Impressions and shock: Korean compared Moscow and Seoul

An article has been published in the Open Russia community in LiveJournal, in which a young man named Konstantin talks about his life "in two countries." He spent three years in South Korea. Then he returned to Moscow, where he experienced a cultural shock. More precisely, as he put it, "a reverse cultural shock."





Konstantin sees his strengths and weaknesses in both countries. In Korea, he believes that things are better with etiquette. From childhood, he was used to referring to older people or to strangers on “You”. And in Korea, this quality has only strengthened - there they respect the age of a person. In Russia, he notes, many tend to turn to “you,” and even with a touch of familiarity. This manifests itself more and more often.

As for the service sector, the young man notes the superiority of Korea. In Russia, often there is a lack of basic respect for the client. Often you can hear rudeness from the seller or the waiter. Sometimes - one that will spoil the mood for a long time. In Korea, there is a clear rule: "The customer is always right." In shops and restaurants, visitors are very respected.

Koreans also have more servings in cafes and restaurants. You can order just one dish to get enough. Often these portions are even difficult to finish to the end. In Russia, says Konstantin, the more expensive the institution, the less food. To eat, you need to take two, or even three dishes.

In Korea, waiters do not tip. Moreover, they do not even understand what it is. But in Russia, he understands that the salary of employees depends on the tip.

However, Russia has its advantages. Konstantin says that he loves Moscow very much. He noticed that vegetables and fruits in Russian stores are much cheaper, three or four times. You can come to the market, where there is a very wide selection, and pick yourself a package of those fruits that you liked. But in Korea, vegetables and fruits are sold packaged in advance - in boxes or bags.

And in Russia there are much more varieties of cheese, even despite the sanctions. In Korea, there is only a small assortment of cheeses, and indeed, sour-milk products. They are not so tasty, but their prices are higher than in Russia. For example, there is almost no cottage cheese - you can get it, perhaps, in special shops for Russian immigrants, and even then at frantic prices.



The young man likes Russian architecture more than Korean. More precisely, he made a reservation, not that there was an ugly architecture in Korea. But many areas are very similar to each other, it is difficult to distinguish one from another. Seoul was built not so long ago, all the buildings are almost in the same style. “I felt as if in the Matrix,” said Konstantin.

Moscow, unlike Seoul, was built for a long time. Each district can be distinguished from another. There are many architectural monuments in the Russian capital, including residential buildings. From walking in the center you can get aesthetic pleasure.

Well, and, of course, one cannot but admit that the Russian people are more sincere, cordial. As soon as the hero of the publication returned to Moscow, he was immediately greeted, invited to meetings, asked how he was doing.

But in South Korea, he was faced with the fact that only Russians wrote to him on social networks. Maybe, says Konstantin, this is due to the fact that the Koreans have too busy schedules and they have no time. Friends there are only those people who constantly see each other - in an educational institution or in the workplace. And even that - unless, they go to a bar or club together. Most often, Koreans spend their free time with their families.


- he concluded.