Things You Should Know Before Traveling to South Korea

It’s always good to learn a few things about the country you’re traveling to before you arrive in order to help you be better prepared for your trip. This is especially true for South Korea. Many people tend to associate South Korea with North Korea and all of the negativity that comes along with it even though the two countries couldn’t possibly be more different. These are all of the things you should know before traveling to South Korea.

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Things to Know Before Traveling to South Korea

South Korea Has an Amazing Public Transportation System

The public transportation system in Korea is not only super efficient but very easy to navigate as well. Almost all subway and train stations have the signage in English which makes it very easy to figure out. You can get just about anywhere in the country with the public transportation and it’s very affordable as well. Another plus is that the buses and trains are almost always right on time!

It’s One of the Safest Countries in the World

The crime rate in South Korea is incredibly low. This is the only country I’ve ever been to where I felt comfortable leaving my things at a table in a cafe and walking away for a bit, knowing they will still be there when I get back. I’ve never been out in public alone and felt the need to worry about anyone having ill intentions. Mostly, I believe this is due to the fact that there are CCTV cameras everywhere. This way, even if someone does commit a crime, they almost certainly will be caught.

Squatty Potties Are (Unfortunately) a Thing

While they’re mostly found in smaller towns, you’ll still find them in bigger cities like Seoul as well! Even Seoul Station has them in the public bathrooms, though they have regular toilets as well. Personally, I avoid the squatty potties at all costs. The stall doors will typically have a photo on the outside that shows if it is a regular toilet or a squat toilet so you’ll know which you’re walking into.

K-Pop and Karaoke

You pretty much won’t be able to find a single person in Korea that doesn’t absolutely love k-pop and a good karaoke night! You can find karaoke rooms, which are called “noraebangs”, just about anywhere you go. Another hugely popular pass-time in Korea is arcades and claw machines. You can often spot a room full of claw machines in the most random of places.

Cafe Culture is Huge in Korea

There is a huge coffee craze in Korea. You can find multiple cafes on just about any street in the country and you can also find them with pretty much any theme you could imagine. Did you know that there are more Starbucks coffee shops in Seoul than anywhere else in the world!?

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Like ‘Things You Should Know Before Traveling to South Korea?’ Don’t forget to check out my other post: The Most Unique Cafes in Seoul.

Coffee shops seem to be one of the most popular hangout spots in South Korea. People are always heading to cafes to read, have a date, study, or just spend time with friends. You should definitely take some time to check out a few of the unique themed cafes while you’re here!

Koreans Are Considered One Year Old at Birth

In Korean culture, babies are considered to be a year old the day that they are born. This is because the time that was spent in the womb is taken into account. Crazy, right? Want to make things even harder to understand? Every Korean celebrates their “birthday” on January 1st, not the actual day that they were born.

This means that you could be born on the last day of December (where you would already be considered one year old), and the very next day, you would be turning two years old, even though you were just born the day prior. This one definitely took a while for me to wrap my head around!

There Are No Open Container Laws

Yes, this means that you can freely drink your soju while walking down the street! This is definitely not something that I was used to being able to do back in the states. Here, I can stop in a shop and grab a soju slushie to go, and continue walking down the sidewalk!

There Are So Many Places Worth Visiting Besides Seoul

Seoul is obviously the first choice for most travelers in South Korea but there are tons of other cities and small towns worth visiting as well. My favorite place in Korea is Buyeo which is a small non-touristy town a few hours south of Seoul!

Like ‘Things You Should Know Before Traveling to South Korea?’ Don’t forget to check out my other post: Things to Do in Buyeo, South Korea.

The bigger cities in South Korea are amazing and full of fun, unique things to do but there are tons of great mountains, parks, and other hidden gems here that are absolutely beautiful as well. Korea has some of the most beautiful fall foliage I have ever seen and the whole country seems to be covered in cherry blossoms in the spring. Make sure you explore more than just Seoul when you’re here.

They Take Recycling Very Seriously in Korea

We have to separate our trash into three separate bags (all different colors) and they must all be placed in separate bins when we take them out. They are very strict about this and you can actually face fines if you don’t properly recycle. The only downside of this is that you will rarely find a public trash can when you’re out and about. I always carry a plastic bag with me for any trash that I may end up with throughout the day.

Everything Seems to Be Sweeter Here

And sometimes, not in a good way. Imagine my surprise when I order some garlic bread and it tastes sugary! Even pizza often tastes sweet here (possibly because sweet corn is normally a topping). I’m not at all saying that it’s a bad thing, just very different! Some of the foods that I was so used to eating are so different here and it took a lot of getting used to.

Korean Traffic “Laws” Are More of a Suggestion

What do I mean by that? Nobody stops for red lights here. Or stop signs. They rarely even slow down. In bigger cities at larger intersections they’re more likely to actually stop but if you’re driving on a highway and the light turns red, don’t expect everyone to stop. In fact, they’ll often get angry and honk their horn at you if you do stop at the light. People will park on sidewalks. Heck, they’ll drive on sidewalks. Almost everyone is on their phone while driving. I’ve seen people playing actual video games while driving. Even bus drivers will play games on their phones while driving. And don’t even get me started on the motorbikes! It’s honestly so wild and I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it.

You’ll Likely Be Stared At

If you are not Korean, you’ll likely get a lot of stares from strangers. Especially in smaller towns as many of the people really haven’t ever seen foreigners before. Try not to take it personally as it’s not really meant to be offensive, they’re only curious.

Elderly Korean Women Can Come Off as Very Rude

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been shoved, yelled at, and elbowed by elderly Korean women for no good reason. This typically happens when I’m on the bus or subway and I can only assume it’s because they just don’t want me in their space. I can’t say that this will be true for everyone but it’s definitely something that I’ve experienced and had to get used to while living here. Pushing and shoving instead of a simple “excuse me” seem to just be the social norm here. With that being said, most Koreans have actually been some of the friendliest people that I’ve ever met!

Korean Street Food is the Best

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One of the most popular spots for street food in Seoul would be the Myeongdong District where you’ll find multiple streets lined with street food vendors. The street foods are typically pretty cheap and honestly, it beats eating at a restaurant any day! Some of my favorite street foods are the Korean fried chicken, hotteok, and honey butter ice cream!

Korean Men Are Required to Serve in the Military

Like, it’s not an option. It’s mandatory. All men in Korea between the ages of 18 and 28 must enlist in the military and serve for around two years (depending on which branch they join). It’s very common to see Korean men in their military uniforms when you’re out in the city.

Beauty and Skincare is Taken Very Seriously Here

You’ll find k-beauty shops just about anywhere you go. You’ll also find tons of advertisements for plastic surgeons as Seoul is the plastic surgery capital of the world. There are a lot of really unrealistic beauty expectations in Korea which is why there are so many people who have undergone plenty of cosmetic surgeries. Skincare is also huge in Korea and Koreans have no problem spending tons of money on skincare products. It’s unreal!

Many People Speak English

I say this lightly as it mostly only applies to bigger cities. In cities like Seoul and Busan I’ve never had a problem finding someone who speaks English. However, in smaller towns like Buyeo or Jecheon, Google Translate definitely came in handy.

It’s Polite to Use Both Hands When Handing Something to Another Person

For example, if you’re handing money to a cashier, use both hands to do so. It’s also common to just touch your right arm somewhere with your left hand while you hand it to them (if the money is in your right hand). This one took me a while to get used to but now I think it’s a habit that will be hard to break!

Air Quality is Not the Best

One of the things that you should know before traveling to South Korea is that the pollution levels can get really bad here. Especially in the spring. The fine dust in the air can make it very hard to breathe if you spend a lot of time outdoors. This is why you’ll see so many people wearing face masks in Korea. It’s always a good idea to check the air quality before you head outside. You can check the current air quality by clicking here.

Korea Has Four Very Distinct Seasons

Winter, spring, summer, fall. You’ll get them all here in South Korea! The two most extreme seasons would definitely be summer and winter. Summers in Korea are incredibly hot and humid (it’s also monsoon season!) and winters can get horribly cold.

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Spring and fall are by far the best times of year weather-wise but they’re also the most popular seasons for travelers. Korea is surrounded by cherry blossoms in the spring and beautiful fall foliage in the fall. With that being said, summers in Korea are a great time to check out the beaches and Korea is also very beautiful in the winter when it’s covered with snow.

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Don’t forget to check out these other South Korea posts:

• Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
• Anyang Art Park: The Perfect Day Trip from Seoul
• Myeongdong District Travel Guide
• Ddong Cafe: The Most Unique Cafe in Seoul
• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in South Korea: A Day Trip From Seoul
• All of the Best Sweets and Snacks to Try in South Korea
• Things to Do in Buyeo, South Korea
• A Trip to Cheongpung Land in Jecheon, South Korea