Calling a ‘dodgy’ neighborhood in Seoul is a challenge – and valuables can be left on cafe tables during bathroom visits without fear of theft.
MailOnline Travel learns from a British expat in the South Korean capital how his life there differs from his time there London.
And Jerry reveals that a very low point crime fare is one of several obvious advantages for Seoul, where he has lived since 2015, along with an excellent health service (he can see a doctor in a few minutes without an appointment) and cheap high-speed trains.
The UK seems to be trumping South Korea well in the sandwich making department.
When we asked Jerry, who posts on Youtube, TikTok and Instagram as @welkomtojerrywhat South Korea does better than the UK, he replied: ‘South Korea has extremely low rates of theft and violent crime. As a result, it is much safer to walk the streets in any neighborhood in Seoul at any time of the day or night.
‘In a recent videoI mentioned how it’s hard to name a “dodgy neighbourhood” in Seoul, but in my hometown of London, I could name a few dozen. Theft is very shameful and very taboo here. It is extremely unlikely that you will be robbed in South Korea. Locals often leave their valuables on cafe tables while mindlessly going to the bathroom.’
While the crime rate is lower than in the UK, Jerry warned that it was important not to be ‘too naive when you visit’, adding: ‘It’s always good to be careful and not trust people you meet. so just met once or twice. .’
The high-speed rail network, meanwhile, is considered a ‘necessity’ and makes it an easy way to travel long distances.
He explained: ‘I find it very unfortunate that high speed rail is such a controversial issue in the UK. Here in South Korea, and the rest of the East Asia region, it is a necessity.
Jerry moved to Seoul (above) in 2015. He told MailOnline Travel what it’s like to live there
Jerry revealed that a very low crime rate is one of several obvious advantages for Seoul. He also explained that there are ‘endless opportunities to eat out’
‘Since 2004, South Korea has built five high-speed rail lines called the KTX, serving 60 stations across the country. I often take the famous “Train to Busan”, which connects Korea’s two biggest cities, Seoul and Busan, in as little as two hours and 15 minutes for a ticket price of around £33 ($42).’
And why does Jerry also love the South Korean health service?
Noting that the ‘top-notch’ system was set up to keep people in good shape for work, he explained: ‘Korea has an interesting public health system called the NHIS, which is intertwined with the private sector.
‘My British viewers are usually surprised to hear that when we have a common cold in South Korea, we are expected and encouraged to visit the doctor for some sort of medicine, to get back into fighting shape for work.
‘If I have a cold, I can walk into my local doctor’s office without an appointment, be seen in a few minutes and walk out with some sort of prescription to treat the symptoms. The whole thing will cost me less than £5/$6.41 with insurance.’
Another advantage is housing, which is ‘much more affordable than in London’, according to the expat.
He explained: ‘For British people in Korea, you will find that housing here is relatively affordable. There are many types of single dwellings called “villas” or “one rooms” that can be rented on a monthly basis.
‘If you work in Korea, your company will provide this type of housing as part of your pay package. Korea has a unique rental system characterized by a very high deposit and very low rent. Deposits are usually 5-10 million won (£2,769/$3,466-£5,539/$6,932) for a studio apartment with monthly rent of 600,000-1.2 million won (£332/$415-£664/$831) per month.’
The cons
On the other hand, Jerry told MailOnline that many of the ‘big challenges’ for British people living in South Korea ‘stem from the work culture’.
He revealed: ‘While many people who come to work in South Korea end up in good positions, you can also read about many horror stories and mistreatment by companies and managers. The UK tends to have a lot of protection for workers against abuse and discrimination, but if you work abroad you can find yourself in a vulnerable position.’
The UK also beats South Korea on sandwiches, Jerry said, explaining that ‘it’s very difficult to find a good sandwich in South Korea, or at least what a British person would recognize as a sandwich’.
He added: ‘After all, sandwiches come from the UK and we’ve perfected them!’
Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other tempting culinary delights on offer in South Korea.
Jerry, what often shares his food adventures on social media and describes himself as a ‘foodie first’, explains: ‘South Korea has endless opportunities to eat out, whether it’s in Seoul’s many and diverse restaurants or traditional street food markets.’
Jerry regularly takes the train from Seoul to Busan (above) using South Korea’s high-speed rail network
Jerry explained: ‘American influence on South Korea is incredibly strong because of the US’s continued commitment since the Korean War.’ He is pictured here sampling Baskin Robbins ice cream
The expat, who moved to South Korea for a study abroad program, said one of the things he found most surprising about the country was the number of American food franchises, such as Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins.
Jerry explained: ‘American influence on South Korea is incredibly strong because of the US’s continued commitment since the Korean War.’
Although Jerry describes South Korea as “a particularly great place to visit in your 20s” due to its “vibrant youth culture”, he added that there is much more to the social scene than nightclubs with many catering to travelers of all ages. fit.
He revealed: ‘While there are a number of nightclubs that can exclude over-30s, those establishments are usually not of the highest quality and you’re not missing out on much.
‘I recommend that my followers seek higher quality experiences, such as Seoul’s many high-end cocktail bars or friendly local neighborhood bars that serve delicious bar food along with soju (a Korean alcohol) and beer.’
Request to make the move across the ocean?
Jerry said: ‘I recommend that Brits who want to explore South Korea and the wider East Asian region come and live here for a while. There are, of course, certain caveats to that.
‘There are so many videos about South Korea online now. British people should do their own research before making the move by watching both my videos and videos from other creators talking about life in Korea.’
