A recent article on CNNGo recently talked about the 12 rules for expat life in Korea. While I found myself agreeing with some of them, living in Korea requires more than drinking like a fish or learning to dance K-pop (yikes!). If you’re coming to Korea to teach, work as a business person, serve the military, or otherwise hold a respectable position in Korean society, THESE are the 12 rules to follow.
1. Embrace the culture’s take on alcohol, but know when to say when. Going to the bar with friends and co-workers is common, and (if the boss is paying) a chance for a superior to show their position. At the same time, know when enough is enough. You need not refuse a drink, but sip instead of chug, and choose beer over soju any chance you get – the latter is four times as potent.
2. Spend at least as much time with locals as you do with foreigners. You probably didn’t come here to experience the same life and lifestyle you experienced back home. This means stepping outside your comfort zone, and is best done in conjunction with #6 below.
3. Get out of Seoul, off the main road, and away from foreigners. There, I said it. Being a travel blogger, the last thing I want to do is spend all my time around the waygooks. That said, it’s nice sometimes, and there are plenty of events that you’ll only find in the expat (or expat-friendly) community. You’ll also find plenty of places off the beaten path, off the side roads. Make it a point to find yourself in a place where you’re the only foreigner around every once in a while.
4. Maintain a balance between too passive and too aggressive. There is definitely a balance between the ‘let-everyone-ahead’ mindset and the ‘must-be-the-first-off’ mindset.
5. Along that same line, be aware of your surroundings– not because of safety concerns, but to avoid returning those unintentional bumps. Life in Seoul will involve a fair amount of bumps (most unintentional). It’s one thing to push aside a sharp-cornered bag from a person engrossed in a cell phone, it’s another to beat an old lady to the last seat on the subway.
6. Learn Korean – now. At least a word or phrase a day, if not more. The basic Korean alphabet (hangeul) should not take more than an afternoon of concentrated studying to learn. Shameless self-plug: Korean Made Easy– an $8 e-book that’ll work on any device that reads PDF. There’s plenty to sink your teeth into, and plenty of resources to keep you studying online.
7. Respect the Confucian mindset – older above younger, etc. Your boss gets a bow (whether they particularly deserve it or not), and those younger than you should treat you with some deference.
8. Tip – but only for good service. Despite the cultural mindset of ‘don’t tip’, I firmly believe it’s appropriate for good service. Popping the top on a beer – meh. The bartender suggests a drink or starts up an English conversation? That’s worth at least a chunner.
9. Get really good at one aspect of Korean life (at least!). There’s plenty to choose from – the sel-ca (self-portraiture), the jimjilbang (spa / sauna), the noraebang (singing room), etc. It’s a source of interesting anecdotes, and at least one area where the locals will compliment you on your effort to embrace culture.
10. Eat like a local – with chopsticks and spicy food. Even if you think it might be a little spicy for you, give it a try – small bites, of course.
11. Call out the foreigners playing cards on the subway floor.This recent story says it all. Stay classy, foreigners – that doesn’t mean wearing a suit all the time, but it does mean leave the sweatpants and ratty t-shirts at home.
12. Enjoy your time in Korea– that means getting out of your apartment. Even if you save your big traveling for the weekend and holidays/vacations, there’s plenty of parks around town – there’s bound to be one close by your work.
If this whole list sounds hard, consider what life was like in your home country – and the reasons you were ready to come to Korea.
Wonderful readers, what did you think of the original CNNGo article? What other rules would you suggest for new expats coming to Korea.
© Chris Backe – 2011
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