Naming a ‘dodgy’ neighborhood in Seoul is a challenge – and valuables can be left on cafe tables during toilet visits without fear of them being stolen.
MailOnline Travel learns from a British expat in the South Korean capital how his life there differs from his time in London.
And Jerry reveals that a very low crime rate is one of the many notable advantages of Seoul, where he has lived since 2015, along with excellent healthcare (he can see a doctor in “a few minutes” without an appointment) and cheap high-speed trains.
Britain apparently surpasses South Korea in sandwich making.
When we asked Jerry, who posts on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram as @welkomjerryAs for what South Korea is doing better than Britain, he replied: “South Korea has extremely low rates of theft and violent crime. As a result, it is much safer to walk the streets of any neighborhood in Seoul at any time of the day or night.
‘In a recent videoI mentioned that it’s hard to name a “dodgy neighborhood” in Seoul, but in my hometown of London I could name a few dozen. Theft is very shameful and very taboo here. It is extremely unlikely that you will be robbed in South Korea. Locals often leave their valuables on cafe tables while going to the toilet without a second thought.’
Although the crime rate is lower than in Britain, Jerry warned that it is important not to be ‘too naive when visiting’, adding: ‘It is good to always be careful and not be too confident in people you’ve just met once or twice.’
The high-speed rail network is now seen as a ‘necessity’ and makes covering long distances a breeze.
He explained: ‘I think it’s a great shame that high-speed rail is such a controversial issue in Britain. Here in South Korea and the rest of the East Asia region, it is a necessity.
Jerry moved to Seoul in 2015 (above). He told MailOnline Travel what it is like to live there
Jerry revealed that a very low crime rate is one of Seoul’s many notable advantages. He also explained that there are ‘endless options for dining out’
Since 2004, South Korea has built five high-speed lines called KTX, serving 60 stations across the country. I often take the famous ‘Train to Busan’, which connects Korea’s two largest cities, Seoul and Busan, in just two hours and fifteen minutes for a ticket price of approximately £33 ($42).”
And why does Jerry also like South Korean healthcare?
He noted that the ‘top-notch’ system has been put in place to keep people in good shape for work, explaining: ‘Korea has an interesting public health system, the NHIS, which is intertwined with the private sector.
‘My British viewers are usually surprised to hear that if we have a cold in South Korea, we are expected and encouraged to go to the doctor for some sort of remedy so that we can get fit for work again.
‘If I have a cold, I can walk into the GP surgery without an appointment, be seen within a few minutes and walk out with a prescription to treat the symptoms. The whole thing cost me less than £5/$6.41 with insurance.’
Another advantage is the housing, which according to the expat is ‘much more affordable than in London’.
He explained: ‘For British people in Korea, you will find that housing here is relatively affordable. There are many types of detached houses, called ‘villas’ or ‘one-room houses’, which can be rented on a monthly basis.
“If you work in Korea, your company will provide this type of housing as part of your pay package. Korea has a unique rental system characterized by a very high deposit and a very low rental price. Deposits are usually 5-10 million won (£2,769/$3,466-£5,539/$6,932) for a studio apartment with a monthly rent of 600,000-1.2 million won (£332/$415-£664/$831) per month. ‘
The disadvantages
On the other hand, Jerry told MailOnline that many of the “major challenges” for Brits living in South Korea “come from the work culture.”
He revealed: “Although many people who come to work in South Korea end up in good positions, you also read a lot of horror stories and mistreatment by companies and managers. Britain generally has a lot of protection for workers against abuse and discrimination, but working abroad can put you in a vulnerable position.”
Britain also beats South Korea on sandwiches, Jerry said, explaining that “it’s very difficult to find a good sandwich in South Korea, or at least what a British person would recognize as a sandwich.”
He added: ‘After all, sandwiches come from Britain and we perfected them!’
Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other tempting culinary delights on offer in South Korea.
Jerry, that often shares his food adventures on social media and describes herself first and foremost as a “foodie,” explaining: “South Korea has endless options for dining out, whether that be at Seoul’s numerous and diverse restaurants or traditional street food markets. ‘
Jerry often takes the train from Seoul to Busan (above) via South Korea’s high-speed rail network
Jerry explained, “American influence over South Korea is incredibly strong due to the continued U.S. commitment since the Korean War.” He is pictured here tasting Baskin Robbins ice cream
The expat, who moved to South Korea for a study abroad program, said one of the things he found most surprising about the country is the number of American food franchises, such as Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins.
Jerry explained, “American influence over South Korea is incredibly strong due to the continued U.S. commitment since the Korean War.”
Although Jerry describes South Korea as “an especially great place to visit in your 20s” because of its “vibrant youth culture,” he added that there’s a lot more to the social scene than just nightclubs, with plenty for every age traveler.
He revealed: ‘Although there are some nightclubs that exclude people over the age of 30, those establishments are usually not of the highest quality and you won’t miss much.
“I encourage my followers to look for higher-quality experiences, such as Seoul’s numerous upscale cocktail bars or the friendly local pubs that serve delicious bar food with soju (a Korean alcohol) and beer.”
Tempted to cross the ocean?
Jerry said: ‘I would recommend British people wanting to explore South Korea and the wider East Asian region to come and live here for a while. There are of course certain caveats to this.
“There are so many videos about South Korea online these days. Brits should do their own research before taking the plunge by watching both my videos and videos from other creators talking about life in Korea.”