[HanCinema Korea's Diary] Living in Korea: Pleasures and Appreciations

Published on 2012/01/21

Last week I posted an article about some of my personal peeves about daily life in Korea. The response from it was generally positive and I was glad to see that most took my observations and experience as enlightening and not overly critical. True to my word here is a short list of things that make Korea an absolute pleasure to live in. Some are positive aspects of my previous list while, because, after all, not all experiences can be exclusively categorised as pleasant or unpleasant. After reading if you have any of your own to add please feel free to share your own thoughts of what makes Korea exciting and worth experiencing.

1) This first one won't appeal to everyone as a big plus, but Korea and technology go together like rice and kimchi. Korea prides itself of its ability to stand as one of world's most technologically advance societies. Their Internet is currently the fastest in the world and there are still steps being taken to increase this even further. Staying connected is never a problem, be it on the go, at a café, or at home, there is almost always a fast and reliable connection to keep you plugged in. Owning a smart phone or tablet has never made more sense and it is something, along with online gaming and media streaming, that I will have to ease myself out of when I eventually return home.

2) When I first came to Korea I was hesitant about the easy at which I would be able to get around. The public transportation system here is excellent and I have always found it extremely easy, and affordable, to travel around. The Seoul Metro, while expectedly busy during rush hours, is reliable and makes for pleasant traveling within Korea's capital. Buses have also been a huge money saver but without being able read Korean they are a little trickier to plot your route. However there are plenty of online sites and mobile apps that can assist you. Taxis are also an option and while they are reasonably priced, you will find it hard to justify the cost when you have the subway and bus services at your disposal.

3) I once I attended a football game in 2008 between North Korea and South Korea and anyone who has watched Korea compete in the FIFA World Cup will know that they have an unmatched, and admirable, sense of pride and national identity. The passion they should at that game was papable and heartfelt. Koreans know who they are and where they have come from and this kind of collective sense of self is often visable and almost infectious. Koreans take pride in their companies and the celebrities that represent them on the world stage. Korea, as we know it today, is the result of rapid economic, social, and political development and while there are still barriers to break down and bridges to cross in the future, their current socio-political climate is generally positive and will no doubt continue to serve them in the future.

4) When a nation has a good sense of itself that understanding will no doubt permeate into its culture sphere as products of their collective being and self-expression. Film, in particular, is a perfect example of how Korea is standing up and being noticed in the world as it shares its culture through the magic of cinema. Since I have dived into Korea's unbelievably diverse and riveting cinema scene, I have come to develop a huge appreciation and love for it. In the process I believe I have gained insight into Korea and its fascinating culture. Being a cultural outsider it is sometimes a challenge to gauge a country's inter-thoughts and views. Cinema allows me access to aspects of Korean culture that I would not have otherwise experienced. I am always thrilled to introduce Korean cinema to anyone that I meet, even more so when I hear the excitement and sense of enjoyment they have had from watching one of Korea's many breath-taking and beautiful films.

5) You will often hear the world describe New York as "the city that never sleeps", well such a saying works equally for Korea and its major cities. The first city I came to in Korea was Seoul and I was astonished to find myself in it. There is always something to see or do, to experience or see, even some of Seoul's smaller satellite cities are buzzing with activity and you would have to be a hermit crab not to feel the buzz. Shopping is something that you will have to watch yourself on as the variety and extent of stores and outlets will burn a hole in your wallet. From big brands to cheaper alternatives, Korea has fashion consciousness that is hard to ignore. Lastly, with so many stores, restaurants, clubs and bars open till late or beyond there is a continually freshness to one's experiences as daylight hours no longer impede your ability to explore, enjoy, and indulge.

6) One of my first visits to a local park revealed to me just how active the older generation is. Grandmothers and grandfathers can be seen marching on paths and making use of the provided exercising equipment. Korea may be a busy city but it has many beautiful parks to stop and take a rest from the madness. I love how active people are and how the elderly are always out and about. This is a great and inspiring scene and I would love to grow old in a country that supports and encourages people to be active and get out in the fresh air whenever they can.

Of course there are more things that I enjoy about this amazing country and some of those fall into the above categories. These are just my personal choices. I would love to hear from all those who have lived here or are planning to come visit Korea and to share what your favourites are or what you are most excited to experience!

-C.J. Wheeler (Chriscjw@gmail.com)