What travelers to Korea should know before visiting Korea | Street Interview

I went to the streets in Seoul and asked Koreans what they think people should know about before they visit Korea.
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[@rensvh98]

From someone who just did a 5 month exchange semester in Seoul: DOS - Give and take things with 2 hands, it's polite - Ask someone's age; it's important to establish how to communicate with one another - Always be respectful and kind (speaks for itself, duh), especially to people of higher age or status - Actively try to get your waiter's attention, even yelling is fine (as in, be loud, but not rude!) - Take off your shoes in your room, or in any house - Practice Korean table manners and drinking etiquette - Keep your trash with you, even if it takes ages to spot a trash can or a garbage pile - Be aware of foreigner stereotypes and try to combat them DON'TS - Don't tip. I don't think it's rude, just unnecessary and it'll probably startle your waiter - Don't sit on elderly / pregnant seats on public transport, even if you're in a situation where it would seem acceptable - Don't expect people to speak English very proficiently, even young folks struggle with it often - Don't make a ton of eye contact, it's seen as very direct - Don't talk on public transport, it's really looked down upon - Don't try to bargain for lower prices, that's not really a thing as far as I know (EDIT: apparently, it’s totally fine at local markets!) - Try not to blow your nose in public, it's seen as rude and/or gross - Don't give gifts in fours (number 4 allegedly brings bad luck) - Don't give gifts to your teachers (actually illegal!) - Showing a lot of shoulder or cleavage is looked down upon, but showing a lot of leg is fine - Don't use your 'dumb foreigner' card too often GENERAL TIPS - Always have some some cash on you (I recommend at least 15.000 won) - Water, side dishes, and aprons in restaurants are all free and they will be happy to give you some if you ask politely - NoBrand and Lotte Market are cheaper than eMart, but eMart has a larger variety of stuff - Put a large sum on your T-Money card, since you're going to use it a ton anyway (I recommend 50.000 won) - The 4 apps you NEED to survive in Korea are Naver Maps, KakaoTaxi, Papago, and KakaoTalk - If you stay longer than 90 days, try to apply for your ARC even before you arrive since it takes ages to get it - Deodorant can be surprisingly hard to find and expensive, so stock up on that, especially in the warmer months - Learn some Korean! A little bit goes a long way, it's helped me and my friends tremendously countless times

[@diptanudebnath8555]

Thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@LearnKoreanABC]

Wow, you're amazing! 👍 Especially, I think learning Korean language is very important. 😃

[@GoDanceInTheRain]

Great tips 👍

[@GoBillyKorean]

As for bargaining, you definitely can do that :) However, it helps if you're able to do it at the right places. Definitely don't try to bargain at McDonald's, but most outdoor markets allow it and you can get even better deals when you try it.

[@shamsow]

Regarding the deodorant thing, you can find them at Daiso!

[@boris8787]

Having a basic understanding of Korean culture and language is helpful for foreigners who visit Seoul. You will certainly notice the many coffee shops, convenience stores, real estate offices, pharmacies, karaoke rooms as you walk around the streets and alleys of such a wonderful city.

[@KirkKiyosadaTome]

You found 연진! I love her dancing and bright personality! The girl in yellow seemed to have a Brooklyn accent, ala Jessi. She was so fluent in both languages, and I really liked her comment regarding broadening their knowledge base about their destination before traveling abroad. Thanks for another fun vid, Billy!

[@emu2329]

she's so beautiful i couldn't stop looking at her 🤯

[@alskarmode]

Jessi is from Jersey

[@a_secret_tho]

awww thank you guys so much!! I'm the yellow-lemon-kiwi-bird girl and was literally scared if there's any mean comments but this was the first one I found and y'all the SWEETEST!!! Have a lovely day and hit me up if you're ever traveling to Korea! I can take yall to some cool spots. ;D

[@a_secret_tho]

@@emu2329 thank uuuu so much!

[@KirkKiyosadaTome]

@@a_secret_tho I think you gave a great answer to the question, specifically to not reduce an entire culture to a single concept. Your English is so fluent! Did you spend any time in the US? Thanks for taking time out to reply!

[@Slidemoon]

It might be an detail: I took to using both hands when interacting with someone. While shaking hands, handing over money or accepting drinks, that sort of thing, especially with people that were older than me. Another thing: Koreans seem to put thought in their outfits. Even while dressed casually, I had the general impression that they put real effort in matching clothes with shoes, accessories, headwear etc.

[@nancyrussell2820]

If your on a budget find a Daiso. Snacks, oral products, hair care, notebooks, pens, decorations, storage, dishes... They are a go to.

[@_.empress.azure._]

Daiso is life lol, like the Target of dollar stores😎

[@kristinlowther6260]

This is really helpful. As an American we hug people, even people we meet for the first time. I’m so scared of accidentally reaching out to hug someone in Korea as a reflex and then offending them! Watching a video like this is a good way to be reminded of these types of differences.

[@davidusc1196]

Hugging won't really offend them, they would just be surprised, nothing bad I assure you.

[@SELBLINK_in_your_area]

@@davidusc1196 As a German, I think it's not normal to hug someone you don't know yet. Some people do this in Germany, too, yes, but I'm not used to it! And I would wait before hugging someone until I know that person very well.

[@Fartsquad_]

With close friends and family, Koreans have a lot of physical touch. I always see them linked together in some way., it’s just with strangers or acquaintances, they don’t really touch much so ofc there’s no hugging as greeting with acquaintances lmao

[@Fartsquad_]

But I don’t think they’ll be offended if you try to hug them, they will just probably be surprised. I’m half Korean, grew up In the US and I go to a small church that is very diverse and very much like family. I always kiss them on the cheek as greeting

[@sonofsarek]

As an American, I don’t understand the hugging culture. I’ve never liked it and thought it was weird. Who are you and why are you hugging me? And if I do know you, why would I want to hug you unless you are my girlfriend and I haven’t seen you for a month. Just because idiots in Los Angeles hug that doesn’t mean the rest of us should.

[@sue4341]

They should know about removing yours shoes before entering someone's home etc. Never board a bus using the doors that are in the middle.... That's for exiting the bus only. Always board the bus using the door at the front of the bus. Never get out of a taxi on the driver's side. It's not safe especially in bigger cities. Touching, like patting someone on the back isn't a good idea.... Only if you are very close friends then it's ok. Always give a little bow when greeting someone,especially elders... If you use chopsticks never rest them in your food/rice. They should be placed on the side of your dish/plate when your not using them. Look up Korean drinking etiquette. Don't refuse food if someone wants to give you some. Even if you don't like it. You can get rid of it later on... Give it to someone else. Never use your finger to point at someone or something.

[@skccho2943]

all of this is moot if you are a foreigner. Most koreans will understand and wont take offense

[@user-uw5yq1ld8l]

I agree with what the two people above said. Nevertheless, I am sure that the list you wrote down will be of great help to visitors to Korea. Of course, you don't have to be perfect. Even if it just conveys the atmosphere that you care, that's a huge success. If a foreigner learns Korean culture in advance like you, Koreans are very happy with even a very simple action, and there is a high probability that they will do you a great favor. And this will be the case not only in Korea, but in any other country in the world.

[@ns645]

One of the biggest things is, DONT TALK ON THE SUBWAY/BUS unless you're matching the volume of others around you (or less). But usually, it is dead silent on the subway. One time I laughed on the subway in the middle of a Saturday afternoon and I was shushed by an older man.

[@aysegulkale6280]

Hi Billy. Thank you for teaching and delivering so many things to us. Oh you man.. you gotta get more than you deserve✌

[@diptanudebnath8555]

Thanks Billy for sharing the tips with us 😊👍🏻

[@user-ik1qj8ni4o]

Thanks Billy! This is super helpful. Especially how ppl are adding on in the comment section too!

[@hrjay2524]

Love the message at 2:21, my girl with the buzzcut rocks !!

[@Niko-lm1ji]

-Try to learn hangul beforehand. While most things (like street signs) have the romanized spelling too, many menus may only be written in hangul. The good news is that pretty much everything that isn't Korean cuisine has the same name in English, so if you can read hangul, you can read the menu (even if you don't know Korean). For example: 아 (a) 메 (me) 리 (ri) 카 (ka) 노 (no) = americano. -As a follow-up, cafe culture is big. There are over 20,000 cafes and many are independently-owned and designed beautifully. Apps/sites like Daytrip and Budify curate many of these places to visit (outside typical tourist places). -If you do go to a cafe, usually try to find a seat first (most places fill up around/after lunch) and you can leave your bag at the table and walk away. NOBODY will steal it. -Keep an eye out for a tablet/writing pad in front of some restaurants. There is usually a digital queue you should put your name in (using a phone number), so it's better to try that than looking for a non-existent host. -If you know nothing, please at least learn 주세요 (juseyo). Use it whenever you're ordering something at cafe or restaurant. -The weather is extremely unpredictable. Try to keep a small umbrella/hand fan with you for most of the summer. -**Don't take it personally if you're seated on the subway and everyone leaves the seat next to you available until there is no other option.** -Bathrooms (화장실 - hwajangsil) are everywhere, public, and usually clean HOWEVER while some places may have toilets with bidets, others may be floor toilets. Also, toilet paper is commonly the only way to dry your hands (in the absence of a hand dryer), so hold onto some hand sanitizer if you don't want to leave a bathroom with wet hands (although towelettes are given out everywhere) . -Recycle! While this applies more to long-term folks, land is limited in Korea, so take recycling/food waste/trash very seriously. The symbol on whatever packaging you're going to toss will indicate how it should be recycled. Trash bags are gu-specific, so you have to have a trash bag labelled with your neighborhood on it in order to toss it out. -You will often hear the shutter sound on phones going off. Couples/friends will take [what feels like] hundreds of photos of each other in photogenic areas and the phones here are legally required to be manufactured with the shutter sound permanently on (I think to prevent secretly taken photos). -Stand on the right of the escalator if you're not walking up it. -The equivalent of buy-one-get-one-free is 1+1, 2+1, etc. The cashier will often suggest (in Korean) to get another of whatever you grabbed if there is a sale.

[@nancyrussell2820]

Take a bag with you everywhere. You never know when your gonna stop to shop.

[@jimmyha1898]

I think the most important thing when visiting Seoul and ANY foreign city is to learn a bit of the language and culture beforehand. At least make an effort when you visit someplace else. It's simple respect. I have lived in Seoul for my studies and I have seen countless dumbasses demand fluent, native level English in a country that clearly doesn't use it as a main language. Remember that you are the guest and not the owner. You fit to them and respect them. I can guarantee that doing this will help out a lot.

[@L1ghTx]

Even though I know Billy is mostly focused on teaching grammar, it's refreshing to see this type of content as well!

[@puma0085]

Thanks for the video. A nice idea to ask some natives about that topic. I am about to visit Korea next year so t he information in the video was very helpful.

[@tonystarrfitness]

I have one that I haven’t seen written yet that might actually be helpful. I’ve spent plenty of time there and being married to someone with very traditional parents that don’t speak much English.. Effort is very appreciated. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to not make mistakes, because you will eventually. The effort shows that you care enough to try. If you are polite and make mistakes nobody is going to freak out on you. People are not unreasonable. It’s when people(specifically Americans) think people should conform to their culture is when people feel disrespected. Which would be a standard in most countries. Smile when you talk, use simple phrases, lower your head when you greet someone, and don’t make your voice aggressive sounding. I will say, for Korea specifically. You can learn to read the letters in a couple days. The alphabet is small and phonetic. You’ll be surprised how quickly you can read it out loud. Spend a decent amount of your flight over studying the bare bones of the language. And if you’re not familiar with the language, Google translate is pretty spot on most of the time.

[@바보Queen]

entitled americans , wherever they go they expect u to speak english lol

[@siyah5703]

google translate is not accurate I’d recommend papago

[@CyclesandThings]

Great video! I’m actually going in like.. 10 days for the first time. I’m just going to wing it for 2 weeks.

[@alondranino423]

Glad you made this video! Had a ton of helpful tips and im gonna be visiting/travelling to korea this october so it was pretty well timed :)

[@glassartist1726]

Great insights and advice. If we keep learning from you, we should fare well as we traverse the Korean adventure. 감사합니다! 🫶

[@nathanhipple1555]

Hiking opportunities are plentiful. You can do most trails in your walking shoes. The reward of a brisk, uphill hike can be a beautiful view of the city or countryside. All ya need is water, a snack, and a smartphone. Also: be prepared to be amazed by the fitness of the average Korean weekend hiker!

[@aubreyjanuary9809]

The no hand shaking and tipping things are good to know The spicy food warning scares me, one time we got a pack of Buldak brand Korean spicy ramen and oh my gosh, it was inedible it was so spicy. My sister, brother and I were all thinking: “how is this enjoyable to anyone??” even putting half the spicy packet was still too much. It was good after we learned to only put just a tad of the spicy stuff though lol. If I ever go to Korea I will have to remember the spice thing.

[@_.empress.azure._]

I had buldak once and saaaame lololol. You gotta have hecka milk, cheese, & bread to handle it (lactose free also works, but should be whole milk; vegan milks unfortunately dont help in the slightest). Even Shin ramyun is more normal spicy, especially the Black pack (which isnt even spicy to me, just a bit of kick) But you can also ask what's less spicy on the menu cuz even ppl from there arent always spicy lovers

[@idontbelonganywhere1136]

HAHAHAA YES. personally i found it really yummy but it was too spicy and i definitely would not enjoy it as a meal or a snack. however my mom who’s really good at eating spicy food ate two servings at once and told me that it wasn’t that spicy. i guess many people in korea just have a higher spice tolerance

[@mikaelawernimont4912]

Okay yes me and my roommate went through this. One of my best friends is from Korea and was living in the US working for a year. We got super close and she put me on to buldak (and so many other amazing things too lol). Through trial and error and a lot of stomach pain, my roommate and I came to the conclusion that we have to use half the package and then add cheese and egg and then it won’t be overwhelmingly spicy haha. I asked my Korean friend if she eats it like that…. Nope… just pours the whole package in no big deal. The level of spice these girls can handle always was sooooooo impressive to me hahaha. I thought I could do well with spice but nothing like her

[@_.empress.azure._]

@@idontbelonganywhere1136 ooh haha

[@_.empress.azure._]

@@mikaelawernimont4912 daaaang

[@Avionne_Parris]

Thanks to the Koreans in this video for all the great tips! And thanks to Billy, I always enjoy Billy on the Street interview videos, so insightful. The lady who spoke English and Korean, loved her! Her tip about not reducing to Korea to "the Kpop country" (I'm paraphrasing, of course) but I've always disliked when people try to reduce a country's entire culture to a few stereotypes. Korean culture is rich and diverse and I'm glad she brought that up. Everybody had such great tips! Definitely part two, please :-)

[@a_secret_tho]

I assume I AM the lady you're talking about haha(the blond buzzcut) and thanks for paraphrasing it so well! XD Korea is definitely more than kpop or entertainment, show business and k-beauty products, since it actually shares a very interesting history of economic development with unique geographical characteristics, as well. I'm sure every culture is like that. The more you try to understand a culture from a variety of views and the more you try to consider a country as a whole package of different realms of things(ex. how the society has been built and flourished) the more you will learn with a balanced point of view. I believe it's such a crucial attitude that all of us as global citizens should keep in mind. It is surely a pleasurable thing that many people are getting into Korean culture through the lens of kpop and kbeauty, but if you dig more into it, you'll also find some sad, problematic sides as well(ex. ridiculous beauty standards that k-idols show through media and how it affects the whole country, or the misogyny and sexism rooted in the entertainment business... etc). Of course, no country nor culture is perfect. There are always goods and bads. That is exactly why we should keep both our eyes and ears on thinking how to make this society healtheir, as well as which direction shoud us move forward to make a positive impact on our upcoming generation, rather than simply consuming what we're easily given. Thank you Billy for giving all of us a chance to open up a conversation to talk freely about this topic, and I hope to hear more diverse opinions or thoughts from everybody. I appreciate it from my heart. ps : If you wanna talk more about it or simply wanna ask ANY questions about Korean culture, feel free to DM me thru @a_secret_tho and I'd be happy to show up :D Have a lovely day y'all ;)

[@Avionne_Parris]

​@@a_secret_tho Wow, can't believe you responded, 만나서 반갑습니다! And I agree 100% with everything you said. I'm from Trinidad & Tobago (a twin island in the Caribbean) and we've had our share of bad stereotypes as well as bad press over the years (like people being shocked that we have internet and running water). Some stuff is true, some isn't. I hope that we can educate others on our cultures (it's not a monolith) and I'll definitely DM you in the future! Learning Korean right now and I do love many things about the culture (the history and resilience of a country that's small but a tough survivor). Can't wait to see it person one day. Take care ​서윤 :-)

[@a_secret_tho]

@@Avionne_Parris 만나서 반가워요~ Wow Trinidad & Tobago! Believe it or not, I actually have a friend from there! He and I have been friends for almost 3 years now and he's coming to Korea to DJ. You're the second person I know that is from there, and it makes me want to go travel around your beautiful country even more. And those stereotypes are REAL. I dislike people saying about any person, group, or culture as if they know everything about them but the reality is in most cases they haven't even been there. Internet and social media definitely spread both truths and lies about things which is why we need to be aware of media literacy and educate ourselves more. We should be the teachers AND the students of our own at the same time. :) Thanks for mentioning it! It worth being discussed. YES! Feel free to DM me whenever you want, no pressure, and thanks for being interested in Korean culture. You make me feel even more proud of it. I'd gladly tell you more things about Korea next time, and you may do the same! PLZ BE MY 선생님, hehehe. Take care lovely! Have a good one. xxx

[@Avionne_Parris]

@@a_secret_tho That is AMAZING! Come to think of it, Trinidad & Tobago and Korea have a lot of parallels: We have a Red House, you have a Blue House; our flag is red, white, and black, your flag is red, white and blue; Trinidad & Tobago is one nation, two countries, while Korea is two nations that used to be one country; we both have music indigenous to our countries (soca and Kpop respectively), etc. I would definitely not mind being your 선생님! Who knows, when I travel to Korea one day, we can all look back and laugh at how we me through a random KZbin comment :P 웃기죠!

[@lial_77]

Very helpful. Thank you Billy.

[@wrldtrvlr4vr]

Thanks for this Billy!

[@hiya1399]

2:21 this!

[@katesouba7117]

thanks for this! lots of helpful tips for would-be Korea visitors. Also it was the first tine I've heard of the word "skinship" :)

[@notallstarsareinthesky1708]

They are all so awesome!

[@Nuyosz]

instantly recognized and yelled out loud ' Yeonjin !!! ' from the Peach KZbin channel and also Awesome World

[@_.empress.azure._]

If you're going anytime late spring to early fall, PREPARE FOR HUMIDITY. I love it cuz its like a sauna, but lot of y'all are sensitive to heat so also know basic drink brands & learn about the convenience stores & neighborhood ice cream shops

[@beckymasson1262]

Oh man! This is the kind of advice I need as a Canadian

[@northlight6759]

I appreciate the advice! I've already gotten a start on eating spicy food and learning a bit of Korean. I will admit that my first encounter with Korean culture was with BTS, but I want to learn the language properly and learn about the real Korea

[@stacycato543]

Billy, thanks for the video. I will be traveling with my mother in 2023 on a cruise, and we will have a chance to stop in Busan, and Jeju Island for a few days. Is it hard to get a guide while there?

[@helenewild9233]

This was very helpful! Many thanks to everyone who participated and to Billy, of course!! Does anyone have some tips about what to learn about Korean culture? I want to go abroad for a university term in about a year. Currently I'm learning Hangul and will try to learn the language, but I feel a bit overwhelmed with the amount of possibilities when it comes to "culture" (which is just such a broad term). I was thinking about looking into the most important/influential moments of history, manners and holidays. Does anyone have other suggestions?

[@Ech0.x]

Going on exchange next year to Korea, advice is duly noted!

[@_skyykim500]

Ohh really where did you apply and how?

[@SuAmazing]

yaaa

[@rensvh98]

You're gonna have an amazing time, have fun!

[@NaitoNii]

oh Yeonjin!! The girl with the blonde streak in her hair at the start of this video appears a lot on the Peach youtube channel :) It was funny to see her appear on here. I will be travelling to Korea this year for a holiday so this video's good to get an idea, definitely for the transportation cards. Would be fun to see more of these interviews :D

[@GoBillyKorean]

Yes, that's her! Both her and her friend were dancing and we talked a bit before/after filming. They were super nice!

[@woozihae]

Oh rightt!! I was wondering where I've seen her before 😂 Can't believe Billy found her lol makes it seem like such a small world😂

[@series25a]

@@woozihae she’s from awesome world KZbin channel as well.

[@bigmaz88]

Good video 😄. I recognized yeonjin immediately lol

[@BeccaDaily]

I think this should be a basic rule for anyone traveling to another country with totally deferent culture. You much always learn how to show respect to the locals; especially, the elderly. Most countries has formal and informal way of speaking, if you can do that, half of your worries will be gone during your travel. In addition to that, learn their basic language for communicate.

[@singingrazors]

0:41 Yeonjin! Lol, Now I need to go watch more Peach videos

[@sue008A]

Hi Billy. I'm viewing this video again... But already knew about everything that was mentioned in it. Things Id like to know is what is the best way for paying for things... Like train fare... Food etc. Which is the best one . Cashbee or T- money... For the train and some stores. I'll be staying mostly in Busan. I'm thinking of taking the Bullet train from Seoul to Busan ... So which card would be the best all around one? Cashbee or T-money?

[@bruhh_angel]

Korea in real life is different from Korea in kdramas. Just putting that out there

[@jimmyha1898]

That is pretty much the case for any country and their shows. 😆 Dramas are dramas after all.

[@skccho2943]

do not goto korea or any other countries for that matter if you can't separate fiction from reality... seek help

[@jefffromchicago6321]

Came here to see Yeonjin after reading someone's comment on her channel. Are you surprised that you have a celebrity? Anyway, I enjoyed the video and will watch more.

[@gracenico]

I'll be visiting in 6 weeks, cant wait. And yes I will be eating lots. Think the culture of respect...elders, people in certain positions at work or family is very important to understand. Perhaps some western culture are more "relaxed", like us Aussie 😃

[@hweiktomeyto]

Tip: when you gesture "come here," make sure you do it like, "go away" except when the hand is coming towards you, do it stronger so that they can tell the difference. If you do it the western way, it's rude because it's like doing it to a dog.

[@mai567]

I’m a bit confused. Can you explain it again?

[@hweiktomeyto]

@@mai567 You know how when people gesture "come here" they have the front of the hand facing up? Don't do that.

[@mai567]

@@hweiktomeyto Ohh I get it know. I was trying to do it with the hand in the opposite movement - upward, so it didn't make sense to me and I thought "this can't be right". It's more like tapping someone on the head or how people gesture to buses to stop. Thank you!

[@hweiktomeyto]

@@mai567 lol

[@nathaly1958]

Visiting a different country in which I don't know the language is kind of scary, especially if you are alone. It'd be nice to learn some of the language and some of their cultures before going, if I know those then I think I can manage. Whatever else that I don't know I could just ask. Which is why being able to communicate is a big NECESSITY to me.

[@hearty2106]

This is useful 👍

[@mousers21]

Go Billy knows Yeonjin? Time for a peaches cameo guest apperance!

[@andreskrasnikovas2400]

As an exchange student in Korea, I would say the tip no 1 is: PEOPLE DON'T SPEAK IN ENGLISH. Really, be prepared to have some Korean phrases at hand to shop/buy food because mostly people around the streets don't speak in English. I expected a lot more people here to know English, even with already having studied Korean beforehand

[@_filifjonkan4290]

Many nice and trendy places are hidden on for instance the fourth floor in a shopping street, to find these you need to do some research on Instagram and Google before you come to Korea. The most amazing places that we visited were tips from Koreans, they are not in tourist guides. Even though you see billboards all over the place, the nice places seem to prefer to be invisible to people walking by.

[@rockinchik06]

From spring to fall it's ABSOLUTELY necessary to buy and carry a mini fan with u everywhere u go! The humidity in Korea is on another level (100% at all times- and tropical nights all summer long)! Any western foreigners that don't live in tropical weather all year round will be absolutely miserable without one.

[@divineosaghae4767]

OMG, thats Yeonjin from KZbin channel ‘Peach’ :D

[@inkorea1306]

Thank you🌷

[@loveletterwithlove]

I foud myself transcribing all these and replaying the video over an over. It helps me understand more abt colloquial Korean. It really helps that there's both English and Korean st 😊. Thanks Billy!💪❤️‍🔥

[@OH_jiwon]

Interesting name, where did you get it?

[@loveletterwithlove]

@@OH_jiwon is it? a korean friend gave me this name ☺️

[@OH_jiwon]

@@loveletterwithlove It's a name I could potentially see on a Korean person. I know quite a few people with the surname 권 and some people called 사랑. Did you know that 사랑 is the Korean word for 'Love'? That's why all the people called Sarang I know are in Middle or High School.

[@loveletterwithlove]

@@OH_jiwon yeah...my name is LOVE irl 😄 that's y she named me 사랑 and attached her last name to it. But im no middle schooler tho 😅

[@HelenaJole]

How to tell the difference between a shoe space and a non-shoe space. Also, NOT to wear the bathroom flip-flops outside of the bathroom.

[@janeecelamadieu1136]

Hmm,good to know!

[@christileevandenberg4252]

Awesome!

More often than not, the mastercard/visa we have does not work in stores. Many stores only accept lotte card, or somerhing native like that, that you can’t get as a visitor. So prepare a lot of cash as backup.

[@MissGourmandefr]

I’ve never had a problem with my Mastercard or visa, even in most rural areas. Where did u go for yours not to work ?

@@MissGourmandefr all around the country. Jeju, Busan, Seoul. The parking at the grand Palace. Many cafe’s. All Lotte stores. Not a card problem, since the card works some places all CU stores, all hotels…but rather that some of the “contracts” of the stores, does not include the mastercards/visa cards from my country/bank (Denmark/Danske Bank).

[@TheBombayMasterTony]

Good guide.

[@sofiasasso2185]

The girl with short hair in the second clip is yumi from the youtube channel peach right? I love her😍

[@amandaamanda7938]

The transportation card is helpful to know.

[@visibletoallusersonyoutube14]

Omg isn't that girl with blonde bangs Yeonjin from Awesome world? She is really cool and funny

[@LearnKoreanABC]

1:10 외국인들에게 정말 도움이 되겠네요~👍 팁이 없는 것, 과한 노출은 꺼리는 문화 ✅

[@PaulinaKarolina]

I eat a lot. I feel prepared to come to Korea 🫡

[@Coralinemz]

Wow that was a support nice video thanks Billy ☺ I spent 3 months in Seoul recently and i already want to go back!

[@Coralinemz]

@Stay Alone a lot… Around 7000€.. The most expensive was the place to stay and obviously a lots of nice cafes 😅 I am personally an Army so a lot went into BTS merch too 🙄 But I’m sure you can spend less!

[@je.b7VlW.0.s]

@@Coralinemz 7000유로....ㄷㄷ

[@philipenos2930]

4:17 the girl with the short hair, isn't she from the youtube channel AWESOME WORLD?

[@localbirodemi7040]

Something I've learned as a foreigner hoping to visit Korea someday, is that table manners is different there and it's much more important to follow the rules of eating. Like for example: When eating with someone older than you, don't face them when taking a sip of your drink. Always always always face away to show respect, otherwise it'll kinda be seen as looking down on them.

[@Bubbabee0914]

Thanks!

[@GoBillyKorean]

Thanks for supporting my content!! :D

[@tereesatompkins2921]

Jinjin was in here from Peaches

[@blarfroer8066]

Google maps doesn't work in Korea and Naver maps is only partially translated into English.

[@McWickyyyy]

I’m American and when I go with my wife back to Korea the first thing I noticed was there are like no public trashcans anywhere lmao. In america they have public trashcans around every corner so it was a bit annoying to realize I had to carry my trash with me until I arrived at my destination haha

[@adrianpang1289]

The #1 thing should be RESPECT. It is engrained into their culture. Be humble, be respectful.

[@T1M6]

Politeness and be respectful. The age old saying ..." When in Rome" springs to mind.

[@morgannavel4552]

In France there's no tipping because in the price of each dishes you eat there's a part that goes for the waiter waitress, not like in the USA

[@morgannavel4552]

@Stay Alone I don't know, but you know there's still people that tip a waiters and waitress in France, so they make even more money. I don't really know how much it is in term of percentage in the plate, but yes that's how it works in France, so If you don't tip in France that's fine (normally).

[@NamuBang]

BTS has taught us a lot about Korea and even made us learn the language so give them their just dues. They have done a lot for Korea.

[@boredomisnevergood]

who's us? plenty of people were interested before bts existed. and she did give them their due, she just said learn other things about korea

[@hilight3142]

Well don’t know about you but many people know korea but was never interested be honest it’s bcoz of bts that people are now crazy about korea

[@MJ-mh4uf]

This video is very timely as I am travelling to Korea in 10 days! Thank you! Edit: Also try as I might I still can't eat spicy food... :(

[@sol2516]

theres a lot of delicous non spicy foods dw

[@euphoriaagain]

Korean food really is not spicy at all, don't worry.

[@user-kb6hn6wj8w]

젤 중요한 건 사람들 표정만 보고 오해하지 말아달라는 거에요 물론 마스크 쓰고 있지만ㅎㅎ 길을 모르면 물어보고 맛집도 궁금하면 물어보세요~ 한국 사람들 친절하고 속으론 알려주고 싶어합니다ㅋㅋ

[@zahidboota8136]

Hi! I plan to travel to Korea someday soon. I'm learning the language as well. I have a question. Is it okay to have facial hair? They are not so big and are well-trimmed.

[@GoBillyKorean]

Yes, facial hair is fine. There are many Koreans that have facial hair too.

[@AviationAndTravelWithSash]

Very good tips! I will agree with the girl who mentioned BTS. It got annoying really fast when I was last there and I got, "You like BTS? I like BTS too!" I get it, its a good ice breaker but I enjoy more then just BTS lol As far as spicy food goes, that HARD. I don't eat spicy at home lol As far as K-drama, I don't really care for them but it's helpful if your learning Korean. As far as the culture, YES!! Learn about it before going! Learn the basics. Like the one guy said, learning and being able to speak the basic greeetings can go a long way. My biggest thing, don't go with the expectation that everything will be like you see in a K-drama. And lastly, Please respect the culture. DO NOT got Korea and expect people to speak English to you everywhere you go. While a lot of people are able to speak some English, at least make the effort to know basic conversation. If not, use a traslator. I recommend PaPaGo or Naver.

[@abeurakadabeura]

It's simple.. if you are respectful in your own country, you will be respectful in Korea as well. Only trash people are disrespectful abroad. If you are a good person, your tiny mistakes will be forgiven. I want to disagree with the girl saying Koreans don't show skin that much. Korean girls tend to wear really really short shorts, displaying as much of their legs as possible. They will more likely hide their upper body but show more of their lower body. My only advice for people traveling to Korea: just have a positive attitude and smile to people. Koreans are so kind, you can't go wrong with a smile.

[@marinak1076]

It's my understanding that making eye contact and smiling at strangers is not recommended. It's seen as creepy?

[@abeurakadabeura]

@@marinak1076 It depends if your smile is genuine or fake. Our brain is really good at noticing tiny little cues. But I meant, smile to people when engaging in a conversation. If you go to GS25 or 7/11, just say "안녕하세요!" or "수고하세요! " with a big smile and people will be happy. I live in a more rural area in Korea so there aren't many foreigners and it is easier to get close to people, but I made friends with the local 마트 workers, they sometimes bought me snacks, I made also friend with the GS25 staff beside my place. Also became friend with my barbership, etc. If you are friendly and smile to people, people will react really well.

[@mariakrein9059]

Omg it’s the Peach lady

[@Lee-xm1xk]

hi sorry this is irrelevant but i was wondering if your books would ever ship to the uk? thanks

[@GoBillyKorean]

Yes, they ship worldwide :) You can find a link in the video description.

[@Bubbabee0914]

이건 한국어 듣기 연습에 좋아요~

[@RockingMarshall]

Yeonjin from the awesome world :D

[@darcycardinal6275]

So... basic common sense and food haha. I'm going to enjoy my stay in Korea later in September. My condolences to the people effected by the recent flooding there though! Rough times.

[@Jeym_i]

We came back to Seoul last July and we realized that people really stare if you wear sleeveless or if your shoulder is exposed. We got really conscious about it. It was summer and it is very hot. Now we know!

[@skccho2943]

not really. must have been around some old people

[@Miami799]

I've been living in SK for 10 years now and although I'm not in Seoul, I'm in the southern part of the country, I'd like to say that it is false that Koreans don't know English and that it is almost impossible to use. Almost every Korean can speak English to degrees from a few words to actual fluency. It is just that English speakers approaching Koreans to ask or say something go about it all wrong. You can't walk up to them out if the blue and just start talking like you are speaking to your bff back home. They usually have a hard time with slang and they will be caught off guard. Speak slowly and clearly. Repeat yourself if you need to. Use some body language and/or a Korean word or two. They get nervous and shy easily, you can't just approach aggressively like you're confronting someone on WWYD. Koreans study English from kindergarten into adulthood but it isn't their native language so take into consideration what I said.

[@rockinchik06]

Learn how to use chopsticks. Most restaurants in Korean don't have forks unless the restaurant serves western food. Or u need to carry around your own utensils. I learned this when my mom visited me here, ha.

[@Monkeybrain6260]

They do love their bowl haircuts

[@OneMinnieLove]

Yeonjin!!!

[@KelahCash]

Whew! That blonde haired girl!? BEAUTIFUL 😍😍😍

[@veziribilinc]

Can you teach how to make friends in Korea and how to find Korean friends in USA please? Thanks

[@suxzne]

you just talk to people

[@carissa813]

I've been curious to find out something for awhile now and I can't seem to get the answer. I'm 37 I have a friend who is 51 (woman) we are not related. I know in Korean Culture someone as young as I am would never be friends with someone that much older than them. We love the Korean language and are learning... What would I call her in Korean? Isn't Unnie only for someone who is just a little bit older than you?

[@GoBillyKorean]

It depends on how close you are. The best thing I can recommend without knowing your specific situation, is to simply ask her how she wants you to call her :)

[@skccho2943]

if you guys both speak in english and she happens to have some experience overseas you guys can skip all that bullshit.

[@suda-nz]

Unnie is totally fine. The woman wouldn't want to be called 이모(aunt : sometimes, we use 이모 in a friendly way to call a woman not related but much older than you) /아주머니 (assuming your mother's age)

[@AzelfyD2]

Go Billy on the Street!!

[@mehrinoznurmatova383]

👍👍

[@notallstarsareinthesky1708]

Question! Where do I start as far as learning Korean language? I have books and notes printed out but I don't know where to begin.

[@GoBillyKorean]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qamTqqyHptCjp9E

[@christophedussart7652]

Knowing some sentences in korean.

[@series25a]

What is yeonjin from awesome world doing here in this video. Lol.

[@nabi4454]

The blonde woman should appreciate too, for how she speaks English!👏🏻

[@a_secret_tho]

thank you!! I tried my best ;)

[@nabi4454]

Is that you?...Oh Ur welcome

[@mjb47pappy]

I'd like to know if kimchi smells really bad. I bought some US store brand kimchi and it smelled so bad, it like permeated my skin, my clothes, my kitchen, my house. It was so disappointing.

[@GoBillyKorean]

There are many kinds of kimchi, but many of the US brands I've seen are made to be specifically unique from what you'll find in Korea. If you visit any Korean restaurant, you can try more standard types of kimchi. Typically it has a very strong smell, yes. But people store it tightly sealed and it doesn't get other places.

[@mai567]

From what I remember, Koreans sometimes have separate little fridges just for kimchi because if you store it with other foods, it would make everything smell of kimchi and it’s hard to get the smell out.

[@GoBillyKorean]

@@mai567 It only makes everything smell like kimchi if it's not properly sealed. But kimchi refrigerators make that problem easier, since you can worry about it a little less being in a separate location.

[@mai567]

@@GoBillyKorean Right. First of all properly sealed. The additional, separate fridge is the extra step to avoid the spread of the smell. Thank you. :)

[@kabedondon]

Can you enjoy yourself still if you don't like spicy food?

[@GoBillyKorean]

There's a lot of food that isn't spicy, or that's less spicy. But if you're okay with spicy food too then I think you'll have a better time eating with friends. Not all Koreans can handle spicy food either.