Introduction
It's been 4 years since I decided to try living in Korea. I moved here on a working holiday visa before I turned 30 and became ineligible. I saw it as my last chance to live in a different country of my choice, a chance I couldn't let slip away.
I didn't plan to stay forever. I just wanted to see what a year in my dream country would look like, not as a tourist passing through, but actually living here day by day. I had so many questions running through my mind: "Will I be able to adjust to a completely different culture?" "Will I make new friends when I don't know anyone?" "Will I be able to meet my busy friends who are scattered across the city?"
Somehow, that first year turned into 4 years. Along the way, I found answers to those questions and discovered many more I didn't even know I had. I've shared all of this through this blog, hoping it might help someone else who's wondering the same things I did.
Year 1: 2022-2023 (Working Holiday Visa) - Exploration
The first year was pure excitement mixed with uncertainty, added to that a lot of COVID restrictions and weekly changes in policy.
I wanted to experience different neighborhoods and cities, so moved every month, Airbnbs, hostels, hotels, bouncing around. I didn't have a permanent place, but that felt freeing. Every neighborhood taught me something new about Seoul and Korea.
I made new friends from all over the world. I went to more than 10 concerts, soaking up the energy of Korean music and culture. I was living life to the fullest while working remotely, figuring out how to balance work and exploration.
I was adjusting to the digital nomad lifestyle, learning what it meant to work from coffee shops, co-working spaces, and sometimes even my hostel bed. After a few months passed, something shifted. Moving back to Germany wasn't an option anymore. I had found clarity, I wanted to stay.
I started asking every foreigner I met what visa they were on, desperately trying to figure out how I could extend my time here. Each conversation was a clue, a possibility, a thread of hope that I could make this work.
Year 2: 2023-2024 (Startup Preparation Visa + Startup Visa) - Company Establishment + Settling In
I moved into my first apartment, and that changed everything. Having my own space meant I was no longer just visiting, I was building a life in Korea. I started settling in, both physically and mentally.
I went through the OASIS Program, navigated visa applications, and established a company. It was overwhelming. I was learning about taxes, accountanting, and banking in Korea, things were very different from my homecountry Germany.
It was a steep learning curve, and honestly, it was stressful. There were moments I questioned why it was so complicated. But I just had to accept, that things are just done differently in another country!
I also started this blog during this time. I documented each step while everything was still fresh and confusing, sharing my journey from a beginner's perspective. I wanted to help others who might be going through the same struggles, to show them they weren't alone. Writing guides mostly about things I wished someone had told me!
Year 3: 2024-2025 (Startup Visa 1st Extension) - Settled In
By my third year, everything had settled in. I had routines. I had friends. I knew where to find the best coffee, the quietest places to work, the neighborhoods that felt like home.
I didn't feel like I had to go out as much anymore. I wasn't trying to squeeze out every experience because I might not be able to do it again. Korea wasn't a vacation place with limited time anymore, it was home. I was living here now, and I could take my foot off the gas pedal and slow down a little bit.
Living in Korea became a joy. I finally understood how things worked, the unspoken rules, the cultural nuances, the rhythm of daily life. It wasn't foreign anymore; it was familiar.
I started helping people through consultations, answering questions I once had myself. My Korean company made its first revenues. I paid myself my first salary, and that felt like a real milestone, proof that I was building something sustainable.
I kept writing and publishing, sharing what I learned, hoping each article could save someone else time, stress, or confusion.
Year 4: 2025-2026 (Startup Visa 2nd Extension) - Expansion
I didn't want to just live and enjoy Korea for myself anymore. I wanted to help others navigate what I had figured out. I wanted to give back to the community that had given me so much.
I started networking more intentionally, attending events, meeting people who inspired me, people who were also trying to build something meaningful in Korea. I found new content formats, through comics and carousel guides that made information easier to digest and share.
I was invited on podcasts like David Tizzard's Korea Deconstructed and Tyger Cho's K-Bridge. Each conversation pushed me to articulate my experiences more clearly, to reflect on what this journey really meant.
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I got my first partnership with Enkostay, which felt like validation that what I was doing mattered. I started mentoring at Sona and attended networking events like K-Bridge, connecting with people who were building bridges between Korea and the world.
Year 5: 2026-
I don't know what this year will hold, but I'm sure it will be full of growth and new experiences. I've learned to embrace the uncertainty.
Whenever I think I've run out of things to say about Korea, new opportunities come my way. New questions arise. New people reach out for help. I'm happy to help, mentor, or give advice in whatever way I can.
Korea hasn't gotten boring. I'm evolving, my goals are changing, and Korea is changing too. The country I arrived in 4 years ago isn't quite the same one I'm living in now, and neither am I.
I'm excited to be part of helping foreigners find their footing in Korea and bring their talents and uniqueness to this country. If my journey can make someone else's path a little easier, then these 4 years have been worth every challenge, every doubt, every leap of faith.
Conclusion
Looking back at these four years, I realize that one of the most valuable lessons I've learned is to just try!
I know a lot of people have the "all in" mindset, they commit fully before they even start. I, on the other hand, love to just try things out. Instead of planning it out down to the small details, I'll just try it out, gain the experience, and evaluate afterward whether it's for me or if I was gaslighted by someone into thinking it was the right path.
There's no way to find out unless you experience it yourself. Everyone's journey is different, and what works for one person might not work for another.
So instead of taking everything somebody on the internet says as the golden truth, take it with a grain of salt. Remember that everybody comes from a different background, with different circumstances, privileges, and challenges.
I encourage you to test things out for a period, whether it's a few months or a year, and then look back at that time. Reflect on what you learned, how you felt, and what you accomplished. Then decide on your next steps.
That's exactly what I've been doing these past four years in Korea. I didn't have it all figured out when I arrived. I still don't. But I kept moving forward, trying new things, learning from mistakes, and adjusting my course as I went.
And that's what I hope you take away from my story: It's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to experiment. It's okay to change your mind.
Your journey is your own. Make it yours.
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👋 About Kim Ninja
Kim Ninja (Nguyen Huy Kim)
🧭 Cultural Guide · ✍️ Storyteller · 🎨 Curator
📢 Creator helping foreigners understand and thrive in Korea
🗺️ I turn everyday challenges into comics, guides, and stories
The blog published by Kim Ninja (Huy-Kim Nguyen) is available for informational purposes only and is not considered legal advice on any subject matter.
