Were we too open? What Korea taught us about friendship
Raised by a Korean family in Brazil, we have had our share of surprises and letdowns when visiting Korea. Of course, every society has its own norms, and adjusting to a different way of life is one thing. Building personal relationships, however, means navigating a whole new set of social dynamics and expectations, which we are still learning to do. Recently, we’ve come across several Instagram…
Growing up in Brazil and raised by a Korean family, we have experienced our fair share of surprises and disappointments during visits to Korea. It is no secret that each society possesses its unique customs, and adapting to a foreign culture is an entirely different challenge. Developing personal connections, however, requires navigating an entirely new realm of social customs and expectations that we are still in the process of understanding.
Recently, we have encountered various Instagram Reels and YouTube videos that highlight the challenges of forming close friendships with Koreans, with numerous creators stating that they only have a limited number of intimate Korean friends.
Conversations on Reddit also suggest that building a genuine friendship can take a year or even longer. These discussions consistently emphasize that establishing meaningful relationships demands time, patience, and consistency. Our experiences living in Korea have further reinforced our understanding that Korean society is highly contextual.
There are numerous unspoken social rules and subtle nuances that Koreans acquire from a young age, often through experience rather than explicit instruction. This realization has been particularly intriguing to us.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Were we too open? What Korea taught us about friendship koreatimes.co.kr
