WanderfulAdventuring
If you have ever wondering what it is actually like to live in South Korea as a foreign expat, then look no further. This pros and cons list will give you a basic breakdown of the benefits and disadvantages of living in Korea– BUT, I have also looked beyond the surface level stereotypes and provided a bit of insight from my own experiences.
I am calling this a Yin Yang Pros & Cons list because for every Pro and every Con, I have included a BUT section that provides a bit more of a realistic viewpoint. It’s an acknowledgment that the world is not black and white and nothing is all good or all bad. It’s an invitation to take off the “rose-colored glasses” and see the world for how it is; with all its bright, dark and dull colors.
*disclaimer: This list is based off my own personal observations and experiences and may not apply to everyone!
Part 1: The Pros of Living in South Korea as an American Expat (Yin Yang Edition)
Table of Contents
1. Safety
Stats:
*South Korea ranks as Level 1 on the US Gov Travel advisory rating, which is the safest rating (out of 4).
*It also has a 1.8 rating out of 5 on the Global Peace Index.
*The crime rate is 4x higher in the US than in South Korea.
Women can walk alone at night here with almost no issue (obviously, still be aware of your surroundings).
Also, people leave valuables on tables to reserve their seat and things are almost never stolen.
BUT…
I’ve become less confident in this, as an incident happened to me with a man on the subway during rush hour in the morning that proved men can be monsters everywhere and women should always be alert.
Also, just know that Hongdae at night and clubbing culture is an exception to the rule, as it is a hotspot for predators.
Also always follow safe travel practices, as unfortunate incidents can happen to anyone, anytime, in anyplace in the world. (Here is where I’ll link you to my blog post about safe travel habits when I eventually make one…).
2. Healthcare
Koreans have Universal Healthcare coverage (a national health insurance) that makes most doctor visits free or very cheap.
Healthcare here is affordable even without insurance and often is much quicker and more streamlined, as patients usually go directly to the type of doctor they need without the extra step of getting a referral in the US.
You also don’t usually have to make an appointment, and even walk-ins are relatively quick (within 1 hour or less).
Also, apparently Korean Healthcare is quite advanced technologically and they’re renowned for providing high quality care.
I once went to the doctor for a cold and it took me 20 minutes, cost $14 for the visit and medicine combined WITHOUT insurance, and the meds cured me in two days. Also that was in Seoul, and that doctor did speak English.
BUT…
-and this is a big BUT for me- I have had extremely bad luck and a frustrating time with healthcare in Korea.
I almost always have communication and language barrier issues and I find that doctors here have been quite condescending. There is definitely some racism and sexism in the medical world here.
However, my situation is quite unique and won’t apply to most people. I have a rare chronic disease with regular medication I need to take, and my situation/symptoms are quite complicated. I also don’t live in Seoul. These factors combined have made it difficult for me to access an English speaking doctor for my more complicated issues.
Although it is necessary for doctors to pass an English exam, I have found that their English knowledge does not extend past what is required for the test, and they often don’t have the skills for practical conversation.
There are international hospitals here, but they are reserved for visitors, not expats, as they do not accept the Korean National Health Insurance that expats have. Furthermore, those hospitals book out months in advance, if you manage to get past the need to book via phone, which doesn’t have an English option (only for NHI holders).
I am also just personally jaded after repeat frustrating and disheartening experiences, so for this topic I am fairly negatively biased.
3. Events & Activities
There are always things to do! For someone who came from a small town in America, living in a city and/or near a big city like Seoul means I can never run out of new activities or places to explore! I often am busy visiting a new cafe or attending an expat event on weekends. My saved reels on instagram and pins on maps are extensive, as there are just so many interesting and unique things to check out. To name a few:
*Escape Rooms
*Cafes (including themed cafes)
*Theme Parks
*Photo Booths
*Beauty Clinics or Stores
*Museums
*One-Day Art Classes
*Hallyu Activities (K-pop & K-Drama)
*Outdoor activities: hiking, cycling, Han River dates, Seoul Forest, etc.
*Pop-up Stores & Experiences: currently there is a Squid Games experience running.
*Expat Events & Clubs: Drag Shows, Language Exchange, Book Club, Yoga, ect.
BUT…
This could just be the experience of city life, and with many activities, comes many costs. So, the more things you want to do, the more money you will spend. I usually value experiences over material things, however, so for me it’s worth it.
3.5 Cafes!
This kind of goes along with my last point, but one of my favorite things about living in Korea is cafe culture! There are soo many unique cafes ranging from small mom & pop shops to fully themed cafes. I also love the range of drink options- even if you don’t drink coffee, you’ll still be able to find something you like.
BUT…
Unfortunately for me, living here has gotten me addicted to coffee.. Which can also be an expensive and not so healthy habit. While most food is cheaper here in Korea, I find coffee tends to be a bit of an exception.
4. Large Expat Community
South Korea is a popular destination for expats, so there are many events, Facebook groups, support groups, and businesses accommodating to foreigners.
I think I am a part of around 15+ expat Facebook groups and they all serve a different purpose. There are groups giving away free items when they’re about to move out or are just de-cluttering, groups posting ESL Teaching jobs, groups for beauty services, mental health, events, and just general support. I’ve found most of these to be very helpful safe spaces. I’ve always had my questions answered and also been to numerous events that I found through these pages.
BUT…
Most events and listings for free things are in Seoul, or other major cities like Busan and Daegu. I’ve seen so many items I would love to get, but have no way of retrieving because it’s either too far or too big, and pick-up only.
Also, sometimes other foreigners on those Facebook pages can be nasty for no reason, so just don’t let them get to you!
5. Public Transportation
Reliable, Clean, Inexpensive.
In general, public transportation in Korea has got to be the best in the world in my opinion (and yes, I’ve been to Japan- theirs is good, too, but I think maybe a bit more confusing). Normally buses come every 10 minutes or so, and subways more like every 5. Obviously this varies, but the bottom line is; it’s not the end of the world if you miss one, because the next one will come shortly. (Although, you definitely wouldn’t know that with the way ‘빠리 빠리’ Koreans ALWAYS run between transfers.)
I am loving not needing a car and still being able to be connected to basically anywhere in the country or at least the major cities.
BUT…
If you live outside of Seoul, this obviously becomes a little less reliable, but not by much in my experience.
I live in a place notorious for “bad” public transportation in Gyeonggi-do, and that’s just because the buses come in 20 min intervals (on weekdays, up to 1 hour on weekends) and I can’t walk to a subway.
The bus stop is literally right outside my door and I can watch my phone with updated timing so I only have to go outside when it’s about to arrive.
I did, however, have some trouble during snowstorms, as the roads were not maintained AT ALL and the buses couldn’t run, forcing me to try for an hour to eventually get a very sketchy taxi ride to work.
ALSO: Rush hour subways in Seoul are literal hell I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, so if you would need to take the subway during rush hour everyday to work, throw the positive things I said out the window and pray to whatever deity you worship.
6. Amazing Food!
Not only is everything here delicious, but it’s so much healthier than food in America (obviously). Everything is fresher and the food options are just better choices. I swear my gut health is 1000x better here. I used to be someone who was frequently nauseous, but I have only had a stomach ache maybe twice while living here. Also, (Korean) food here is inexpensive and comparable to grocery shopping depending on how you shop.
BUT…
The majority of food is a bit spicy, so if you have a low spice tolerance, your options will be a bit more limited. Also, international food is widely available, but more expensive.
7. Culture and Travel
Korea is a country with a rich and fascinating history and culture. You can really deeply feel the cultural influence in every aspect of daily life.
Something really amazing that I have taken advantage of this past year is government sponsored tours. There are multiple tour companies that offer tours for dirt cheap or sometimes even free in exchange for a review- exclusively for foreigners. I have been able to travel to more remote areas of Korea, participate in a home-stay at a lovely elderly couple’s farm, and participate in cultural events like the Boryeong Mud Festival. All these were free or around 15,000 won! (I use the companies Korea Travel Mate and Funday Korea for these opportunities!)
Also, traveling to other Asian countries is much easier since they are nearby and depending on the time, plane tickets can be cheap! I have been to Taiwan and Japan twice so far since living here!
BUT…
Depending on your job, vacation time is less than in America. For my job, I didn’t realize the “vacation time” was built into the salary, so I essentially have no paid time off, besides “red days” which are national holidays (read your contracts people!) and traveling on holidays will always be more expensive.
I believe the typical amount of vacation days is around 11 per year.
8. TECHNOLOGY
I often hear people use the phrase “Korea is living in the future” in popular reels about Korean technology. Everything here is digitized, modernized, and efficient.
My personal favorite thing (which I know is not unique to Korea) is the abundance of kiosks at restaurants. I always get nervous to use my minimal Korean in interactions, so having a kiosk takes a bit of the stress away.
BUT…
There are definitely times when I feel like Korea has failed me via technology as well, like NEEDING a Korean phone number for everything- even ordering on kiosks sometimes! Obviously I have one now, but before I did or if you were just visiting, it’s impossible to do certain simple tasks. Doing anything with official visa documents was also way too complicated and convoluted. The technology is just not created with foreigners in mind.
~If you would like to know about the Cons of Living In South Korea, click here.
