The Truth About Living in Korea

Description

Can Korea truly feel like home for a foreigner? In this deep and honest conversation, four foreigners from the United States, Iran, France, and Mexico share what it’s really like living in Korea long term. From culture shock and language barriers to identity, belonging, loneliness, and community — we explore what “home” actually means in modern Korean society. What does it feel like to be told “you’re not really Korean”? How does Korean culture differ from Western and Middle Eastern family values? Is Seoul colder than smaller Korean cities? Does speaking Korean change how you’re treated? And can Korea ever fully feel like home? This discussion covers: • Living in Korea as a foreigner • Cultural differences between Korea and the West • Korean social hierarchy and high-context communication • Jeong (정) and Han (한) explained • Loneliness in Seoul • Family values in Korea vs abroad • Microaggressions and identity • Making Korean friends • Community life in Gangnam vs Itaewon • Korean elders and society • Learning Korean and integration Whether you're a foreigner in Korea, planning to move to Korea, studying Korean, or simply curious about Korean culture, this conversation gives real perspectives from people experiencing it firsthand. Let us know in the comments: Can Korea feel like home to you? Zay's IG: @MoveZay‬ Farzan's IG: @farzan_k_m/ Carla's IG: @carlafer_avila/ Elodie's IG: @hellodynamite #Korea #LivingInKorea #ForeignerInKorea #KoreanCulture #ExpatLife #ImmigrantStories #SeoulLife #LifeInKorea #CulturalDifferences #EvolvePodcast