7 months in Asia (Summer + Fall 2014): Korea Week 6: The Grand Finale

Korea was fascinating. Remember how I said if I had to be an expat in any Asian country it'd be Korea? That's still more or less true, but I would be slightly less eager to do so now.

*Take everything with a grain of salt because I spent 90% of my time in Seoul, so I have a very narrow understanding of Korea and Korean culture since there is much more to the country than just the capital. (But also I did talk to a lot of Koreans (15+) about their opinions on things, so my views have some basis).

Why I Love Korea

The expressiveness relative to other asian cultures
The beautiful landscape and marvelous juxtaposition of city and mountain
The tech-savyness
The overall kindness of most people and the warm and friendly reception to foreigners (for the most part)
The fashion sense here - seriously very snazzy
The collectivist culture

This has both good and bad parts actually. Spending so much time in Korea has made me really realize and understand why people prefer collectivist societies.

It's safe
People don't steal from you
People don't try to hurt you or kidnap you
Everyone tries to help everyone else out
A true sense of togetherness

However I still prefer more individualistic societies, I just don't respond well to pressures to conform to uniform values and I'd rather not be ostracized just because I'm a weirdo

Korean Cultural Nuances that Don't Really Appeal to Me

The focus on beauty

If I don't see at least 3 girls on the metro doing their makeup it's a strange day. I find it so silly, they are already so beautiful, it's completely unnecessary. But I have no right to judge, I wear makeup sometimes too and I get it, it makes you feel better.

Although let's be honest, no amount of makeup could fix my face

The traditional values

One Korean straight up told me "There aren't gay people in Korea" and after I looked at him incredulously he said "Okay, there are but they are far less than in America because it's not widely accepted here"

Of course that's silly, social acceptance will not make straight people gay or gay people straight. You're born the way you are and it's a shame when archaic religious values force you to stifle yourself. You've got one life dammit, do what pleases you.

Everything here is for couples. If you are over 23 or so and not in a serious relationship people will consider you hopeless and never to be married. It's not as prevalent anymore in the younger generations but my friends have literally had their parents, grandparents and aunts & uncles tell them "So where is your boyfriend? Why don't you have one yet? You're going to be alone."
I feel like men and women are socially groomed to fit their stereotypical roles - but I also feel like this is really getting better and more individuality is accepted with the younger generations.

Things I'm Neutral About

Old people reigning over the country

This doesn't bother me but old people are quite rude here. I've literally been pushed off the sidewalk (and so have my friends) by middle-aged and elderly people just so they could get through.

No 'excuse me/sillyhamnida' or even a tap on the shoulder to let me know they're trying to get through. Just an incredibly rude shove.
Also on the subway stations, not only do they cut in line but they again will push and shove without so much as a single comment or even attempt at caring about myself or younger people around them.

But honestly, it's no big deal, it's all balanced. When you're young you get pushed, when you're old you get to push

One religion

I have nothing against Christianity at all but I feel like there's no religious diversity in Seoul! I see churches everywhere (can count 8 from my rooftop alone) but I have never seen a single mosque or synagogue. I bet at least one exists, but yeah, never seen it.

Had the incredible joy of being surrounded by some seriously great people, only some of whom are pictured below: