Living In Korea As a Person Of Color (POC)
There are many amazing, wonderful experiences to have while you are in Korea, regardless of the color of your skin. From friendly interactions with locals to finding moments of serenity as you watch the new blooms of Cherry Blossoms signaling the start of spring. However, before moving to a new country, it’s always a good idea to start with research! The biggest question that a POC may ask before moving to Korea is, “How does Korea treat a person of color?” I’ve been living in Korea for a few years now, and while I’ve had a mix of good and bad experiences, I’d say it’s been positive overall. Otherwise, I wouldn’t still be here!
Homogeny Still Reigns
First, it is essential to remember that Korea remains a very homogeneous country. In numerous aspects, Korea continues to evolve as a developing nation. In this context, if you enjoy clubbing and hear a club playing American Hip Hop/Rap and think, “Oh, let’s go there,” you might assume that because you hear Hip Hop/Rap, the venue will be POC-friendly. However, you could be denied entry at the door for being a foreigner. That’s right, some clubs in Korea may not allow entry to foreigners, which includes POC, and there is nothing to prevent that from happening. Therefore, be prepared to understand that some places, however friendly, may simply not be welcoming to POC or foreigners in general. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of a language barrier and club employees not wanting to muddle through English. Other times, it’s a hold out from US military guys causing trouble when there used to be a base in Itaewon. That being said, the vast majority of clubs now (especially in Hongdae and Itaewon) are filled with foreigners and POC.
Unfamiliarity With POCs
Secondly, Koreans generally lack interactions with foreigners, especially POC foreigners. I’ve encountered many older Korean people who approach me to compliment my beauty and hair. While this is nice, they often reach to touch my hair, which is highly frowned upon and disrespectful to Black women. However, I had to let that go because ultimately, they don’t realize that what they’re doing is disrespectful. They lack the knowledge of cultural interactions with foreigners. When you see people being racist in the USA, you know they are actively going out of their way to do so. However, in Korea, I’ve experienced smaller acts of ignorance rather than outright racist sentiment or gestures.
Educating The Next Generation
However, these experiences serve as opportunities for growth and help others learn how to interact with those they are unfamiliar with. One of the things I take pride in is answering my students’ curious questions about how I style my hair or wash it when I have box braids. I’ll show them short clips of the braiding process and relate it to the regular hair extensions with which Koreans are familiar. Furthermore, I inform them that this is normal behavior for me. If they want to touch my hair, I let them know that they should ask first, as that is the appropriate behavior with anyone, rather than just approaching someone and touching them without permission.
Cherishing Learning Moments
I believe that in the future, having more people of color teaching in Korea and sharing their extensive knowledge will cultivate a more informed and open-minded generation of children for Korea’s future. One of my favorite pictures of myself teaching is when my students were so happy to learn about my hair that I let them play, and they created a bunch of cute buns. They then asked to take a picture.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cities are increasingly welcoming foreigners. POC numbers are also on the rise. Itaewon and Hongdae are increasingly diverse communities. The further you go from major cities, please approach with an open mind but also be mindful of your expectations. Korea can be a peaceful place to live, but there are still ways to enhance one’s quality of life. Setting realistic expectations and blending into the hustle and bustle can make things easier!
Xandria Outing, CDI Teacher
Xandria is a long time history lover turned English teacher. After completing her Master's at the University of Houston, she decided that it was time to see the world. With a love for language, architecture, and understanding cultural diversity, Korea felt like the perfect place to explore. Since her arrival to South Korea in 2022, Xandria has continued to form great bonds with her students, instill confidence in them, and hope they continue to expand their love of language and create their own perspectives from learning.
