8 Most Difficult Things for Foreigners in Korea1) Complicated ‘Identity Verification’ System (Requires Phone Verification, i-PIN, Local Number)
- Most Korean online services strictly require mobile phone identity verification.
- Verification often fails due to minor typos or spacing errors in the Alien Registration Number or English name.
- Difficult to use delivery apps, taxi apps, online shopping malls, and public institution services.
→ The biggest barrier in Korean digital services. At Incheon Airport, it is essential to visit the “Foreigner Information Center” inside the airport upon arrival to charge your Wi-Fi and transportation card. Also, the telecom booths (SK, KT, LG U+) at the airport can help you open a Korean phone number and install an eSIM. Once this is done, you will be able to use taxi and delivery apps.2) Language Barrier + Lack of English Support in Professional Institutions - Difficult to communicate in English at government offices, banks, hospitals, and pharmacies.
- Medical explanations are short and fast, making them hard to understand. Using an AI translator together makes it very convenient.
- English signs and road names often differ from actual Korean pronunciations, causing confusion.
→ Situations where communication fails are the biggest source of stress.3) High Entry Barrier for Korean Apps (Requires Reservations, Payments, Local Cards) - Essential apps for delivery, taxi hailing, and train reservations require a domestic credit card and domestic phone number.
- Many cases of payment failure with overseas cards.
→ The most common problem faced by short-term tourists and international students. Opening a line at a telecom booth (SK, KT, LG U+) at the airport is the most advantageous. They don’t teach you how to use the apps, but they create the conditions for you to use them.4) Complex Recycling and Waste Disposal Rules - Must purchase designated garbage bags (Jongnyangje). People absolutely do not litter on the streets, though you might find some trash if you look closely.
- Food waste must be separated.
- Detailed rules like removing labels from plastic bottles.
- Report procedures for large-sized waste.
→ Fines or conflicts with neighbors occur due to not knowing the rules.5) Adapting to Korean Living Culture (Ondol, Taking Off Shoes, Floor-seating Restaurants) - Unfamiliar with the culture of taking off shoes indoors.
- Difficult to sit for a long time at floor-seating tables.
- Unfamiliar with Ondol (underfloor heating), making it hard to adjust the temperature.
→ Inconveniences caused by differences in lifestyle.6) Mixed Pedestrian and Traffic Rules (Right-hand Traffic, Fast Movement, Transfer Structures) - Although right-hand traffic is the rule, it is mixed in reality, causing frequent bumps.
- Bus doors close very quickly.
- Subway transfer routes are complex.
→ Korea’s “fast-paced movement culture” feels unfamiliar. When finding paths, Naver Map app is recommended over Google Maps. It details how many minutes later the nearby bus will arrive.7) ‘Ppalli-Ppalli’ (Hurry-Hurry) Culture and Implicit Rules - Speed of getting on and off public transportation.
- Pressing a bell to order at restaurants.
- Standing in a single line on escalators.
- Quiet subway culture.
→ Rules that are natural to Koreans but baffling to foreigners.8) Difficulty in Food Selection (Lack of Spicy Food Alternatives, Vegan, and Halal) - Korean food is basically very spicy.
- Heavy use of garlic, gochujang (chili paste), and chili powder.
- Vegan and Halal restaurants are scarce except in major tourist areas.
→ Foreigners with dietary restrictions have narrow food choices.
The difficulties foreigners experience in Korea can be summarized as Digital Barriers + Language Barriers + Differences in Living Culture + System Complexity.
However, Korea has a unique advantage that can rarely be found anywhere else in the world: it is safe and free enough for a woman to walk around alone even at 2 AM. Also, there are many YouTube videos where foreigners experimentally leave their laptops at a cafe to see if they get stolen, and it is safe enough that it rarely happens. In the next post, I will share the details of each item.
