Making Friends While Teaching in South Korea

Living abroad can seem a bit daunting and even scary. It's a new environment, a new language, and a whole new culture. One of the most significant challenges new teachers face while living in South Korea isn't necessarily in the classroom, but rather in finding genuine friendships. Whether you’re navigating the fast-paced life of Seoul or the quieter streets of a smaller city, building meaningful connections with locals and fellow expats can sometimes feel like a daunting task.

As a foreign teacher, your school is one of the best places to start making friends. Like you, the other foreign teachers at your school are also most likely trying to make friends and they will probably be your first friends in South Korea. 

However, it doesn’t stop there. Your Korean co-workers might also be interested in getting to know you on a deeper level and developing a friendship. While the language barrier may exist, many Korean teachers, especially in major cities, speak English and are eager to practice their language skills.

Many public schools organize after-school clubs or events like sports, art, or cultural activities. Volunteering for these events is a great way to bond with your colleagues in a relaxed, non-work setting. Even a few words in Korean can go a long way. Try learning greetings and basic conversational phrases. Even if your Korean skills are limited, showing a genuine interest in your colleagues' lives and culture will help bridge the gap.  Invite them to lunch, ask about their favorite places to visit, or seek advice about life in South Korea. Your efforts will be appreciated and can help break down the language barrier. 

Traveling to other cities in Korea or even exploring the city you are currently in is a great way to bond with the other foreign teachers. Take a day and play tourist, try out local cuisine, or jump into the nightlife. I’ve taken many trips with my coworkers, and each time we return home, we have lots of memories and fun pictures to share. 

Language exchange programs are also a fantastic way to meet people while improving your Korean skills. These programs pair native English speakers with native Korean speakers who want to practice their English and learn more about foreign countries. In exchange, you’ll help them with their English while learning Korean in a relaxed, friendly setting. 

There are plenty of apps like HelloTalk that are specifically designed for finding people worldwide who want to learn other languages and cultures.  Here, you can easily find somebody online that wants to learn English in exchange for teaching your Korean. Ongal is another great app used for making Korean friends. You can choose to either host an event at your house or a designated location or choose to join an event hosted by someone else. All the events are different. Sometimes, it’s bowling night, other times, it can be cooking together in someone’s home. 

Language cafes are also popular in Korea. These are cafes and restaurants set up for people to meet and exchange languages in a low-pressure setting. Language cafes often host a variety of events to attract more people and create a friendly atmosphere. Language cafes also often use apps like Kakao Open Chat to allow visitors to find each other and continue the conversation in text messages. 

But meeting up and getting to know Koreans isn't the only way to make friends. There is a large and steadily growing expat community in South Korea!  Getting involved with the expat communities is one of the best ways to meet a variety of people. 

One of the easiest ways to start meeting new expat friends is through Facebook and Facebook groups. There are different Facebook groups for all different interests, visa types, language speakers, and more. Some of these groups also host monthly meet-ups, online markets, and events together. This is also a great place to ask for advice or even ask for anybody to meet up with you for a cup of coffee. These are some of the groups I am a part of:  

Every Expat Korea 

Content Creators Korea 

HMK Online Market

English Book Exchange KOREA 

Expat Women in Korea 

Latinos in Korea 

“Lifers” in Korea 

PCOS Support in Korea 

Korea Events 

Home Design in Korea 

Everything Paws Korea  

Again, these are just some of the groups I’m a part of, but there are countless others that can make the friend-making process a bit easier. If this is your first time in Korea, then I encourage you to try to make friends through hobbies or special interests. Attending a museum or gallery opening, special exhibitions, musicals, ballets, or plays are great ways to meet up with new people and enjoy a show or some art.  If you're more of the athletic type, meeting friends through sports activities may be ideal. These days, it’s becoming trendy in Korea to participate in "extreme sports," like cycling clubs, rock climbing crews, or hiking groups (the most popular group sport in Korea). This is how my husband has been able to meet a lot of new friends and has even joined a rock climbing crew!  

For me, I’ve enjoyed making new friends while trying out some of the DIY classes offered in Korea. I’ve attended cake decorating, perfume making, cell phone case crafting, and candle-making classes. This is the best way to make friends or strengthen a friendship because we can be creative and still talk to each other without the intense eye contact or awkwardness of a direct conversation. 

Lastly, for my Kpop and Kdrama fans, be sure to keep an eye for fan cafes or cup sleeve events. Many Kpop and Kdrama fans in Korea host cup sleeve events at various cafes for different idols or actors' birthdays or military discharge days. When I first came to Korea, I was invited to a cup sleeve event by one of my coworkers, who was a big BTS fan. We even stopped by the pop up shop in the mall as well. The best way to keep up with these types of fan events is through Instagram fan accounts, Twitter fan accounts, and official fan club announcements. 

Making friends in a new country takes time. It’s easy to feel discouraged when your efforts don’t immediately pay off, but persistence is key. Koreans, especially in the workplace, may initially be reserved or hesitant to form close relationships with foreigners due to cultural norms and the fact that many foreigners only stay in Korea for a short time. However, once trust is established, Korean people and foreigners alike are known for their deep loyalty and kindness.

Tips for Staying Motivated:

• Don't Take Rejection Personally: If someone isn't receptive to your attempts to socialize, don’t take it to heart. It could be due to cultural differences or simply a matter of them being busy. Even if they aren’t interested in forming a relationship, there are other fish in the sea. 
• Be Consistent: Regularly attend social events, language exchanges, or work-related activities. The more you put yourself out there, the more chances you have to connect with others.
• Find Small Moments for Connection: Even simple gestures, like offering to help a colleague or inviting someone for a coffee, can build rapport over time.

Final Thoughts: Making Lasting Friendships in South Korea

Teaching in South Korea offers numerous opportunities to form lasting friendships, both with locals and fellow expats. By embracing Korean culture, joining social events, and staying open to new experiences, you can build meaningful connections that enrich your time in this fascinating country. While it may take some time to form close relationships, the effort is well worth it. Friendship in South Korea, once established, is often deep and loyal. Whether you're sharing a meal with a local colleague or exploring the country with a fellow expat, the friendships you cultivate will make your experience as a teacher in South Korea even more rewarding.