05 Nov
I was an English teacher at Chungdahm from 2019 to 2020, located not far outside of Seoul. I’m often asked about what my favorite part about living in Korea was, and to be honest it’s not an easy answer! But one thing that remained true throughout my stay was the sense of independence and freedom that I was offered.
I’m originally from suburban Maryland, USA, where its takes at least 10 minutes to drive to my nearest grocery store and 15 minutes to get to the closest subway station. Forget about walking anywhere. Korea was a whole new beast for me in the best way possible. Here are a few ways that the experience helped me break out of my shell while working as an English teacher.
1. Public Transportation
I can’t sing the praises of Koreas public transport enough. Not only are trains and buses easily accessible (and always on time), but the navigation apps are phenomenal. They provided updated arrival/departure times down to the minute, color-coded every train/bus line, and even set alarms to buzz when you’re a few stops from your destination so you can nap en route without worry. Metro stations are so easy to navigate, and everything is labeled in multiple languages.
One of the first things I did when I arrived in Korea was go to IKEA to get a mattress for my apartment. I’ve never gone to IKEA alone before. The transportation apps showed me which bus to get on, where I was in real time, and even prompted me to ring the bell so that the bus driver knew to let me off. I was so sure that I was going to mess it up somehow, but at the end of the day, I returned to my hotel with a mattress ordered as my very first big-girl purchase. I honestly would have never done anything if I was too scared to go out.
2. Proximity
This is no surprise to anyone who lives in a city, but boy are things so much easier when places are closer together. Everything I needed was within a 20-minute walking distance from my apartment. In fact, most were within two blocks of me. I’m talking, “there’s a dentist on the first floor of my apartment building” kind of convenience. Let me list off some things that were just inside my building: the dentist, several restaurants (including a taco place), a hairdresser, a nail salon, a café, and a convenience store that sold 36-count cartons of eggs.
On the block across my street, there was an optometrist, an ENT, my bank, a pharmacy, dermatologist, more restaurants than I ever got to try, clothing/accessory shops, karaoke rooms, bars, the bus stop, the metro station, and a taxi station. With everything so close, I became a lot braver when it came to exploring and trying new things. There was no huge time commitment or need to plan an itinerary because everything was right there. Obviously, every city is different, but with the previously mentioned navigation systems, finding something nearby is so easy.
3. Stranger Danger
This one isn’t for everyone but hear me out. Koreans don’t do strangers. The odds of someone talking to you are slim to none unless they’re trying to sell you something. Most tend to not even make eye contact. It’s a very “mind your own business (unless you know the person-then everything is your business)” kind of culture not unlike my Chinese one. For me, the beauty of living in a city is that you probably won’t ever see those people again. I have a great deal of social anxiety, so knowing that people will forget me at the end of the day was actually quite comforting.
It’s not as isolating as it sounds. The second that you have made some kind of bond with a person, you’re in. There was a cashier at my grocery store that I always ended up in line for, and by my third visit she was insisting that I use her phone number for the store’s membership discounts. My apartment building had security workers at the entrances that I would greet every day. I kid you not, when I went back to Korea to visit in the summer of 2023, the same men where there and they remembered me. If you get anxious, living in Korea can be quite freeing since no one knows you and won’t care what you do. And it’s extremely safe!
4. Finances
The cost of living in Korea is so cheap. SO CHEAP. I don’t think I was ever left wanting for anything while I was there. The rent for my flat was around 650k won, which is about $470 USD a month. It was a nice place too. The water bill varied depending on my neighbors, but it never cost more than 200k won ($144 USD). My gas bill? You’ll never believe this one-2,000 won. That’s like $1.45. Food was cheap, bus/train fare was cheap, and with the steady income from teaching I was able to save quite a bit of money.
Since I didn’t have to worry about money (I was still careful, of course), I had the financial freedom to do silly things that I always wanted to do. I bleached my entire head and dyed it purple. I flew to Japan for only a holiday and to Jeju for a weekend. I’ve had a million facials and skin treatments. I stayed at a jimjilbang for a whole night and had endless karaoke parties with my friends. I’m not saying to go absolutely wild, but I would definitely have to plan and budget a lot more if I were to live like that stateside.
5. Doctors
Access to medical services is a special kind of freedom. To an American like myself, the Korean National Health Insurance was almost magical. Even uninsured, services are cheap. There’s essentially a doctor on every corner. I came down with the flu one term and visited a clinic. The waiting room was almost empty, and I think it took maybe 5 minutes for the doctor to see me. Using gestures and a translating app, I let the doctor know what was wrong and he responded in English, “I think you have the flu”. One test and a prescription later, I was sent to the pharmacy next door and immediately given pre-portioned packets of pills with a paper explaining what each one did. This all happened in less than 20 minutes, for less than $20.
Places of work are required to get employee physical examinations. My school was no different. A group of us met up at a local hospital, where we were put through tons of tests. Urine, blood, lung capacity, chest x-rays, color-blindness, hearing, eyesight, dental inspection, mammogram, plus a doctor’s consultation. This all happened in the same building and took less than 3 hours. It’s not too different from a regular check-up at home, but we got the appointment so fast and hardly had to wait. Did I mention I didn’t pay a thing? Back in the USA, the next available appointment for my PCP is November of NEXT YEAR.
A Great Transition
As you can see, none of the experiences listed above are extraordinary, never-before seen, life-changing events. However, they were such laid-back experiences and served as a wonderful transition into adulthood for me. It felt almost like adulting on easy mode to help me build up my confidence levels. I returned home with a newfound assurance that I honestly never thought I’d have. I’m much more open to adventure and going to places that I’ve never been to before. I’m a lot less self-conscious of being around other people. Overall, I’ve just become a lot more comfortable doing things independently, and I owe so much of that growth to my time living overseas.
Lauren Winter, Writer
After completing a double Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Psychology, Lauren left the security of suburban Maryland to teach English abroad in South Korea in 2019. While overseas she strengthened her passion for children’s development and education while enjoying the fruits of Korean life. With new friendships, newfound independence, and a new “home away from home” in tow, Lauren found her teaching experience life changing! She now works as a freelance copyeditor and writer and lives happily with her cat son, Cedar.