Do Koreans like Korea? Or do they mostly dislike it?

Many Koreans call Korea “Hell Joseon.” The reason is that living in Korea feels like life’s difficulty level is “hell.” (“Joseon” refers to Korea’s early modern era name, before it became the Republic of Korea)

The biggest problems are the concentration of resources in Seoul, low birth rates, and skyrocketing housing prices — all connected in a vicious cycle.

Here’s how it usually goes:

1. Career opportunities are overwhelmingly concentrated in Seoul, so people end up living there.
2. As more people gather in Seoul, housing prices soar.
3. People feel hopeless facing housing prices that are too high compared to their income.
4. They delay having children or choose to have only one.

Korea’s rapid growth after experiencing the Japanese occupation and the Korean War is thanks to the “Miracle on the Han River.” But now, everyone is basically a “slave to the Han River,” trying to live only around Seoul.

Still, there are parts of Korea that Koreans are proud of and confidently share with foreigners.

Today, I want to briefly touch on those positive aspects.

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1. Transportation

Korea has a well-developed transportation system. In Seoul, almost every place is accessible by bus or subway, and the first and last trains run at very convenient hours. Still, if you miss the subway late at night, you can catch a night bus—but that can be tricky for foreigners. In those cases, it’s best to take a taxi. Taxis in Seoul are plentiful and cheaper than in Japan.

Here are some recommended apps Koreans use most for public transport:

• Map app: Naver Map — It helps you find subway routes and tells you the schedules for buses and subways.
• Taxi app: Kakao T — The undisputed number one taxi app in Korea. Think of it as Korea’s version of Grab.

If you want to leave Seoul, you can take the KTX (high-speed train) or express buses. Buses often have plenty of seats, but for trains, advance booking is essential. Most foreigners tend to stay within Seoul, but Bbapmoss will soon recommend many great places outside Seoul too! ^^

• Train : Korail , https://www.korail.com/intro
• Bus : Kobus , https://www.kobus.co.kr/main.do

2. Safety

Korea is well known for its good public safety. No one is allowed to carry guns, and there is strong social awareness around drugs (thankfully).

If you see people walking around drunk even after midnight, you’ll realize just how safe Korea really is.

Because of this, many stores stay open late, and convenience stores are open 24/7 as a basic rule.

For party lovers, Seoul might just be the perfect city — a city that never sleeps.

3. Entertainment

We mentioned how Seoul is heavily centralized and also very safe. Naturally, the city is packed with entertainment venues. If you visit Korea, I really hope you get to try some of these—they’re quite fun!

• Noraebang (Karaoke rooms):
  Korea’s coin-operated karaoke places have great sound quality and are easy to find in busy areas. They’re called “coin” noraebang because in the past you had to use cash, but now many accept cards or even bank transfers! Usually, one song costs about 500 won (less than 50 cents). This is a video of aespa members having fun at a coin karaoke, so check it out!
  https://youtu.be/zc_T9SKolc0?feature=shared
  
• PC Bang (Internet cafes):
  You can play games on high-end computers and enjoy a feast right at your seat. I don’t game often, but I really love the ramen you can order there, so I enjoy going to PC bangs with my friends.
  Wondering how you order food there? Check out this video from Korea’s top “mukbang” YouTuber, Tzuyang! https://youtu.be/mo6pcqz7gm0?feature=shared
  
• Self Photo Studios:
  Places like “Life 4 cut,” “Harufilm,” and “Photogray” let you take your own photo booth-style pictures. You usually get four shots per session for around 5,000 won (about $4). If you’re in Korea, don’t miss leaving a photo memory!
  

If you scan the QR code on the printed photo,
you can also get a time-lapse video of the photo-taking process!

• Countless Cafés and Bars:
  Seoul is super densely populated, so there are tons of options. Depending on your vibe, pick your neighborhood:

• Manhwa Cafés (Comic book cafés):
  You can read Korean comics there, and like PC bangs, they usually have food and drinks. But since everything’s in Korean, it might be hard if you don’t read the language.

4. Delivery Service

Korea’s delivery service is seriously next-level. It’s insane. In Seoul, delivery restaurants are everywhere, so you can order all kinds of food with just a few clicks and have it at your door within 40 minutes. Even cooler is the “early morning delivery” service from places like Market Kurly and Coupang. What that means is, if you order by around 10 or 11 PM, your groceries arrive at your doorstep early the next morning. It’d be great to have a Korean friend to experience all this amazing delivery culture with while you’re in Korea! Maybe Bbapmoss can be that friend for you?

5. etc.

There are plenty of public restrooms, many skilled hair salons, and excellent beauty infrastructure. Plus, Seoul has tons of delicious BBQ places. All in all, Seoul is a very convenient city.

But one thing to watch out for: try to avoid the subway around 9 AM and 6 PM — rush hour is brutal. That’s part of why some call it “Hell Joseon” — you’ll understand when you experience it!

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The reason we write posts like this and run this blog is simple: if foreigners are interested in Korea, we want to welcome them with open arms.

We don’t want anyone to come here and be disappointed.

Whether you’re planning to visit Korea or just thinking about it, this blog will keep sharing what you can really expect and enjoy.