The Unexpected Charm of Koreans Every Foreigner Experiences
Every day, countless foreigners from all over the world visit Korea for various reasons, such as travel, studying abroad, employment, business, dating, and marriage. The moment you board the subway heading to Seoul from Incheon International Airport, look out the window at the passing unfamiliar scenery, and breathe in the air of a foreign land, your Korean journey begins.
Upon arriving in Seoul, travelers immediately come face-to-face with the daily lives of Koreans. Watching people busily rush past, you feel with your entire body just how dynamic and fast-paced this country runs. However, the Koreans you encounter on the streets or subways usually have expressionless faces. They often pass by as if they are indifferent, or just glance at you briefly before moving on.
Because of this, many foreigners remember their first impression of Korea as “cold.” In fact, until they actually talk to them, many often feel that Koreans do not show their emotions well and are cold, making them think they are difficult to approach.
But it is precisely at this point that the true and unexpected charm of Koreans reveals itself.
Are you worried about facing racism in Korea? You can completely ease that worry, at least in Korea. Korea welcomes millions of foreigners of diverse nationalities every year, and many multinational individuals are already deeply integrated into Korean society and economy. Koreans might look at you with pure curiosity, but they do not look at you with racial prejudice.
Then why do almost all Koreans fix their gaze on foreigners on the subway or in public spaces? There are two interesting reasons behind this look.
The first reason is simple curiosity. Koreans naturally look at you because they get curious about which country you are from and what language you speak.
The second reason is rooted in an important culture unique to Korea: ‘Gwan-sim’ (interest/care) and ‘Nunchi’ (the ability to read the surroundings and grasp another person’s situation). Koreans have surprisingly quick wits. Even in the split second they pass you on the street, they possess a mysterious talent for instantly understanding the other person’s situation. Just by looking at a foreigner’s facial expression, they can quickly notice, “Ah, that person is lost,” or “They must be flustered because they lost something.”
In fact, social media is flooded with touching videos of foreigners who received warm kindness and help from locals during their travels in Korea. Koreans usually respect privacy and do not carelessly approach or interfere with others. However, when they see a foreigner wandering to find directions or looking panicked in a subway station, they often approach and ask, “May I help you?”
This is exactly where the ‘unexpected charm’ of Koreans who have warm hearts despite their cold exteriors reveals itself. Whether the person in difficulty is a foreigner or a fellow Korean, Koreans, with their innate sense of Jeong (warm affection), do not just pass by someone in trouble.
On social media, heartwarming stories are frequently shared about local citizens quietly approaching and lifting a heavy suitcase for a foreign traveler struggling up steep subway stairs. However, this is not special treatment just because you are a foreigner.
For Koreans, it is a daily routine to help one another when someone has a lot of luggage, and the younger generation naturally steps forward to help when they see elderly people carrying heavy loads. Having been taught at home and school since childhood that “you must always help people in need,” Koreans do not consider helping others to be anything special.
There is a funny YouTube video that perfectly demonstrates this. A foreign woman was holding a large suitcase to climb up subway stairs when a young Korean man in shorts and slippers walked over without a word, snatched the suitcase, and moved it all the way to the top of the stairs.
Then, before the woman even had a chance to say thank you, the man indifferently walked away without looking back. This woman uploaded a video review, saying she was startled at first thinking he was a thief when he snatched the bag, but was deeply moved by the Korean man’s actions from the very moment she arrived in Korea.
Another unexpected charm of Koreans lies in “communication.” Although Koreans usually seem introverted and indifferent, if a foreigner greets them brightly first with “Annyeonghaseyo!” (Hello!), they respond with a bright smile, saying “Annyeonghaseyo! Have a great time!” In fact, foreigners who have interacted with Koreans consistently say in unison, “Koreans are truly kind and have warm hearts.”
Travelers who do not know a single word of Korean worry most about communication difficulties. However, after finishing their trip, they consistently say, “There was barely any discomfort due to the language barrier.” This is because there were many people who could communicate in English, and even those who were clumsy at English used smartphone translators to provide as much help as possible.
Koreans tend to feel a responsibility to help foreign travelers visiting an unfamiliar country until their difficulties are completely resolved, because they believe it is only natural for visitors to encounter hardships in an unfamiliar Korea. A touching true story of a Spanish woman beautifully illustrates this mindset of Koreans.
When she was visibly panicked on the street because she couldn’t find her reserved hotel, a young Korean man approached her, asking, “May I help you?” Since she could only communicate in Spanish, leaving the situation a bit awkward, another passing man joined in and started searching for directions on his smartphone.
Soon after, a passing Korean couple stopped to assist as well, resulting in a total of four locals huddling together to help one foreign tourist. Ultimately, one of the men personally rolled her heavy suitcase all the way to the hotel front desk, and the Spanish woman posted a tearful, moving video online, deeply touched by the experience.
As you can see, behind the expressionless and cold faces of Koreans lies a deep sense of warm consideration. The reason they usually seem indifferent to others is actually a form of ‘Korean-style consideration’—an effort not to cause inconvenience to others. Even the fact that the Korean subway is as quiet as a library stems from the consideration of not making other people uncomfortable.
If you encounter any difficulties during your trip to Korea, do not hesitate to ask a nearby Korean for help. They will gladly assist you.
To give you a few tips that will be helpful for your trip to Korea: when asking for help in English, try targeting those in their 20s to 40s. Most people in this age group are capable of basic English communication, and even if it isn’t perfect, they can communicate. If you use a language other than English, try asking for help from the younger generation in their 20s and 30s who are highly tech-savvy. They will use translation and map apps to help ensure there are no setbacks in your journey.
The ultimate secret behind why tourists who do not know any Korean can spend a comfortable and pleasant vacation in Korea lies exactly in the warm and unexpected kindness of the Korean people. If you are planning a trip to Korea, put away your worries about the language. Even if difficulties arise during your trip, do not struggle to solve them alone ask the people around you for help at any time. Koreans will gladly become your reliable supporters.