I can't believe "beg-packing" is a thing. I agree with you that folks shouldn't travel unless they can afford it. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, always.
I’m surprised still have this. I live in another Asia country in a tourist city and I haven’t seen it for years now. Guessing known here will get arrested? Also don’t think locals will give . We get fake monks from neighboring countries come in but I believe most local ppl know their fake now and don’t give money.
I'm an American, and I don't respond to random strangers messaging me on social media. I found Korea to be very affordable when I visited there. I had never heard of beg packers. I can understand why you find them annoying. Thanks for answering those questions! It was interesting to learn about these things!
4:28 In Brazil you never gonna feel that is difficult to maintain friendships, you are gonna make really fast and is gonna be for years . Brazilians are different from the rest of the world in this aspects.
Thank you, Danny, for taking the time to answer our questions. Your responses were honest and informative. They added to my knowledge of Korea. I will never get a chance to visit, but Korea remains one of my favorite countries.
Hey Dan I have to thank you for always being a straight forward guy 😊 plus teaching us about your wonderful culture 😉 always wonderful videos keep it up
I agree with you . We all have different cultures ,we just need to be respectful about other culture .Example like in the Philippines, people dont seat on the floor while eating but sometimes they eat using hand . Actually there are some restaurant in Philippines that you can eat using hands .
The information provided is common sense. My opinion is that if you want to travel to a country with a totally different culture, it is common sense to learn a little about the culture of that country. This, to don't offend someone unintentionally. It's just my opinion. Thanks for the info. They are really useful and ... some that apply to Europeans as well, not only in Korea.
Agree. It's amazing how little common sense people use when they choose to travel to a totally foreign culture. I think it's a good idea to learn about where ever you are visiting before going, even if its US to UK (as there is some slang that could help you navigate conversations that may be difficult without prior knowledge).
I definitely agree with Dan on so many of the topics about culture etc; I feel like some people don't have the capacity to understand others even though it should honestly be a requirement when experiencing different things and new cultures (great video btw ❤)
Thank you so much for this video. I really enjoyed listening to your opinion and getting some insight in your culture. But I especially liked your answer "everyone is beautiful in their own way" 🙏
0:06: Intro 0:40: How do you get along (respect when talking, etc.) with your parents? 2:44: Drinking etiquette when you don`t know if the other is younger or older? 3:20: Why do you think it`s so difficult to make or maintain relationships with Koreans? 6:02: What is the cost of living in Seoul? 6:48: Do most of the Koreans look beautiful? 7:27: What are some of the most annoying things tourist do, when in Korea? 10:10: Is it true that it`s rude to eat with both hands? 10:41: How to understand first names better (singular, hyphenated, determining gender)? 11:44: Why are celebs shy of dating? Why is it a big deal for even fans to not accept a celeb in relationship? 12:11: Favorite dates (typical date in Korea) 😊
He's becoming(may be he's already)my comfort zone like i could watch him all day or i could listen to him all day..idk what's happening?! It's not only about TH-cam videos like Instagram posts,stories, lives, vlogs, bed talks i just love everything.. whatever lots of love Dan 💗🌷
I have found your content to be very relateable and helpful. As an older American I am happy to see how you stand up for your own opinions while respecting your Korean culture. I have been privately coaching non-native English speaking students from the local University in my town (Valdosta State University), and have found that a few of the young people I have met love their families but are in no hurry to return home after graduation because of how restrictive they feel Korean life is compared to life in the U.S. or the U.K.. You seem quite comfortable living in Korea as a young adult after living abroad. What do you think has contributed to your comfort upon returning to Korea?
Danny you're our approachable Korean celebrity, so of course we ask you about celebrities!!! LOL. I appreciate your content, making friends is always a challenge, and of course just a few years ago we didn't have social media to maintain friendships over distances. I think it's nice to have net-friends, but more important to have friends close by to have coffee with. And if you need a friend, invite someone to coffee! Peace.
in terms of begpackers, I'm not sure if you've heard of the TH-cam channel Yes Theory, but they go around the world creating documentaries and having different challenges. one of these is to drop a team member in a foreign country without any money for 24 hours just to rely on the kindness of strangers. one of these videos took place in Korea, and I remember a moment in the video where a woman got so offended by the Yes theory member asking her if she could buy him a street snack-- and hearing your explanation, it totally makes sense why she got so offended In this particular case.
I love sitting on the floor. 😂 It’s comfortable. Thanks for sharing this. I love learning about other cultures, and currently especially the Korean culture (I’m studying Korean). I know I have questions about the culture, but I can’t think of any at the moment.
I think you should always find out about countries you 're visiting. That's why I ended up here sometime last year. I was happy to understand Dan so well and received good information and researched elsewhere. But regardless of whether I 'm a guest or a host, I should show the necessary respect and understanding for every culture. Sometimes something may seem strange like e.g. sitting on the floor. (Personally, I think that's great.) But the Koreans certainly had something in mind. Due to the harsh weather conditions, they even had underfloor heating early on. Thus, the proximity to the ground when eating and sleeping was chosen wisely. The stone floor was warm in winter and cool in summer. That's pretty intelligent. 🥰
I really want study in South Korea but it's little bit difficult to make friends for me even in my country but I'll try my best to make good friends in South Korea. hwiting 😊
I think that a factor people forget about it that cultures have a different definition of what it means to be friends. As in, the way you interact with your friends and define closeness is different by culture and this can make it difficult to determine how friends from another culture perceive your relationship. Going in both directions, they can be unsure of what social cues they are supposed to be looking for/seeing to determine how close the relationship is, if they have made the other person uncomfortable, etc. In most situations, those who don’t have a need (language share, isolation from their own culture, etc) for a friend outside their culture will not pursue such relationships because they take more energy to keep up.
1) From what I've noticed you basically want to use formal language for anyone who you aren't personally close to and usually, only the older person will bring up speaking informally. Also, the etiquette of using 2 hands is a show of respect. 2) Also, I heard that if you aren't sure you should just make an assumption based on their looks, although this is probably harder for Westerners to do.
Hi Dan! I’m happy you touched on the aspect of friendship both in Korea & abroad. When my son was in HS he met a transfer student from Vietnam. She & he became friends, graduated together, & have dated for 2 years. At 1st she was very hesitant because of past experiences but soon realized my son was a really good guy, (he really is), & that is what made her transition so much easier. During their friendship stage she became so much more comfortable, finding an ease in communicating, & was able to meet some really great friends. I realize this is not the situation for everyone but for her is was so very nice.
Thank you Dan for taking me traveling with you! Really enjoyed this video. Fun and informative! Can’t wait for the next video!!❤️I always look forward to your content!
I have a question maybe you could answer me, my father went twice through the war of Korea, and the army informed us that we have a big brother over there , how could I find out about that situation?
I am ivorian. We sit on the floor and eat with our hands. It's cultural, normal for us. We can also use chairs and utensils but it's normal for us to do that so we do it if we want. Some foreigners find it very weird or even dirty haha
Hi Danny! I am a Tamil-speaking Indian and have been lately learning Korean due to watching lot of Korean content. I am beyond surprised how much similarity there is between Tamil and Korean languages in both vocabulary and grammer (like sentence structures, etc). Pronouns and relationships are exactly the same. I found so many words and verb stems that are similar though their conjugations sound foreign to me. Culture is so much similar too. In ancient south-indian culture, receiving food/drinks with both hands from elders, eating only with right hand to eat since left-hand was used for unsanitary reasons, etc. It would be fun to see you do a video on Korean language roots..! Cheers!
This was helpful to me. I may be moving to S. Korea next year and the blogs I read emphasized the difficulty making friends. When I move to a new town in the US (I have done this several times) it takes about 3 years to create good friends. Also, I have had 3 women friends from Korea who were the nicest, warmest and most generous friends I have had. My problem is I don't speak the language yet, but I want to go with an open mind and minimal expectations, good people are everywhere.
Thanks for answering these questions! This was very chill and very real. As someone who has been learning about the Korean Language and the Culture out of pure interest and love for it for almost a year now, it is both helpful and painful to see Korean people have to explain that they are regular people like from anywhere else. I think foreigners need to have a much more positive but realistic perspective about Korea. It's beautiful for many reasons, as is every other culture. It has it's up's and down's, strengths and flaws. I want you to feel validated for how you feel about those rude or inconsiderate people. No matter who you are or where you are from, people should be treated with respect and an open mind for the sake of understanding. I noticed a lot of the negative sides of these questions and kinds of people in the examples come from selfishness and close-mindedness; intentional or not. I was freaked out when people suddenly asked me "lets be friends" online too, as well as upset about backpackers just living off of others needlessly, people being inconsiderate/rude about differences in preferences or culture, and when they struggle to see Korean people as just human beings like them because they prefer a fantasy over reality. I hope we can change things for the better in the future. 👍
7) That thing with left-handed is a generational thing I think because back when I was a kid left-handed children were forced in kindergarten to use their right hands, however, this hasn't been done for the last 20 or 30 yrs. 8) Isn't a lot of that because of the different ways to romanize foreign characters (ie. using foreign characters vs latin characters)? Like, there are even different romanization systems like McCune-Reischauer vs modern romanization... which is why sometimes the "English" spelling can be done multiple ways.
3) I think Danny is pretty on the nail here. Most people are more likely to have close bonds with friends they've known for most of their life vs. people they only met recently... there is a comfort, trust, and familiarity there that takes years to foster. There are also other things that come into consideration for maintaining friendships, such as distance and understanding. A good example for me is that I often go off the grid for a while... like not talking to people for months at a time. This is because physically hanging out with friends exhausts me and I need time to myself to recoup, or I simply get caught up in something and forget to message ppl. My longtime friends from childhood easily accept this and know that it's just my personality and I'll pop back up or they can message me if they wanna chat, however, a new friend could think I am ghosting them. Also, yeah that question usually seems to be asked by someone who superficially contacts Koreans to try and be "friends" out of the blue, but I applaud Danny for giving a real answer.
I believe that people after Covid have changed their way of communication a lot. Most people have found an alternative in social media in their efforts to communicate with other people and some of them managed to create real friendships or even love affaires. However, this does not mean that all relationships through media are real or could last forever. We have to be very careful who we consider friends. It needs time, patience and understanding to develop a relationship into something that it’s worth it.
@@mariavogiatzidaki2998 Agree. Additionally, it comes down to the individual. Some people can maintain relatiponships better through online means than others.
4) Next too.... boy it took me over an hour by train to get to Seoul. Okay, I guess it's like the difference between living in San Francisco and living in the East Bay by BART - except BART costs like $15 for that one-hour ride instead of $2. 5) Can confirm that Koreans definitely dress up and care more about their appearance than the US. We dress to be comfortable and Koreans dress to impress. Also, Korea's overall ideals of skincare routines from a young age and acceptance of men using makeup helps raise the bar to be slightly higher than some countries.
I agree with you. Most people are very reserved in other countries. I have been in the UK like since 2007 and the only friendship I managed to maintain has been since 2015 up to now with someone I used to date and is friends with now. Luckily for me, this person thinks like me. That is rare in life. :) As for going to Korea...I don't expect to make friends. I gather, if I go there it will be no different than being in the UK- being on my own. Luckily for me...I am okay with that :)
just found your channel and i already love it! also, on the topic of being respectful of a different culture, i don’t understand people who travel abroad and make a fuss when things are different than they are used to. If you’re traveling to another country, it goes without saying that the food/lifestyle/interaction with people are gonna be different. i find the food thing especially disrespectful cuz food is such a key part of soo many cultures. for example, here in italy, food is truly part of our country’s identity and its seen as a way to connect and show love and care, I hate that people feel like they can criticize stuff like this just cuz they’re not used to a specific taste.
오징어 게임 was my first Korean series. Then I saw my first real K-drama. A bit like Cinderella. Almost everyone likes love stories. But I was interested in many other things. That respect for the elderly. That impressed me, made me curious and I read up on the history. I kind of never had Korea on my agenda before. This country has an incredible development behind and ahead of it. Hierarchies and linguistic formalities are an interesting and sensitive topic. In Germany there are also different forms of address. In my company we have been using the personal form of address since May. Very unusual and difficult for many. But it's important for us that someone maintains eye contact. And we like to give kisses on the cheeks as a greeting and hugs. I think it's different in Korea too.😊
I have a friend who lives in Korea that I met when she lived here in the us but when she moved away I kept in touch and a few times a year we’ll talk for a little bit just fine. I still like to say we’re friends tbh
I agreed with you about begpackers.why go someplace if you don’t have money. True, i also agree with you about eating cultures. I don’t like people when they say those things about other countries food. I love kimchi and other korean foods. I’ve never been to Korea but I love their food.
It makes sense making friends with foreigners. I am american but my family are micronesian.The language is difficult so i was raised differently and its hard understanding 4 local languages i should know by now but its hard for me personally.
Like many others, I became interested in Korean culture after watching Kdramas. I'm most impressed with the respect that is shown to the elders and I am starting to learn hangul. I get a little confused by the different rules in writing and speaking, but watching your videos about some of the dos and don'ts helps a lot. This might be a silly question but...Many times, meals are eaten sitting on the floor; what if you're an elderly person who has trouble getting up and down; is there any special accommodation made for them? Thanks Dan
Yo, as someone who has been learning Korean and about Korean culture for almost a year now out of pure love for the culture, this is a *really* good question. I haven't seen one like this yet and I really want to know the answer. I would imagine they might have someone there to help them up, but it would be better to have a set up for them to make the situation easier.
I think when you are used to sitting on the floor all your life it might not be as hard as it is for people who aren’t used to it? most restaurants now have table and chairs but a lot of people (especially elders) in the countryside still use these floor tables 🤔 never thought of it but usually people have no problem getting up
.. with the left hand 🙃my grandma used to use wooden spoons to hit our hands if we used left hand, said it will make you dumb 😆😆🤣 (which so not true hehe)
Thank you for sharing such a lovely video. I completely agree with you on many points. I, too, am left-handed, and it's my dominant hand. However, when I was younger, my parents insisted that I eat with my right hand, following the tradition of using hands to eat bread and rotis in India. As a result, I now eat with my right hand for those types of food. But interestingly, when it comes to using chopsticks or cutlery, I naturally switch back to my left hand. It's fascinating how our habits and preferences can be shaped by cultural practices and personal experiences. Thank you again for your video.
You are so genuine and open. Partly because of your videos, esp a staycation with your mom and dog, I am sending my family to visit Seoul. I cannot come but will watch your lovely videos to console myself. Please stay as kind as you are😊
Totally agree with you .. People should not travel unless they can afford it and they should not be begging for money just for traveling! I love the Korean Culture!
During the pandemic, I met some friends in Korea (via zoom through local friends). And I agree, maintaining friendships is hard. It’s the same with my other friends who are out of the state/country. I’ve learned and grown to appreciate more about Korean culture. To me, nothing about it is strange. I’ve never heard about “begpackers “😮that’s crazy and so wrong
Hi Dan. Your video about getting around in Korea was so helpful to me. We have a few people going to Korea in November and I have to admit that I am nervous about it because they are sort of looking to me to know what to do because I am the most travelled. Lol. Other places I’ve traveled to was easier because I had friends there. My biggest question is about currency. When I traveled it also was not so digital. (I am old) it was hard cash that spoke the loudest lol. Now almost everything are on cards. I am still researching but if you have any tips, I would be most grateful. I think you will get a lot of views as well as people are traveling to Korea a lot as well. Lol.
6) I agree that is annoying, especially since many people are working their asses off and can't even afford to travel themselves. This backpacking across the country thing seems to be something that I heard people do a lot in Europe, but why people started expanding to do it in conservative and poor countries is BEYOND me. For the other part... I don't get that. Why go to a totally different culture and then disrespect it. If you don't like it, politely swallow and pass on taking another bite. If you don't want to sit on the floor, don't go to a traditional place where you sit on the floor and eat... no one is forcing you, BUT WHY VISIT IF YOU ARENT WILLING TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
Thank you danny information a bout korea i hsve close my dad some times my mum diffrent countries in different culture food is there respect them don't insult them I mostly eat with my right handI mostly like to go on like date beach where the sun setsWhatever is given with love should be taken be it flowers or chocolates, don't expect costly gifts,In my opinion, the time spent together is the greatest gift in india gangtok river in sikkikam best turoist place most couples gothere that place lake,mountain, snow wt a beautifu 7:40 l place . I don't drink beerOnce I had drink abeer I was sure to fall down 7:40 😅😊 thanku dan giving information a bout korea❤😮😊
Agree. I find very disrespectful that people, who probably are in a better economic situation than many locals, beg for money to travel. People give them money in good faith when they should cover their own expenses.
I think I know what that one question about names was referring to when they mentioned gender. In many languages you can tell by the given name what gender the person is (I.e. Jane is usually a female, John a boy). But I can never figure it out with Korean names!
Same here. Like Jimin seems to be both a male and female given name, it’s confusing. Seems like Ji is for both idk. But also, Korean given names (or the whole name) always sound very beautiful.
I think some names are neutral (used for both male and female) but most names, you can’t tell the gender. I guess it might be harder if you don’t speak the language but would get used to it eventually:)
Planning on visiting Korea next year. And yes, K-Dramas have something to do with it! There, I said it! Overall, though, I love Asian culture. Listening to you, Danny has given me some insight in the way of what to expect when I land at Incheon International Airport. After Korea, I plan on visiting Japan followed by Singapore.
I'd never heard of beg-packers either but it does sound irritating. The only similar situation I've heard of is when some people in the US have done big challenges of traveling across the country with no money, but it's often for charity or as a personal challenge (losing weight), and involves meeting locals along the way and filming it. I agree it seems pretty self-privileged for someone to go traveling penniless when there are actual penniless people everywhere.
Always remember these are just my opinions:) You nailed answering the questions, especially the last, and you're awesome at bringing up the 'begpackers'.
Kore ile aile ve toplum kültürlerimiz çok benzer. Kore de bulunduğum süreçte bu nedenle hiç zorluk çekmedim. Benzer düşüncelere sahip olduğum için bu videodaki cevapları oldukça samimi ve anlamlı buldum. Kore ile ilgili gerçekleşen denizaşırı ülkelere yönelik tanıtımlar k-drama, k-pop vb daha çok popüler kültüre dayalı. Sonuç okarak bu durum koreli kadın/erkeklerin ideal flört adayı gibi algılanmasına neden oluyor. Bir Japonya da bunu görmüyoruz. Bu durumu Kore toplumuna yapılmış bir haksızlık gibi hissediyorum. Koreliler bu popüler kültür tanıtımlarının sonuçları hakkında ne düşünüyor?
Hi Dan, I’m moving to Incheon to start my own company in a few months. I look forward to visiting your restaurant for a nice meal. I hope you have lots to f vegetarian and seafood dishes I can try. Take care!
Interesting!!! I never got my groups of friends together (work, school, university... ) I did it once to celebrate my birthday and that year I went to two weddings 😅. 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. I mean, if you've chosen to travel to a place, it's because you like it and you've researched its culture, right? I don't understand criticising for the sake of criticising. Thanks for this vlog! ❤
Nice sit and talk video. Your videos are always brings a pleasant experience. The no of times you used, when I was young..when I was younger...:) you are still young,Dan!! Thanks for this wonderful video. Looking forward to the next one.
Dan…absolutely love all your content. Because of your videos of Incheon, I’ll be planning on staying there for longer than I expected when I visit next year ❤
I loved the way lattes ears perked up when you started talking about dating like “oh I can’t wait to hear this one” 😂 This is the first time I’m hearing about “Beg-packers” that’s crazy honestly & I really hate it when people are so obvious with their distaste for a certain culture. It’s so rude and unnecessary. I loved this video, it’s been a while since you’ve done and sit down & talk video so it was nice to know a little more about you. I always look forward to your videos. I’m currently learning Korean and still trying to figure out the politeness levels 😃 so this helped a lot. Question: I just remembered would you mind sharing your experience in the military & also bullying in Korea (schools & generally). I heard it can be a bit extreme. I just wanted to know your thoughts.
Dan, as an American, my observation regarding asking a person their age, it is considered RUDE to ask women or at least females over 30 years old. Younger under 29 don’t mind. 30 and above are definitely offended. Men don’t usually care.
Thank you, Danny. Great video with a lot of interesting information. I totally agree with you with the things you disagree 😂 especially with 2nd point People must be more carefull on how they react or talk with others, because they can disrespect someones culture or believes, which is not ok. My father always told me: think twice before you speak. I think it's a great advice that everyone should follow 😊
Thanks for the video Dan! I really enjoy your talks with us. I hope to visit Korea next fall. If I get to go, right now there are not enough people on the tour, (it’s a vegan tour)I would love to visit your restaurant. I think you said once it was in Itaewon? Could you tell us the name of the restaurant. And can I eat vegan there?
oh nice video and truthful .. i agree culture must be respected and accepted by foreing visitors. about people showing disapproval in excess , like you said about kimchi... they are rude people anywhere they go...so i stay away myself from this kind. i love korea and thank you for keeping up with your videos .. ps: which is the best area for tourist in incheon? any raccomendation? thank you
This was another very insightful video, great work, thank you, Danny! 🙏😊 I think the specific Korean etiquette of how you speak or act depending on the other being older or younger is truly interesting. 3:20: I wrote something different first, but now after rewatching I had to correct my comment. 😅 I agree it might be difficult to especially maintain a real friendship online, but I know from experience it`s possible, although I acknowledge not for everyone. 😊I myself am glad today I made the extra effort, I would`ve missed out on some great friends otherwise. 👍😊
The anonymous DMs are irrelevant to the question asked for question no. 2. Of course, who would make friends to who ever DM them on Instagram. OP is referring to in person or offline relationships, hence the word ‘maintain,’
a lot of the messages I get regarding this issue is usually about people they talk to online or that they don’t respond. Hence why I explained it like that :)
I don’t think it’s difficult maintaining a friendship with Koreans. I have many Korean friends and I feel blessed to have a great relationship with all of them. I think maintaining a friendship takes effort no matter where you are.
저는 이집트사람 입니다 and in my country we sit on the floor to eat on those low tables, we also have certain side dishes and pickled vegetables that are similar to kimchi. I would feel it being a bit rude if someone tells me “ew how do you eat that”
Hello Dan, thank you sharing these interesting question-answers with us. I got another one: is that true that economically talking, there are nos middle class in Korea? There are only the rich and the poor and they never mix? Greatings from Belgium 🇧🇪.
I can't believe "beg-packing" is a thing. I agree with you that folks shouldn't travel unless they can afford it. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, always.
I’m surprised still have this. I live in another Asia country in a tourist city and I haven’t seen it for years now. Guessing known here will get arrested? Also don’t think locals will give . We get fake monks from neighboring countries come in but I believe most local ppl know their fake now and don’t give money.
I'm an American, and I don't respond to random strangers messaging me on social media. I found Korea to be very affordable when I visited there. I had never heard of beg packers. I can understand why you find them annoying. Thanks for answering those questions! It was interesting to learn about these things!
The respectful way you express your sincerity in your responses is adorable
4:28 In Brazil you never gonna feel that is difficult to maintain friendships, you are gonna make really fast and is gonna be for years . Brazilians are different from the rest of the world in this aspects.
Thank you, Danny, for taking the time to answer our questions. Your responses were honest and informative. They added to my knowledge of Korea. I will never get a chance to visit, but Korea remains one of my favorite countries.
Hey Dan I have to thank you for always being a straight forward guy 😊 plus teaching us about your wonderful culture 😉 always wonderful videos keep it up
I agree with you . We all have different cultures ,we just need to be respectful about other culture .Example like in the Philippines, people dont seat on the floor while eating but sometimes they eat using hand . Actually there are some restaurant in Philippines that you can eat using hands .
6:52 "everyone is beautiful in their own way"
The information provided is common sense. My opinion is that if you want to travel to a country with a totally different culture, it is common sense to learn a little about the culture of that country. This, to don't offend someone unintentionally. It's just my opinion. Thanks for the info. They are really useful and ... some that apply to Europeans as well, not only in Korea.
Agree. It's amazing how little common sense people use when they choose to travel to a totally foreign culture. I think it's a good idea to learn about where ever you are visiting before going, even if its US to UK (as there is some slang that could help you navigate conversations that may be difficult without prior knowledge).
I definitely agree with Dan on so many of the topics about culture etc; I feel like some people don't have the capacity to understand others even though it should honestly be a requirement when experiencing different things and new cultures (great video btw ❤)
Thank you so much for this video. I really enjoyed listening to your opinion and getting some insight in your culture. But I especially liked your answer "everyone is beautiful in their own way" 🙏
Yes, that was VERY nicely put! 😊
0:06: Intro
0:40: How do you get along (respect when talking, etc.) with your parents?
2:44: Drinking etiquette when you don`t know if the other is younger or older?
3:20: Why do you think it`s so difficult to make or maintain relationships with Koreans?
6:02: What is the cost of living in Seoul?
6:48: Do most of the Koreans look beautiful?
7:27: What are some of the most annoying things tourist do, when in Korea?
10:10: Is it true that it`s rude to eat with both hands?
10:41: How to understand first names better (singular, hyphenated, determining gender)?
11:44: Why are celebs shy of dating? Why is it a big deal for even fans to not accept a celeb in relationship?
12:11: Favorite dates (typical date in Korea)
😊
He's becoming(may be he's already)my comfort zone like i could watch him all day or i could listen to him all day..idk what's happening?! It's not only about TH-cam videos like Instagram posts,stories, lives, vlogs, bed talks i just love everything.. whatever lots of love Dan 💗🌷
thank you 🙏🙏
I have found your content to be very relateable and helpful. As an older American I am happy to see how you stand up for your own opinions while respecting your Korean culture. I have been privately coaching non-native English speaking students from the local University in my town (Valdosta State University), and have found that a few of the young people I have met love their families but are in no hurry to return home after graduation because of how restrictive they feel Korean life is compared to life in the U.S. or the U.K.. You seem quite comfortable living in Korea as a young adult after living abroad. What do you think has contributed to your comfort upon returning to Korea?
Thank You! I really enjoy listening to you!❤
Danny you're our approachable Korean celebrity, so of course we ask you about celebrities!!! LOL. I appreciate your content, making friends is always a challenge, and of course just a few years ago we didn't have social media to maintain friendships over distances. I think it's nice to have net-friends, but more important to have friends close by to have coffee with. And if you need a friend, invite someone to coffee! Peace.
in terms of begpackers, I'm not sure if you've heard of the TH-cam channel Yes Theory, but they go around the world creating documentaries and having different challenges. one of these is to drop a team member in a foreign country without any money for 24 hours just to rely on the kindness of strangers. one of these videos took place in Korea, and I remember a moment in the video where a woman got so offended by the Yes theory member asking her if she could buy him a street snack-- and hearing your explanation, it totally makes sense why she got so offended In this particular case.
I love sitting on the floor. 😂 It’s comfortable. Thanks for sharing this. I love learning about other cultures, and currently especially the Korean culture (I’m studying Korean). I know I have questions about the culture, but I can’t think of any at the moment.
I think you should always find out about countries you 're visiting. That's why I ended up here sometime last year. I was happy to understand Dan so well and received good information and researched elsewhere. But regardless of whether I 'm a guest or a host, I should show the necessary respect and understanding for every culture. Sometimes something may seem strange like e.g. sitting on the floor. (Personally, I think that's great.) But the Koreans certainly had something in mind. Due to the harsh weather conditions, they even had underfloor heating early on. Thus, the proximity to the ground when eating and sleeping was chosen wisely. The stone floor was warm in winter and cool in summer. That's pretty intelligent. 🥰
I really want study in South Korea but it's little bit difficult to make friends for me even in my country but I'll try my best to make good friends in South Korea. hwiting 😊
I think that a factor people forget about it that cultures have a different definition of what it means to be friends. As in, the way you interact with your friends and define closeness is different by culture and this can make it difficult to determine how friends from another culture perceive your relationship. Going in both directions, they can be unsure of what social cues they are supposed to be looking for/seeing to determine how close the relationship is, if they have made the other person uncomfortable, etc.
In most situations, those who don’t have a need (language share, isolation from their own culture, etc) for a friend outside their culture will not pursue such relationships because they take more energy to keep up.
1) From what I've noticed you basically want to use formal language for anyone who you aren't personally close to and usually, only the older person will bring up speaking informally. Also, the etiquette of using 2 hands is a show of respect.
2) Also, I heard that if you aren't sure you should just make an assumption based on their looks, although this is probably harder for Westerners to do.
You are very informative,and very polite. Cute too. Thanks for giving such good information 😊
Hi Dan! I’m happy you touched on the aspect of friendship both in Korea & abroad. When my son was in HS he met a transfer student from Vietnam. She & he became friends, graduated together, & have dated for 2 years. At 1st she was very hesitant because of past experiences but soon realized my son was a really good guy, (he really is), & that is what made her transition so much easier. During their friendship stage she became so much more comfortable, finding an ease in communicating, & was able to meet some really great friends. I realize this is not the situation for everyone but for her is was so very nice.
I felt… happy :)
Thank you Dan for taking me traveling with you! Really enjoyed this video. Fun and informative! Can’t wait for the next video!!❤️I always look forward to your content!
How interesting is listening to other people asking questions about Korea and Koreans. Thank you for explaining 😊🙏🏾🙌🏾🇬🇧
Your amazing thanks for the information 😊 interesting your Korea cultures !!!
I have a question maybe you could answer me, my father went twice through the war of Korea, and the army informed us that we have a big brother over there , how could I find out about that situation?
I am ivorian. We sit on the floor and eat with our hands. It's cultural, normal for us. We can also use chairs and utensils but it's normal for us to do that so we do it if we want. Some foreigners find it very weird or even dirty haha
Hi Danny! I am a Tamil-speaking Indian and have been lately learning Korean due to watching lot of Korean content. I am beyond surprised how much similarity there is between Tamil and Korean languages in both vocabulary and grammer (like sentence structures, etc).
Pronouns and relationships are exactly the same. I found so many words and verb stems that are similar though their conjugations sound foreign to me.
Culture is so much similar too. In ancient south-indian culture, receiving food/drinks with both hands from elders, eating only with right hand to eat since left-hand was used for unsanitary reasons, etc.
It would be fun to see you do a video on Korean language roots..! Cheers!
This was helpful to me. I may be moving to S. Korea next year and the blogs I read emphasized the difficulty making friends. When I move to a new town in the US (I have done this several times) it takes about 3 years to create good friends. Also, I have had 3 women friends from Korea who were the nicest, warmest and most generous friends I have had. My problem is I don't speak the language yet, but I want to go with an open mind and minimal expectations, good people are everywhere.
Thanks for answering these questions! This was very chill and very real.
As someone who has been learning about the Korean Language and the Culture out of pure interest and love for it for almost a year now, it is both helpful and painful to see Korean people have to explain that they are regular people like from anywhere else.
I think foreigners need to have a much more positive but realistic perspective about Korea. It's beautiful for many reasons, as is every other culture. It has it's up's and down's, strengths and flaws.
I want you to feel validated for how you feel about those rude or inconsiderate people.
No matter who you are or where you are from, people should be treated with respect and an open mind for the sake of understanding.
I noticed a lot of the negative sides of these questions and kinds of people in the examples come from selfishness and close-mindedness; intentional or not.
I was freaked out when people suddenly asked me "lets be friends" online too, as well as upset about backpackers just living off of others needlessly, people being inconsiderate/rude about differences in preferences or culture, and when they struggle to see Korean people as just human beings like them because they prefer a fantasy over reality.
I hope we can change things for the better in the future. 👍
7) That thing with left-handed is a generational thing I think because back when I was a kid left-handed children were forced in kindergarten to use their right hands, however, this hasn't been done for the last 20 or 30 yrs.
8) Isn't a lot of that because of the different ways to romanize foreign characters (ie. using foreign characters vs latin characters)? Like, there are even different romanization systems like McCune-Reischauer vs modern romanization... which is why sometimes the "English" spelling can be done multiple ways.
3) I think Danny is pretty on the nail here. Most people are more likely to have close bonds with friends they've known for most of their life vs. people they only met recently... there is a comfort, trust, and familiarity there that takes years to foster. There are also other things that come into consideration for maintaining friendships, such as distance and understanding.
A good example for me is that I often go off the grid for a while... like not talking to people for months at a time. This is because physically hanging out with friends exhausts me and I need time to myself to recoup, or I simply get caught up in something and forget to message ppl. My longtime friends from childhood easily accept this and know that it's just my personality and I'll pop back up or they can message me if they wanna chat, however, a new friend could think I am ghosting them.
Also, yeah that question usually seems to be asked by someone who superficially contacts Koreans to try and be "friends" out of the blue, but I applaud Danny for giving a real answer.
I believe that people after Covid have changed their way of communication a lot. Most people have found an alternative in social media in their efforts to communicate with other people and some of them managed to create real friendships or even love affaires.
However, this does not mean that all relationships through media are real or could last forever. We have to be very careful who we consider friends. It needs time, patience and understanding to develop a relationship into something that it’s worth it.
@@mariavogiatzidaki2998 Agree. Additionally, it comes down to the individual. Some people can maintain relatiponships better through online means than others.
4) Next too.... boy it took me over an hour by train to get to Seoul. Okay, I guess it's like the difference between living in San Francisco and living in the East Bay by BART - except BART costs like $15 for that one-hour ride instead of $2.
5) Can confirm that Koreans definitely dress up and care more about their appearance than the US. We dress to be comfortable and Koreans dress to impress. Also, Korea's overall ideals of skincare routines from a young age and acceptance of men using makeup helps raise the bar to be slightly higher than some countries.
I agree with you. Most people are very reserved in other countries. I have been in the UK like since 2007 and the only friendship I managed to maintain has been since 2015 up to now with someone I used to date and is friends with now. Luckily for me, this person thinks like me. That is rare in life. :) As for going to Korea...I don't expect to make friends. I gather, if I go there it will be no different than being in the UK- being on my own. Luckily for me...I am okay with that :)
Thanks so much for the information.
Btw your voice is very calming🤗
just found your channel and i already love it!
also, on the topic of being respectful of a different culture, i don’t understand people who travel abroad and make a fuss when things are different than they are used to. If you’re traveling to another country, it goes without saying that the food/lifestyle/interaction with people are gonna be different. i find the food thing especially disrespectful cuz food is such a key part of soo many cultures. for example, here in italy, food is truly part of our country’s identity and its seen as a way to connect and show love and care, I hate that people feel like they can criticize stuff like this just cuz they’re not used to a specific taste.
9:45 At least you guys use tables on the floor we just use table clothes. 😂
Thank you so much for your openness. I am an American and realize that we have so many rules, too. To share is to learn. See you in Korea!
Hi! You seem to be a nice guy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for giving us such interesting information from your culture.
오징어 게임 was my first Korean series. Then I saw my first real K-drama. A bit like Cinderella. Almost everyone likes love stories. But I was interested in many other things. That respect for the elderly. That impressed me, made me curious and I read up on the history. I kind of never had Korea on my agenda before. This country has an incredible development behind and ahead of it. Hierarchies and linguistic formalities are an interesting and sensitive topic. In Germany there are also different forms of address. In my company we have been using the personal form of address since May. Very unusual and difficult for many. But it's important for us that someone maintains eye contact. And we like to give kisses on the cheeks as a greeting and hugs. I think it's different in Korea too.😊
12:54 "i don't know you're asking the wrong person!!" LOL that was cute 🤣
Thank you Dan for helping me learn about Korea 🙏🏻💖 love u from Russia
I really love Korean people respect their elder so humanity, knowledge will give you power but character respect,btw your dog is sooo adorable❤❤
I have a friend who lives in Korea that I met when she lived here in the us but when she moved away I kept in touch and a few times a year we’ll talk for a little bit just fine. I still like to say we’re friends tbh
I agreed with you about begpackers.why go someplace if you don’t have money. True, i also agree with you about eating cultures. I don’t like people when they say those things about other countries food. I love kimchi and other korean foods. I’ve never been to Korea but I love their food.
It makes sense making friends with foreigners. I am american but my family are micronesian.The language is difficult so i was raised differently and its hard understanding 4 local languages i should know by now but its hard for me personally.
Like many others, I became interested in Korean culture after watching Kdramas. I'm most impressed with the respect that is shown to the elders and I am starting to learn hangul. I get a little confused by the different rules in writing and speaking, but watching your videos about some of the dos and don'ts helps a lot. This might be a silly question but...Many times, meals are eaten sitting on the floor; what if you're an elderly person who has trouble getting up and down; is there any special accommodation made for them? Thanks Dan
Yo, as someone who has been learning Korean and about Korean culture for almost a year now out of pure love for the culture, this is a *really* good question. I haven't seen one like this yet and I really want to know the answer.
I would imagine they might have someone there to help them up, but it would be better to have a set up for them to make the situation easier.
I think when you are used to sitting on the floor all your life it might not be as hard as it is for people who aren’t used to it?
most restaurants now have table and chairs but a lot of people (especially elders) in the countryside still use these floor tables 🤔 never thought of it but usually people have no problem getting up
Very informative
.. with the left hand 🙃my grandma used to use wooden spoons to hit our hands if we used left hand, said it will make you dumb 😆😆🤣 (which so not true hehe)
Thank you for sharing such a lovely video. I completely agree with you on many points. I, too, am left-handed, and it's my dominant hand. However, when I was younger, my parents insisted that I eat with my right hand, following the tradition of using hands to eat bread and rotis in India. As a result, I now eat with my right hand for those types of food. But interestingly, when it comes to using chopsticks or cutlery, I naturally switch back to my left hand. It's fascinating how our habits and preferences can be shaped by cultural practices and personal experiences. Thank you again for your video.
You are so genuine and open. Partly because of your videos, esp a staycation with your mom and dog, I am sending my family to visit Seoul. I cannot come but will watch your lovely videos to console myself. Please stay as kind as you are😊
Totally agree with you .. People should not travel unless they can afford it and they should not be begging for money just for traveling! I love the Korean Culture!
Speaking frankly about travelers in general. Nice!
Im always respectful to elders/ parents. You have to learn and try to adopt to different cultures.
In switzerland, the topic with being right-handed was a thing too. My father was forced to switch to be right-handed when he was a child.
I really like the Q&A format. Fun and interesting today.
Love your videos.very entertaining and educational ❤
During the pandemic, I met some friends in Korea (via zoom through local friends). And I agree, maintaining friendships is hard. It’s the same with my other friends who are out of the state/country.
I’ve learned and grown to appreciate more about Korean culture. To me, nothing about it is strange.
I’ve never heard about “begpackers “😮that’s crazy and so wrong
Hi Dan. Your video about getting around in Korea was so helpful to me. We have a few people going to Korea in November and I have to admit that I am nervous about it because they are sort of looking to me to know what to do because I am the most travelled. Lol. Other places I’ve traveled to was easier because I had friends there. My biggest question is about currency. When I traveled it also was not so digital. (I am old) it was hard cash that spoke the loudest lol. Now almost everything are on cards. I am still researching but if you have any tips, I would be most grateful. I think you will get a lot of views as well as people are traveling to Korea a lot as well. Lol.
6) I agree that is annoying, especially since many people are working their asses off and can't even afford to travel themselves. This backpacking across the country thing seems to be something that I heard people do a lot in Europe, but why people started expanding to do it in conservative and poor countries is BEYOND me.
For the other part... I don't get that. Why go to a totally different culture and then disrespect it. If you don't like it, politely swallow and pass on taking another bite. If you don't want to sit on the floor, don't go to a traditional place where you sit on the floor and eat... no one is forcing you, BUT WHY VISIT IF YOU ARENT WILLING TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
Thank you danny information a bout korea i hsve close my dad some times my mum diffrent countries in different culture food is there respect them don't insult them I mostly eat with my right handI mostly like to go on like date beach where the sun setsWhatever is given with love should be taken be it flowers or chocolates, don't expect costly gifts,In my opinion, the time spent together is the greatest gift in india gangtok river in sikkikam best turoist place most couples gothere that place lake,mountain, snow wt a beautifu 7:40 l place . I don't drink beerOnce I had drink abeer I was sure to fall down 7:40 😅😊 thanku dan giving information a bout korea❤😮😊
Thanks again. I like to watch your shows. It so nice to see that your culture is so different. Thanks that I me learn from you.
Agree. I find very disrespectful that people, who probably are in a better economic situation than many locals, beg for money to travel. People give them money in good faith when they should cover their own expenses.
I like your channel and content. I will visit Korea next spring and I am very happy. Maybe I'll meet some nice people. I can't wait.
I think I know what that one question about names was referring to when they mentioned gender. In many languages you can tell by the given name what gender the person is (I.e. Jane is usually a female, John a boy). But I can never figure it out with Korean names!
Same here. Like Jimin seems to be both a male and female given name, it’s confusing. Seems like Ji is for both idk. But also, Korean given names (or the whole name) always sound very beautiful.
I think some names are neutral (used for both male and female) but most names, you can’t tell the gender. I guess it might be harder if you don’t speak the language but would get used to it eventually:)
I love the way you approach these questions 🎉🎉
Planning on visiting Korea next year. And yes, K-Dramas have something to do with it! There, I said it! Overall, though, I love Asian culture. Listening to you, Danny has given me some insight in the way of what to expect when I land at Incheon International Airport. After Korea, I plan on visiting Japan followed by Singapore.
I'd never heard of beg-packers either but it does sound irritating. The only similar situation I've heard of is when some people in the US have done big challenges of traveling across the country with no money, but it's often for charity or as a personal challenge (losing weight), and involves meeting locals along the way and filming it. I agree it seems pretty self-privileged for someone to go traveling penniless when there are actual penniless people everywhere.
Thank you Dan,love the way you explain every thing.
Always remember these are just my opinions:) You nailed answering the questions, especially the last, and you're awesome at bringing up the 'begpackers'.
I just saw this video. Thank you for the interest content.
Greeetings from Germany
I’m left handed and my father tried so hard to make me a right handed 😅. I love your answer about if all Korean are beautiful.
Same and im also left handed 😂
Kore ile aile ve toplum kültürlerimiz çok benzer. Kore de bulunduğum süreçte bu nedenle hiç zorluk çekmedim. Benzer düşüncelere sahip olduğum için bu videodaki cevapları oldukça samimi ve anlamlı buldum. Kore ile ilgili gerçekleşen denizaşırı ülkelere yönelik tanıtımlar k-drama, k-pop vb daha çok popüler kültüre dayalı. Sonuç okarak bu durum koreli kadın/erkeklerin ideal flört adayı gibi algılanmasına neden oluyor. Bir Japonya da bunu görmüyoruz. Bu durumu Kore toplumuna yapılmış bir haksızlık gibi hissediyorum. Koreliler bu popüler kültür tanıtımlarının sonuçları hakkında ne düşünüyor?
Hi Dan, I’m moving to Incheon to start my own company in a few months. I look forward to visiting your restaurant for a nice meal. I hope you have lots to f vegetarian and seafood dishes I can try. Take care!
Interesting!!! I never got my groups of friends together (work, school, university... ) I did it once to celebrate my birthday and that year I went to two weddings 😅.
'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'. I mean, if you've chosen to travel to a place, it's because you like it and you've researched its culture, right? I don't understand criticising for the sake of criticising.
Thanks for this vlog! ❤
Nice sit and talk video. Your videos are always brings a pleasant experience. The no of times you used, when I was young..when I was younger...:) you are still young,Dan!! Thanks for this wonderful video. Looking forward to the next one.
They’re backpackers and I totally agree with you on that
I found your channel and I appreciateit helped me understand a lot of the Korean culture ❤
Dan…absolutely love all your content. Because of your videos of Incheon, I’ll be planning on staying there for longer than I expected when I visit next year ❤
I loved the way lattes ears perked up when you started talking about dating like “oh I can’t wait to hear this one” 😂
This is the first time I’m hearing about “Beg-packers” that’s crazy honestly & I really hate it when people are so obvious with their distaste for a certain culture. It’s so rude and unnecessary.
I loved this video, it’s been a while since you’ve done and sit down & talk video so it was nice to know a little more about you. I always look forward to your videos.
I’m currently learning Korean and still trying to figure out the politeness levels 😃 so this helped a lot.
Question: I just remembered would you mind sharing your experience in the military & also bullying in Korea (schools & generally). I heard it can be a bit extreme. I just wanted to know your thoughts.
Wow incredible all the information 😊 thanks 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing it with us! I learned a lot from you today! Awesome work 🙏❤️💪
Lol love the “this is deep” conversation facial expression! 😂
Dan, as an American, my observation regarding asking a person their age, it is considered RUDE to ask women or at least females over 30 years old. Younger under 29 don’t mind. 30 and above are definitely offended. Men don’t usually care.
This was a good Q&A session, thank you
Thank you, Danny. Great video with a lot of interesting information. I totally agree with you with the things you disagree 😂 especially with 2nd point People must be more carefull on how they react or talk with others, because they can disrespect someones culture or believes, which is not ok. My father always told me: think twice before you speak. I think it's a great advice that everyone should follow 😊
Thanks for the video Dan! I really enjoy your talks with us. I hope to visit Korea next fall. If I get to go, right now there are not enough people on the tour, (it’s a vegan tour)I would love to visit your restaurant. I think you said once it was in Itaewon? Could you tell us the name of the restaurant. And can I eat vegan there?
oh nice video and truthful .. i agree culture must be respected and accepted by foreing visitors.
about people showing disapproval in excess , like you said about kimchi... they are rude people anywhere they go...so i stay away myself from this kind.
i love korea and thank you for keeping up with your
videos
.. ps: which is the best area for tourist in incheon? any raccomendation?
thank you
Thank you for very interesting video! It was great!👍💯
This was another very insightful video, great work, thank you, Danny! 🙏😊
I think the specific Korean etiquette of how you speak or act depending on the other being older or younger is truly interesting.
3:20: I wrote something different first, but now after rewatching I had to correct my comment. 😅 I agree it might be difficult to especially maintain a real friendship online, but I know from experience it`s possible, although I acknowledge not for everyone. 😊I myself am glad today I made the extra effort, I would`ve missed out on some great friends otherwise. 👍😊
The anonymous DMs are irrelevant to the question asked for question no. 2. Of course, who would make friends to who ever DM them on Instagram. OP is referring to in person or offline relationships, hence the word ‘maintain,’
a lot of the messages I get regarding this issue is usually about people they talk to online or that they don’t respond. Hence why I explained it like that :)
You'd be surprised how many people actually TRY and do that tho... so it's nice he covered both sides of the question.
I don’t think it’s difficult maintaining a friendship with Koreans. I have many Korean friends and I feel blessed to have a great relationship with all of them. I think maintaining a friendship takes effort no matter where you are.
Thank you ❤watching from California USA 🇺🇸
It really make sense...
This should be understood by people...
We Indians too eat food on sitting on floor...i think it's common around Asians!!.
Thanks a ton for this video, btw early ❤
This was fun👍
Danny thank you for that information,it was very helpful
I just found your channel. I like it, interesting stuff! 💯
저는 이집트사람 입니다 and in my country we sit on the floor to eat on those low tables, we also have certain side dishes and pickled vegetables that are similar to kimchi. I would feel it being a bit rude if someone tells me “ew how do you eat that”
Hello Dan, thank you sharing these interesting question-answers with us. I got another one: is that true that economically talking, there are nos middle class in Korea? There are only the rich and the poor and they never mix? Greatings from Belgium 🇧🇪.
Enjoyed Dan, lots of interesting info. I would like to know if Koreans really do occasionally feed others a bite of food. Thanks