(k)limbing in Korea

Do I pack my climbing shoes even though I haven’t really used them in over a year? 

This was one of my questions when packing for South Korea. I looked up climbing gyms, but since I wasn’t sure exactly where my apartment was, it was hard to tell if I was near any climbing gyms, or if any would be open during covid. So to save space and not pay for an extra checked bag (I packed the exact weight limit and not a kg more for my free bags haha) I left them behind because I hadn’t used them in forever, so why in Korea? Probably a mistake.

I had only been in Gwangju a week when I was headed to a cafe one night and saw “Climbing Gym” on a sign. When words are in English it’s hard to not read your native language when it’s surrounded by Korean. I wasn’t sure I read it right since I was in a rush, but decided to explore it again after I got off work the next day. I wasn’t planning on climbing when I went, I only wanted to look around and find out how much it was. So gathering my few Korean words of “How much is it?” and making sure my Papago translator app was working, I headed out. 

Wandering down into the basement of the building, a bell rang when I entered, and I could feel the eyes of every Korean looking at me. I don’t do good in the spotlight. Especially if I don’t know what’s going on. So I was trying very hard to not make eye contact with strangers as I wondered if this was the worst idea I had or not. Shoes were off by the door (It can be a guessing game of which businesses you do or don’t keep your shoes on) and I realized quickly that you had to take them off to walk around and go to the desk…. Except there was no one there. Instead of me quickly going in and asking right away how much it cost to climb, I was awkwardly standing in the doorway unsure of when the owner would return. So I waited. And waited. Still no one was there. For someone who is alone and only speaks one language and can be stressed in social settings, it was a trying experience because what do you do when people are looking at you and you stare at your phone because you don’t know what else to do?

After some time passed, one of the climbers came over and I gave a huge sigh of relief when he spoke English. The owner was away for lunch, but he pointed out the costs and I decided I’d give it a go–spur of the moment because why not after a long wait and a dash of anxiety? I rushed home and got into climbing clothes and then returned, where the owner was back and she got me squared away. 

As soon as I started to warm up and climb I was super comfortable and felt like home. It was a sport I loved and forgot how much I enjoyed after stopping for almost two years due to time and other reasons. Being in a new country, but a familiar activity, was a comforting feeling. I decided that day I would do it regularly again, and have been going as much as I can.

To be honest, it’s one of my favorite places in Gwangju now. I was able to meet other climbers who knew English and they helped me sign up for my membership, for which I was grateful. I try my best to have simple conversations with the owner, who doesn’t speak English and is super sweet. I think one of the things I appreciate the most is the fact she still talks to me every time, even if I can’t always understand everything. I’d rather struggle to listen than have no one talking to me (the amount of times I understand but can’t respond continues to grow, though). Oftentimes I hear my name when there is a new climber because she tries to get other people to speak English with me and I just awkwardly nod or wave hello. It’s sweet.

Becoming a member at a rock climbing gym in a foreign country is not something I really expected ever to do. But climbing communities look out for each other, and are similar regardless of language. Climbing is something I know well and can do on my own, yet it is enjoyable when around other people. I’m glad I decided to wander in, and even more glad I didn’t run away because of the awkward and semi-stressful waiting period. The gym itself isn’t grand or huge, but what brings me back are the experiences because the climbs are fun and the people are kind, so I always look forward to when I go.