Seoulful Islander | Life in South Korea from an Islander

  Why Koreans Love Eating Octopus ? 6 In South Korea , octopus is more than food — it is part of coastal life and tradition. For centuries, fishing villages and islands depended on the sea for survival, and octopus became an important source of protein and energy. Many Koreans believe fresh seafood tastes best when eaten immediately after it is caught. That is why dishes like sannakji — freshly cut octopus served with sesame oil — remain popular today. Octopus is also connected to Korean drinking culture. Spicy octopus dishes are often shared with friends over soju in busy restaurants and harbor towns. For visitors, Korean octopus culture can feel surprising at first. But behind every dish is a story of island life, fishing traditions, and Korea’s deep connection to the sea. 4

  How South Korea Changed My Fashion? 7 Before I discovered Korean fashion, my style was basic — simple shirts, shorts, and whatever felt comfortable. But after getting into K-dramas, Korean skincare, and Seoul street fashion, my whole look started changing. What stood out to me most was how Korean men dress clean and effortlessly. In K-dramas, the outfits are never too loud, but they always look stylish. Oversized tees, loose trousers, layered jackets, neutral colors, clean sneakers, and accessories like rings or watches became part of my style. I also learned that skincare matters just as much as fashion. Korean men take care of their skin, and it shows. Instead of covering everything with products, the focus is on healthy, clear skin. I started using a simple routine: cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen every day. Over time, my skin looked better and I felt more confident. 8 Now my fashion feels more polished and intentional. Dressing with K-drama inspiration helped me find a ...

  My First Time Using Chopsticks: A Public Disaster I grew up in places where forks were loyal, dependable friends. Forks don’t judge you. Forks don’t test your patience. Forks don’t let your food fall back onto the table like it’s trying to escape. But then I moved to Korea… and met chopsticks. The first time I held them, I felt confident. “How hard can this be?” I thought. It’s just two sticks. I’ve used pencils before. I passed kindergarten. I was wrong. I picked up a piece of kimchi. It slipped. I tried again. It folded in half and jumped back into the plate like it was doing a backflip. The third attempt? I successfully lifted it… halfway… before gravity said, “Absolutely not.” Rice was even worse. Why is rice so small? Who designed this challenge? I felt like I was trying to pick up individual ants with wooden tweezers. Meanwhile, everyone around me was casually eating, chatting, and judging me politely with their eyes. The real humiliation came with noodles. I grab...

The Unwritten Dress Code in Korea 7 When I first moved to Korea, something caught my attention almost immediately — the colors. Black. White. Beige. Gray. Walk down any street in Seoul, especially in business areas like Gangnam, and you’ll notice a quiet pattern. Long black coats in winter. Neutral blazers in spring. Clean white sneakers all year round. It’s not that people don’t have style — they absolutely do. In fact, Koreans are some of the most fashionable people I’ve seen. But there’s an unspoken agreement about what is “safe” to wear. It feels like there’s an unwritten dress code. Nothing too loud. Nothing too flashy. Nothing that screams, “Look at me!” Coming from tropical islands like Fiji and Hawaii, where bright colors feel natural and expressive, this shift was a cultural shock. There, color is personality. Here, simplicity is elegance. I started to wonder — is it about blending in? Professionalism? Social harmony? Maybe it’s all of it. In Korea, standing out can sometimes...

  Living in a Black-and-White Korea 5 When I first moved to Korea, I noticed something strange. The cars were mostly black or white. The outfits? Black or white. Even winter jackets looked like a coordinated army of dark padding. Coming from tropical islands where color is everywhere, I found Korea muted at first. But the more I lived here, the more it made sense. Black and white are safe. They’re professional. They match everything. Car brands like Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation sell huge numbers of white cars because they resell well and never go out of style. The same logic applies to clothes — neutral means timeless. Korea doesn’t reject color. It just prefers calm confidence over loud expression. And somewhere along the way… I realized my closet slowly turned black, too.

  Why Being Average Feels Dangerous in Korea? When I first moved to Korea, I thought working hard was enough. But here, hard work isn’t special. It’s normal. In Korea, the average person feels invisible. And being invisible feels dangerous. Back home — growing up between Fiji, New Zealand, and Hawaii — life wasn’t a competition. You did your best, enjoyed the sunset, played sports, and laughed with your friends. Success wasn’t measured every second. It wasn’t compared every day. But in Korea, comparison is constant. Grades. Salary. Apartment size. Job title. English ability. Appearance. Even though you are. It sometimes feels like standing still means falling behind. You see students studying until midnight. Workers stay late even when they’re exhausted. People are constantly upgrading — their skills, their resumes, their image. Nobody wants to be “just okay.” Because “just okay” feels risky. And I started to feel it too. If I wasn’t improving, was I declining? If I wasn...