NEVER do this when traveling to Korea 😡 💢 💬

travel tips + honest advice 💬

2023. 8. 14.

Hello Everyone~! ❤️

Did you miss me?! Hope you did and that you're super excited for this week's newsletter~ I've been reading over your guys' feedback and I gotta say, I love it when you guys send me things even if they're just short questions or short remarks about the newslette ❤️ It makes my job a lot more fun because it feels like I am talking to actual humans 👫 Some of you guys have told me that my emails are like hearing from a friend and I wanted to

let you know that your reponses are the same for me! So if you are free, leave me a little comment or question 😃 It will make my day haha. From some of your reponses, it seems like so many of you are travelling to Korea soon so I wanted to make a list of travel DONT's for Korea. 🇰🇷 Hope it is helpful and that you guys are able to keep yourselves from some awkward tourist situations! Have a good week~

❤️ From. Sherly

01. Handing things to people 🖐️

One hand ❌ Two hands ☑️

This might not just be unique to Korea BUT, usually Korean people will hand things with two hands. 👐 Whether it is money or a glass or even a receipt, it is considered polite and respectful to do so! While people wouldn't call you out for it, it would be a little off putting for someone to just hand something with one hand 😶 ALSO don't even get me started on people who just put the money down on the counter.... PLEASE hand it to them with two hands 😭

While this can be pretty small and simple, it can really change the way someone may view you! BUT remember, if you are a foreigner or tourists people are much more understanding-so if you accidentally do it, don't worry!!!!!

TLDR: Use two hands when you do anything ❤️

02. Giving approaching strangers your # 😮

Short answer: cult...

This one might be a little surprising for some of you...BUT... if a stranger comes up to you on the streets in Korea and starts asking you questions or compliments you... RUN. Like literally run it is a CULT. These people will usually prey on foreigners who are alone. 🤐 A lot of these people will ask for your kakaotalk ID or your number OR even ask you to get coffee at a nearby cafe. ☕ Even if they are seemingly harmless, be careful. I've personally been approached by university students and even like older ladies who say they want to do "language exchange" and it is so SUS because they will literally add you to a cult group chat right after...

TLDR: Don't talk to strangers, follow them into cafes, OR give them your # 😡

03. Public Transport Etiquette 🚌

Talking, bringing food, etc.

This one might be a little shocking to some of you out there but...when you enter a train in Korea, everyone is SILENT and on their phones. It's not like there is a written rule to be quiet on trains but people will definitely give you some dirty looks if you're being loud. 😡 And NO I'm not talking about people who are just talking about when to get off etc. It's usually the people who have full on conversations 😎

The second thing is that.... you can't bring food or drinks into buses. The rule is that if your food is packaged up, it is fine or if your coffee is in a closed tumbler, it is fine. BUT if you just got some street food, the driver will definitely cuss you out haha. The one that is most shocking is that you can't bring take-out drinks either! ☕ They will not let you on the bus and it is embarassing to get off so just don't do it LOL ❌ This is a relatively new rule btw!

TLDR: No food on bus 🚌 no talking on train 🚆

Word of the Week ❤️

One of you gave me this good idea to have a word of the week challenge! I love this idea SO the plan is: I'm going to give you a word every week and you guys have to try to make a sentence with that word!!! 🔥 If you don't want yours to be shared let me know:)

Word of the week: 버스

Leave your sentences below!!!! (The feedback form)

What do you want to hear about? 😃

AMA!

Before ending this newsletter, I'd like to hear from you guys what you'd like to read about in these weekly newsletters! Since everyone has different requests for the newsletter, I've decided to create this form to keep track of them all 😊 Please fill this out if you'd like to hear about something specific ❤️

Send me questions that you want me to answer in the next newsletter !!!

Click here for the feedback form :)