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

[@mitsu.hadeishi]

The sewage smell is mostly in villas with old plumbing. Before signing that contract gotta spend a few minutes in the bathroom and check out the smell, man :) Mosquitoes - you've gotta REALLY get all the tiniest crevices with the screens. Get those Daiso screen patch kits and go wild. We finally did manage to stem the flow of mosquitoes after doing this (and also tape around the edges of the screens during mosquito season). Also be sure to not leave the front door open for long, and get those rackets and also a fly swatter. Combination of techniques can help a lot.

[@TravelWithNala]

Ngl I’ve been having a lot of fun with one of the zapper racquets

[@AL-sd5cs]

Came to Korea in 2007 and lived for 2 years and been back multiple times, never once was asked to order alcohol anywhere unless you are going to certain places that are exactly for that reason.. Bought a nice pineapple for 3000 the other day and yes there are few fruit outliers but mostly reasonable priced foods at the grocery store

[@TravelWithNala]

Well everything depends where you're from. I'm from LA and pretty much every fruit is more expensive in Korea than in LA. 2007 was a long time ago. Lots of dining rules changed after COVID.

[@user-to4iq4bq9g]

This dude is just a typical Korean hater who insist experienced bizarre cases and trying hard to make prejudice for koreans. Lol

[@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.

[@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.

[@sweetaznspice1]

Same here. I'm a Korean-American fluent in Korean and I was in Seoul for two weeks back in 2019. I must have used yellow cab service more than a dozen times without any issues.

[@iu2]

@@sweetaznspice1 💯

[@sashimidimsums]

If you go to Seoul I’d avoid taking a taxi, the buses and trains are so good that I never once took a taxi in the 2yrs I lived there. Get yourself the kakao map/bus apps and you’re good to.

[@Jinny9285]

I am Korean and just back to Korea 6 months ago after living overseas almost 22 years. I strongly agree every single one picked (Except number 10, I haven't had that experience so far ). I am still struggling with sewage smell badly 🙄 Also, don't expect too much when it comes to international cuisine here in Korea 🥴 I think they are really over priced and don't taste anywhere near the authentic food is supposed to be. Anyway I enjoyed watching the video👍

[@TravelWithNala]

I think it’s getting better but still the flavors are adjusted for the Korean palate

[@annakateSD]

Ugh the Korean phone number thing was so real! We went to a food court and the only option to order all that delicious food was those touch-screen kiosks, but to even get started you needed to enter a 010 phone number- WHY?!

[@TravelWithNala]

Yeah its annoying but it's getting better. A lot of the machines started taking email addresses

[@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.😢

[@Hardyier]

I agree with on everything but the taxi drivers, real estate and the drinking. I’ve been living in Korea for over 4 yrs (also from the US) and have never encountered a rude taxi driver, but that said the Busan drivers are more friendly for sure. I live in a rental and though I agree that the Jeonse system is convoluted, my monthly apartment is fine. Not any different from the US but the high deposit. I have never ever had the mandatory drinking thing. And I have to mention that there are other Koreans who don’t drink. Agree with you on the fusion and lack of diversity food. For pizza, try Tom’s Pizza in Hondae.

[@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.

[@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!

[@davidrosen1915]

Excellent video. We have experienced some of the same things. Still love Seoul. I would add that coffee shops and bakeries not opening till after 9 is also annoying.

[@TravelWithNala]

Oh yeah that was a big thing too when I first arrived. I was trying to be an early riser but over time I just started waiting up later and later haha

[@carriegray4093]

Very helpful. Some good points I never had heard.

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks!

[@oneperson123]

I don't know if this will help, but I thought I should mention it. One time I ate a tremendous amount of garlic and visited a rural area that was full of mosquitos. Everyone around me got bit, but I did not get one bite. I know it's not good to eat too much garlic, but have you tried including some into your diet to help repel the mosquitos?

[@TravelWithNala]

I’ve heard that from a few people but I think when I’m the only one home and there’s no more blood around, the mosquitos might be down to put up with my garliciness 😂

[@glong2720]

Was going to visit Korea but you have changed my mind. These are ridiculious expectations. If I wnt extremely hiigh prices and have to have a cab driver telll me off. If I have to drink alcohol in order toeat in a restaurant it just is not worth spending all the money. I can go to a Korean restaurant in US and so I think I don't need the headaches.

[@moamen27]

Excellent video. Please try to decrease the music volume next time. Cheers.

[@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!

[@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

[@mitsu.hadeishi]

On cabs - where do you guys live? I have virtually never had a rude or bad interaction with a taxi driver in Seoul. Super polite, respectful. Maybe it's Itaewon? I almost never go there. They could be in a bad mood because of all the foreigners without 눈치. Remember to always greet the driver respectfully when you get in the cab. Otherwise I don't know why you've had these experiences. As a Japanese-American married to a Korean I just haven't seen this.

[@thanGacao]

The worst drivers on the Korean roads are cabdrivers tho. I get into "almost" accidents with them on a daily. They might be nice people, but they're terrible drivers.

[@mitsu.hadeishi]

@@thanGacaoI think this may also be a relative thing. On the expat FB groups I see lots of Americans usually complaining about Korean driving and yet in almost two years of driving in Korea I've never had any problems whatsoever (knock on wood). My perception is Korean drivers are often aggressive but are totally predictable. There is a pattern to their driving, they telegraph what they're going to do, it's very much a predictable pattern. For example: Korean drivers won't let you in unless you "nose in" somewhat aggressively but if you do, they let you in. There are lots of standard moves they make and it only took me a few days of driving to pick up on most of them. By contrast, back in the US, drivers might be less aggressive but they're also way more unpredictable. Some drive predictably but then some drive weirdly slowly, or block passing, or cut over suddenly with no warning, or... so many different patterns. I find drivers who drive super sluggishly even more dangerous than aggressive drivers because they might do things like stop suddenly when they don't need to or block the flow of traffic sometimes causing accidents, etc. In Korea by contrast people mostly seem to follow similar patterns, and while taxi drivers are more aggressive I don't have trouble reading what they're going to do.

[@thanGacao]

@@mitsu.hadeishi I guess I agree, they are predictable in doing stupid things like a sudden u-turn, changing lanes without signaling or checking their sidemirrors or crossing two lanes to make a sudden stop at the sidewalk. I commute to and from Seoul daily on my scooter and yes it's always the same mistakes they make and its gotten to the point that I can tell by the car that they're going to do something stupid 😂 Well it is what it is, I'm not here to change the country. All I can do is report everything I see

[@mitsu.hadeishi]

@@thanGacao Like I said, I've been driving in Seoul for two years and I simply don't agree with your characterization of it. I see many foreigners saying things like you're saying, but I don't experience that at all. Yes, Korean drivers do these things: but they don't do it at random, as you seem to perceive it. It's obvious to me at least before they make a move like this because they telegraph it just before they do it - unlike bad drivers in the US, who simply don't know what they're doing. I've literally seen drivers in the US do things like stop suddenly at the top of a freeway onramp because they can't figure out how to merge in moving traffic. Taxi drivers in Seoul, on the other hand, know very well how to drive in complex traffic. They time their moves pretty accurately to avoid hitting people and you simply have to pay attention. To be honest by far the most dangerous things I see in Seoul are scooter riders who love to drive full speed the wrong way down one way streets and blow through uncontrolled intersections like there's no tomorrow, of course drive on sidewalks and ignore traffic lights, etc. I've seen some pretty horrific accidents involving those same scooters, delivery scooters. They ARE a menace but as for taxis and cars, I personally think they're much easier to read and deal with than in the US, except maybe for some places like Washington State where everyone drives incredibly sedately.

[@James-sn5mg]

@@thanGacao I never had issues with cab drivers either and I used to live in Korea before. The drivers in Busan have no patience. They don't like to wait and they drive a bit dirty. That's the only issue I had. Busan drivers are the worst, I heard.

[@shareman99]

The first 2 alone tells me oh heck no on living in Korea.

[@keviinschannel]

great tips! thank you 🙏

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks for watching! My pleasure 🙏🏼

[@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.

[@user-to4iq4bq9g]

​@TravelWithNala do you really believe this absurd case? Lmao i am sick of seeing those false korean haters makeup stories.

[@ConnieBach]

You nailed on every point!!! When i think about Korea, I think about the sewage smell. I hated it. I had to cut my work contract short and went to Germany instead. ;-)

[@TravelWithNala]

Thanks! The comment section is trying to gaslight me about the sewage smell 😭. It smells like garbage in New York. Everyone knows it but no one gets offended by it lol.

[@ConnieBach]

@@TravelWithNala Oh trust me, you can't go for a stroll in Korea because of the sewage smell! People eat in the markets sitting right on the sewage vent holes. No way! I have PTSD about it for real! Trust me, nothing you said is offensive because it's all true! Not to mention people spitting in public, or brushing their teeth in public bathrooms!!! I saw a Korean woman walking in her slippers (dragging her slippers, like all Koreans do) while brushing her teeth in the Incheon airport!!!! Or people sit at restaurants without their shoes in the international airpor! I cannot fathom but very different culture! 😂

[@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

[@AndrewP75]

What about military? If you move to Korea as an American male like me, do I need to the mandatory military service or is there a way to avoid it?

[@sashimidimsums]

That’s for Korean citizens, doesn’t apply to temporary or permanent residents

[@AndrewP75]

@@sashimidimsums Oh, I see. I looked it up and saw that if an american becomes a citizen there, they have to do mandatory military service. Is permanent resident different and doesn’t confirm you as a citizen of South Korea? sorry just wondering how this works!

[@sashimidimsums]

@@AndrewP75 As permanent resident you will have fewer rights and obligations than a citizen. If you don’t plan on staying there the rest of your life then temporary residency should suffice. Of course you’ll need to have school or work sponsor you for a visa , or if you’re rich there are other ways to get residency like investments. or if you already have a job that you like in the USA that pays well look into the digital nomad visa .

[@AndrewP75]

@@sashimidimsums Ahh okay thanks!

[@Hewau-fj5zz]

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

[@boostthebeauty3487]

Are you or Kim on a working visa? How long did it take for you to get one (if you have one?)

[@TravelWithNala]

No were just on tourist visas

[@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 😂

[@thanGacao]

There is a small Viet neighborhood and a very good Viet restaurant at Dongdaemun station (not DDP) exit 3 called Pho Hang. Run by Vietnamese people and catered to Vietnamese people.

[@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

[@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.

[@mxingram2120]

How is the WiFi for expats?

[@TravelWithNala]

Korea might have the best wifi in the world. Theres even wifi on subways, buses, and public parks

[@mxingram2120]

@@TravelWithNala thank you!!!

[@mxingram2120]

@@TravelWithNala sorry one more question, I read somewhere that google and certain search engines are band, is that true?

[@TravelWithNala]

@@mxingram2120 No it's not banned but Google Maps directions don't work in Korea so you have to use Naver Maps instead.

[@mxingram2120]

@@TravelWithNala okay thank you!! 🤍🤍

[@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

[@hypocritehater1673]

It's a dilemma for you as an American,you find things you don't like in Korea but back in America as you feel you are American,you are not fully accepted as American,racially treated ,can't be denied

[@TravelWithNala]

No not really

[@year-ago]

Air pollution coming from "other" countries as well, hahaha.😂

[@TravelWithNala]

Sharing is caring 😷

[@louyht7]

I used to watched S. Korea video from Cory May when he used to live in S. Korea. I wonder what happened to that guy? lol

[@koreanmtnbiker2931]

I do not know where this David & Kim live but he makes it sound like the whole Korea smell like sewer hole. Which is false. Yes. I did experience what he is talking about but very rare.

[@TravelWithNala]

Did I make it sounds like that? I didn’t say that

[@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

[@Pgi458]

I agree 100% on your list

[@TravelWithNala]

Glad you can relate

[@cheryllee6155]

u chose to live in an old cheap house and complain about the sewage and smell etc. well, if u really can afford it, u could have just easily chosen a good place sans those complains

[@TravelWithNala]

You can smell it in the streets

[@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

[@saltandsteelforever9242]

Hell ya!! There is no other perfect places or countries on earth for american just like you. If there is anyone dislikes living in Korea, just get the heck out of there!!

[@TravelWithNala]

No idea what you’re saying

[@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