American Expat Explorer Discusses Weird Culture Differences between America and Korea!

[@francoismarc3]

When I arrived in Korea, I had culture shock, but there were some weird things I saw that were surprising! If you live or have traveled in Korea, what are some weird or surprising things you have seen?! Also, consider joining my email list to stay up to date on the latest content, giveaways, and products from this channel! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRNhX6slpGwDdP2nCmiYfmh6tjzz9g0xzHQ-HbSAewPcBw_Q/viewform?usp=sf_link

[@davidviau622]

Thank you for the video Francois! I reached out to you on Insta a few weeks ago and I finally made it out to South Korea. I am officially an expat! Saturday night was the first night I had to really go explore. I stopped to get a bite to eat in Yeongdeungpo District. I sat by myself at a table for four people and as it got busy, another person eating alone was sat next to me! This is something that would never happen in the US. The best part was after I offered some of my food to the new guest we became best friends. We laughed and had drinks without even understanding each others words! I was looking forward to that exact experience and I am looking forward to many more.

[@francoismarc3]

Hey, welcome to Korea!! I'm happy you made it!") And look at you; already immersing yourself in Korea culture!! Yooo, I'm so happy for you and really hope you enjoy your trip here!!! Welcome to the expat life!!

[@jinmo2821]

Hi Francois it's me again. The Korean bowing culture for a foreigner like you the rule of thumb goes as follows: to a 7~9 year old Koreans you bow 2~ 30°; to 10~18 years olds you bow 31~70°; to 19~59 years old bow 71° ~89°; to 60 years and older Koreans you bow 90° or more. You may bow deeper at your discretion. 😉

[@francoismarc3]

Wow, so there is a science to biwing here in Korea!! I actually never knew this!! Thank you for this valued comment!!

[@Jeonyggo]

ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 찜질방에서 자면 진짜 가성비!! 🤣👍🏻👏🏻

[@francoismarc3]

찜질방 다시 가고 싶어요!!! 저번에 갔어 너무 재밌어 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[@김보살-v6g]

형~ 부산도 한번 놀러오세요~ '돼지국밥' 사드릴게요~ ㅋㅋ 그리고 구독도 하고 갑니다!!

[@PaulKekaiManansala]

Thanks!

[@francoismarc3]

Wow!!!! Thank you so much for this and for always leaving wonderfully valued comments!:)

[@Nonamedesuda]

강아지 유모차는 나이가 많아서 관절염 등이 있는 노견이 주로 이용합니다. 건강한 강아지들은 유모차를 쓰지 않아요. 걷기 힘든 개도 산책을 시켜주고 싶은 주인의 마음이죠.

[@francoismarc3]

Thanks for letting me know this!!

[@HassVlog-ing]

와우 나의 친구로 화답해줘서 감사해요 토요일 오후나 일요일 시간되면 연대뒷산 안산한번 같이 가요..ㅎ 만나는 장소는 서대문구청이요

[@francoismarc3]

If I have time, I'll join, but not sure:(

[@HassVlog-ing]

@francoismarc3 ㅇㅋ 아무때나 시간되면 댓글 달아요!

[@small1kki]

Its beautiful season now

[@francoismarc3]

Today got cold:( The perfect fall has gone away, sadly:(

[@뽕빵구차]

여기 댓글 보니 많은 분들이 개유모차에 오해하시는 분들이 계셔서 적어봅니다. 당연히 개들은 운동을 하기 위해 걸어야겠지요. 저희 개는 40kg의 리트리버였고 13년을 살다 작년 이맘때쯤 무지개다리를 건너 갔습니다 무지개다리 건너기 1년 전부터 당뇨가 와서 눈이 안보이기 시작했고 어느날 부터는 다리에 힘이 빠지기 시작해서 산책시 걷다가 주저앉아 못일어 나는 경우가 늘어나더군요 그래서 개유모차를 사용하기 시작했습니다 많은 개들이 여러가지 이유로 개유모차를 타겠지만 대부분 노령견들입니다 그리고 옷은 개들 종류 따라 필요에 의해 입지만 저희 개는 덩치가 너무 커서 순한 견종인데도 사람들이 무서워해서 옷이라도 귀엽게 입히면 덜 무서워하고 예쁨받으니 추워지기 시작하면 아주 귀엽게 입혔습니다. 그러면 사람들이 자기 좋아하는줄 알고 산책가기전 꼭 옷입고 나갈려고 했습니다. 모두가 각자의 사연과 이유가 있습니다.^^

[@francoismarc3]

Awwww, thank you for sharing this story!! It was so touching!!! And yes, I think everyone has their own reason for how they treat their pets:) And I'm sorry to hear about your dog's crossing of the rainbow bridge:(

[@FightAgainstDogsPigs]

노령견 뿐 아니라 배설 따위를 원하는 장소에서만 시키고 싶은 목적도 있고, 역시 원하는 장소에 고착 시키는 편리함 때문에도 유모차를 애용합니다. 계속 안고 다니기에 부담이 큰 것도 있고 특히 여름에는 서로가 더움. 이게 유모차를 사용하는 여러가지 이유 중에 대표적인 것이죠. 즉, 본의 아닌 민폐를 줄이는 목적이기도 합니다.

[@merrybay-x1p]

갈비탕 넘 맛있죠. 편식 심한 우리 딸도 갈비탕은 참 잘먹어요. 외국도 개모차 사용할거라고 생각했는데 아닌가보네요. ㅎㅎ

[@francoismarc3]

갈비탕 엄청 맛있어요! I love the taste so much! And I haven't seen animals in carriages in other countries before hahahaa

[@yootoobvyooer]

There are pets in strollers in US. I thought it's US thing since I didn't see such thing in Korea when I was there 16 years ago. YeonMi Park also said of such in US but not in Korea as she came to US many years ago. You and I are opposites (complements?) 😂

[@harrisonyoo7890]

Ferret had a leash? lol Btw, You don't bow back to kids.. (13:25 "I found a wiener...")

[@francoismarc3]

Yeah, there was a ferret!! I was laughing so very hard! Lol. And right, no bowing to children lol...learned that the hard way lol

[@bohyunyoo5855]

Wait wait.. you are also from France?! Now that I see your name sounds like French! But how is it possible that you are from American and France at the same time? =) And you've been living here for 14 years?! Wow.. Don't you get homesick? When I used to live in the states, I got homesick in 5 years and had to come back home in the 6th year. It's hard to imagine myself loving in abroad that long period of time. 14 years of staying here is amazing.. Way to go, Francois!! I was LOL when you laughed talking about dogs in here dress better than you.. hahahaha.. Loved to see you walking around small alley and backstreets of Seoul! You giving out information must be very useful to those who don't know much about Korean culture.. Oh, while going through some of you uploads.. i thought it might be cool to walk around and introduce the areas of subway stations starting from Seoul! Like you did at 쌍문역! Some of them still has old atmosphere and vibes..

[@francoismarc3]

Oh no, I'm from the States, but I lived in France for some time and came here to Korea after living there:) I don't get homesick at all hahah. My grandparents passed, which would have been a major reason for my homesickness... And right! Hahahah I'm not joking about the dogs being dressed better than me hahaha. And yeah, I love Korea so much! It'll be hard if I have to leave one day:(

[@BrianCatalano]

...however, if I see a ferret dressed in Gucci chilling in a baby carriage, I'd probably bow to it.

[@francoismarc3]

Looooooooooooooool how do I respond to this?? Lol

[@over_the_rainbow]

개모차 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ Dog carriage😂

[@francoismarc3]

Those things cracked me up all the time lol

[@hazelnut3794]

gaemocha

[@ГульданаГапарали]

So funny and cute video, cool cool 😍❤️

[@francoismarc3]

I thought the dog part was really funny lol. Thanks for always supporting the video loyally♡♡♡:)

[@가나-b4n5e]

형 갈비탕 먹는 모습보니 오늘 점심에는 갈비탕 먹어야겠다 ㅎㅎ

[@francoismarc3]

Hahaha it was delicious! Did you eat it??

[@Alex-zh2qe]

I agree with you about pet culture as a Korean lol. I personally view pet strollers negatively cus pets should be getting exercise instead since their owner is kinda forcing them into the strollers. Most of the Koreans also look at their pets as families but some things are too much compared to the states or even Canada. There r still many conflicts and problems happening due to pet owners attitudes in public.

[@francoismarc3]

Ahhh, so the pets are like family members, I get this:) I'm not saying it's bad, but it was just very unexpected, lol. And right, pets should get exercise! Hahah

[@Alex-zh2qe]

@@francoismarc3 Ye I get it 100% it's my personal thing against it lmao I found pet culture in Korea a bit overwhelming or toxic sometimes. It is improving over time I noticed tho :)

[@francoismarc3]

@Alex-zh2qe Improvements are always good:)

[@MikeFromKorea]

@@Alex-zh2qe It's 180° from what it was like when I first got here in the early 90s. People generally were very ambivalent about pets then. I rarely saw anyone walking dogs, and most of the dogs I did see outside were tied up on a very short leash in a corner of a property, like behind the exterior gate of a villa, or in the garden of a private house. Usually dirty, often looking miserable. I think what's happened is there's been a massive pendulum swing too far in the other direction. My wife and I have two dogs at present (we had six at one point) and we treat them like family, but we would never push them around in a stroller. They need to walk! Still, I think the pet culture here today is much preferable to the one that was here back then.

[@Alex-zh2qe]

@MikeFromKorea dang 90s sound like a harsh time for pets. Even nowadays there r some minor pet abuse issues still. I guess being a metropolitan city in a small country definitely has some pros&cons for animals and surroundings against the public image + causes social problems. It's more like Asian thing globally unfortunately.

[@im2b1234]

❤❤❤

[@francoismarc3]

♡♡♡♡

[@jchae35jc]

Im a Korean American who's lived in the states since 5 years old. Im now 55 and saw this Korean lady who had a poodle in clothes and its coat painted pink. 😂 Just like you i laughed because I've never seen that in all my life.😂 Also because I lost my culture living here so long. An elderly Korean lady repremanded me for not bowing to her while being introduced. So anytime you me an older Korean person. Make sure you bow to them as its a gesture of respect. Something I forgot. 😢

[@francoismarc3]

Thank you so much for sharing:) And right, those sorts of things could be very funny for us to see hahaha. I think I have lived in Korea so long that I cannot not bow lol. Even when traveling to other countries, I always bow before remembering I don't need to lol

[@jchae35jc]

@@francoismarc3 😂🤣

[@skatingcanuck9837]

@@francoismarc3 Even if you bow in other countries to elders they will not get offended. Imagine saying thank you in any country you visit - you can't go wrong. Plus it is cute.

[@francoismarc3]

@skatingcanuck9837 cute indeed!! Lol Thanks for the support with that hahaha

[@저화이]

Check your mail. I sent mail to you. I recommend you that go to watch one game of K-League matches this weekends.