12 Things I Miss About Life in South Korea the Most

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Living in a foreign country for two years does something to ya. It forces you outside of your comfort zone and to learn new things about yourself and the culture you’re immersed in. While there were lots of “what in the world” moments I experienced while living and teaching English in Korea, ultimately it was an amazing experience. And since moving home, there are a few things I’ve realized I miss most about life in South Korea.

What I Miss Most About Life in South Korea

1. K Beauty.

Korean beauty and skincare is phenomenal. Living in the land of it made it so convenient and affordable to try new brands and products and stocking up on all of my faves. There were also beauty stores in early every neighborhood making it super easy to pick up something if needed. It was wonderful.

2. Seoul.

Seoul is unike any other city. I’ll miss our fun weekends in the city.

3. Public Transport.

I have never lived anywhere where public transportation was so plentiful. It was pretty easy to take bus or train to get to nearly any Korean city I wanted for a decently affordable price. Even when there wasn’t a convenient public transportation option, even rental cars were super cheap compared to other places. It was awesome!

4. Affordable Medical Care.

As an American, I was absolutely stunned at how affordable a visit to the doctor was. When I had a double ear/eye/sinus infection I got antibiotics and an appointment for about $10. When I needed an x-ray to check out the health of my spine, it was $20. AMAZING!

This may be hard to relate to if you come from a country with national healthcare, but these basic services can literally cost hundreds of dollars in the US and it really opened my eyes to the ridiculousness that is the American healthcare system. This is one of the things I’ll definitely miss most about life in South Korea.

5. How safe it is.

Regardless of the crazy portrayal of the Korean peninsula in the media, South Korea is insanely safe. The safest place I’ve ever felt living in a place. I never once worried about walking home alone at night.

And it was a normal sight to see people leaving their phones or wallets unattended while taking a smoke or bathroom break. It was so refreshing to walk around without looking over my shoulder constantly.

6. The mountains.

I grew up in an area of the U.S. that is pretty flat. As a hiking enthusiast, obviously, that makes the hobby of hiking a bit difficult to actually pursue. Korea is the land of mountains and had so many beautiful parks to hike and enjoy on the weekends. I’m really going to miss the close proximity of the mountains.

7. That there’s always something to do.

Korean cities are home to a large number of people living in close quarters. The high density means that there are almost always things to do that are in close proximity. Want to go bowling? You can count on there being a lane nearby. Same with a movie theater, screen golf, arcades, noraebangs (karoke), cute cafes, cute shops, etc. Lots of ways to stay entertained.

8. The price you see is the price you pay.

Taxes are included in all prices in Korea and there is no tipping culture so the price you see is the price you pay. This is probs just the American in me but I loooooved the convenience.

9. How easy it is to be healthy.

Again, this might just be the American perspective, but it was pretty easy to be healthy in Korea. Korean food is generally pretty decent and portions are small and reasonable. There’s not a huge culture of delicious cake and breads like in America and Europe (my personal weaknesses), making it easy to avoid excess sugars. Living in the city without a car also meant lots of walking from place to place instead of just driving.

10. The chill and easy lifestyle.

Having a lifestyle/schedule that is exactly in step with all of your closest friends is a very hard thing to come by after university – especially as everyone goes off with their careers in different fields, families etc. But as expat English teachers in Korea, life weirdly tends to be the same for everyone.

As an expat, you’re probably single or at least unmarried, you’re probably into travel and seeing new things, you’re probably working the same exact schedule outlined in your contract as everyone else. It makes being social and planning events so easy. I’m going to miss that.

11. Certain aspects of the culture.

It’s always hard to adjust to a new culture and their norms and customs, but I came to really enjoy some of the key Korean cultural norms. A few of them include:

• Taking your shoes off when entering a home: In America it’s common for people to wear shoes inside but in Korea that is a huge no no and honestly I’m onboard with the Koreans. Why do we think it’s ok to track mud and dirt and grim from the bottom of our shoes into our homes?! It keeps the place clean and means you don’t have to sweep as much.

• Sharing meals: In Korea, it’s common to share meals and dishes. As a nibbler who wants to try everything, this custom really spoke to me. It was also a way to feel more connected and closer with your friends while eating in my opinion. Added to the cozy factor.

• Call buttons in restaurants: This was amaaaazing! Most restaurants have buttons you press when you need attention from your server. That way the waitstaff know exactly when they’re needed and your table is left in peace.

12. The people and the expat community.

When you’re an expat surrounded by other expats, it’s very likely you’re all similar minded people with a diverse background and experience. Having at your fingertips a group of travel-loving, adventure-seeking folks who are experiencing the same culture shocks, learning experiences, thrills and joys of living abroad. At home, it’s sometimes hard to meet new people with similar interests. When you’re abroad, it’s often easy.

I’ve been so fortunate to meet such an amazing group of friends who have truly made the last two years of my time here incredible. They are hands down, what I’ll miss most about life in South Korea and it’s going to be sad to say goodbye as we all go our separate ways.

Living abroad as an expat is a wonderful experience, and it goes so so quickly. I’m writing this in my childhood home in America and I can confirm that these moments in life pass us by in the blink of an eye. So with that, these are the things I’ll miss most about life in South Korea.

What do you think about Korea? Share below!