I just returned from a business trip to South Korea, and my mind is full of Korean style and bits and pieces of life. Many people may know about Korea from K-pop and TV dramas, but what about Korea in real life?
Security in South Korea is very good
I lived in Korea for a month and never encountered any dangerous situations. I walk on the street at night and I don't feel scared.
As far as I know, South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, with a murder rate of only 0.6 per 100,000 in 2019, which is lower than China's 0.7 per 100,000 people.
Houses in South Korea are very expensive, especially in Seoul
I stayed in a hotel in Seoul for a week, and the room cost about 1,000 yuan for one night, and the room was still very small, only about 10 square meters.
I looked it up online and found that home prices in Seoul are among the highest in the world, with an average price of $25,000 per square meter in 2019, nearly 40% higher than Beijing's $18,000. There are many reasons for the high housing prices in South Korea, such as land scarcity, population concentration, low interest rates, speculative demand, etc.
Transportation in South Korea is very well developed and convenient and fast
I mainly travel by subway, bus and taxi in Korea, which is very convenient. South Korea's subways cover major cities across the country, with clear lines, clean vehicles, and punctual operation.
There are also many buses in Korea, which are divided into different types such as normal, rapid, and direct, and can reach all corners.
Taxis in South Korea are also easy to get, but they are quite expensive, generally starting at 3,000 won (about 18 yuan) and 1,100 won (about 6.6 yuan) per kilometer.
The Korean diet is very rich and delicious and healthy
I ate a lot of kinds of food in Korea, such as kimchi, bulgogi, bibimbap, cold noodles, fried chicken, rice cakes, seafood, etc., all of which were delicious and distinctive. I think the Korean diet is very suitable for modern people, satisfying the taste and keeping the body in shape.
The nightlife in Korea is very rich and lively
I often go to bars, clubs, karaoke, etc. in Korea, and I feel very happy and meet a lot of new friends.
Korean karaoke is also fun, with a lot of new and old songs, as well as some Chinese songs and English songs, which can be sung to the fullest.
Shopping in Korea is very convenient and affordable
I bought a lot of things in Korea, such as cosmetics, clothing, accessories, electronics, etc., and I was very satisfied, and the prices were very reasonable. The quality is also very good, and there are often events with discounts and giveaways, which makes me feel like a good deal.
Medical care in South Korea is very well developed, efficient and convenient
I had a cold in Korea, so I went to a nearby clinic to see a doctor, and I felt very convenient and satisfied.
There are many medical institutions in South Korea, ranging from large general hospitals to small specialty clinics and some community health centers, all of which are easy to find.
The doctors and nurses in Korea are very professional and friendly, they can communicate with me in fluent English, and they will also give me a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan.
Medical expenses in South Korea are also inexpensive, some of them can be covered by the national health insurance, and the rest can be paid by credit card or cash.
Education in South Korea is very strict and highly competitive
Some of my colleagues in Korea, they told me that education in South Korea is very stressful and stressful, they have to take a lot of classes every day, they have to do a lot of homework, they have to take a lot of exams, they have to go to a lot of cram schools, and they have almost no free time.
The biggest goal of education in South Korea is to get into a good university because it determines their future and social status.
South Korea's university entrance exam, also known as the college entrance examination, is very difficult, only once a year, the exam time is 8 hours, the test subjects are Chinese, mathematics, English, social studies, science, etc., the difficulty of the exam is very high, the test score is very important, determines whether they can enter the university they want to go to.
Homes in South Korea are very small and crowded
I stayed at a homestay once in Korea and felt very uncomfortable and depressed. There are many types of houses in Korea, including apartments, villas, studios, shared houses, etc., but they are all small, generally only a few tens of square meters, and they are all crowded, with little space and privacy.
Railways in South Korea are very fast, cheap and comfortable
I took the high-speed train once in South Korea and it felt very good and cost-effective. South Korea's high-speed rail, called KTX, is a high-speed train that can reach speeds of up to 300 km/h and can reach major cities in South Korea in a short time, such as 2.5 hours from Seoul to Busan, and 1.5 hours from Seoul to Daegu.
Illegal parking in South Korea is very common and chaotic
I saw a lot of illegally parked vehicles in Korea, some parked on sidewalks, some parked on fire escapes, some parked at bus stops, and some parked at intersections, all of which affected traffic and pedestrians.
There are many reasons for parking violations in South Korea, such as insufficient parking spaces, high parking fees, and lax law enforcement. Parking fines in South Korea are also not high, generally 20,000 won (about 120 yuan), and many drivers will not take the initiative to pay, but will not pay until they are forcibly towed away or go to court.
Public healthcare in South Korea is very well-developed and has extensive coverage
Public health care in South Korea is a medical insurance system that is jointly borne by the state and society, and can provide basic medical services to all Korean residents, including outpatient, hospitalization, surgery, medication, and examination.
The cost of public medical care in South Korea is not high, generally only about 30% of the medical expenses are paid, and the rest is paid by the state and society.
I was struck by the blend of modernity and tradition, of fast-paced life and a long history. People here live stressful lives, but also know how to enjoy life. Every country is unique in its own way, and South Korea is no exception.