10 Things I DONT LIKE About Living in Korea (as an American)

Overall our experience in Seoul has been extremely positive. We really do love living here but there are pros and cons to living in every city.
These are 10 things that I don't like about living in Seoul South Korea. We have been living in Seoul for 8 months after moving here from Los Angeles.
We sold everything we owned on a whim to travel the world with our husky Nala. Currently in Seoul, South Korea 🇰🇷
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[@iu2]

I've taken hundreds of taxis and have never experienced a rude driver. In fact, an overwhelming majority of them have been respectful. Not once have any of them been rude or aggressive while driving.

[@carriegray4093]

Very helpful. Some good points I never had heard.

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks!

[@kevinvillanueva137]

great tips! thank you 🙏

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks for watching! My pleasure 🙏🏼

[@iu2]

Another point on the restaurants and alcohol, I was never told by the restaurant to order alcohol. That has never happened to me...ever. I have never even hear of that.

[@tej2ni]

Yo david, i first started watching your vids a few weeks ago when I was looking for Danang vids. I'm also a californian living in korea now (coming up on 4 years) and all these were right on the money. I hadn't already done so but I subbed today, keep up the good work. Fuggin mosquitos.... I also use a net for sleeping and taped all the window edges lol. We got the hot and tasty blood yo. There are covers for the sewage holes in bathroom/sinks that can prevent smell and maybe mosquitos coming in? Honestly I don't know how they come in either... Taxi drivers are the scourge of the korean roads, and this comes from not as a rider but as a driver. You'd think they'd be good drivers since they drive all day but they are damn awful, not turning on blinkers, stopping in the middle of the road, double parking. Makes me "yok" all the time. If you don't have a korean number, there should be plenty of VoIP apps where you can get numbers for at least the restaurant waiting. The cellphone authentification for EVERYTHING is actually convenient for me but it being a requirement is troublesome for visitors.

[@TravelWithNala]

Haha we got that sweet California blood. We’ve been able to use a 012 number (tourist number) which works most of the time but some systems need a 010 number. Thanks for the sub! Glad you can relate to these things!

[@TMoses-rj1og]

Wow, your music is so loud!

[@TravelWithNala]

Omfg I know 😭. I tried a new editing software and the sounds balance was different when editing when headphones on

[@CheapskateChicana]

dang ive been watching korean content for a years (good and bad) and most of these complaints I've never heard of!! Thanks for the new insights!

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks for watching! I’ve watched a lot of the vids too and they usually mention the same stuff so I wanted to dive into some specific and different cases

[@iu2]

With respect to being car sick in the taxis, I agree. But, only recently because of the EV cars. With the strong regen braking, the drivers are not smooth on the accelerator. They are not necessarily braking, but when they lift off of the accelerator pedal, the care feels like it's braking. The regen level can be adjusted, but the drivers don't seem to know how or just don't care enough to adjust it.

[@daevilgoose]

any good, authentic pho in Seoul?

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah there’s actually a lot of Vietnamese people living in Seoul that have restaurants. There’s on by our house in Yongsan that we go to often but I don’t know the name 😂

[@yulduzatadjanova4791]

I hate this housing system. None of the developed country has it. You earn enough money, have a nice house, but it's in another world. Here, you have to have zillion dollars, then freeeze them for at least for two years, and live and pay rental fee. You could have invested money, or buy something, or go for trip, no you have to lose money on this shit system. And as you put deposit in Korean wons, you lose in inflation pretty much. For example in two years, for renting small room, i lost 2.500$, because of inflation,as i exchanged dollars to won then won back to usd. It's pretty much for me. I could have had two week trip in Thailand with family for this money

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah you nailed it. Most people don’t think about inflation or investing and they think it’s just free rent

[@Hewau-fj5zz]

Please call Dasan call center 120 if you experience any inconvenience related to Seoul administeation.

[@starothesea]

it’s easy to get an esim though and you’ll get a number too

[@TravelWithNala]

Esim gives you a 012 number not a 010 number

[@dumm005]

Wait what??? People force you to order alcohol???

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah it’s restaurant policy in a lot of places for evening time

[@jiminswriter4209]

I have never experienced the sewage issues. Most places I’ve visited in and out of Seoul have not had that problem. Perhaps those areas you visited have older sewage systems. Yes, most cab drivers have been nice. I have never had any mean cab drivers.

[@TravelWithNala]

Depends on the building and depends on the neighborhood. Namyeongdong has a lot of old buildings and we had the same issue in Jongno. It’s a very common issue they sell drain covers in every Daiso

[@Hewau-fj5zz]

​@TravelWithNala Please call Seoul city hall and report sewage smell complaint.😢

[@justforkicks]

Pretty good rundown. Just got back from Seoul. Indian born and raised in a suburb of LA. If I didn’t grow up with so many Koreans, and KP dudes.. I might have been in my feelings.. but I was prepared. The taxi part.. I would say, out of 50 taxi rides I took over an 11 day trip… 20% might have been rude, but mostly out of ignorance.. many were super cool without even speaking to me.. they would drive through alleys and make walkers move out the way in tight places to drop me to my destination.. I suggest amending that part in your video so travelers that watch your video don’t arrive with a pre conceived notion.. they drive and deal with traffic.. and tipping is not part of the culture. (Yet.. please Americans, do not spread this to the country even if you can’t resist, it’s literally an American status problem ). So maybe a light joke through a translator app is all it takes to warm them up as they are people too. One stubborn driver thought he could catch me slipping.. I knew his type, and when leaving he said Arrigato… I said, oh you must be Japanese? And said Moshi Moshi.. he couldn’t help but realize he was outwitted.. anyway.. thick skin is the way.. if dealing with rudeness.. plenty of friendly people though finding them is not always granted.. you have to command respect. Great vid!

[@TravelWithNala]

Here what’s up! We’re from LA too. 1/5 is way too much imo. Also not sure if you understand Korean but I did say angry too not just rude. A lot of them aren’t rude to me but they’re cussing at other drivers in Korean or just grumbling and it’s awkward sitting in a car with an angry driver. It’s common enough that a lot of locals agree with me. I stand by what I said (not that i can even edit a KZbin video). Remember these are all personal opinions and experiences.

[@justforkicks]

@@TravelWithNala ❤ I think you hit everything on point. Yes you are correct you did say angry. I don’t speak Korean outside of yellow belt US Taekwondo memories.. but the 1/5 I’m sure was due to me being of a different ethnicity, but l’m well traveled and get that the world cannot be so privileged.. keep it up my man!!! Rooting for you!

[@aarundell]

Taxi drivers mmm. Your story is pretty bad. My worst taxi driver experience was when he got extremely angry at us because I was digging in to get my wallet out. He barked that I should have had money out already. Can you believe that?

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah if you take 1 second too long to do anything they act like you’re stealing their money.

[@Mr_Busted]

I love the content like this because almost everyone is taking about how fabulous Korea is. Oh Korea is beautiful wonderful fantastic but not so many wants to talk about negative side of Korea. There is nothing wrong talking about things like this. So that people can learn and improve the situations. Thank you 🙏

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks! Pros and cons to every city and also just things that are not cons but just things different people are not used to. All feedback with love

[@iu2]

The problem with these complaints from foreigners is that they (usually Westerners) attribute whatever negatives as inherently wrong/bad/backwards when compared to their native countries. These complaints usually lead to attacks on the Korean culture and its people because they have nothing better to do.

[@yulduzatadjanova4791]

I should have watched such videos before moving in Seoul instead of female Russian speaking bloggers. They have rich husbands, who solves all problems

[@TravelWithNala]

😂😂😂 lots of different perspectives you gotta watch them all to get a gauge but nothing beats experiencing it yourself in person

[@tengkersworldphil-korfamil4141]

I agree with most of your points. Amazing how you were able to spot all these! Just that I wouldn’t say mandatory drinking is a common thing. It only happens in a certain high-end restaurants or restaurants in a certain neighborhood. (Touristic&Hippy places) elsewhere u don’t really experience this. Enjoy your staying here!

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks! Yeah definitely not everywhere but surprisingly common. Good thing I don’t work at a Korean company then the social drinking culture will REALLY be there

[@lolita960]

Who said Korea was perfect??? The delusional y’all must be living to be thinking anyone but the Koreaboos think korea of all countries is perfect. Like please.

[@TravelWithNala]

Haha every place has pros and cons for sure