Let me start by saying: I love Korea. I love it a lot. The language, the food, the rhythm of its cities, walking around freely at night, the park in my neighborhood, having everything within reach, all of this I genuinely like.
Sometimes I feel like I was born here. And sometimes... I feel like I've lost myself.
The things I love
Living in Korea has its own charm:
- cities are safe
- transportation is convenient
- food is delicious
- life continues even at night
- services are fast
- discipline and order are strong
These things pull a person in. That's why, no matter how much I struggle, even when I think about leaving, these same things always pull me back.
But... something inside me feels like it's slowly fading
There's another side to living in Korea too, one that's invisible but felt.
Here, the social atmosphere is very strict. People live by a culture of "not burdening others," but sometimes this becomes so strong that a person becomes afraid to express themselves.
I feel this too:
- I can't laugh as freely as I want
- I can't be relaxed in class
- I can't fully express myself in Korean
- Sometimes I feel like I'm living "compressed"
The worst part about this state is that I often don't even notice it for a long time. It's only when I travel to another country, say the US or Europe, that I suddenly realize, "oh, I actually missed being this free."
Korea's social pressure — an invisible wall
People here keep a lot inside. Many are very tied to others' opinions. Showing off, boasting about yourself, a mindset of "we're the best," this is very widespread.
This isn't a bad thing, it's part of the culture. But for a foreigner, it can sometimes feel heavy.
Sometimes it feels like this: "I'm happy, but I'm not myself."
On cities, environment, and quality of life
The quality of life in Korea varies a lot depending on the city. Some places are bright and comfortable, others wear you down.
Construction quality and housing
In many places:
- homes are built quickly
- windows are small
- ventilation is weak
- mold appears fast
- water quality is sometimes poor
This also affects a person's mood.
City environment
Some cities are very gray, dense, with very harsh lighting. The noise of scooters never stops, day or night. Air quality isn't great in many places either.
People
Koreans aren't actually bad, but they are closed off. They don't approach strangers. If there are rules, they follow them. If there aren't rules, they say "not my problem."
This too is part of the culture.
It's not easy for locals either
People born and raised in Korea struggle a lot too:
- society is very competitive
- being "average" is looked down on
- good job opportunities are scarce
- working hours are long
- rest is limited
Many feel like "I'm not enough."
Conclusion — Korea isn't bad, but it's heavy
Korea is a wonderful place. But it's not for everyone.
Living here is:
- on one hand comfortable, safe, modern
- on the other hand, pressured, quiet, and exhausting from within
I live between these two states too. I love it, but sometimes I get tired. I stay, but sometimes I want to run away.
For now, I'm here. But to avoid losing myself, I always remind myself: "Wherever you are, you have to be yourself."
📌 Final Thought
Living in Korea is a test. Some people flourish here. Some people slowly fade.
What matters most is listening to yourself. Not losing yourself.
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