Living in South Korea
An acquired lifestyle in a country with underestimated efficiency & convenience
There are some things that take time to get used to here in South Korea as a man from the United Kingdom. Among them are the obvious ones such as learning the language, understanding customs related to seniority, and the general cultural differences. Then there are things that I may never get used to such as people playing music on their smartphones with the volume on at full blast while walking in a local park, and the astronomical cost of playing golf here compared to the UK.
However, a common theme among expats and foreigners that I have met while living in South Korea with regards to the overall lifestyle here is convenience. The general cost of living, healthcare & insurance, public transportation, and relatively safe streets, all contribute to a pleasant standard of living. On top of that, many expats find that they have more leftover money after paying the bills compared to the countries where they used to live. As an Englishman originally from Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom, I have become familiar with the lifestyle here over the years (I have been here on and off since 2011).
I have been a university student in Daegu, a hakwon teacher in Ulsan, and until now, a freelance English instructor in the Seoul Metropolitan area. While studying in Daegu I became familiar with the lifestyle, learned Korean, and slowly became attached to life here. But like in the UK, the capital has far more opportunities than the rest of the country (not that it is necessarily a good thing for the country) and I have worked in Jamsil, Silim, Gangnam, Jongro, Gangseo gu, and online, mostly as an English instructor for adults.
Excellent public transportation
As a person that has never really needed a car since I left my hometown in Cambridgeshire at the age of 20 (I find driving in London and Seoul is often more trouble than it’s worth regarding costs, traffic, etc), one thing that stands out here is how well the public transportation is set up. In my experience, the national subway networks, buses, and trains are not only cheaper here compared to London, they are rarely cancelled, and have fewer (if any) delays. Having said that, the Elizabeth Line on the London Underground has been a game-changer for getting to and from London Heathrow and has definitely made my journeys from the airport to my home in the UK much easier.
To add to that, one thing I do miss about taking buses in London was the preachers that would suddenly start speaking or singing on the buses (this was between 2002-2008). They could be hit or miss, but one had a particularly vibrant voice and dance routine that caused me to laugh hysterically at first. But then, I remember watching in astonishment at how well he captivated the passenger audience with his speech afterwards. On the other hand, I don’t miss the teenage gangs pushing through on buses without paying and generally engaging in anti-social behaviour, none of which I have seen in Korea, yet.
An efficient and reasonably-priced healthcare insurance system
There is no doubt that since I hit my 40s, I have paid more attention to my overall health. South Korea has a system where residents pay a health insurance premium each month that is calculated based on your occupation and income. I have found this system to be not only reasonable in terms of how much it costs per month, but the sheer swiftness and efficiency of visiting a physician for treatment, has also been eye-opening. Regrettably, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK is overrun with patients and is underfunded in many parts of the country. The contrast in efficiency was particularly visible for me having lived on and off in both countries in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The food culture
Perhaps the thing I like most about living in South Korea is the relatively cheap cost of eating out and enjoying authentic Korean food. My go-to places here are usually Korean BBQ and Jokbal restaurants (Jokbal is pig’s trotters, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). A decent Korean BBQ or Jokbal for two with some beer and soju can cost between around 50,000 – 70,000 won (roughly 25 – 40 pounds at time of writing) depending on the quality of the meat. Then there is the seafood, side dishes with main meals, soups, and even the texture of the rice is unique compared to rice you get in the supermarkets in England (although I’m not sure if this has changed since I left). There has also been an explosion in coffee culture here with coffee shops aplenty everywhere. There are some hidden gems within the streets of cities I have visited here that serve amazing expresso, drip coffee, and bakeries too.
A safer country, or at least, I personally feel safer here
I have been confronted by teenage gangs as a citizen on the streets of London, and although I haven’t lived there for many years, I can say without any hesitation that my experience of safety in South Korea has been much better than my experience of living in the UK. There is evidence to back this claim up in terms of overall crime in the UK and South Korea using the most recent data. Probably the most noticeable difference from my perspective with regards to respecting the law however, is the blatant usage of illicit drugs on the streets in the UK. During my last visit in 2024 I think I smelt marijuana at virtually every transport hub and station I passed with drug addicts highly visible too. At times the smell was so strong and striking to the senses. This is probably due to the fact that in Korea, I have never smelt weed being smoked on the streets or have heard of public drug use which is probably due to its tougher approach to dealing with illicit drugs.
I could write for longer and describe what I like about living here in more detail but the topics I have discussed are what stand out as to why I personally like living here. Of course, in the end, people are what make a place great. Luckily (and I really mean that), I have had the good fortune to meet some amazing people here (both Korean and foreign) and at present, my main social group is none other than a Korean Sunday football (soccer if you’re confused) team in Seoul. Nothing better for getting good exercise and making new friends while learning Korean (albeit a lot of swearing) 😉.
