Typical South Korea: 17 things that stand out

1 – It’s always coffee time

When I travel somewhere new, I wonder if I’ll be able to find a decent cup of coffee. In South Korea, I don’t have to worry about that. There are coffee shops absolutely everywhere, open from early morning until late at night.

When you order, pay close attention, because many South Koreans drink their coffee iced. So if you want a cappuccino, make sure to ask for it hot. And if you’re like me and don’t want cinnamon or cocoa on top, mention that too, because most places will add it automatically.

2 – Sit first, then order

In the Netherlands, it’s totally normal to walk straight up to the counter and order a coffee. But at many Korean coffee shops, that’s simply not how it works. You have to find a seat first, then order. Even if that means going up to the third floor to grab a table and then walking back down again. Koreans will calmly put their phone or bag on a table upstairs and head back down to order — seemingly without a second thought. I’d never do that back home; my stuff would be gone in minutes. But here, apparently, it’s just fine.

3 – Clean streets, no trash cans

The streets are remarkably clean, pretty much everywhere, but there are almost no public trash cans. So your empty coffee cup, banana peel, or other waste might have to travel with you for a while. A bit inconvenient, but it clearly works. I usually drop off my trash at one of the public restrooms along the way.

4 – Lots of public restrooms

The Netherlands could honestly learn a thing or two from South Korea’s public restrooms. They’re almost always clean, and there’s actually toilet paper. You find them everywhere: on the beach, in parks, along hiking trails. At bus stations and tourist attractions, you can use the facilities for free too.

5 – Everything is automated (and often contactless)

South Korea is truly the land of self-service machines. At many restaurants, you order via a screen at the entrance or at your table. Some cafés have machines where you make your own drink. And most hotels are fully contactless. Super efficient, but sometimes a little impersonal. Most machines are well translated into English, and if you get stuck, other customers or staff are usually happy to help.

6 – You can never take enough selfies

Koreans love taking photos. Of themselves, of themselves with friend 1, of themselves with friend 2, of themselves in a slightly different pose… every angle and opportunity is used. It’s completely normal to do a full-on photo shoot in the middle of the street, or to claim the best spot at a tourist attraction for several minutes while being photographed in every possible position. I feel awkward and self-conscious doing photos like that, but South Koreans don’t seem bothered at all. In fact, they’ll often rent an entire outfit specifically for the occasion!

In cities, you’ll also find photo booth shops where you can take pictures with filters and backdrops, and there are even cafés with dedicated corners set up just for the perfect selfie.

7 – No drinks without food

A few times during the trip, we wanted to just grab a drink somewhere in the evening. Turns out, that’s not as easy as it sounds. At quite a few places, you’re not allowed to only order drinks at night; you have to order food too. Really inconvenient when you’ve just had dinner. So we sometimes had to hunt around a bit to find a place where ordering just drinks was okay.

8 – Restaurant furniture with a double function

At pretty much every restaurant, there’s a drawer under the table containing the cutlery, chopsticks, and napkins. I’m used to having those on the table in a holder, or having the server bring them. In South Korea, check for a drawer first before flagging down the staff.

And your chair? It often doubles as storage. You can flip up the seat and stash your coat or bag inside. Very practical.

9 – The ppali ppali culture

“Ppali ppali” means “hurry hurry” — and you feel it everywhere. At restaurants, your food arrives within five minutes of ordering. Long, leisurely dinners aren’t really a thing here. Trains leave exactly on time. Buses move at a brisk pace. And even at the most remote bus stop, you can check real-time departure info or track the bus in an app. People themselves also walk fast. Everything just moves quickly. It’s incredibly efficient, but it does take a little something away from the human experience.

The ppali ppali culture traces back to the 1960s, when the Korean War ended, and the country was rebuilt at a breakneck pace. That same energy still drives the country today — construction, tech development, all of it moves fast.

12 – Bathrooms without a shower wall

Bathrooms in South Korea are… different. There’s rarely a shower wall or curtain separating the shower from the rest of the bathroom. You basically shower in the whole bathroom, so everything gets wet. Luckily, slippers are always provided, so you don’t end up with soaking socks when you use the toilet.

13 – Blue bumpers on cars

A lot of cars have small blue or gray foam blocks stuck to the doors, like a kind of bumper pad to prevent dings. I initially thought people bought these as an afterthought, but it turns out the manufacturer puts them on during transport. And apparently, many people just leave them on.

14 – Accommodations with washing machines

This was one of my favorite things: many accommodations have washing machines. Sometimes right in your room, sometimes in a shared space. So convenient when you’re traveling for a few weeks and don’t want to track down a laundromat every time. Just in case, I brought laundry detergent strips with me, but there’s usually some detergent available on-site. DELETE

15 – Claw machines are for all ages

Chances are, at some point during your South Korea trip, you’ll end up in an arcade. They’re everywhere, in every city. And it’s not just kids — groups of twenty- and thirty-somethings go too. The claw machines filled with stuffed animals are especially popular. Some people are genuinely skilled and nail it on the first try. I am clearly not one of those people. But it’s fun to watch how seriously everyone takes it, and I’ll admit: it’s pretty addictive.

16 – Korean clothing style

Lots of athletic wear, lots of baggy pants, lots of sneakers, and a ton of Crocs. That’s pretty much the vibe in the more urban areas of South Korea. Even when going out to eat, you don’t need to dress up. You can, of course, but you really don’t have to.

One thing worth knowing if you’re a woman: short shorts (even hot pants) are totally fine in South Korea, but most Korean women tend to keep their shoulders covered. So no spaghetti straps. If a dress is sleeveless, they’ll often wear a t-shirt underneath.

17 – Always bring an umbrella

I traveled through South Korea in October, and it was unfortunately a lot wetter than I’d been led to believe. The Koreans are prepared for it, though. Everyone carries an umbrella, and many accommodations offer umbrella loans. At the entrance to museums, restaurants, and other indoor spaces, there’s often a machine where you can dry your umbrella or get a plastic sleeve for it so it doesn’t drip everywhere.