Korean Surprises

There were some things I knew about before coming, and some things I did not. So here are 10 things that surprised me in South Korea.

Brands:

I’m not sure if it’s because of where I lived haha, but did you know National Geographic, Discovery, Kodak are really big clothing brands? I’m used to seeing them branded on things related to educational TV or photography, but there is hardly a day I don’t see some National Geographic jacket on someone. The stores are all over and every time I expect to see some nature related object but it’s just clothes.

Parking:

Basically, it doesn’t exist. Parking is such a problem that in overcrowded parking lots people will block people in, but their phone numbers are on the windshield so you call them if they need to move their car. Cars will suddenly park in the middle of the road, on the sidewalk or crosswalk, or whatever empty space it can fit in, so you may often be weaving in and out of them.

Delivery Drivers:

I heard the warnings but wasn’t sure the extent of how crazy some of the little scooters can be haha. I’ve been pinned against a wall, against other people, and almost hit by bicycles while a delivery driver is coming because there is nowhere to go. So any time I hear the sound of a scooter engine I look around and make sure I’m not in its vicinity, or it sees me. They don’t have to follow traffic rules so they are often going all over sidewalks, crazy u turns, or down the wrong way of traffic. 

Couple Culture:

I’ve seen couples. I love couples. They’re cute, they’re in bliss, but I never really thought more on it after I pass by them. Coming to South Korea you can’t not notice it. Couples from middle school to elders are dressed to match, you’ll have a line of couples arms linked with each other pass by you one after the other. They know how to pose and in the many photo areas they are taking each other’s pictures or a selfie with a tripod. It’s different and you feel it here. I didn’t notice my singleness until my friends and I were having to be each other’s partners to do things haha.

Flowers to go:

Going off of that, couple culture and gifts are such a big thing that there are a ton of flower shops. And I love it. Flower shops are on every corner and not only that, but they make them to go and in vending machines. Is that genius or crazy or both? I love the idea and I kinda laugh how often I’ve seen people running down the road holding bouquets at odd hours and wonder just what situation they got themselves in. (like that time at 6am the poor dude was full on sprinting with a huge bouquet.)

Late Start:

Back home, everything opens pretty early and closes….early. With a 9-5 schedule, cafes are sometimes opened to 9, and restaurants are open a bit later, but otherwise Walmart or Target is your best bet to do anything. Meanwhile, Korean culture opens late and closes late. Even on weekends if you make plans before 12pm you’ll often find that they are either closed or just starting to open. It’s a ghost town until 1pm and cafes are open until almost midnight, so there is always something to do at night. (Though with covid some cities close earlier, but still people are out and about.)

Online security is no joke:

I found out pretty quickly just how tight Korean security is. I got locked out of using my bank card for online orders for a month because I entered in the wrong numbers, and if you do it more than three times you have to reverify/reset your password, which is a whole other process. And then so many sites ask you for verification with your info, which has to be spelled exactly like your phone bill (capital and name order) otherwise you get locked out that way too and have to reverify that you are actually you….yeah it’s a lot.

Express busses are express:

I learned the hard way that busses don’t really announce when they are leaving. You see the clock and go out to the bus, though some bus terminals people announce the cities about to leave, but not often. And if your ticket is for 4:15 it is leaving at 4:15 (they’re express busses after all). But if you miss a bus there’s usually another leaving shortly after, and oftentimes I prefer to buy the ticket just before I leave, unless it’s a busy route or weekend, because you don’t have to rush. 

Lost patients:

It really threw me off when I saw hospital patients wandering the streets in their hospital top and bottoms. Because there are private hospitals all over, you’ll often see patients walking around with their IV drip or strolling through the park with a sweater on top. I still remember when I first moved in; someone from my building and I stared at each other for a long while because I was wondering if they came to the wrong place instead of a hospital, and he didn’t know I lived there yet. 

Water:

Water is the main thing I drink…if you take out all the chocolate and strawberry latte’s I’ve recently been getting…but every time I go out to eat, the water cups feel like shot glasses. They are SO small and I could drink the whole pitcher that is provided for the table, and yet it’s for the whole table, not just you. It’s usually self serve, but I still don’t really understand the size part.

So there you are. 10 things that surprise me about living here. Which of these would also surprise you?