One of the most exciting things to do in life would probably be traveling and living in another country. Most people, if not all, have already included that in one of their bucket lists. It would not be a surprise if migrating to Korea is part of that list, considering how famous the country is for its culture and people.
Moving to another country involves creating new experiences and encountering changes that might catch you off-guard even though you took efforts to prepare for it, especially for a culture as unique as Korea. Thus, it is best to know what you should be ready for before you finally step on and live in the Land of the Morning Calm.
1. Prepare a wardrobe for all four seasons.
As one of the countries with four seasons throughout the year, it will be beneficial for you to pack appropriate clothes once these dynamic changes come. In Korea, summers are usually short, hot, and humid. As for winters, they take longer and have accompanying dry weather.
Spring and autumn seasons are considered the best time of the year in Korea. However, their durations only last for a short time, just like summer.
You would not want to feel uncomfortable, especially when you come from a tropical country like Singapore. Hence, be prepared and have a complete wardrobe to enjoy all four seasons in Korea.
2. Get dressed to impress.
In a country like Korea, wherein they are known to have distinct fashion trends and give high regard to those who dress well, you would surely want to impress them by looking wonderful and maintaining a good appearance regardless of what they are up to going out.
Aside from dressing well, your overall look will be something that you should consider. Regardless of gender, it is best to look presentable by putting even a simple makeup or maintaining good skin, especially for Koreans who are well known for these aspects.
3. Smiles are not really their thing.
Koreans, unlike any other nationalities, especially those coming from the West, do not always smile at strangers because of their reserved culture. Instead, what they do as the norm is that they nod and bow as a sign of saying hello, goodbye, or simply showing respect.
Nevertheless, this does not mean you should not smile at them at all. Feel free to do such things even if they do not smile back.
4. Buying new clothes could be difficult.
One of the challenges that you might encounter upon living in Korea is probably shopping for new clothes. This is because Korean apparel usually caters to their locals’ standard body sizes, whether it’s shoes, shirts, or dresses.
Given this heads-up, you would need to research the usual Korean clothing measurements and assess if purchasing new clothes might be a problem. If it does, packing more than enough clothes that will fit you is what you should do.
5. English is not a commonly spoken language.
Learning the Korean language will help you along the way since English is not a commonly used language in the country. Even though they do take English classes as part of their curriculum, Koreans are not exactly proficient in English.
While Koreans are not stubborn, getting them to speak English can be challenging, and you’ll find that learning to speak their language is more convenient.
If you plan to learn Korean, you’ll be glad to know that their language is relatively easy to understand. With enough dedication and help from a Korean language school in Singapore, you’ll be communicating seamlessly with them in no time.
Conclusion
The culture practised in Korea can be a far cry from the one you are used to in Singapore. That’s why familiarising yourself with it should be in your best interest before moving. However, despite the stark difference, you’ll soon find the Korean way of living worthwhile.
One of the many ways that you can do to make the immigration process more seamless is to enrol yourself in Sejong! We offer only the best Korean language courses in Singapore, all taught by the best Korean teachers and provide effective teaching strategies.