
53. Small Towels
It’s funny to me now, but wasn’t when I first arrived. Not exactly hand towel sizes, but only slightly larger, most pensions or places to stay will only give you these small towels for your shower. Don’t plan on wrapping a big one around you to dry off… you won’t have one.
54. Potable tap water but not for drinking.
Despite the tap water being potable, Koreans don’t drink it. Most households either buy water or have a dispenser in their house but do NOT drink the water from the tap.
55. Getting naked is normal
Nah, not with the opposite sex. But if you’re headed to a pool or the sauna, the changing room will likely just be an open space to change and in the sauna there will be baths and pools that are nude nude nude. Hope you’re comfortable in your own flesh.
56. Koreans are NOT morning people.
Night life can be insane in Korea and maybe because of that, businesses really don’t open up very early. When my family visited from the States, they were often found waiting outside of bakeries at 8:00 in the morning assuming that a place with coffee and bread would be open. They are not. Most places don’t open until 10:00am at the earliest.
57. Police cars just drive around with their lights on.
Unlike in the States where a police car turns on their lights when they’re pulling you over, here they just drive around with their lights on. This can be really confusing at first.
How do you know when they’re pulling you or someone else over? They turn on their sirens. With so many cars in Seoul you might not know if it’s for you or someone else. You might want to learn some Korean because they will get on their microphone and yell out the last four digits of your license plate to let you know it is YOU they want!
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