South Korea Is A Whole Different World, And Here Are 15 Interesting Things You Can See There As Shared By A TikToker
While South Korean products (Samsung, cosmetics) and culture (drama, music) are beloved all over the world, there is still plenty to open your jaw. If you cannot visit it soon enough, you can take a peek at South Korea through the lens of this influencer, who made TikTok episodes called "Things You See In Korea". Some of these videos gathered way over 200K likes from TikTok users and the one about leaving belongings unattended was viewed over 1.5M times. Take a look, and if you are from Korea yourself, you might want to know what you might miss in other countries.
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Korea Has Sun Umbrellas On Sidewalks
"There are umbrellas to shade people from the sun and at first I thought this is very pointless, but when it got really hot in Korea I was standing under there myself and was really thankful for it."
We need more well kept trees in cities. Umbrellas are nice - trees are nicer.
You know what's even smarter and adds an additional air purifier to the shade? Planting some trees!!! Or just take your umbrella and use it. 🤦♀️
It's not that easy in crowded spaces. Have you seen what trees can do to sidewalks and buildings?
Load More Replies...This is exactly like what you see in outside ride queues at theme parks! Florida definitely needs some of these.
The U.S.couldn’t do that. They would all end up at back yard picnics.
Helen MJ Cho is a 28-year-old social media star, mostly known for her Korea-related content on TikTok, where she gathered 388.7K followers since joining it in March 2020. She posts about traveling, shopping, getting beauty procedures, and comparing the American way of doing things to South Korea. Helen is also active on YouTube and Instagram.
Fitting Rooms Have Facecovers To Put Over Your Head So That You Don't Get Makeup On Your Clothes
Given the way people treated our fitting rooms, I don't think people would use them. They'd end up like toilet seat covers all over the floor 😒
This is Korea, people aren’t lacking of respect!
Load More Replies...Any smudge of lip gloss or mascara on a wedding gown you haven't purchased is costly for the business. It doesn't take a tiktok or YouTube face full of crap for that to happen. These masks are, or, were seen in the US in luxury stores.
Load More Replies...Yes on their clothes and the ones they are trying on.
Load More Replies...i can see the point..but i am hoping it's 1 time use only???
South Korean Stores Have Umbrella Dryers
Maybe, but is your umbrella going to be there when you leave the store?
Load More Replies...Recently Helen posted a vlog telling about the bureaucratic red tape she faces trying to move to Korea. For instance, she has to renounce her dual citizenship, which she says takes 1.5 years to complete. Therefore, she spontaneously decided to move to California, which is where she filmed her video. "For the time being until my citizenship gets renounced I just decided to completely get my mind off of Korea, and just enjoy life, be happy, be present."
Sometimes You Get A Free Snack With A Note With Your Delivery
"I ordered chicken in Korea and it came with a free snack and behind the snack there was a handwritten note, sooo sweet."
this is really sweet.....but entitled people be asking for the free snack they 'deserve'
That phrase must be equivalent to the Japanese "otsukaresamadeshita" (also no good English translation)
Incidentally, that's pretty nail polish. I want to see the full hand. 💅
Only place I've seen this before is on Etsy. My sister likes biting from there and said sometimes the seller will give you like a free sticker or something with your order and a note.
South Korea Has Large Air Purifiers In The Subway Stations
Please for the love of everything good, install these in Philly, I cannot take the smell of urine, anything that could possibly be smoked, and every other unmentionable, and better left unsaid stench. I love my city, but damn the subways are horrific. I can't imagine ever going back to not wearing a mask on there.
Share in the comment section what surprised you the most.
Some Restaurants In Seoul Have Hair Ties For People To Tie Up Their Hair While Eating
That's awesome!! As a woman with long hair it would be super helpful and would totally help with the eating experience!
Load More Replies...Hmmm practical but I'm not sure i would want to use a hair tie that someone else have used
It’s very obviously disposable / keepable.
Load More Replies...Brilliant! Wish all servers and kitchen staff wore hairnets and masks and gloves ALL THE TIME.
Most Restaurants Keep Utensils In The Side Drawers On Each Table
Um....looks convenient. But I don't want everyone else's hands all over my eating utensils.
Lots of places keep the cutlery in a holder like a pencil holder and the staff just grabs them out as they set the table/or you do it yourself, so I don't see this being much different.
Load More Replies...They have them in Abiko Curry in NY. I've never seen anyone misbehave.
Load More Replies...I love most of these. But I'd be worried that the person who ate at that table before me didn't have clean hands.
There Are Air Dust Free Zones
"Korea has poor air quality this is why we've been wearing facemasks way before and these are air-dust free zones made for people waiting people for the bus to go into to get fresh air and stay away from all the dust"
great initiative....but wudnt cleaning the air or mitigating the pollution be more helpful?
A lot of the pollution comes from China or the sand from Mongolia. There isn't a whole lot that can be done about it.
Load More Replies...It's awesome. They should do this in Mexico City. The smog there is it of control.
In Korea It's Very Common For People To Leave Their Belongings Unattended While Going To The Bathroom Or Stepping Out For A Few Minutes
Not a full week's worth or anything like we do in the States, but yes, sometimes you'll see young ones picking up items for that evening's dinner or snacks if at the convenience store. But rarely do kindergarteners go by themselves.
Load More Replies...I do the same in the US. I think it's a matter of knowing your surroundings.
Load More Replies...I was about to say the same thing...it's so sad here (US) there's no honor...I live in a relatively "safe" city or so they say and had my vintage truck stolen out of my driveway!
Load More Replies...In Incheon Airport They Have A Robot To Assist You And An Airporter To Bring Your Carry-On To Your Gate
So many of us lesser abled folks need things like this to be normal everywhere.
I need something to carry my carryon up the stairs to the plane when we dont have a jetway
A Mat That Automatically Removes Dust From Underneath You Shoes When You Walk On It
I'll take your word on it for the silver pic at top, but the raised patterns in the yellow pic are for the blind. The circles mean that this is a stopping place (crosswalk, subway door opening, etc.). The straight lines mean it is safe to go straight.
It's the actual translation of the text in Korean. Yes, it probably refers to the silver part, since the yellow one is quite universal and obvious.
Load More Replies...I really would love to have this at my front, back and garage doors .
This seems silly until you've owned a black rubber floor. I don't know where my shoe-dust comes from, but it all ends up in the laundry room.
This is more than aesthetics. Those dust particles can be cancerous and it's not like they stick and stay on the floor.
Load More Replies...You Might See Someone Walking A Raccoon On A Leash
This is not cute. Racoons and other wild animals are not suitable as pets. They arent domesticated and cannot be given what they need to have a happy and healthy life. I worked in two animal rescues that had plenty of ex pets either decommissioned or abandoned by their owners.
Unfortunately raccoons became popular as pets after the animated movie Rascal & Over The Hedge, they have gotten loose in Korea and I think Japan (not 100% on that) and have started destroying ancient temples and negativity impacting wildlife, same as in Germany, only they were brought over for the fur trade. Invasive and non native species are decimating habitats they did not evolve in, creating havoc, as is the case in Florida with so many exotics destroying native species
Load More Replies...Your comment should be on top, really, so have an upvote. Never seen it myself either, and I've been here since 2010. The most unusual pet I saw so far was a ferret.
Load More Replies...A couple of people have said something similar, but I have lived in South Korea since 2010 and have never seen this. I believe OP saw it, but it is not common. Something this IS common is animal cafes (including raccoons). I went to a dog cafe. I thought it was just going to be a cafe with a dog or two chilling and hanging out. The owner kept scolding them to come sit next to me. I told the owner to stop and just let the dogs chill, but he didn't. I hated it so much.
is it just me or is the pet raccoon really adorable with doe eyes????
I love the idea, but I’m Australian and have never seen a real one 😂
Load More Replies...That’s not right. Doesn’t matter the country but wild animals are supposed to be wild. If they are orphaned or injured they need to be rehabilitated and released or kept in a sanctuary where they can have as close to a wild life as they can given their situation.
Gift Shops Are Filled With Unusual Stock
"These are prescription bags that say 'Love Medicine' and medicine bottles and boxes filled with snacks, really cute cookies you can bake, huge variety of cute paper bags and plastic goodie bags"
Some of the bags (not sure on brands) are made from this amazing marshmallow plastic, it’s not only safely biodegradable but also in smoke shops an awesome option for joint/blunt rolls.
Load More Replies...I don't think medicine bottles filled with snacks is such a good idea.
Korea has the best recycling system I have ever seen. Everyone sorts their recyclables down to the plastic film or wrappers that merchandise come in.
Korean Public Bathrooms Often Have Bar Soap Only
Good grief, this was normal around the world until very recently and hospitals weren't flooded with people who caught infections from soap. Research has shown that micro-organisms literally cannot survive on the surface of soap due to the high pH, the surfactants, and all the other reasons we use soap to wash our hands. The worst aspect used to be if it had been left on the side to get mushy, that was off putting, but keeping it up in the air like this solves that problem. Cheaper and simpler to make, less plastic waste, this is a good thing.
I've recently gone back to bar soap in my home. I'm not sure why we ever started with the liquid stuff.
Load More Replies...I love these "arms" that hold bars of soap so they don't get mushy. I have a friend with one, and she got it from France. She also has to get replacement soap from France--none here.
These used to be very popular in France, and were installed in public schools. Might still be for all I know. You can buy them online. They are excellent and the soap lasts for ages.
the most efficient soap to use is foaming soap and it also the most environmentally friendly. Bar Soap has issues of fecal and urine residue.
Everything has fecal matter on it. There is really no avoiding it
Load More Replies...Most Doors In Korea Are Push Auto Doors Where You Have To Physically Press The Button Mounted On The Door For It Open
I would like to see a combo model that is an automatic open without contact but also has the button for those of us who seem to be invisible to automatic doors.
Load More Replies...Japan and Korea have a long history. Get over it.
Load More Replies...That was a real eye-opener. I think I rather fancy visiting South Korea now.
Definitely on my bucket list. These are some really good ideas they have. I love this!
Not a bad idea but don't just stick to Seoul. As a matter of fact go to Jeju Island first. Then head up from the South. Check out Independence Hall in Cheonan. There is so much the country has to offer more than just Seoul
Load More Replies...My mother is South Korean, and I have spent only a year in South Korea, and it was the most amazing place I have ever been to.
Japan has much of the same...but more Koreans speak English so touristing is easier there.
Many countries speak English. They appreciate you trying to learn their language but most everywhere you go you can speak in English and at least one person there will understand you. I learned French cause where I lived at the time we had alot of French speaking tourist and it helped.
Load More Replies...So why is this such a big thing. Granted some of this stuff would be cool in the States but it's really no big deal. 😕
I lived in Korea for five years and never saw most of these things. The soap in true. The others you might only see at the airport or in the more affluent zones of Seoul.
How long ago did you live in Korea? Because all of the above listed things (aside from the raccoon) are fairly common place.
Load More Replies...BREAKING NEWS: MAN DISCOVERS ETHNIC DIVERSITY. MORE AT 11.
Load More Replies...That was a real eye-opener. I think I rather fancy visiting South Korea now.
Definitely on my bucket list. These are some really good ideas they have. I love this!
Not a bad idea but don't just stick to Seoul. As a matter of fact go to Jeju Island first. Then head up from the South. Check out Independence Hall in Cheonan. There is so much the country has to offer more than just Seoul
Load More Replies...My mother is South Korean, and I have spent only a year in South Korea, and it was the most amazing place I have ever been to.
Japan has much of the same...but more Koreans speak English so touristing is easier there.
Many countries speak English. They appreciate you trying to learn their language but most everywhere you go you can speak in English and at least one person there will understand you. I learned French cause where I lived at the time we had alot of French speaking tourist and it helped.
Load More Replies...So why is this such a big thing. Granted some of this stuff would be cool in the States but it's really no big deal. 😕
I lived in Korea for five years and never saw most of these things. The soap in true. The others you might only see at the airport or in the more affluent zones of Seoul.
How long ago did you live in Korea? Because all of the above listed things (aside from the raccoon) are fairly common place.
Load More Replies...BREAKING NEWS: MAN DISCOVERS ETHNIC DIVERSITY. MORE AT 11.
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