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If I asked you to picture an exotic country, you'd probably go with something like Australia or Japan. But after this exclusive list by Bored Panda, you'll probably consider South Korea one too.
To show how unique this country really is, we put together a collection of pictures that vividly illustrate its everyday life. We're talking solar-powered benches with USB and wireless charging, onion-flavored cereal, and pretty much everything else you can find there.
Continue scrolling to check out the images and the conversation I had with Hammer and Guillaume, A Fun Couple from Hong Kong and France respectively, who have been traveling the world and documenting their adventures on their blog and Instagram.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Running Out Of Children Due To The Low Birth Rates, A School In South Korea Is Opening Their Doors And Allowing Illiterate Grandmothers To Enrol, So They Can Also Learn To Read
#2
This Care Package The South Korean Government Sent Me While I’m In Quarantine Day 2
Translated letter that was attached to the package: “For people who are currently suffering from the Corona-19 virus, we send our regards and sympathy. We (the food ministry?) is sending this “environment-friendly health package” constructed with environment-friendly crops. We hope this helps you get energy for your daily routine. Furthermore, we hope you get well soon to return to your daily life. You can do it! Fight it! Go South Korea!”
This country in East Asia makes up about 45 percent of the Korean Peninsula and faces North Korea across a demilitarized zone (DMZ) that's 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. The DMZ was established by the terms of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War (1950–53) and runs for about 150 miles (240 km).
"We have been calling South Korea our home for 3.5 years now," A Fun Couple told Bored Panda. "What we liked about the idea of moving here was that this country is still not on most people's bucket list when traveling to Asia. Many travelers would rather prioritize neighboring countries such as Japan, China or Hong Kong when visiting the continent."
However, according to Hammer and Guillaume, South Korea has been making a name for itself over the last few years, with the K-phenomenon on the cultural side and large companies such as Samsung and LG on the business side.
"We were excited but also curious to live in a country that continues to develop fast yet remains a bit unknown to the Western world."
#3
Pink Explosion In Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea
#4
Korean Ktx Trains Play “Healing Broadcasts” Where They Just Show Newborn Puppies Rolling Around For Five Minutes
#5
Airports In Seoul Provide A Map To Your Gate On The Back Of Your Boarding Pass
Avocadorable 3 years ago
This needs to be at every airport. I tend to find airports a labyrinth with hard to find gates.
One aspect that really impressed the couple once they came to this country was the strong sense of solidarity amongst Koreans. "An aspect that's really astonishing and will help you understand what we mean by that is the gold collecting campaign."
"In 1998, South Korea was about $304 billion in debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As a national sacrifice, 3.5 million Koreans donated their gold to the government to repay part of the debt. About 227 tons of gold were donated voluntarily during that event. Impressive, right?!"
"This sense of solidarity can be felt in everyday life in Korea. For example, during the pandemic, people were very supportive of each other. Koreans made a joint effort to keep social distancing rules and wear masks at all times. This is also why South Korea was seen as a benchmark when managing the COVID crisis in its early stage."
#6
Took These In The Same Spot Over The Past Year. Korea’s Four Seasons: Yeouido
#7
Glad To See My Favorite Tree Standing Healthy After This Year's Numerous Typhoons And Landslides, South Korea
#8
This Subway Car In Seoul Has A Mini Library
Of course, settling in another culture takes time. Hammer and Guillaume said the 'work hard, play hard' concept was probably the trickiest thing to adjust to.
"Koreans are very hard working. The maximum number of working hours per week recently changed from 63 to 52, but it's still a lot. Although the work-life balance got better over the last few years, working overtime (and not being paid for it) is still pretty common."
"It is also very common to go out with colleagues multiple times a week after work and have dinner and drinks until late at night. We definitely had to cut down on our sleeping hours, but it's a lot of fun to live and work in South Korea!"
#9
Apartment Complex In Korea Being Painted, So The Painters Shrouded All The Cars In The Parking Lot To Protect From Splatter
#10
Starbucks In Seoul Offering Used Coffee Grounds For Gardening
#11
Just Received This At My Door! S. Korea Gives Out Food Rations To People In Quarantine
Avocadorable 3 years ago
I heard about this. Good for people that can't get groceries home delivered or have no one to take care of them. Great job! Wish all local governments globally did this.
#12
This Hand-Painted Underside Of A Temple Roof In Korea
"Since there are much fewer expats in South Korea than other Asian countries we've lived in, things are not always fully catered to foreigners. Opening a bank account, getting a local driver's license, getting a phone plan, using different apps; these things weren't always easy," A Fun Couple said.
"Besides there is still a language barrier and most of the documents are rarely translated into English. However, we've noticed that it has become easier for a foreigner to go about their daily life than when we arrived here 3.5 years ago. So we hope that this trend will continue in the future as well!"
#13
I Get To Walk Through This Everyday On My Way Home From Work
#14
This Sign Is Not For A Cat Crossing. It Means "Caution: Cat Is Around"
#15
This 2D Café We Visited In Seoul
Eva the Egg 3 years ago
🎶Take.... on... meeee..... *take on me* Take.... me... onnnnnnnn.... 🎶
#16
Modern Korea Built Around Historic Korea (Seoul)
During their time in South Korea, A Fun Couple discovered a beautiful country, full of contrasts between the modern and the traditional, amazing natural landscapes, and exciting cities like Seoul and Busan.
"South Koreans are very welcoming and positive-minded people. We met so many great people here and made very good friends. Therefore, we highly recommend South Korea as an expat destination. We started our blog so that more people can realize how great this place is and that they should add this destination to their bucket list!"
#17
Small Restaurant In The Snow, Seoul, South Korea
#18
Solar Powered Benches Here In Seoul, South Korea. Complete With USB And Wireless Charging Docks
#19
Bukhansan Yesterday
#20
"Root Bench" Is A Public Installation By Architect Yong Ju Lee In Hangang Art Park, South Korea
#21
South Korea Puts Traffic Lights On The Ground So That People Who're Looking At Their Phones Can Still See The Light
#22
This Ice Lolly I Bought In Korea Has A Little Tray To Prevent It From Melting All Over Your Hands
#23
Korea Is So Beautiful
#24
An Old Pine Tree, Daedunsan, South Korea
#25
Every Half Kilometer They Have A Resting Place Made For Pedestrians In This Korean City Ansan
Kevin Gerke 3 years ago
There is a lot of park-like things integrated throughout cities. I love it.
#26
Chips Organized Into A Rainbow In Korea
#27
This Latte Art From A Cafe In Seoul, South Korea
#28
South Korea Isn't Joking When Battling Covid-19
#29
I'm Staying In Korea Right Now And Apparently There Is A TV Channel Dedicated To Dogs, As In Programming For Dogs
#30
This Here Is The Entrance Of The Club Chroma In Seoul, South Korea By MVRDV Architecture, Which Is Said To Be The Largest Nightclub In The World
#31
Daegaksa Temple Near Jongmyo Shrine In Seoul
#32
Well, That's One Way To Encourage People To Use The Stairs
#33
Escalator Sanitizer In South Korea
#34
Self Cleaning Roads In South Korea
#35
Supermarkets In Korea Offer Toilet Paper Samples For You To Test
Firstname Lastname 3 years ago
Please say the customers aren't testing them on their heinies in there...
#36
Cakes Sold In South Korea Usually Come With Free Candles And Matches Hidden In The Plastic Cake Knife
Daria B 3 years ago (edited)
No, not usually. Sometimes that is. Usually, you only get a free plastic knife, but the rest depends on the shops individually. In bakeries they will, however, ask you if you need candles and how many, these are free and come with a free match as well. Unless you bought the fancy ones separately. Still, you'd get a free match to light them.
BluEyedSeoulite 3 years ago
This. The box looks like it says Twosome Place, so it is a nicer Cafe and their cakes are quite good!! I tend to reuse plastic cake cutters and have found the hidden candles and matches while washing the cutter. Fun little surprise
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WilvanderHeijden 3 years ago
Am I the only one who is getting the impression that Korea wastes a lot of plastic?
Rez Fidel 3 years ago
Again.... not ecological at all. Just another unessecary plastic item pilling up. --> South Korea has the highest per capita plastic consumption rate in the world, with the average citizen consuming 300 pounds of the stuff each year, according to Euromap.
Sean Matherne 3 years ago
Cakes in Korea are usually very beautiful but not nearly as sweet as American cakes.
SuperChicken 3 years ago
I think, most countries don't make their cakes as sweet as the American ones. In Europe, if not all, most of the cakes are not as sweet, either.
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Shari Davenport 2 years ago (edited)
I have been watching many videos on YouTube showing how South Korean food processors create and decorate numerous cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and other desserts, to sell in local cafes, stores, and restaurants. The attention to cleanliness and sanitation is just admirable, and worthy of replication by all food processors. Their talented bakery decorators are quite admirable and can create the most amazing things. Other food processors also show their procedures and products, whether it's different meats, fish, poultry, or vegetable products such as South Korea's national dish, Kim Chee! It's so gratifying to see the great foods and creative processes with foods that are so normal and encouraged and appreciated there, and then compare these things to their "northern neighbor" is absolutely stark. Even the traditional and more modern street foods are very unique and interesting. I find these much more interesting and worthy of further investigation than most anything here!
Paul Beasley 2 years ago
Cake is for celebrations. I celebrate today but not with cake... Ice cream.
Kate Hallberg 2 years ago
One match‽ The pressure! What if you blow it and that was your one match‽
Stacey Rossiter 2 years ago
Why do people always feel they have to correct everyone and everything?
ZonkeY_the_DonkeY 2 years ago
America thought of customers: 1% South korea though of customers: 10000000%
Gail Nicholson 2 years ago
On the one hand, I'm a little appalled that it's a PLASTIC knife (environmental responsibility!) but on the other hand, I'm impressed to see the little recycling symbol on there, even though it's clearly PP. You can't recycle PP here (in the UK) even though technically it's possible, just none of the recycling companies do it. Anyway I hope it's easy and habitual for everyone to recycle their free cake knives responsibly!
Christine M Quigley 3 years ago
Korean bakeries are awesome! Some of my favorite Youtube channels are from bakeries in Korea.
Katinka Min 3 years ago
Too much plastic. But I love that shops will offer you candles, if need them.
#37
Traditional Korean Architecture
#38
In Korea, They Have Single Person Karaoke Booths On The Train
#39
The Wavy Building Called The GT Tower In Seoul, South Korea
#40
Pump Toothpaste In South Korea. One Pump Is The Perfect Amount For A Toothbrush
#41
Found Totoro On The Side Of The Road
Eva the Egg 3 years ago
Look in the background around the bush and you can see some sootballs 😉
#42
These Helpful Robots That Wander Incheon Airport, Seoul, That You Can Use To Check Flight Information
#43
This Library In Seoul, South Korea
#44
Automatic Ramen Dispenser In Korea
#45
"1,000 Doors" Building In South Korea
#46
They Have A Sauron’s Tower In Seoul
#47
Cherry Blossom Themed Coca Cola Bottles In South Korea
#48
South Korea Now Has Walk-Through Covid-19 Test Booths
Devil's Advocate 3 years ago
Gloves that touch everyone right by their mouths, seems a great way to spread anything
#49
The Bananas We Got With Our Delivered Groceries Here In South Korea Came With Little Stickers To Put On Them
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Janis Wise 3 years ago
Everyone is complaining about the plastic, which I totally get. However, I just hope it’s no one from the U.S. We should not dare complain about another country’s litter & trash habits. We are terrible here. We don’t give a rat’s ass for the most part & it shows in our infrastructure & lack of planning for our overuse of plastic & of fossil fuels. Our last President made a joke of turbines use of wind power, slashed any environmental agencies & plans he could get his hands on & all his base followers still deny global weather issues & the disaster coming our way. But he was hell bent to build an ugly wall that would make us look like a dystopian future. Yet they demonized young people who spoke up about the mess we’re leaving for them. Remember what mom said, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Beans 3 years ago
They literally have dollar tree in America... I've been to Japan, Korea and the US multiple times and the waste in the US is far worse. Everyone is an environmentalist when they are looking in other people's backyard and not their own.
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Michael Smith-O'Brien 2 years ago
I did visit 2012 and I still can’t believe what I saw there; clean and orderly with courtesy flowing everywhere! Gray beard prompted teenagers to insist on giving me their seat on the subways
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Run Forest 3 years ago
I mean it is the plastic surgery capital of the world.
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Wibbi 3 years ago
These small restaurants are actually really common in Korea. They normally do one type of dish in multiple variations and really well. I love it :) One of the best restaurants my professor took us to was in a small house you had to enter through a garage with dirt floor. I would have never found it on my own. But the food there was great. I also saw a restaurant near a temple where they just moved their dining area into a shallow river during the hot summer. Still one of the best ideas I can think of to beat the summer heat :) I wanna go back....
Ranch Dressing 3 years ago
Koreans know how to have fun with their restaurants. Iv not been to Korea itself but I go to the local Korean restaurant in my city and I love it
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Yugan Talovich 3 years ago
BP's tired of Japan and has a new crush: South Korea! Utopia on Earth!
Daria B 3 years ago
Not yet. But yeah, it could easily go towards that direction indeed. In that case, I may start complaining. ♡
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Yurie 3 years ago
Korean native who has been living in the US for 8 years now. You can calm down with the "plastic complaints" because we have biodegradable trash bags that are legally mandated and strict recycling education built into the school system and recycling laws, growing up in KR, I was used to washing disposable containers and utensils, taking labels off for recycling whereas in the US, y'all throw trash into non-biodegradable cheap plastic bags and most of you don't even recycle, let alone use a reusable grocery bag
Beans 3 years ago (edited)
Korea is lovely. I've been. It might seem a lot like Japan here but it's very different. Sad fact about most temples there: they are all mostly new rebuilt because the Japanese destroyed them during the occupation :( There is definitely more waste compared to Japan, which seems more ocd. People are a bit less polite too (but more real I guess) and when you find kind Koreans they are really kind, no BS. That said some places hate foreigners and refused to serve us, we left restaurants twice. People queue more haphazardly and follow rules less (I actually know a tourist that was run over on the sidewalk and the guy was drunk. Drink driving is a thing). The food is great, but it depends what you get and it's a bonus if you like spicy because they have the spiciest stuff there. They also love coffee! I did a thing one day where I stopped and took a photo of each coffee place I saw one day. I got to like 30 and gave up.
Beans 3 years ago
Another fun fact, their business turnaround is crazy.... It was the only Asian country I went where Google maps was messed up because businesses had been replaced before people could update maps. We actually saw a cake shop we were meaning to go to close down and something had taken it's place days later. It was nuts. They also have their own kind of bullet train which is handy to get around the country fast. And Seoul is lovely though. They are building a lot of cool things there.
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GoddessOdd 3 years ago
I just have one question. How hard is it to learn to speak Korean. Oh, wait, two questions. Is it easy to become a resident? Most other countries make it very hard for Americans to move there.
Daria B 3 years ago (edited)
How hard it is to learn a language depends on your linguistic background and affinities. I'm bilingual since birth (Croatian + Italian) and I've always been strong with languages. I've learnt their writing system all by myself in about a month. It took me 2 months of life in Korea under the language course to start being able using Korean in every day conversation, about 6 months to become confident and fluent. As for becoming a resident, depends what your target visa is, but mainly the rule is -> you have money to show, you're good. I'm not American, but I've been here since 2010 on a variety of visas (marriage visa currently). The law doesn't separate by countries usually, but I noticed they do require additional documents for Chinese people. (This might have changed recently, though.)
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Sharon Jones 2 years ago
It looks to be a beautiful country, a place I would love to visit. As for waste the entire world needs to slow down with waste. Too much of everything. What happened to repairing your items like tvs, toasters, cars, washing machines etc. Now it's toss out the old & buy new. Then we have the green push, I support that but what happens to the big batteries when they die? Or solar panels when they no longer function? Wind farms kill migratory birds by the thousands. And all of this needs to start in your own home. No plastic baggies or reuse them, our grandparents did. We are such a "disposable" species. The quick fix, the toss & go. Fast food restaurants, heck any restaurant with the boxes or bags to go. The plasticware, napkins and now our masks. It starts with each of us. And it is not easy, at least for me it has been awareness. Thinking can I recycle this tinfoil or plastic bag. Can I compost this? Do I really need the to go box, perhaps I should bring my own from home before we go
Greg Weaver 2 years ago
Man, I loved S. Korea. Did a one-year tour there back in the late 90s. Wonderful people, wonderful countryside. Tended to get far away from the typical GI spots when I went to Seoul/Kumchon and had a great time. Would love to move back, but...life.
Katinka Min 3 years ago
So many considered details. And I love all these additions to public space. Where I live, most of it would be destroyed, filthy and/or covered in bad graffiti or stolen outright. Anything publiy, here needs to be indestructible. :-/
Banana Bear 3 years ago
Now I know I'm going to South Korea and spend like a whole day or two in Seoul (hope I spelled that right)
Adrian 3 years ago
It occurs to me that South Korea is one country that has really got its s..t together. Hopefully I'll get to visit sometime.
Ueda 3 years ago
Don’t be fooled. Inequalities are huge in Korea and living there when you are not a ‘winner’ is quite awful. I used to be the foreigner (poster boy) in a Korean company and some of my colleagues couldn’t find a wife because they were deemed not successful enough… It’s a very superficial place really. Everything is about appearances and how successful and rich you are. Although I found Koreans among the nicest people I have met in my life, I think their society is a bit f*cked up. It’s pretty sad really.
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Whanna Knows 2 years ago
None one respects anyone or their property which is why usa looks so dirty and gross
L Smith 2 years ago
One of my favorite things when I lived in South Korea was the ondol floor. The floor is fake wood with pipes underneath through which hot water is pumped in the winter time. You get a heated floor and it is just divine! I have a photo of my cat rolling around on the heated floor like it's having an orgasm!
Mrry L TIM W. 2 years ago
Was that sarcasm? If so, I'll give you an up-vote. If not, I will hurridly give you a ticket to go there if you promise never to return.
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Bob Kennedy 2 years ago
I live in South Korea and want to point out that, while I don't doubt all of these things exist, most of them are neither commonplace nor easy to find. It's a little like showing the M&Ms Store in Times Square and implying every town has these.
Pauline Forrester 1 year ago
Its amazing how they include pictures of puppies to relax you...and t.v. for dogs...Yet you don't see hem advertise the fact they skin dogs and cats alive for human consumption....Amazing how they like to keep that quiet...
EdgeLord666 2 years ago
Koreans make the best SSDs. Beat that Sandisk! mmmm-grayo...95aea5.jpg 
EdgeLord666 2 years ago
hangeul is the best alphabet in the world. change my mind. Sejong_the...eb3564.jpg 
Lee Au Jun 2 years ago
Sorry that you did not just show us a photo of the "Bullet train" It covers a day's journey by car in under 3hrs. Lived in Korea for 10years; experienced this personally.
Lee Au Jun 2 years ago
Yep. I lived there for over 10yrs and every day, I think about it. Moving from Seoul to Busan: You take a bullet train. I wish you had shown us a photo of that; it will take about 3hrs. If you drive, it could take all day. I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; If I want to visit Virginia Beach, Virginia, it will take 15hrs. If I take a plane almost the same;
rajiv Vyas 2 years ago
Wowww....south korea is a place to visit on my bucket list....I have watched their Korean series and they are all superr amazingly dressed...a big fan of Hyun Bin and Son Je Kin
Anna Volkov 2 years ago
This is definitely some south Korean propaganda sh*t lol half thr covid stuff soundsore like negatives. They probably send you "care packages" because you're grounded to your home and can't get out even to buy food.. why are you all fantasizing about a socialist dictatorial state who keeps the whole nation like prisoners who aren't allowed to leave the country Blackie they don't want the truth to come out about this "lovely country"? South Korea is going to die out with their one child per family rule or even 2... thats not replacing the population but diminishing it...
Phalbe Henriksen 2 years ago
I lived in South Korea for a year in 1969. It gets better and better. I miss it.
Scott Hatton 2 years ago
This is kind of misleading, since most of these are either in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. The rest of the country is pretty different, but still beautiful. Seoul is just a city, it's worth it to explore the smaller areas.
金宇航 3 years ago
I have been to Japan, China and Korea and the architecture in Korea is clearly copied from China, where Japan has an interesting cultural style and many buildings and things are very tiny, China is very diverse because of its land area, and the least interesting is Korea, which has no character and I don't want to go there again.
Jackie Wacky 3 years ago
This item has made me want to visit South Korea some day. It looks like an amazing place.
Biba Little 3 years ago
I would love to visit South Korea one day but the plane ticket is just too expensive!
Christopher Duffy 3 years ago
The thing that strikes me about the USA today is how much people hate each other. They'd rather children starve in a gutter than be given any form of help. It's collective psychosis.
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Emma Drake 2 years ago
korea has much less waste and looks alot cleaner there are some cool things there too very unlike the us
Zophra 3 years ago
This sounds like utopia. I have never heard of any "problems" - do they have any?
Daria B 3 years ago
Plenty of problems, really.... plenty. And serious ones too. Suicide rates being the most well known ones. But I still love it here.
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Janis Wise 3 years ago
Everyone is complaining about the plastic, which I totally get. However, I just hope it’s no one from the U.S. We should not dare complain about another country’s litter & trash habits. We are terrible here. We don’t give a rat’s ass for the most part & it shows in our infrastructure & lack of planning for our overuse of plastic & of fossil fuels. Our last President made a joke of turbines use of wind power, slashed any environmental agencies & plans he could get his hands on & all his base followers still deny global weather issues & the disaster coming our way. But he was hell bent to build an ugly wall that would make us look like a dystopian future. Yet they demonized young people who spoke up about the mess we’re leaving for them. Remember what mom said, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Beans 3 years ago
They literally have dollar tree in America... I've been to Japan, Korea and the US multiple times and the waste in the US is far worse. Everyone is an environmentalist when they are looking in other people's backyard and not their own.
Load More Replies... Michael Smith-O'Brien 2 years ago
I did visit 2012 and I still can’t believe what I saw there; clean and orderly with courtesy flowing everywhere! Gray beard prompted teenagers to insist on giving me their seat on the subways
Load More Replies... Run Forest 3 years ago
I mean it is the plastic surgery capital of the world.
Load More Replies... Wibbi 3 years ago
These small restaurants are actually really common in Korea. They normally do one type of dish in multiple variations and really well. I love it :) One of the best restaurants my professor took us to was in a small house you had to enter through a garage with dirt floor. I would have never found it on my own. But the food there was great. I also saw a restaurant near a temple where they just moved their dining area into a shallow river during the hot summer. Still one of the best ideas I can think of to beat the summer heat :) I wanna go back....
Ranch Dressing 3 years ago
Koreans know how to have fun with their restaurants. Iv not been to Korea itself but I go to the local Korean restaurant in my city and I love it
Load More Replies... Yugan Talovich 3 years ago
BP's tired of Japan and has a new crush: South Korea! Utopia on Earth!
Daria B 3 years ago
Not yet. But yeah, it could easily go towards that direction indeed. In that case, I may start complaining. ♡
Load More Replies... Yurie 3 years ago
Korean native who has been living in the US for 8 years now. You can calm down with the "plastic complaints" because we have biodegradable trash bags that are legally mandated and strict recycling education built into the school system and recycling laws, growing up in KR, I was used to washing disposable containers and utensils, taking labels off for recycling whereas in the US, y'all throw trash into non-biodegradable cheap plastic bags and most of you don't even recycle, let alone use a reusable grocery bag
Beans 3 years ago (edited)
Korea is lovely. I've been. It might seem a lot like Japan here but it's very different. Sad fact about most temples there: they are all mostly new rebuilt because the Japanese destroyed them during the occupation :( There is definitely more waste compared to Japan, which seems more ocd. People are a bit less polite too (but more real I guess) and when you find kind Koreans they are really kind, no BS. That said some places hate foreigners and refused to serve us, we left restaurants twice. People queue more haphazardly and follow rules less (I actually know a tourist that was run over on the sidewalk and the guy was drunk. Drink driving is a thing). The food is great, but it depends what you get and it's a bonus if you like spicy because they have the spiciest stuff there. They also love coffee! I did a thing one day where I stopped and took a photo of each coffee place I saw one day. I got to like 30 and gave up.
Beans 3 years ago
Another fun fact, their business turnaround is crazy.... It was the only Asian country I went where Google maps was messed up because businesses had been replaced before people could update maps. We actually saw a cake shop we were meaning to go to close down and something had taken it's place days later. It was nuts. They also have their own kind of bullet train which is handy to get around the country fast. And Seoul is lovely though. They are building a lot of cool things there.
Load More Replies... GoddessOdd 3 years ago
I just have one question. How hard is it to learn to speak Korean. Oh, wait, two questions. Is it easy to become a resident? Most other countries make it very hard for Americans to move there.
Daria B 3 years ago (edited)
How hard it is to learn a language depends on your linguistic background and affinities. I'm bilingual since birth (Croatian + Italian) and I've always been strong with languages. I've learnt their writing system all by myself in about a month. It took me 2 months of life in Korea under the language course to start being able using Korean in every day conversation, about 6 months to become confident and fluent. As for becoming a resident, depends what your target visa is, but mainly the rule is -> you have money to show, you're good. I'm not American, but I've been here since 2010 on a variety of visas (marriage visa currently). The law doesn't separate by countries usually, but I noticed they do require additional documents for Chinese people. (This might have changed recently, though.)
Load More Replies... Sharon Jones 2 years ago
It looks to be a beautiful country, a place I would love to visit. As for waste the entire world needs to slow down with waste. Too much of everything. What happened to repairing your items like tvs, toasters, cars, washing machines etc. Now it's toss out the old & buy new. Then we have the green push, I support that but what happens to the big batteries when they die? Or solar panels when they no longer function? Wind farms kill migratory birds by the thousands. And all of this needs to start in your own home. No plastic baggies or reuse them, our grandparents did. We are such a "disposable" species. The quick fix, the toss & go. Fast food restaurants, heck any restaurant with the boxes or bags to go. The plasticware, napkins and now our masks. It starts with each of us. And it is not easy, at least for me it has been awareness. Thinking can I recycle this tinfoil or plastic bag. Can I compost this? Do I really need the to go box, perhaps I should bring my own from home before we go
Greg Weaver 2 years ago
Man, I loved S. Korea. Did a one-year tour there back in the late 90s. Wonderful people, wonderful countryside. Tended to get far away from the typical GI spots when I went to Seoul/Kumchon and had a great time. Would love to move back, but...life.
Katinka Min 3 years ago
So many considered details. And I love all these additions to public space. Where I live, most of it would be destroyed, filthy and/or covered in bad graffiti or stolen outright. Anything publiy, here needs to be indestructible. :-/
Banana Bear 3 years ago
Now I know I'm going to South Korea and spend like a whole day or two in Seoul (hope I spelled that right)
Adrian 3 years ago
It occurs to me that South Korea is one country that has really got its s..t together. Hopefully I'll get to visit sometime.
Ueda 3 years ago
Don’t be fooled. Inequalities are huge in Korea and living there when you are not a ‘winner’ is quite awful. I used to be the foreigner (poster boy) in a Korean company and some of my colleagues couldn’t find a wife because they were deemed not successful enough… It’s a very superficial place really. Everything is about appearances and how successful and rich you are. Although I found Koreans among the nicest people I have met in my life, I think their society is a bit f*cked up. It’s pretty sad really.
Load More Replies... Whanna Knows 2 years ago
None one respects anyone or their property which is why usa looks so dirty and gross
L Smith 2 years ago
One of my favorite things when I lived in South Korea was the ondol floor. The floor is fake wood with pipes underneath through which hot water is pumped in the winter time. You get a heated floor and it is just divine! I have a photo of my cat rolling around on the heated floor like it's having an orgasm!
Mrry L TIM W. 2 years ago
Was that sarcasm? If so, I'll give you an up-vote. If not, I will hurridly give you a ticket to go there if you promise never to return.
Load More Replies... Bob Kennedy 2 years ago
I live in South Korea and want to point out that, while I don't doubt all of these things exist, most of them are neither commonplace nor easy to find. It's a little like showing the M&Ms Store in Times Square and implying every town has these.
Pauline Forrester 1 year ago
Its amazing how they include pictures of puppies to relax you...and t.v. for dogs...Yet you don't see hem advertise the fact they skin dogs and cats alive for human consumption....Amazing how they like to keep that quiet...
EdgeLord666 2 years ago
Koreans make the best SSDs. Beat that Sandisk! mmmm-grayo...95aea5.jpg
EdgeLord666 2 years ago
hangeul is the best alphabet in the world. change my mind. Sejong_the...eb3564.jpg
Lee Au Jun 2 years ago
Sorry that you did not just show us a photo of the "Bullet train" It covers a day's journey by car in under 3hrs. Lived in Korea for 10years; experienced this personally.
Lee Au Jun 2 years ago
Yep. I lived there for over 10yrs and every day, I think about it. Moving from Seoul to Busan: You take a bullet train. I wish you had shown us a photo of that; it will take about 3hrs. If you drive, it could take all day. I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; If I want to visit Virginia Beach, Virginia, it will take 15hrs. If I take a plane almost the same;
rajiv Vyas 2 years ago
Wowww....south korea is a place to visit on my bucket list....I have watched their Korean series and they are all superr amazingly dressed...a big fan of Hyun Bin and Son Je Kin
Anna Volkov 2 years ago
This is definitely some south Korean propaganda sh*t lol half thr covid stuff soundsore like negatives. They probably send you "care packages" because you're grounded to your home and can't get out even to buy food.. why are you all fantasizing about a socialist dictatorial state who keeps the whole nation like prisoners who aren't allowed to leave the country Blackie they don't want the truth to come out about this "lovely country"? South Korea is going to die out with their one child per family rule or even 2... thats not replacing the population but diminishing it...
Phalbe Henriksen 2 years ago
I lived in South Korea for a year in 1969. It gets better and better. I miss it.
Scott Hatton 2 years ago
This is kind of misleading, since most of these are either in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. The rest of the country is pretty different, but still beautiful. Seoul is just a city, it's worth it to explore the smaller areas.
金宇航 3 years ago
I have been to Japan, China and Korea and the architecture in Korea is clearly copied from China, where Japan has an interesting cultural style and many buildings and things are very tiny, China is very diverse because of its land area, and the least interesting is Korea, which has no character and I don't want to go there again.
Jackie Wacky 3 years ago
This item has made me want to visit South Korea some day. It looks like an amazing place.
Biba Little 3 years ago
I would love to visit South Korea one day but the plane ticket is just too expensive!
Christopher Duffy 3 years ago
The thing that strikes me about the USA today is how much people hate each other. They'd rather children starve in a gutter than be given any form of help. It's collective psychosis.
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Emma Drake 2 years ago
korea has much less waste and looks alot cleaner there are some cool things there too very unlike the us
Zophra 3 years ago
This sounds like utopia. I have never heard of any "problems" - do they have any?
Daria B 3 years ago
Plenty of problems, really.... plenty. And serious ones too. Suicide rates being the most well known ones. But I still love it here.
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