Recently I read an article on Lonelyplanet.com titled “Cities You Really Hate.” Seoul was one of them. Then another article was published titled “Cities – So Misunderstood.” It’s funny that I was ready to defend Seoul as soon as I read the first article, even though there are many things I don’t like about it as well. So crowded. Polluted. (Aren’t all mega-cities?) Mostly, I saw it as an attack on Korea. It’s like this: you can rant about your sibling or your friend, but when someone else does it…no. Not cool. Now, Lonely Planet has an article “Learning to Love Seoul.” I was happy to see it.
“Misunderstood” is exactly how I would describe many foreigners’ perception of Korea. It’s a hard nut to crack. The culture, language, even people are not so easily accessible. You have to put forth effort. This isn’t to say that if you do put forth the effort that you’ll like what you find. It’s understandable. Sometimes it really feels like it’s not worth the effort. No matter how integrated you think you’ve become. You have a Korean partner, can speak the language well, can follow through with the behavioral expectations –you will always be a foreigner.
I find it a bit paradoxical that Koreans can be so proud of their country and culture, but then are so shocked when they discover that foreigners like it too. It’s too bad that such a proud country at times seems to suffer from such an inferiority complex. Why would you learn Korean? Really, you like Korean food? Wow, you like Korean music? It’s too bad.
Anyway, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hate Seoul. I mean, if we’re going to talk about cities we hate, it’s probably more for aesthetic reasons than anything else. I bet you if you were to ask any resident of Seoul, they would tell you they hate the same things visitors do. But in the end, they would also defend it. I would too.
