SOUTH KOREA - SEOUL 1

Arriving in early September after a two-hour flight from Japan, where I had spent two weeks travelling with a friend, I was excited to see what South Korea had to offer. Upon arriving in Seoul, however, my initial interactions were awkward. At the airport my immigration visa was initially denied due to an error with my date of birth. I was nervous; it had taken months to get the visa because I’m a German national living in Liechtenstein and had to apply in Switzerland, which initially denied jurisdiction. After being escorted by armed guards to secondary screening and confirming my birthdate, I was eventually cleared to enter the country.

I called an Uber to my hotel, where I was staying for a night since move-in day at the dorms was the next day. When what I thought was my Uber arrived, everything matched: car model, colour, and time. As I approached the car’s boot, an angry elderly couple got out and yelled at me that they weren’t my ride. Then, I noticed another person nearby who matched my appearance, likely their son, the intended passenger. It was a harsh first-day introduction to a culture that felt less warm to strangers compared to Japan, and a bit of a wake-up call not to assume that countries' cultures might be similar just because they’re close geographically.

After meeting many new people, both international and Korean, and settling into my new day to day routine, I started adapting to the fast-paced and individualistic city life. What struck me most upon arriving here in Korea was the stark difference in how busy and individualistic everything can feel while, at the same time, there are much more cultural events and group experiences than I’ve ever seen in such a big city. Whether it is university events, open public library reading events, a fireworks festival, drone show, bustling nightlife, clubs, or even just the vibe at restaurants and bars, there is an underlying sense of togetherness.
It genuinely surprised me how naturally people seem to come together for these communal moments. The busyness of everything seems to stop and everyone pauses and enjoys the moment together. I always assumed this only happens in smaller settings such as Vaduz or maybe Bregenz and would be impossible in environments like Seoul. What I had initially mistaken for xenophobia I now see as a mix of respect for personal space and boundaries paired with an ability to enjoy group experiences and an openness to meeting new people if both sides put in the effort. Korea is quite a high-trust society, something that you don’t experience in European cities of similar size, and I feel extremely safe here.

Beyond the cultural adjustment, navigating daily life posed its own unique set of challenges. Living in Korea, not just visiting, can get tricky fast without knowing basic Hangul and some Korean. Although younger people can speak English pretty well, most won’t feel comfortable speaking it until prompted, while older generations won’t communicate with you in English at all. Common western apps like Google Maps don’t work here; Koreans use KakaoMap or NaverMap, which have little to no English support. KakaoTalk replaces WhatsApp, and things like food delivery, laundry, Coupang (Korea’s Amazon), and even the university’s online portal all lack English options. But with some practice, you adapt quickly, and translation apps have gotten pretty good. There’s a strong incentive to learn the language because it opens up many more opportunities.

While it may sound self-evident to say that Korea feels distinctly Korean, there's an authenticity and uniqueness to the culture and mannerisms, good and bad, that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. It is likely what makes you love it or hate it here. I’m glad to say that I’m having a great time so far and am excited for all the experiences still to come while I’m here. Time flies when you’re having fun, and with each new experience, I feel more connected to this place.