Introduction
Have you ever chased a dream so hard that when you finally caught it, you found yourself asking, "What now?"
That's exactly where I found myself after three years of living in Korea. The country I had obsessed over since 2008, the culture I couldn't stop talking about, and the place I fought so hard to call home - it all became my everyday reality. And with that, came an unexpected question that I never prepared for: what happens after you achieve your dream?
In this article, I'll take you through my journey from Korea-obsessed teenager to established expat, sharing how the initial excitement of living in your dream destination naturally evolves into something deeper. I'll also explore that moment when you realize you need something beyond just "being here" - when Korea transitions from your dream destination to simply... home.
Whether you're dreaming of moving to Korea, just arrived, or have been here for years, I hope my experience helps you navigate your own journey and prepare for that inevitable "what now" moment that follows the achievement of any long-held dream.
Where my Obsession with Korea Came From
Back in the early 2008, my friends in the Vietnamese community in Germany couldn't stop talking about K-Pop. BigBang was making waves, and they kept suggesting I watch Korean dramas. At first, I was skeptical. The music videos and dramas seemed like cheaper versions of Hollywood productions to me. I also couldn't understand the appeal of entertainment in a language I didn't speak.
But somehow, I started watching. One drama led to another, one music video to the next. Before I knew it, K-pop had replaced US pop music in my playlists, and Korean dramas had taken over from American TV series.
As I immersed myself in this world, the dream of visiting… no, living in Korea, grew stronger by the day. I became obsessed. Right after school, I'd rush home to consume hours of K-pop videos and watch Korean dramas with over 150 episodes (honestly how did I watched, through those cheesy morning dramas?!). My interest became undeniable; everyone who knew me immediately associated me with Korea, even though I'd never set foot there. I simply couldn't stop talking about it.
Making the Dream Come True
I researched ways to do a university exchange with a Korean university. In 2014, this wasn't common, most exchange students wanted Japan and somehow ended up in Korea. It was especially unusual for an Electrical Engineering major like me to study abroad, and Korea wasn't even an official option.
But I made it work anyway. The person at the international office knew less about the school than I did! I had researched the entire process, cold-messaged former students, and gathered firsthand experiences.
My first time in Korea was magical. Four months flew by, and I savored every second, it felt like a dream I didn't want to wake from. I made amazing friends from different nationalities; we lived together under one roof like a family. We recently had our 10-year reunion in Korea and visited our professor. More than half the group came together again, and it felt like time had stood still.
The Dream Grows Stronger
After returning to Germany, my dream became clearer and bigger: I had to live in Korea. I would visit every year for 4-6 weeks, which would fuel my energy for another year. I did this for about seven years until I finally took my chance with a Working Holiday visa, my last opportunity before turning 30!
It was one of the best decisions I've made. I experienced Korea through all its seasons, attended concerts and festivals, saw all the artists I wanted to see, made new friends, and traveled around the country. I moved to different neighborhoods in Seoul every few months to explore new areas.
As my Working Holiday visa neared expiration, I made a decision: there was no going back. I couldn't imagine not living in Korea. I asked every foreigner I met about their visa status. After hearing about professional visas, spouse visas, and entertainment visas, etc…
I finally met someone who told me about the OASIS Startup Visa.
"Oh, you want to stay longer?" she asked. "Just apply for the startup visa. You could run a tech startup in Korea."
This was exactly what I was looking for! Being a IT freelancer or starting a business meant I wouldn't depend on working for a company. I could take extended vacations, work online, and visit friends and family in Germany while remaining based in Korea.
I applied for the OASIS Startup Visa and learned about business regulations, which are much simpler than in Germany. Now I enjoy having a business in Korea while earning foreign currency. Working online gives me freedom.
Building a Life in Korea
After living in Korea for three years, the initial excitement naturally evolves into something more settled. The novelty wears off. You no longer feel compelled to go out every weekend. Drinking soju becomes an occasional choice rather than a weekly ritual. Korean BBQ isn't a special treat anymore, it's just another dinner option. Fried chicken? You can order it anytime without the excitement of trying something new.
Instead, you start craving foods from your homeland, dishes that remind you of growing up. Your taste buds begin to miss familiar flavors and comfort meals from your childhood. This isn't about the magic fading, it's about Korea transitioning from a dream destination to your actual home.
After experiencing everything Korea had to offer as a visitor, I shifted my focus to building something meaningful as a resident. I made it my mission to publish one article each week, sharing my experiences and insights. This wasn't just about documenting my journey, it was about service. I wanted to create a roadmap for others who share the same dream, making their path a little clearer and their journey a little smoother than mine had been.
Over the past three years, I've documented everything I've learned about living and running a business in Korea, from banking to tax filing to obtaining certificates. I've created guides that I use daily and share my discoveries online. If these help just one person, I'm happy. It's all the information I wish I'd had when starting my journey in Korea.
Dealing with visa applications, immigration appointments, and bureaucracy can feel like torture when trying to find accurate information. There's so much outdated and conflicting advice that everyone seems confused.
I made it my mission to help those who were in my shoes, providing the updated information I wished I had known back then. There's always something new to learn and share. All my blog posts are essentially written to my past self, documenting solutions to challenges I've faced. I've been doing this for more than two years now, continually finding ways to package information in different formats and building useful tools around these insights. Creating resources that make others' journeys smoother brings me genuine joy.
“What Now?!”
In this article, I wanted to highlight the transition from being a visitor to a long-term resident in Korea, and prepare you for the moment when the initial excitement becomes your new normal. What once thrilled you will eventually become routine, and you'll need something beyond the initial goal of simply living in Korea.
The reality is that the place, your work, and your mission in life have so much more to offer than just having the goal of living in Korea. As the novelty fades, you'll inevitably need to reevaluate your purpose and direction. This is a natural progression that most long-term residents experience.
Many who have lived in Korea for longer periods eventually return to their home countries to be closer to family, parents, and lifelong friends. Others build permanent homes in Korea, putting down roots in this adopted country. The choices are yours to make, and each path offers its own rewards and challenges.
The Journey Continues
I've hit my "What Now?" moment several times during my stay in Korea. After the initial excitement settled, I found myself searching for new challenges and meaningful pursuits.
Personal growth and novelty are essential for a fulfilling life abroad. When things begin to feel stagnant, that's your cue to explore beyond your comfort zone. For me, this meant taking on projects I'd never attempted before, from starting my blog to exploring entrepreneurship in a foreign country.
Each time I felt that familiar restlessness, I knew it was time to push my boundaries again. Sometimes this meant learning new skills, connecting with different communities, or challenging myself professionally. Other times, it was about deepening my understanding of Korean culture beyond the surface level that initially attracted me.
The beauty of these "What Now?" moments is that they force you to evolve. They transform your relationship with Korea from that of a tourist to someone building a meaningful life. Each new project or challenge becomes another bridge connecting you more authentically to your adopted home.
For me, sharing information and experiences over the past years has been an incredibly fulfilling journey. I now find myself at a crossroads, contemplating how to elevate my content and provide even more value to you, my readers. I honestly didn’t think I would publish over 100 Articles, I thought I would run out of things to write after 2 weeks, but I just kept going.
This isn't the end of a dream, it's the evolution of one. When you achieve what you've longed for, you don't simply stop dreaming. Instead, your dreams expand, transform, and lead you to new horizons you couldn't have imagined before.
Whatever path you choose in your Korea journey, remember that reaching your dream is never truly the end. It's simply the beginning of your next chapter.
So “What Now?!” for me, honestly, I also don't know. If you have project ideas, I'd love to hear them, maybe something will spark my interest. Just write me!
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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.
