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If I asked you to picture an exotic country, you'd probably go with something like Australia or Japan. But after this exclusive list by Bored Panda, you'll probably consider South Korea one too.
To show how unique this country really is, we put together a collection of pictures that vividly illustrate its everyday life. We're talking solar-powered benches with USB and wireless charging, onion-flavored cereal, and pretty much everything else you can find there.
Continue scrolling to check out the images and the conversation I had with Hammer and Guillaume, A Fun Couple from Hong Kong and France respectively, who have been traveling the world and documenting their adventures on their blog and Instagram.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Running Out Of Children Due To The Low Birth Rates, A School In South Korea Is Opening Their Doors And Allowing Illiterate Grandmothers To Enrol, So They Can Also Learn To Read
RELATED:
#2
This Care Package The South Korean Government Sent Me While I’m In Quarantine Day 2
Translated letter that was attached to the package: “For people who are currently suffering from the Corona-19 virus, we send our regards and sympathy. We (the food ministry?) is sending this “environment-friendly health package” constructed with environment-friendly crops. We hope this helps you get energy for your daily routine. Furthermore, we hope you get well soon to return to your daily life. You can do it! Fight it! Go South Korea!”
This country in East Asia makes up about 45 percent of the Korean Peninsula and faces North Korea across a demilitarized zone (DMZ) that's 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. The DMZ was established by the terms of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War (1950–53) and runs for about 150 miles (240 km).
"We have been calling South Korea our home for 3.5 years now," A Fun Couple told Bored Panda. "What we liked about the idea of moving here was that this country is still not on most people's bucket list when traveling to Asia. Many travelers would rather prioritize neighboring countries such as Japan, China or Hong Kong when visiting the continent."
However, according to Hammer and Guillaume, South Korea has been making a name for itself over the last few years, with the K-phenomenon on the cultural side and large companies such as Samsung and LG on the business side.
"We were excited but also curious to live in a country that continues to develop fast yet remains a bit unknown to the Western world."
#3
Pink Explosion In Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea
#4
Korean Ktx Trains Play “Healing Broadcasts” Where They Just Show Newborn Puppies Rolling Around For Five Minutes
#5
Airports In Seoul Provide A Map To Your Gate On The Back Of Your Boarding Pass
Avocadorable 4 years ago
This needs to be at every airport. I tend to find airports a labyrinth with hard to find gates.
One aspect that really impressed the couple once they came to this country was the strong sense of solidarity amongst Koreans. "An aspect that's really astonishing and will help you understand what we mean by that is the gold collecting campaign."
"In 1998, South Korea was about $304 billion in debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As a national sacrifice, 3.5 million Koreans donated their gold to the government to repay part of the debt. About 227 tons of gold were donated voluntarily during that event. Impressive, right?!"
"This sense of solidarity can be felt in everyday life in Korea. For example, during the pandemic, people were very supportive of each other. Koreans made a joint effort to keep social distancing rules and wear masks at all times. This is also why South Korea was seen as a benchmark when managing the COVID crisis in its early stage."
#6
Took These In The Same Spot Over The Past Year. Korea’s Four Seasons: Yeouido
#7
Glad To See My Favorite Tree Standing Healthy After This Year's Numerous Typhoons And Landslides, South Korea
#8
This Subway Car In Seoul Has A Mini Library
Raoul L'artiste 4 years ago
Would not work, they would wreck them here in Berlin and many other cities.
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Whatthe Whatthe 4 years ago
If it was in Stockholm! where I live , people would actually really read the books and put them back in right place.
Alyssa 4 years ago
Yes! Get off your phone and read books - so much more satisfying and makes you feel so good after!
InfectedVoice 4 years ago (edited)
That's amazing, here it would be covered in graffiti and smell like piss by now.
ggus44 4 years ago
And if it was in Brazil, there would be someone shitting in it while the guys were still assembling it 😂
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Nora12 4 years ago
While I think it is a cute idea, in practice I feel like it is taking up a lot of space that could be used for seats or for commuters to stand. And don’t most people bring their own entertainment (their phones) how many people are actually using it?
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
I've never seen this in Seoul and every subway I have taken is packed like sardine cans every rush hour
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JoanieBalonie 4 years ago
Imagine what that would look like after three days in NYC. The book pages would be used for everything but reading. No offense to the great state of NY, just my theory.
Arran Walker 4 years ago
I imagine the same in any large US city. In Austin, TX, we would start out a bit better, but the end result would be the same. Most of the books taken away to never return… and the ones remaining too gross to touch after being used… for whatever.
Load More Replies... Violet Smith 4 years ago
The city I live in has a system of "Little Free Libraries" that people build and install at the front of their properties - take a book, leave a book. It is awesome!
Arran Walker 4 years ago
We have those in Austin, TX where I live, but I only see a few here and there. And no one seems to do anything but comment how cute the little free libraries are. The only one I ever used was in a cabinet at work, when I was in Newborn Screening with the DSHS. It was full of books and a few DVDs. When management changed, our newly promoted manager got rid of it. She knew I liked the little library, and she hated me. Pretty shitty thing to do, particularly considering she used to be a schoolteacher…. I’m still with the DSHS, but in another section. We bring our own books, if we want to read.
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Linda Robinett 4 years ago
I haven't been to Korea but if they are anything like the Japanese, they are readers. In Japan, every idle person had their nose in a book or a magazine. So I was not out of place.
Johanne Trudeau 4 years ago
I'm afraid it would be vandalized but at the very least all the books would be stolen...
Arran Walker 4 years ago
Probably the ones most interested in reading random books that they didn’t bring with them.
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Bonni Adah Stoker 3 years ago
and locals hate it. it removes chairs and causes these carriages to be even more crammed during peak hour as they take up more space. and people use them as trash cans for their trash.
Inclusion2020 3 years ago
Can you imagine how disgusting and torn up the books would be if they did this in the US though?
Rob Collings 3 years ago
I go on train and then get a book and then return it 100000 years late
I'm.Just.A.Girl 3 years ago
I love the mapped stops (or it appears to be) on the floor of the train
2027Vera Sergeeva 3 years ago
im american and this is just great...... why don't we have this?!?!?
Yael Adriel Baluyot 3 years ago
That's why there are smart. OK I will now go there in my dream
Asper Rated 3 years ago
This kind of makes me mad at Americans. Because in the U.S.A. the books would be thrown on the floor, stolen and someone would crap on the shelves.
StormyinPCB 3 years ago
I can only imagine how many books would be left at the end of the day on a New York subway. Lol!
Melinda Nicole 3 years ago
If that was here in the US it would be trashed within the first hour 😩
James Casady 3 years ago
Wow, a rack of toilet paper for the bums to use on their bums after defecating on the subway! Oh wait, that's New York
Rosemary Drerup 3 years ago
"We" Americans, with our unsupervised kids, would have that trashed on day one.
Ashley Pitre 3 years ago
This would be great in all train cars had this available! Or even inside the train station itself!
Whanna Knows 3 years ago
No talking or loud music on trains. No littering, no graffiti, no baggy pants.
Nicola Gordon 3 years ago
In Chile (where I live) the books would disappear in 5 minutes..... and not be returned!
Craig Reynolds 3 years ago
That would never work in the US, Every book would be stolen or vandalized.
Richard Claessens 3 years ago
It would never work in the United States.... So many subs riders have lost a sense of decency and responsibility and honor the books would be gone in a day
Dorothy Cloud 4 years ago
In America, those books would be trashed, thrown around & the shelves ripped down. That's how wonderful we are.
Brandi VanSteenwyk 4 years ago
So much trust and faith in fellow citizens, that they will demonstrate respect and care for things and others. Deepens my sadness that the same cannot be said for the majority of citizens in my own country.
Eva Malinová 4 years ago (edited)
In Czechia we have mini libraries on some railroad stations. You can borrow the book and give it back somewhere else. Some people take the books home, yet some bring their old ones in there.
Karen Clark 4 years ago
And it appears there is a map on the floor, too, to assist passengers!
Rose C. Walker 4 years ago
How do the books not fall off the shelves every time the train jerks to a stop?
Me 4 years ago
I don't see seats. How does one stand and hang on and turn the pages of a book. I'm not that coordinated.
Little king trash mouth 4 years ago
Sadly in Philly, that would be destroyed within a day. We can't have nice things : (
Alan Foster 4 years ago
Is this for real? Wouldn't the books go flying off the shelves when the train goes around a curve?
Sharon Ingram 4 years ago
It would be lovely if every train had these. But in the US, there would be so much hassle because Karen wouldn’t like a book.
Arran Walker 4 years ago
Would Karen even look at the titles? 😆 Nah, it would fail in the US because the books would get stolen or grossly damaged.
Load More Replies...Of course, settling in another culture takes time. Hammer and Guillaume said the 'work hard, play hard' concept was probably the trickiest thing to adjust to.
"Koreans are very hard working. The maximum number of working hours per week recently changed from 63 to 52, but it's still a lot. Although the work-life balance got better over the last few years, working overtime (and not being paid for it) is still pretty common."
"It is also very common to go out with colleagues multiple times a week after work and have dinner and drinks until late at night. We definitely had to cut down on our sleeping hours, but it's a lot of fun to live and work in South Korea!"
#9
Apartment Complex In Korea Being Painted, So The Painters Shrouded All The Cars In The Parking Lot To Protect From Splatter
#10
Starbucks In Seoul Offering Used Coffee Grounds For Gardening
#11
Just Received This At My Door! S. Korea Gives Out Food Rations To People In Quarantine
Avocadorable 4 years ago
I heard about this. Good for people that can't get groceries home delivered or have no one to take care of them. Great job! Wish all local governments globally did this.
#12
This Hand-Painted Underside Of A Temple Roof In Korea
"Since there are much fewer expats in South Korea than other Asian countries we've lived in, things are not always fully catered to foreigners. Opening a bank account, getting a local driver's license, getting a phone plan, using different apps; these things weren't always easy," A Fun Couple said.
"Besides there is still a language barrier and most of the documents are rarely translated into English. However, we've noticed that it has become easier for a foreigner to go about their daily life than when we arrived here 3.5 years ago. So we hope that this trend will continue in the future as well!"
#13
I Get To Walk Through This Everyday On My Way Home From Work
#14
This Sign Is Not For A Cat Crossing. It Means "Caution: Cat Is Around"
#15
This 2D Café We Visited In Seoul
Eva the Egg 4 years ago
🎶Take.... on... meeee..... *take on me* Take.... me... onnnnnnnn.... 🎶
#16
Modern Korea Built Around Historic Korea (Seoul)
During their time in South Korea, A Fun Couple discovered a beautiful country, full of contrasts between the modern and the traditional, amazing natural landscapes, and exciting cities like Seoul and Busan.
"South Koreans are very welcoming and positive-minded people. We met so many great people here and made very good friends. Therefore, we highly recommend South Korea as an expat destination. We started our blog so that more people can realize how great this place is and that they should add this destination to their bucket list!"
#17
Small Restaurant In The Snow, Seoul, South Korea
#18
Solar Powered Benches Here In Seoul, South Korea. Complete With USB And Wireless Charging Docks
#19
Bukhansan Yesterday
#20
"Root Bench" Is A Public Installation By Architect Yong Ju Lee In Hangang Art Park, South Korea
#21
South Korea Puts Traffic Lights On The Ground So That People Who're Looking At Their Phones Can Still See The Light
#22
This Ice Lolly I Bought In Korea Has A Little Tray To Prevent It From Melting All Over Your Hands
#23
Korea Is So Beautiful
#24
An Old Pine Tree, Daedunsan, South Korea
#25
Every Half Kilometer They Have A Resting Place Made For Pedestrians In This Korean City Ansan
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
There is a lot of park-like things integrated throughout cities. I love it.
#26
Chips Organized Into A Rainbow In Korea
#27
This Latte Art From A Cafe In Seoul, South Korea
#28
South Korea Isn't Joking When Battling Covid-19
#29
I'm Staying In Korea Right Now And Apparently There Is A TV Channel Dedicated To Dogs, As In Programming For Dogs
#30
This Here Is The Entrance Of The Club Chroma In Seoul, South Korea By MVRDV Architecture, Which Is Said To Be The Largest Nightclub In The World
#31
Daegaksa Temple Near Jongmyo Shrine In Seoul
#32
Well, That's One Way To Encourage People To Use The Stairs
#33
Escalator Sanitizer In South Korea
#34
Self Cleaning Roads In South Korea
#35
Supermarkets In Korea Offer Toilet Paper Samples For You To Test
Firstname Lastname 4 years ago
Please say the customers aren't testing them on their heinies in there...
#36
Cakes Sold In South Korea Usually Come With Free Candles And Matches Hidden In The Plastic Cake Knife
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
No, not usually. Sometimes that is. Usually, you only get a free plastic knife, but the rest depends on the shops individually. In bakeries they will, however, ask you if you need candles and how many, these are free and come with a free match as well. Unless you bought the fancy ones separately. Still, you'd get a free match to light them.
#37
Traditional Korean Architecture
#38
In Korea, They Have Single Person Karaoke Booths On The Train
#39
The Wavy Building Called The GT Tower In Seoul, South Korea
#40
Pump Toothpaste In South Korea. One Pump Is The Perfect Amount For A Toothbrush
#41
Found Totoro On The Side Of The Road
Eva the Egg 4 years ago
Look in the background around the bush and you can see some sootballs 😉
#42
These Helpful Robots That Wander Incheon Airport, Seoul, That You Can Use To Check Flight Information
#43
This Library In Seoul, South Korea
#44
Automatic Ramen Dispenser In Korea
#45
"1,000 Doors" Building In South Korea
#46
They Have A Sauron’s Tower In Seoul
#47
Cherry Blossom Themed Coca Cola Bottles In South Korea
#48
South Korea Now Has Walk-Through Covid-19 Test Booths
Devil's Advocate 4 years ago
Gloves that touch everyone right by their mouths, seems a great way to spread anything
#49
The Bananas We Got With Our Delivered Groceries Here In South Korea Came With Little Stickers To Put On Them
#50
In Some Asian Countries (Korea) The 4th Floor Button In The Elevator Is 'F' Because It 4 Sounds Same As 'Death'. When I Go Home I Always Have To Pay Respect
#51
Colorful Memories From The Bongeunsa Temple In Seoul
#52
My Relative Just Entered Self-Quarantine And The District Government Sent This Free Of Charge
#53
This Flower Vending Machine In Seoul, South Korea
#54
Just Another Casual Lunch In Daejeon
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
Heaven! I love lots of different flavors and textures at meals. And so appetizing.
#55
Saw A Fat Iron Man At A Street Shop In South Korea
#56
In S. Korea: An Unmanned, Self Service Drink Stand Where You Just Put Money In The Teapot And Take Your Drink Of Choice
the Kat who says ni 4 years ago
Here in Belgium you can also buy eggs and vegetables like that. (Outside the city though) love it! The owner even once told me there is more cash because people can't get change, but nobody minds to pay a bit more door super fresh produce.
#57
In Korea They Have Air Hoses At Parks To Blow The Dust Off Your Shoes When You Leave
#59
Korea Has Sock Vending Machines
#60
A Woman Only Parking Spot In Korea
#61
This Immigration Office In Korea Has Glasses You Can Borrow For Filling Out Forms
#62
This Is Simply The Prettiest Library That I’ve Been To. It Was Beyond Words. Starfield Library In Seoul, South Korea
#63
This Helium Balloon Vending Machine In Korea
#64
Limited Edition "Frozen 2" Tickets In South Korea
#65
Just Another Casual Lunch In Seokcho
#66
Snowy New Year In Daejeon
#67
Monsoon Season
#68
I Love Korea And The Regular Updates On How Close The Toilet Is. I Need My Updates Every 3 Meters Or So
ThePracticalSarcastic 4 years ago
Lots of countries/cities in Asia have these ...especially in airports. Extremely useful
#69
This Bollard In Daejeon, South Korea Is Squishy
#70
Seoul To Busan For 40 Bucks While Almost Laying Down? With Chargers, Table, And Foot Sitter? Ya Why The Hell Not
Soliae 4 years ago
This is in fact a "premium" bus, not a train. The seat is similar to business class in planes I'd say. You can lie almost flat and the seat is really comfortable. Also, bus or train tickets are always the same amount, even if you buy it an hour before. I personally prefer travelling with these buses, because they are more comfortable than trains, sometimes even faster, and they stop at highway rest areas where you can get great food!
#71
Korea Air Has Stickers To Signal The Cabin Crew What To Do When You're Sleeping In Flight
#72
If You Happen To Park Near A Construction Site You Would Probably Find Your Car Wrapped Like This To Not Get All Dusty And Dirty
#73
I Found A Bar Where You Can Do Indoor Fishing In South Korea
Eva the Egg 4 years ago
In some restaurants you can even fish your dinner! The chef cooks what you caught for you!
#74
It’s Not A Stuck Cruise Ship. The Floating Cruise Ship Is Actually A Specialty Resort Hotel In South Korea
#75
The Building Across From My Seoul, Korea Quarantine Hotel Looks Like A Zipper
#76
Dongguk University, Seoul Campus, In The Month Of Buddha’s Birthday
#77
This “Sandwich” My Co-Worker Ordered For Me For Lunch Today
There are some good independently run bakeries in Korea and many more good desert shops where the chefs are Korean. Bread and baking are just not part of Korean culinary history so you can’t really expect it to be widespread, but some are learning the craft, and doing it well.
#78
A Starbucks In South Korea
#79
This Is A Door To A Bar In Daegu, South Korea
#80
In Korea You Can Buy A Gift Set Of Spam And Canola Oil
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
I know Chuseok or Lunar New Year is coming when I start to see these ㅋㅋㅋ
#81
Onion Flavored Cereal, Found In Korea
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
There is a story behind this. There was a vote to choose the new flavor and this was a joke option that won. The company didn't really make this the official winner, but they did later make it a limited time offer for fun
#82
This Staircase At Seomun Market (Daegu, South Korea) Tries To Depict How Many Calories You've Burned And How Many Seconds You've Added To Your Life
Devil's Advocate 4 years ago
I know it's dark, but I want to see someone fall over on the stairs just to prove the signs wrong
#83
I Found This In A Restaurant In South Korea. It Is Mouth Wash
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
They are also in private DVD rooms because they know why young people go to private DVD rooms.
#84
Krispy Kreme In Korea Where They Sell Milk Flavored Ice Cream Cone With A Drip Cover
#85
My Sausage Here In Korea Comes With Pictures And Words Of Encouragement Written On It
#86
Movie Theater In Korea Have Two Strawholes On Their Lids
#87
Foil Tea Bag, Not With Paper Tea Bag In Korea
#88
Perfect. I Always Wish I Could Brush My Teeth With Fire Noodle Sauce (It's A Chili Toothpaste)
#89
I Moved To Korea A While Ago. While Driving This Weekend I Saw A Sign For This: Welcome To Queen Seondeok's Tomb
#90
My Apartment In Korea Hooked All The Trees To IVs Instead Of Installing Sprinklers
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
This is usually only for trees not yet established. Transplanted trees need constant water for the first month or so.
#91
Delivery Guy In South Korea
#92
This Is Korean Ice Cream. You Just Squeeze It Out From The Bottom Up
Ellen Ranks 4 years ago
I am now beginning to onderstend why the vast majority of plastic waste in the oceans is coming from east Asia.
#93
Hyundai Dealership In Cheongdam, Seoul
#94
These Grooved And Bumpy Tiles Are For The Blind To Follow In Seoul’s Subway Stations
#95
In Korea, They Serve Thick Slabs Of Butter With Red Bean On Bread As A Popular Snack Called “Ang Butter”
#96
Chupa Chups Drink In Korea
#97
Dining In A Toilet Themed Cafe, Seoul, South Korea
#98
Korea's Coffee Milk Comes In These Pyramid Bag Thingies
#99
Korea Has A Drink With A Real Four Leaf Clover In It Called The Oat Green Tea Latte
#100
Supercharger V3 In Guro, Seoul. One Of The Latest Supercharger Installed In South Korea
There are tons of m3s and mYs in Korea, not just in Seoul. Model 3 was the most sold imported sedan in 2020 March, and Model Y was the most sold imported CUV in 2021 May.
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
Chargers are at highway rest stops too. They have big displays above so you can see the progress from your picnic table.
#101
This Parking Lot In Seoul
Kevin Gerke 4 years ago
There are tall car park buildings too. I was so nervous the first time I used it.
#102
These And Pickles (Usually) Come With Pizza In Korea
Softsquatch 4 years ago
no offence to korea but this is awful. all that plastic is polluting our oceans just because people are scared to get a little pizza grease on their fingers.
#103
I Found A Pog In A Pack Of Cheetos Here In Korea
#104
Coffee Coke In S. Korea
#105
Boxes To Leave Pets At Supermarket Entrance In South Korea
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What do you think ?
Janis Wise 4 years ago
Everyone is complaining about the plastic, which I totally get. However, I just hope it’s no one from the U.S. We should not dare complain about another country’s litter & trash habits. We are terrible here. We don’t give a rat’s ass for the most part & it shows in our infrastructure & lack of planning for our overuse of plastic & of fossil fuels. Our last President made a joke of turbines use of wind power, slashed any environmental agencies & plans he could get his hands on & all his base followers still deny global weather issues & the disaster coming our way. But he was hell bent to build an ugly wall that would make us look like a dystopian future. Yet they demonized young people who spoke up about the mess we’re leaving for them. Remember what mom said, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Beans 4 years ago
They literally have dollar tree in America... I've been to Japan, Korea and the US multiple times and the waste in the US is far worse. Everyone is an environmentalist when they are looking in other people's backyard and not their own.
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Michael Smith-O'Brien 3 years ago
I did visit 2012 and I still can’t believe what I saw there; clean and orderly with courtesy flowing everywhere! Gray beard prompted teenagers to insist on giving me their seat on the subways
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Run Forest 4 years ago
I mean it is the plastic surgery capital of the world.
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Wibbi 4 years ago
These small restaurants are actually really common in Korea. They normally do one type of dish in multiple variations and really well. I love it :) One of the best restaurants my professor took us to was in a small house you had to enter through a garage with dirt floor. I would have never found it on my own. But the food there was great. I also saw a restaurant near a temple where they just moved their dining area into a shallow river during the hot summer. Still one of the best ideas I can think of to beat the summer heat :) I wanna go back....
Ranch Dressing 4 years ago
Koreans know how to have fun with their restaurants. Iv not been to Korea itself but I go to the local Korean restaurant in my city and I love it
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Yugan Talovich 4 years ago
BP's tired of Japan and has a new crush: South Korea! Utopia on Earth!
Daria B 4 years ago
Not yet. But yeah, it could easily go towards that direction indeed. In that case, I may start complaining. ♡
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Yurie 4 years ago
Korean native who has been living in the US for 8 years now. You can calm down with the "plastic complaints" because we have biodegradable trash bags that are legally mandated and strict recycling education built into the school system and recycling laws, growing up in KR, I was used to washing disposable containers and utensils, taking labels off for recycling whereas in the US, y'all throw trash into non-biodegradable cheap plastic bags and most of you don't even recycle, let alone use a reusable grocery bag
Beans 4 years ago (edited)
Korea is lovely. I've been. It might seem a lot like Japan here but it's very different. Sad fact about most temples there: they are all mostly new rebuilt because the Japanese destroyed them during the occupation :( There is definitely more waste compared to Japan, which seems more ocd. People are a bit less polite too (but more real I guess) and when you find kind Koreans they are really kind, no BS. That said some places hate foreigners and refused to serve us, we left restaurants twice. People queue more haphazardly and follow rules less (I actually know a tourist that was run over on the sidewalk and the guy was drunk. Drink driving is a thing). The food is great, but it depends what you get and it's a bonus if you like spicy because they have the spiciest stuff there. They also love coffee! I did a thing one day where I stopped and took a photo of each coffee place I saw one day. I got to like 30 and gave up.
Beans 4 years ago
Another fun fact, their business turnaround is crazy.... It was the only Asian country I went where Google maps was messed up because businesses had been replaced before people could update maps. We actually saw a cake shop we were meaning to go to close down and something had taken it's place days later. It was nuts. They also have their own kind of bullet train which is handy to get around the country fast. And Seoul is lovely though. They are building a lot of cool things there.
Load More Replies... GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I just have one question. How hard is it to learn to speak Korean. Oh, wait, two questions. Is it easy to become a resident? Most other countries make it very hard for Americans to move there.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
How hard it is to learn a language depends on your linguistic background and affinities. I'm bilingual since birth (Croatian + Italian) and I've always been strong with languages. I've learnt their writing system all by myself in about a month. It took me 2 months of life in Korea under the language course to start being able using Korean in every day conversation, about 6 months to become confident and fluent. As for becoming a resident, depends what your target visa is, but mainly the rule is -> you have money to show, you're good. I'm not American, but I've been here since 2010 on a variety of visas (marriage visa currently). The law doesn't separate by countries usually, but I noticed they do require additional documents for Chinese people. (This might have changed recently, though.)
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Sharon Jones 3 years ago
It looks to be a beautiful country, a place I would love to visit. As for waste the entire world needs to slow down with waste. Too much of everything. What happened to repairing your items like tvs, toasters, cars, washing machines etc. Now it's toss out the old & buy new. Then we have the green push, I support that but what happens to the big batteries when they die? Or solar panels when they no longer function? Wind farms kill migratory birds by the thousands. And all of this needs to start in your own home. No plastic baggies or reuse them, our grandparents did. We are such a "disposable" species. The quick fix, the toss & go. Fast food restaurants, heck any restaurant with the boxes or bags to go. The plasticware, napkins and now our masks. It starts with each of us. And it is not easy, at least for me it has been awareness. Thinking can I recycle this tinfoil or plastic bag. Can I compost this? Do I really need the to go box, perhaps I should bring my own from home before we go
Greg Weaver 3 years ago
Man, I loved S. Korea. Did a one-year tour there back in the late 90s. Wonderful people, wonderful countryside. Tended to get far away from the typical GI spots when I went to Seoul/Kumchon and had a great time. Would love to move back, but...life.
Katinka Min 4 years ago
So many considered details. And I love all these additions to public space. Where I live, most of it would be destroyed, filthy and/or covered in bad graffiti or stolen outright. Anything publiy, here needs to be indestructible. :-/
Banana Bear 4 years ago
Now I know I'm going to South Korea and spend like a whole day or two in Seoul (hope I spelled that right)
Adrian 4 years ago
It occurs to me that South Korea is one country that has really got its s..t together. Hopefully I'll get to visit sometime.
Ueda 4 years ago
Don’t be fooled. Inequalities are huge in Korea and living there when you are not a ‘winner’ is quite awful. I used to be the foreigner (poster boy) in a Korean company and some of my colleagues couldn’t find a wife because they were deemed not successful enough… It’s a very superficial place really. Everything is about appearances and how successful and rich you are. Although I found Koreans among the nicest people I have met in my life, I think their society is a bit f*cked up. It’s pretty sad really.
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Whanna Knows 3 years ago
None one respects anyone or their property which is why usa looks so dirty and gross
L Smith 3 years ago
One of my favorite things when I lived in South Korea was the ondol floor. The floor is fake wood with pipes underneath through which hot water is pumped in the winter time. You get a heated floor and it is just divine! I have a photo of my cat rolling around on the heated floor like it's having an orgasm!
Mrry L TIM W. 3 years ago
Was that sarcasm? If so, I'll give you an up-vote. If not, I will hurridly give you a ticket to go there if you promise never to return.
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Bob Kennedy 3 years ago
I live in South Korea and want to point out that, while I don't doubt all of these things exist, most of them are neither commonplace nor easy to find. It's a little like showing the M&Ms Store in Times Square and implying every town has these.
Pauline Forrester 2 years ago
Its amazing how they include pictures of puppies to relax you...and t.v. for dogs...Yet you don't see hem advertise the fact they skin dogs and cats alive for human consumption....Amazing how they like to keep that quiet...
EdgeLord666 3 years ago
Koreans make the best SSDs. Beat that Sandisk! mmmm-grayo...95aea5.jpg 
EdgeLord666 3 years ago
hangeul is the best alphabet in the world. change my mind. Sejong_the...eb3564.jpg 
Lee Au Jun 3 years ago
Sorry that you did not just show us a photo of the "Bullet train" It covers a day's journey by car in under 3hrs. Lived in Korea for 10years; experienced this personally.
Lee Au Jun 3 years ago
Yep. I lived there for over 10yrs and every day, I think about it. Moving from Seoul to Busan: You take a bullet train. I wish you had shown us a photo of that; it will take about 3hrs. If you drive, it could take all day. I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; If I want to visit Virginia Beach, Virginia, it will take 15hrs. If I take a plane almost the same;
rajiv Vyas 3 years ago
Wowww....south korea is a place to visit on my bucket list....I have watched their Korean series and they are all superr amazingly dressed...a big fan of Hyun Bin and Son Je Kin
Anna Volkov 3 years ago
This is definitely some south Korean propaganda sh*t lol half thr covid stuff soundsore like negatives. They probably send you "care packages" because you're grounded to your home and can't get out even to buy food.. why are you all fantasizing about a socialist dictatorial state who keeps the whole nation like prisoners who aren't allowed to leave the country Blackie they don't want the truth to come out about this "lovely country"? South Korea is going to die out with their one child per family rule or even 2... thats not replacing the population but diminishing it...
Phalbe Henriksen 3 years ago
I lived in South Korea for a year in 1969. It gets better and better. I miss it.
Scott Hatton 3 years ago
This is kind of misleading, since most of these are either in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. The rest of the country is pretty different, but still beautiful. Seoul is just a city, it's worth it to explore the smaller areas.
金宇航 4 years ago
I have been to Japan, China and Korea and the architecture in Korea is clearly copied from China, where Japan has an interesting cultural style and many buildings and things are very tiny, China is very diverse because of its land area, and the least interesting is Korea, which has no character and I don't want to go there again.
Jackie Wacky 4 years ago
This item has made me want to visit South Korea some day. It looks like an amazing place.
Biba Little 4 years ago
I would love to visit South Korea one day but the plane ticket is just too expensive!
Christopher Duffy 4 years ago
The thing that strikes me about the USA today is how much people hate each other. They'd rather children starve in a gutter than be given any form of help. It's collective psychosis.
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Richard Prycewizard2015 3 years ago
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Emma Drake 3 years ago
korea has much less waste and looks alot cleaner there are some cool things there too very unlike the us
Zophra 4 years ago
This sounds like utopia. I have never heard of any "problems" - do they have any?
Daria B 4 years ago
Plenty of problems, really.... plenty. And serious ones too. Suicide rates being the most well known ones. But I still love it here.
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Janis Wise 4 years ago
Everyone is complaining about the plastic, which I totally get. However, I just hope it’s no one from the U.S. We should not dare complain about another country’s litter & trash habits. We are terrible here. We don’t give a rat’s ass for the most part & it shows in our infrastructure & lack of planning for our overuse of plastic & of fossil fuels. Our last President made a joke of turbines use of wind power, slashed any environmental agencies & plans he could get his hands on & all his base followers still deny global weather issues & the disaster coming our way. But he was hell bent to build an ugly wall that would make us look like a dystopian future. Yet they demonized young people who spoke up about the mess we’re leaving for them. Remember what mom said, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
Beans 4 years ago
They literally have dollar tree in America... I've been to Japan, Korea and the US multiple times and the waste in the US is far worse. Everyone is an environmentalist when they are looking in other people's backyard and not their own.
Load More Replies... Michael Smith-O'Brien 3 years ago
I did visit 2012 and I still can’t believe what I saw there; clean and orderly with courtesy flowing everywhere! Gray beard prompted teenagers to insist on giving me their seat on the subways
Load More Replies... Run Forest 4 years ago
I mean it is the plastic surgery capital of the world.
Load More Replies... Wibbi 4 years ago
These small restaurants are actually really common in Korea. They normally do one type of dish in multiple variations and really well. I love it :) One of the best restaurants my professor took us to was in a small house you had to enter through a garage with dirt floor. I would have never found it on my own. But the food there was great. I also saw a restaurant near a temple where they just moved their dining area into a shallow river during the hot summer. Still one of the best ideas I can think of to beat the summer heat :) I wanna go back....
Ranch Dressing 4 years ago
Koreans know how to have fun with their restaurants. Iv not been to Korea itself but I go to the local Korean restaurant in my city and I love it
Load More Replies... Yugan Talovich 4 years ago
BP's tired of Japan and has a new crush: South Korea! Utopia on Earth!
Daria B 4 years ago
Not yet. But yeah, it could easily go towards that direction indeed. In that case, I may start complaining. ♡
Load More Replies... Yurie 4 years ago
Korean native who has been living in the US for 8 years now. You can calm down with the "plastic complaints" because we have biodegradable trash bags that are legally mandated and strict recycling education built into the school system and recycling laws, growing up in KR, I was used to washing disposable containers and utensils, taking labels off for recycling whereas in the US, y'all throw trash into non-biodegradable cheap plastic bags and most of you don't even recycle, let alone use a reusable grocery bag
Beans 4 years ago (edited)
Korea is lovely. I've been. It might seem a lot like Japan here but it's very different. Sad fact about most temples there: they are all mostly new rebuilt because the Japanese destroyed them during the occupation :( There is definitely more waste compared to Japan, which seems more ocd. People are a bit less polite too (but more real I guess) and when you find kind Koreans they are really kind, no BS. That said some places hate foreigners and refused to serve us, we left restaurants twice. People queue more haphazardly and follow rules less (I actually know a tourist that was run over on the sidewalk and the guy was drunk. Drink driving is a thing). The food is great, but it depends what you get and it's a bonus if you like spicy because they have the spiciest stuff there. They also love coffee! I did a thing one day where I stopped and took a photo of each coffee place I saw one day. I got to like 30 and gave up.
Beans 4 years ago
Another fun fact, their business turnaround is crazy.... It was the only Asian country I went where Google maps was messed up because businesses had been replaced before people could update maps. We actually saw a cake shop we were meaning to go to close down and something had taken it's place days later. It was nuts. They also have their own kind of bullet train which is handy to get around the country fast. And Seoul is lovely though. They are building a lot of cool things there.
Load More Replies... GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I just have one question. How hard is it to learn to speak Korean. Oh, wait, two questions. Is it easy to become a resident? Most other countries make it very hard for Americans to move there.
Daria B 4 years ago (edited)
How hard it is to learn a language depends on your linguistic background and affinities. I'm bilingual since birth (Croatian + Italian) and I've always been strong with languages. I've learnt their writing system all by myself in about a month. It took me 2 months of life in Korea under the language course to start being able using Korean in every day conversation, about 6 months to become confident and fluent. As for becoming a resident, depends what your target visa is, but mainly the rule is -> you have money to show, you're good. I'm not American, but I've been here since 2010 on a variety of visas (marriage visa currently). The law doesn't separate by countries usually, but I noticed they do require additional documents for Chinese people. (This might have changed recently, though.)
Load More Replies... Sharon Jones 3 years ago
It looks to be a beautiful country, a place I would love to visit. As for waste the entire world needs to slow down with waste. Too much of everything. What happened to repairing your items like tvs, toasters, cars, washing machines etc. Now it's toss out the old & buy new. Then we have the green push, I support that but what happens to the big batteries when they die? Or solar panels when they no longer function? Wind farms kill migratory birds by the thousands. And all of this needs to start in your own home. No plastic baggies or reuse them, our grandparents did. We are such a "disposable" species. The quick fix, the toss & go. Fast food restaurants, heck any restaurant with the boxes or bags to go. The plasticware, napkins and now our masks. It starts with each of us. And it is not easy, at least for me it has been awareness. Thinking can I recycle this tinfoil or plastic bag. Can I compost this? Do I really need the to go box, perhaps I should bring my own from home before we go
Greg Weaver 3 years ago
Man, I loved S. Korea. Did a one-year tour there back in the late 90s. Wonderful people, wonderful countryside. Tended to get far away from the typical GI spots when I went to Seoul/Kumchon and had a great time. Would love to move back, but...life.
Katinka Min 4 years ago
So many considered details. And I love all these additions to public space. Where I live, most of it would be destroyed, filthy and/or covered in bad graffiti or stolen outright. Anything publiy, here needs to be indestructible. :-/
Banana Bear 4 years ago
Now I know I'm going to South Korea and spend like a whole day or two in Seoul (hope I spelled that right)
Adrian 4 years ago
It occurs to me that South Korea is one country that has really got its s..t together. Hopefully I'll get to visit sometime.
Ueda 4 years ago
Don’t be fooled. Inequalities are huge in Korea and living there when you are not a ‘winner’ is quite awful. I used to be the foreigner (poster boy) in a Korean company and some of my colleagues couldn’t find a wife because they were deemed not successful enough… It’s a very superficial place really. Everything is about appearances and how successful and rich you are. Although I found Koreans among the nicest people I have met in my life, I think their society is a bit f*cked up. It’s pretty sad really.
Load More Replies... Whanna Knows 3 years ago
None one respects anyone or their property which is why usa looks so dirty and gross
L Smith 3 years ago
One of my favorite things when I lived in South Korea was the ondol floor. The floor is fake wood with pipes underneath through which hot water is pumped in the winter time. You get a heated floor and it is just divine! I have a photo of my cat rolling around on the heated floor like it's having an orgasm!
Mrry L TIM W. 3 years ago
Was that sarcasm? If so, I'll give you an up-vote. If not, I will hurridly give you a ticket to go there if you promise never to return.
Load More Replies... Bob Kennedy 3 years ago
I live in South Korea and want to point out that, while I don't doubt all of these things exist, most of them are neither commonplace nor easy to find. It's a little like showing the M&Ms Store in Times Square and implying every town has these.
Pauline Forrester 2 years ago
Its amazing how they include pictures of puppies to relax you...and t.v. for dogs...Yet you don't see hem advertise the fact they skin dogs and cats alive for human consumption....Amazing how they like to keep that quiet...
EdgeLord666 3 years ago
Koreans make the best SSDs. Beat that Sandisk! mmmm-grayo...95aea5.jpg
EdgeLord666 3 years ago
hangeul is the best alphabet in the world. change my mind. Sejong_the...eb3564.jpg
Lee Au Jun 3 years ago
Sorry that you did not just show us a photo of the "Bullet train" It covers a day's journey by car in under 3hrs. Lived in Korea for 10years; experienced this personally.
Lee Au Jun 3 years ago
Yep. I lived there for over 10yrs and every day, I think about it. Moving from Seoul to Busan: You take a bullet train. I wish you had shown us a photo of that; it will take about 3hrs. If you drive, it could take all day. I live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; If I want to visit Virginia Beach, Virginia, it will take 15hrs. If I take a plane almost the same;
rajiv Vyas 3 years ago
Wowww....south korea is a place to visit on my bucket list....I have watched their Korean series and they are all superr amazingly dressed...a big fan of Hyun Bin and Son Je Kin
Anna Volkov 3 years ago
This is definitely some south Korean propaganda sh*t lol half thr covid stuff soundsore like negatives. They probably send you "care packages" because you're grounded to your home and can't get out even to buy food.. why are you all fantasizing about a socialist dictatorial state who keeps the whole nation like prisoners who aren't allowed to leave the country Blackie they don't want the truth to come out about this "lovely country"? South Korea is going to die out with their one child per family rule or even 2... thats not replacing the population but diminishing it...
Phalbe Henriksen 3 years ago
I lived in South Korea for a year in 1969. It gets better and better. I miss it.
Scott Hatton 3 years ago
This is kind of misleading, since most of these are either in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. The rest of the country is pretty different, but still beautiful. Seoul is just a city, it's worth it to explore the smaller areas.
金宇航 4 years ago
I have been to Japan, China and Korea and the architecture in Korea is clearly copied from China, where Japan has an interesting cultural style and many buildings and things are very tiny, China is very diverse because of its land area, and the least interesting is Korea, which has no character and I don't want to go there again.
Jackie Wacky 4 years ago
This item has made me want to visit South Korea some day. It looks like an amazing place.
Biba Little 4 years ago
I would love to visit South Korea one day but the plane ticket is just too expensive!
Christopher Duffy 4 years ago
The thing that strikes me about the USA today is how much people hate each other. They'd rather children starve in a gutter than be given any form of help. It's collective psychosis.
Load More Replies... Richard Prycewizard2015 3 years ago
CONTACT US FOR ALL KINDS OF HACKING JOB We offer professional hacking services,we offer the following services. -University grades changing -Bank accounts hack -Erase criminal records hack -Facebook hack -Twitters hack -email accounts hack -Grade Changes hack -Website crashed hack -server crashed hack -Skype hack -Databases hack -Word Press Blogs hack -Individual computers hack -Control devices remotely hack -Burner Number -Verified Paypal Accounts hack -Any social media account hack -Android & iPhone Hack -Text message interception hack -email interception hack -Bitcoin recovery -binary multiplication -credit score upgrade -Track Calls log and Spy Call Recording. Monitoring SMS text messages remotely. Cell phone GPS location racking. Spy on Whatsapp Messages. -Untraceable Ip etc. Contact us: richardprycewizard2016@gmail.com WHATSAPP NUMBER: +36302513218 for more inquiry..
Emma Drake 3 years ago
korea has much less waste and looks alot cleaner there are some cool things there too very unlike the us
Zophra 4 years ago
This sounds like utopia. I have never heard of any "problems" - do they have any?
Daria B 4 years ago
Plenty of problems, really.... plenty. And serious ones too. Suicide rates being the most well known ones. But I still love it here.
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