Living abroad comes with upsides and downsides. In fact, living anywhere has its pros and cons, whether you’ve been there a short time or your entire life. But being abroad and away from all that you knew and grew up with makes the good and bad that much more pronounced. To that end, I’d like to offer my two five pence on what I’ve enjoyed about Korea in my fours years (and four months) living here and what I’ve not enjoyed so much.

(Disclaimer: while I’m sure many expats in Korea will share some of my sentiments, these are all my opinions and everyone has a different experience while living here. I also try to be as fair as possible and I don’t particularly want to use this space to bash the country that has been my home for a significant amount of time.)

Pros

1. Convenience

Some things here are incredibly convenient. The ability to order groceries and have them delivered to your door the same day or early next morning, along with most other things you could think, of is incredible. We do however often hear about the extremely demanding working conditions for many of the employees, so unfortunately it’s a far from perfect system.

Ordering food and drinks for home delivery (almost every cafe/restaurant/fast food place in cities and suburban areas deliver) is also very easy. Speaking of cafes, there are TONS to choose from, especially if you live in the cities/suburbs, but even out in the sticks you’ll usually find a convenience store or two with some seating and equipment to cook food. The cafe turnover is quite high, though – don’t get too attached to one because it will probably change owners and themes in a year or two! But there are so many to check out and enjoy that you’ll never be without.

The subways that run throughout Seoul and Greater Seoul, Busan and Daegu (with smaller ones in Daejeon and Gwangju) are very easy to navigate and it’s very simple to get a travel card or set up your debit card as a travel card. There are also apps to help you get around the subway stations and find the right exits. Similarly with buses, it’s a quick tap-on-tap-off system and there are apps to figure out times and destinations.

The use of apps is prolific, as it is in many places these days, but it’s very convenient to be able to order things in advance or use them for things like travel, making bookings at various places and even translating! Many popular apps offer English, too.

2. Beautiful landscapes

No matter where you go in Korea, there is something to see, whether that be the mountains, lakes, forests, beaches or historical monuments. In Spring the cherry blossoms bloom for two glorious weeks, and in Autumn the changing colours of the leaves are stunning. Hiking the mountains is a popular pastime, and the parks that you can find even within cities are all set for a delightful day of walking and exploring. The cities also feature some stunning views of buildings and attractions, such as Lotte World Tower and Namsan Tower in Seoul, and there are plenty of historical sites to visit across the country.

3. Helpful & friendly people

Not to start this one too negatively, but discrimination happens everywhere, and Korea is no exception. However, there are far more lovely people than there are racists and bigots, just like most places. If you’re in a built up area, you might find people wanting to speak English with you (a two-way street: they get to practice, you get to feel more comfortable), and if you’re out in the sticks you might find elders that are interested in you and where you come from. Try not to be offended if they ask a lot of questions – many older people haven’t had much contact with non-Koreans; as long as they’re respectful and you are too, you can have some delightful interactions.

(Be wary, though: some might have other intentions, such as befriending you only to try to pull you in to their church or cult – be friendly if you like but be smart, and don’t be afraid to walk away or refuse anything.)

4. Cheaper healthcare/National Health Insurance

This will be more relevant to those from the US because the health service in Korea is fairly similar to that of other countries with a national health service. Even if you’re a visitor, there are hospitals you can visit with (mostly) decent wait times and the price of basic medicine is fantastic. I haven’t yet had any major issues (fingers crossed I never do) when it comes to health, so I’m not entirely clued up on everything, but for basic ailments, the service is very good, and most doctors are trained with a good bit of English.

5. Use of English

As mentioned above, a lot of Koreans may want to speak English with you, as learning English is a big deal in education here. You may even find some mums encouraging their children/teens to approach you so they can practice. It can be endearing, but play it by ear – don’t feel forced into an interaction. There are also many signs and information available in English, as well as important helplines that offer English or a translator service, and menus in restaurants often have a lot of English. Many also have tablets at tables from which you can order, so even if it’s all in Korean, you can use a translator to choose what you want.

As great as that all is, it’s still good practice (and manners) to learn some basic Korean, even just ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ goes a long way, and don’t go around expecting everyone to speak and/or understand English. It comes across as arrogant and ignorant.

Cons

1. Air quality

This one becomes especially obvious around this time of year – heading into winter – as the fine dust arrives on the winds from China, and add on to that the amount of pollution in and around cities and you’ll often find signs recommending wearing a mask, showing just how bad it can get. For example, just two days ago the air quality index according to the weather app on my iPhone was in the the 200s, whereas when I head to London around the same time the AQI is around just 2 or 3. I’ve seen it rise to 400 in Korea, and the lowest I’ve seen is around 20 (a rarity). If you suffer with asthma or are more sensitive to changes in the air, this could be a time to avoid coming to Korea.

2. Sweltering summers & freezing winters

Air cons are a necessity in summer and under-floor heating is a must in winter. The humidity during the July-August rainy season can be a lot to take, and the 30-35 (sometimes higher) degree heat can take its toll, particularly at night time. The bitter winds in January-March can be absolutely biting. There’s a reason Koreans famously wear big padded coats! It’s not so bad if you know what works for you to get through it. The limited spring and autumn weather is quite delightful, but everyone has to suffer a little in between!

3. Food tends to be either sweet or spicy

You pick up a loaf of bread from a bakery. You take it home hoping to have a nice savoury sandwich. You bite into it and realise the bread is sweet! Then you decide to make a nice salad. You bite into the tomato – oh no! It’s so sweet! A good bit of sugar tends to get added to bread, and many are filled with something sweet, often red bean or cream. A lot of tomatoes have added aspartame, so this is a time where at least being able to read Korean will help you avoid that pit fall because it is clearly labeled (hasn’t stopped expats being fooled, though!).

Then there’s the spicy food: kimchi, ramyeon, gochujang, even some crisps are spicy. Considering westerners aren’t big spice connoisseurs, this can be a difficult adjustment, but fear not: many Koreans also aren’t fans of spicy food, so you can often find spiceless or mild flavoured versions of a lot of things.

4. Ordering from abroad

I rarely even bother anymore. The biggest problem is having a Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC) and having your name match exactly on everything, with your surname first. Got a long name? A hyphenated name? Good luck to you. I have had issues with things being held up at customs for the silliest reasons (like my name being, for example, Joe Smith on the package rather than SMITH JOE as I am registered as in the country) and things generally getting lost. It’s not all doom-and-gloom, but you do have to be extra careful about getting your information right.

5. The preoccupation with and standards of beauty

It’s quite well-known that Korea doesn’t fuck around when it comes to skincare and make up, and that extends to physical shape and hair, too. Don’t get me wrong, not everyone walks around like a supermodel, but the amount of advertising of plastic surgery and gym memberships or peoples’ bluntness when it comes to commenting on other peoples’ looks is just not something we’re used to in the west. It is quite a wonderland when it comes to skin products and cosmetics if that’s what you’re in to, but it can be quite overwhelming. You do need to have a bit of thick skin no matter what you look like.

There are many more pros and cons to living in Korea, and though this is just a small selection, these are the top for me. People love to argue about which country is better than others to live in, but nowhere is perfect (granted some are truly difficult to live in). For me, the pros outweigh the cons in Korea, but only for a short stay, such as a handful of years. Those planning on staying longer for whatever reason will need to find their own points of joy, but everyone will have an individual experience depending on their outlook and what they want to get out of their time here.