26 Surprising Things You Should Know About Life in South Korea – From a Local

1. K-pop concerts are serious

I’ve been to K-pop concerts, and let me tell you, Korean music fans take it seriously. Some fans even bring binoculars just to get a closer look at their Korean wave idols!

Another cute tradition in this Korean age of music is that the fans sitting next to you often give out small themed gifts related to the concert. It’s such a wholesome part of the experience in South Korea.

1/Photo of an idol from TheBoyz concert 2023. 2/A gift I received from a fellow, unknown fan at a NCT127 concert in 2021

2. You should visit the Demilitarized Zone at least once

I’ve been to the Demilitarized Zone(DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea. As a Korean, I didn’t have to show my passport or any identification, even though I thought that was a requirement.

It was a strange experience seeing life in North Korea just on the other side, going about their day. It made the whole situation on the Korean Peninsula and the legacy of the Korean War feel much more real.

I am glad that I went, it gave me a wake up call on how lucky I am. At the same time, I felt guilty for going there as my Saturday activity, watching less fortunate people in an Asian country across the demilitarized zone border meters away.

We didn’t stay long, but it was definitely a meaningful piece of Korean history.

You can ride a Gondola at the DMZ (not to North Korea), and it is called the Paju Imjingak Peace Gondola. It is mainly for tourism purposes, allowing visitors to get a closer and clearer view of the DMZ between North and South Korea. I highly recommend you to ride it if you visit.

Tickets:

• Ranging between 8-10,000 Korean WON ($6–$8 USD), depending on where you buy the tickets.

Opening Hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 9AM to 6PM
• Sunday: 9AM to 7PM

3. Christmas in South Korea is for couples and kids, not family

Christmas life in South Korea is very different from the West. It’s not really a family holiday—it’s more for couples and kids.

I usually spend it with my boyfriend, exchanging small gifts and having a nice dinner with cake or going to the cinema at a shopping mall. It’s almost like a second Valentine’s Day which I guess is good for the South Korean economy.

4. The subway is close to silent

Public transportation here is so quiet. It’s almost like an unspoken rule that when you step onto the subway, you immediately look down at your phone and keep to yourself. If someone talks loudly, it stands out a lot, and it’s usually tourists.

When I’m with my international friends, they sometimes speak so loudly, and I find myself whispering back to them out of habit—though they never lower their voices.

5. Korea has the most random but useful heating

Heating in Korea is in some unexpected places. Heated toilet seats? Yes. Heated bus stop benches? Also yes.

Our homes are heated through the floors instead of blasting hot air, which is amazing because forced air makes your skin dry (which means wrinkles—no thanks!). Even in winter, many Koreans prefer bundling up while driving rather than turning on the heater in the car for the same reason.

7. Jeju Island’s tiny island with tiny cars

One summer, I went to Jeju Island, a popular destination known as South Korea’s Hawaii. I went with my family and took a short trip to a small island called Udo. There, it’s totally normal to drive tiny cars that reminds of go-karts or golf carts to get around the island. Even older people were driving them!

Udo is also known for its peanuts, while Jeju Island itself is famous for Hallabong, which look like a mix between an orange and a tangerine.

10. Dog cafés are not a rare find

Dog cafés are a mix of a café for humans, but there are also dogs walking around freely. You can pet and play with the dogs while sipping your coffee. It’s heaven for dog and coffee lovers, like me! There are also other animal cafés, including cat, alpaca, and pig cafés. But personally, I have only been to the dog café.

11. Education is extremely intense

Korean society has a rich cultural heritage of education; it’s taken very seriously here. Even after a full day of school, Korean people stay on campus to study more or go to private academies called hagwons. University entrance exams are a huge deal, and the top three universities—known as SKY (Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University)—are extremely competitive. Parents will go to temples to pray while their kids are taking the test, it’s no joke out here.

I was hesitating between Korea University and Konkuk University, and because I love art, I wanted to go to Konkuk for its incredible art program. But my mom, being a typical Korean mom, didn’t give me much of a choice—so Korea University it was!

Student life in Korea was not always intense, it was also fun! I’ll assure that you will at least spot one or two celebrities during your time there. There are also various activities and events throughout the semesters, like sports games, concerts and MT’s (Membership training). The campuses are all really beautiful which makes the experience even better.

12. COVID rules were strict and closely watched

During COVID, we had to scan QR codes to prove our vaccination status before entering any public places. Temperature checks were also common, and at one point, everything had to close by 9 PM.

When I re-entered Korea after traveling abroad, I had to quarantine for 10 days in complete isolation. I wasn’t allowed to go outside or order delivery food. Every morning at 8 AM, an alarm woke me up for breakfast delivery, then again at 12 PM for lunch, and finally at 5 PM for dinner. It was like being in a weird, forced routine. Like Squid Game, but without the games of course.

13. PC rooms are widely popular among all genders and ages

PC rooms (The Korean word is PC방, or PC-bang) are insanely popular here. People—of all ages and genders—can spend anywhere from a couple of hours to an entire day gaming or watching YouTube. You can order food straight to your desk, and the internet speed is ridiculously fast. It’s also the best place to buy concert tickets because the lag is basically zero!

14. Plastic surgery is common

Plastic surgery is so normalized here. I think almost all of my Korean friends have had something done. But compared to the U.S., it’s mostly small procedures like rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery. Bigger surgeries exist, but they’re less common in Korean culture. It’s also normal for families to gift double eyelid surgery to their kids as a graduation present.

Every time I go to Jeju Island, I spot so many people wearing bandages and masks post-surgery. A lot of people travel there to recover, so the airport is full of what looks like mummies—but they’re just healing from their procedures! Not just Koreans, but a lot of foreigners too.

15. Recycling in Korea can be overwhelming

Recycling in Korea might stress you out if you’re not used to it. The number of bins varies depending on the building and area, but in my apartment, we have 10: paper, cardboard, Styrofoam, general waste, glass, plastic, vinyl, cans / scrap metal, food waste, and plastic bottles. Having lived abroad in Norway as well, this was one of the biggest challenges for me, but I eventually got used to it.

Korean food waste is handled separately, and in many areas, you need to buy special biodegradable bags. If you don’t sort your trash properly, you can get fined anywhere from 50,000 KRW to 1,000,000 KRW ($40 to $750). Many apartments even have CCTV monitoring the disposal areas, and repeated mistakes can lead to warnings or penalties. So, make sure you know what goes where!

All the trash bins outside my building, it’s a lot right?

16. Dear reader, did you eat?

In the Korean language, people don’t usually ask, “Are you okay?” or “How have you been?” to show care. Instead, when they speak Korean they ask, “밥 먹었어?” which means “Did you eat?”.

Apologizing in South Korean culture is also indirect—rather than saying “sorry” outright, people often offer fruit or suggest ordering food together as a way to make up for something.

17. “Alexa, play ‘Next Level’ by AESPA”. Because Korean drinking culture definitely is!

Drinking culture here is intense. It doesn’t matter what time of the day or what day of the week it is—if there’s Korean BBQ, alcohol is usually involved. Even at lunch, if we’re eating meat at 2 PM, Soju shots might be on the table. If we go out for hangover soup the next day, there’s a good chance we’ll just start drinking again. Alcohol is also extremely cheap—Soju, which is about 16% alcohol, is often cheaper than a bottle of water!

18. Avoid Line 1 in Seoul

I know I said that the subway in Korea is close to silent, but there is one exception. Line 1 is the oldest subway line in Seoul, and it’s infamous for being confusing and frequently late. It connects to several KTX train stations, which only adds to the chaos. Even Koreans struggle with it.

The first time I took Line 1 to work, I accidentally ended up in another city and had to take a taxi all the way to the office. I was early but still arrived late—and my money was gone. There’s also an internal joke among Koreans that Line 1 has the weirdest people. I can confirm—I’ve seen some very drunk Ajussis(Korean elderly men), people screaming, and even people lying on the floor.

So, if you want some budget entertainment, just take a ride on Line 1 on a Saturday evening and I’m certain you’ll be entertained.

19. Korea is ridiculously convenient

There are convenience stores like CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven on nearly every corner, and they operate 24/7. Korean companies like Olive Young, Korea’s version of Sephora, are everywhere—I feel like I can spot one every 10-15 minutes while walking. Olive Young mostly sells Korean brands, with some Japanese and Chinese ones mixed in. The prices are good, and if you’re a foreigner, bring your passport for a tax refund! They also give out so many freebies and 1+1 deals—it’s amazing. I’m biased but I think life in South Korea is so convenient.

Ordering food and other items is so convenient that I don’t think I could ever live anywhere else. Sometimes, I’m just scrolling late at night on Coupang out of boredom, and I end up ordering random stuff. By the next morning, it’s at my door, and I’ve almost forgotten I ordered it! Delivery can take as little as a few hours or just a day.

Food delivery is also super easy. With apps like Baedal Minjok, you can order from most traditional korean restaurants nearby. Delivery fees are usually free or around $2–$3 for fast delivery. The packaging is great, and they often include freebies or review events where you get extra dishes for leaving feedback.

1: All my orders straight to my door, same day delivery.

2: Who said delivery food has to look delivered? perfect if you’re not a good chef or are expecting guests.

20. In South Korea, MBTI and Blood Type > Astrological sign

After age and name, this is usually the first thing we ask when meeting a new person, especially on dates. MBTI is a more complex description of your personality, while blood type is more biological and less proven.

What’s your MBTI? Find out here

21. Korean wedding ceremonies are very quick and short lasted

One of the interesting facts about South Korea is that Korean weddings are surprisingly quick compared to Western countries. Sometimes, I’ve attended a friend’s wedding at 1 PM and been back home by 2 PM. Couples typically rent a venue just for the ceremony and a quick meal, and then it’s over. This helps them afford a nice venue, receive wedding gifts, and celebrate in front of friends and family without spending too much time or money. The most common gift at a Korean wedding is cash.

If a wedding is at 2 PM, there’s probably another one scheduled for 3 or 4 PM at the same venue. There’s also no superstition about the bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony. In fact, they usually do a full photo seance together before the wedding, often with friends and family joining in.

22. Korean snacks are mostly sweet

In Korea, most snacks have a sweet flavor. Bread, chips, and other baked goods are almost always on the sweeter side. As someone who lived in Scandinavia, eating sweet bread for breakfast was not the way I wanted to start my day.

Even my American friends say that the Hot Cheetos in Korea have too much added sugar, so they have to get their friends back home to send them the real deal. Ironically though, coffee here is preferred bitter with no added milk (Iced Americanos), and sodium is highly consumed, but salt? What is salt?

23. Koreans love to document everything

Most Koreans love taking aesthetically pleasing photos. Art exhibitions are a popular weekend activity for friends, couples, and families, not just for the art but for the perfect photo opportunities.

Yeosu Arte Museum

We also love taking photos in themed photo booths with accessories, colored backgrounds, and props. People take photos with friends after dinner, while out shopping, or just because—and these booths are everywhere!

Just 4 of my 500 photo booth photos with friends

24. Cafés in Korea are more than just for coffee

South Koreans love coffee. Korea has plenty of pretty cafés, and people spend a lot of time in them—not just for photos, believe it or not, but also to talk, hang out, and kill time. There are big chain cafés, but there are also thousands of small, unique cafés with their own personal touch. You can rarely go wrong with them! Even though visiting a café might not be the first thing you think of when traveling, in Korea, it’s definitely a must-do.

25. The Han River is the perfect hangout spot in any season

The Han River is a popular place to spend time, and it’s easy to access from anywhere in Seoul since it stretches across the entire city. It’s especially famous during spring, summer, and fall when people go there for picnics, to meet friends, relax, or bike along the riverside. There are also frequent events like silent discos and food truck festivals, making it a lively spot throughout the year.

In the summer, the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain puts on a water show with lights and music, gathering big crowds. Another fun feature is the instant ramyun machines at convenience stores near the river, where you can cook and eat a bowl of hot noodles while enjoying the view.

26. Traveling within Korea is just as exciting as going abroad

Traveling within South Korea is popular, even among Koreans! When I think about taking a weekend trip, I don’t immediately consider Japan or Taiwan—domestic travel is just as fun and much cheaper.

Korea has plenty of pensions, motels, and cabins, and no matter where you go, there’s always a place to stay. Korean pensions are similar to bed and breakfasts but without breakfast.

Every trip in South Korea feels unique. The different landscapes, four seasons, and easy access to beaches, mountains, cities, and the countryside make it feel like many countries in one; each destination feel like a completely different experience.

Some of my more recent favorite trips!