How My Interest in Korea Started

And so… I did. I took a look at the first episode, and I was hooked from the beginning. I watched it religiously and enjoyed every minute of it. It’s a variety show with a fixed cast who usually end up competing against each other in all kinds of games and tasks. A lot of episodes also feature guests. Actors, singers, idols, and comedians come onto the show to promote their work and compete alongside the main cast. Through those guests, I also discovered Korean music and dramas. Thanks to that, my interest started to grow broader.

The show visits many different locations and also interacts with a lot of ordinary people during filming. So when you watch Running Man, you naturally end up seeing a lot of what Korea has to offer. And that can spark wanderlust, as it did for me.

I tried learning Korean a few times after I first became interested, but my progress was so slow that I ended up giving up each time after two or three weeks. Obviously, it makes no sense to expect huge progress that quickly in a language that is completely different from my own, but that’s how I felt at the time.

Then, in 2019, I decided it was time. I had a decent job by then, had earned some money, and could afford the trip. So I booked a ticket and went there. Thanks to years of watching Korean content, hearing Korean on the street felt quite natural. Obviously, I didn’t understand much at all. Aside from 안녕하세요 and 감사합니다, I wasn’t able to say much either. However, I had an absolute blast. Other than a one day excursion to Daejeon (대전), I stayed in Seoul (서울). I took a lot of photos, met friends through language exchange apps, and explored the city.

Seoul has a whole lot to offer. I really like the food, although I have to be careful when it comes to spiciness. I love the café culture, and even when walking around at night, I felt perfectly safe. Different districts have distinct vibes, which makes exploring and photography a whole bunch of fun. The public transportation for reaching those districts is also superb. The mix of traditional and modern architecture is very interesting to see as well.

A lot of the people I met, whether friends or strangers, always did their best to speak to me in English. But I noticed that this created a barrier. It was one I wanted to break through. Not just because I wanted to speak to more people, but also because I wanted to return the effort people had made to speak English with me. That became my motivation to start learning Korean again and not give up this time.

Right now, I can navigate around Korea pretty confidently in Korean. I still have a lot to learn, but I can feel how much I’m improving every time I go there.

My first trip was in 2019. I wanted to go back the next year, but sadly, COVID 19 destroyed those plans. I had to wait until 2023 for my next chance. But from 2023 onward, I went every single year. And I’ll be going next year as well. And the year after that.

I just like Seoul so much. At this point, I’ve made a lot of friends. I’ve become a regular at several cafés, where people recognize me every time I’m back. Thanks to all the time I’ve spent learning the language, it feels comfortable. When I arrive in Seoul, it feels normal. It has become a kind of second home to me.