What’s your favorite part of life in Korea? Reader’s 10 Open Thread~
We heard plenty about the problems people have with life in Korea. There are certainly things out there that the country could improve on. But it doesn’t seem to be a complete conversation if all we do is talk about what’s wrong.
What is your favorite part of life in Korea? Share it with us in the open thread below, and we’ll take the results to put together for a poll that we’ll get started next week!
Ready, set, GO!
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Hands down, there’s no contest. The public transportation is the greatest in the world in this country! The buses are everywhere and go everywhere and they’re dirt cheap. The subways are incredibly easy to maneuver, they have English signs everywhere and they’re dirt cheap. Taxis are everywhere and they’re dirt cheap!
And it’s not just local. The city to city buses, trains and subway transportation is incredible. A KTX ride to Busan or Mokpo and back is under 3 hours. And the airports are in every city and flights are frequent and reasonable. Why anyone would own a car in this country is beyond me!
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I second that Richard. The cheap and plentiful buses everywhere remind me how bad our suburbs are back home.
Since that’s yours, I’ll say the Korean food. I had a short vacation in China and another in the Philippines; let’s just say I was looking forward to coming back to the food here. I love the soups like kimchi chigae, shiraegi, youbu miso dwen jjang guk and mae oh ttang. Of course, sam gyop sal and goo oon soon sal chicken too.
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Was about to say exactly the same thing: I didn’t have my driving license when I first came here when I was 24, and 10 years later I still haven’t felt the need to get one, even with a wife and family now!^^
Would be literally one of the first things I would have to get if I returned to New Zealand though…
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Damn! There are so many things I love about this country. Here’s one…
I think it’s great that when you go into a 7-11 or Buy-The-Way or whatever, and the person behind the counter actually seems happy to be working there. I feel like Koreans take pride in their work- Whatever it may be. It’s not like that where i’m from, back in the states. There’s usually some snot-nosed teenager behind the counter being pissed off at the world. This goes for fast food joints as well. I can’t stand it.
Oh! and a little thing that always catches me pleasantly off-guard is “Service”… It just never gets old. God, I love Korea.
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…Oh.. and Street Beers.
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I love the flowers and the flower markets here – not only do you get a great selection but they are so reasonably priced!
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You can eat until you’re stuffed, with healthy (more or less) food loaded with fresh vegetables, for under 5000 won, even in the shadow of jongno tower.
Public transportation is awesome.
You can visit any part of the country on a weekend trip.
People you meet while climbing mountains are sweet and kind.
Tons of mountains to climb.
Local specialty foods that are worth the trip.
Jongno’s mix of old and new.
April and October.
Cheap jimjilbangs.
Foreigners/tourists generally aren’t targeted for crime, and even those who price gouge foreigners only do a 30% markup instead of 300% like in China.
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http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20090414000064 I once did a similar survey on this topic, and here was the result.
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1. Public Transit
2. Food
3. WiBro
4. Bars
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Although at times it can feel intrusive, I must say that it is a positive thing that Koreans are willing to ask what is wrong when you look tired, confused, sad or just not feeling quite yourself.
Back home most people (including me) generally just avoid that person that day and know they will get over it. I might change that when I go back. It is good to know that others care and are willing to attempt to help you find a solution to your problems.
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1. amazing street food (actually, amazing food period!)
2. fantastic transportation system right across the peninsula
3. beautiful temples
4. endless festivals and world class art exhibits (like Rodin)
5. outdoor markets
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1. Simplicity
2. Hiking
3. May – Lots of classes cancelled, flowers bloom, winter leaves for good.
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Food
Mountains
People
Everything is so convenient – 24 hour convenience stores everywhere, restaurants everywhere, everything everywhere, and the competition drives down the prices.
Public transportation
Scenery – just get on a bus going across the country and the sights are incredible
The temples
People bow to you
Drinking beer and soju on plastic chairs at a plastic table on a street corner
Street food
Sporting events
Greetings in unison
“Ye” can be an answer to everything
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Having a job which provides commensurate pay and benefits to the responsibilities required thereof. It’s nice to be employed.
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I’m surprised no one has mentioned these:
Health care. You wait ten minutes to see the doctor. The doctor asks you what’s wrong, makes a diagnosis and you’re out in 15 minutes. And the whole thing costs you 10,000 won. It’s an amazing relief.
Friendly Ajummas. You know, the one down at the local kimbap place that gives you a little extra in the roll because you spoke Korean to her that one time.
The little restaurants. The ones that serve only one or two dishes, but they make it all by hand and care about each dish they turn out.
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oo L-tron, for sure. the health care is awesome, the hospitals are awesome, and the pharmacies are awesome.
food.
safety.
people are super friendly and helpful if you reach out even a tiny bit.
the mountains.
the subway and inter-city bus system.
hangang parks.
always something to do.
how humble people are. (everyone else seems to think the opposite, but all of my korean friends are extremely humble about Korea and in general. given tho, most are college aged)
finally, all the coffee shops. i’m sorry, but i love them.
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Substitute Drivers. Best idea ever!
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I agree with a lot that’s been mentioned so far. Here’s my list:
1. Food
). Anyway, this guy walked me to the bus station, which, given the fact I was more lost than I thought, took about 15 minutes. It’s happened to me before in Korea where some random stranger has gone way out of their way to help me out.
2. Transportation
3. Helpful Koreans: This happened to me yesterday. I recently moved to Gongju and was wandering around looking for the local bus station. I got a bit lost and asked an older gentleman where the station was ( I butchered the Korean, but he got the point.
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I love Korean Buddhist temples and traditional Korean paintings and pottery. The mountains in Korea are gorgeous and breathtaking. Koreans can be very generous when serving you food or beverages. Koreans are very open and honest about their feelings. Young Koreans are curious and friendly towards foreigners. Koreans can be very funny and entertaining.
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I love the temples and just how rich this country is in history. It’s so fascinating! Plus it is so easy to brush up on your Korean history seeing as their museums are so cheap or free!! By the way they have a free English tour guide service at the National Korean War Museum, I highly recommend it!
The scenery and mountains are just beautiful! I live outside of Seoul and the mountains surround the city it gorgeous regardless of the season or the weather. My favorite is right after it rains and clouds of steam and fog are rising from the mountain.
Last but not least the people are so friendly here and will go way out of their way to help you. I have been lost several times and they will walk me to the subway stop or to the place I need to go. One time I forgot my book at a coffee shop, which I didn’t even realize, I walked by the coffee shop the next day and the lady that worked there ran after me to give it back.
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It’s between the food and the public transportation.
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A three-way tie between the food, and public transportation, and – WHAT? No one’s mentioned alcohol yet?!
Seriously, though, the fact that drinking is part of the culture tells me it can be driven to excess. However, there are few things I enjoy better than getting a beer at a convenience store and walking around Hongdae while people-watching.
Let’s not forget about the jimjilbang and the beautiful people either.
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It’s great that there is no culture of tipping in Korea. We seldom tip in Ireland too but Americans and Candians must be amazed that waiters, bartenders, taxi drivers, barbers and all the rest will do their best for you without expecting a penny more. I agree with the above comment that even fast-food servers and low-paid workers can be friendly and courteous.
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ye – food/public transport – awesome and i miss them both dearly when i leave for awhile.
personally … saunas and jimjilbangs. i just realized lastnite why i’m not feeling so great lately – i’ve only been a few times this year! they right all wrongs, mind, body and possibly even soul too.
the ‘jumping 24/7′ and ‘deliver it to your door ‘culture. not all big Asian cities are awake after midnite – and try finding a public internet terminal on hong kong island after dinner! yes … the ‘bangs’ – room culture. don’t use much of it, or at least not anymore, but it amuses me no end and i appreciate their existence.
and – ondol – korea’s ‘architectural’ gift to the world. doubt i’d have stayed many winters here without it.
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Dirt cheap Internet
Random acts of kindness
The sharing culture
The cheap transportation
The safety
How accessible and cheap things like exhibitions are
Doctors and medical aid is really good and affordable
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Subways?…internet?…temples?…someone said ondol heating! really guys???
My vote is for the wonderful beautiful women.
And galbi.
I love galbi.
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The lack of tipping leads to many instances of terrible service.
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Cheap nights out!
Internet EVERYWHERE
Cell service EVERYWHERE
Being “special” (which hands down can be awesome one minute and suck large the next!)
Easy access to the rest of Asia
The people
Being able to walk down a side street at all hours without worrying that someone is going to jump you… unless there’s a foreigner around!
Convenience stores are… CONVENIENT!
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Low taxes. I don’t lose my first five months of productivity to the greedy pigs in Washington.
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