Korea is a melting pot of cultures. It’s been referred to as “the most cosmopolitan country in the world” for its openness and ability to absorb the influences from all over Asia and beyond (more on this later). Having said that, Korea is also incredibly unique when it comes to dating. In this post, we’ll talk about some of the aspects of Korean dating culture, including style tips and trick for korean girls interested in foreign guys. We won’t leave out the secret sauce though: how to navigate korean dating as a foreigner too! Watch Korean dramas in Spanish subtitle on Doramasflix.
The Korean dating landscape is a very unique one. Dating in Korea is vastly different than what many Westerners (myself included) are used to. It can be quite intimidating for someone new to the country who’s trying to navigate the waters of Korean dating culture.
When it comes to dating in Korea, there’s a lot for foreigners to understand and navigate. It’s not like in North America where you can go to the mall or go to your local friend’s house and find someone. In Korea, even if you’re a 20-something, most places won’t let you in unless you’re older than 30 — they say they don’t want the younger generation mingling with older ones. There is also an age gap between men and women here of about 10 years so those who are single might think it’s hard to meet someone from your own generation (cheesy, I know).
“I know this is going to sound like a weird question,” I said to my friend, “but how do you navigate Korea’s unique dating culture?
“It’s not easy,” she said. “You need to know how to deal with Korean guys.”
Korean men are a lot different from American men. They’re more into physical contact, for one thing — they’ll grab your arm or shoulder as soon as they see you and start talking about “my friends” or “my son” or some other vague reference that’s supposed to help them relate without seeming like they’re trying too hard.
They also like drinking alcohol at parties, which can be awkward if they’re drunker than you are. And if you’re in an older crowd, expect plenty of bowing and hand-holding until someone realizes that there’s no way anyone could possibly think that these two people are related by blood.
If all else fails, try taking things slow and see if he makes an effort to get closer to you instead of just walking away from any sign of intimacy. If he does make the first move and asks for your number or suggests going out on another date, go ahead and give it to him!
How do you date in Korea?
In Korea, it’s not just a question of whether or not you’re single. It’s also a question of how to navigate Korea’s unique dating culture.
It’s an intense experience. You’ll be judged by both your appearance and your personality. You’ll get hit on more than you’d like, and sometimes it won’t be easy to tell if someone is flirting with you or just being friendly.
But I promise that if you put some effort into it, there are ways to make sure that your dating life is easier and more fun than if you were just using dating apps in the U.S.
Many people have a hard time dating in Korea.
Korean culture has a unique dating culture that is difficult for foreigners to navigate.
I’m going to break down the three main aspects of Korean dating culture and how I personally deal with them.
First, the idea of what is “normal” is different in Korea than it is in the West. A lot of things are considered normal in America that would be considered weird or creepy by most Koreans. For example, we’re used to seeing couples holding hands at concerts or being affectionate while they’re out walking together, but this can be considered too intimate by many Koreans. In fact, one college student told me she was never allowed to hold hands with her boyfriend until after they were engaged because she was too young and he worried about being judged by other people (who probably thought he was “too old”).
Second, there’s an expectation for men and women to look good when they go out on dates together (although this isn’t true for everyone). The reason this is so important is because it’s seen as an indicator of your social status — if you don’t have good looks, then you may not have a lot of money or status and therefore won’t fit into society easily. So if you’re looking
Conclusion:
Whether you’re new to Korea or not, dating in Korea is different, and it’s something that I think all foreigners should be prepared for. For perspective, for the longest time I (callmejack) thought it was normal for girls to pay in restaurants, and only later found out that this wasn’t the case—and even when I discovered the truth, I kept on doing it because I didn’t know any better! The point is that there’s a lot of cultural stuff you need to learn if you want to date Korean women. Even if you’re currently single and have no plans to date Korean women, I think it can benefit all Korean expats to learn about this topic.
