South Korea Is A Whole Different World, And These 105 Photos Are Here To Prove It

If I asked you to picture an exotic country, you’d probably go with something like Australia or Japan. But after this exclusive list by Bored Panda, you’ll probably consider South Korea one too.

To show how unique this country really is, we put together a collection of pictures that vividly illustrate its everyday life. We’re talking solar-powered benches with USB and wireless charging, onion-flavored cereal, and pretty much everything else you can find there.

Continue scrolling to check out the images and the conversation I had with Hammer and Guillaume, A Fun Couple from Hong Kong and France respectively, who have been traveling the world and documenting their adventures on their blog and Instagram.

This post may include affiliate links.

Running Out Of Children Due To The Low Birth Rates, A School In South Korea Is Opening Their Doors And Allowing Illiterate Grandmothers To Enrol, So They Can Also Learn To Read

This Care Package The South Korean Government Sent Me While I’m In Quarantine Day 2

Translated letter that was attached to the package: “For people who are currently suffering from the Corona-19 virus, we send our regards and sympathy. We (the food ministry?) is sending this “environment-friendly health package” constructed with environment-friendly crops. We hope this helps you get energy for your daily routine. Furthermore, we hope you get well soon to return to your daily life. You can do it! Fight it! Go South Korea!”

This country in East Asia makes up about 45 percent of the Korean Peninsula and faces North Korea across a demilitarized zone (DMZ) that’s 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. The DMZ was established by the terms of the 1953 armistice that ended fighting in the Korean War (1950–53) and runs for about 150 miles (240 km).

“We have been calling South Korea our home for 3.5 years now,” A Fun Couple told Bored Panda. “What we liked about the idea of moving here was that this country is still not on most people’s bucket list when traveling to Asia. Many travelers would rather prioritize neighboring countries such as Japan, China or Hong Kong when visiting the continent.”

However, according to Hammer and Guillaume, South Korea has been making a name for itself over the last few years, with the K-phenomenon on the cultural side and large companies such as Samsung and LG on the business side.

“We were excited but also curious to live in a country that continues to develop fast yet remains a bit unknown to the Western world.”

Korean Ktx Trains Play “Healing Broadcasts” Where They Just Show Newborn Puppies Rolling Around For Five Minutes

Airports In Seoul Provide A Map To Your Gate On The Back Of Your Boarding Pass

Pink Explosion In Jeju City, Jeju Island, South Korea

One aspect that really impressed the couple once they came to this country was the strong sense of solidarity amongst Koreans. “An aspect that’s really astonishing and will help you understand what we mean by that is the gold collecting campaign.”

“In 1998, South Korea was about $304 billion in debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As a national sacrifice, 3.5 million Koreans donated their gold to the government to repay part of the debt. About 227 tons of gold were donated voluntarily during that event. Impressive, right?!”

“This sense of solidarity can be felt in everyday life in Korea. For example, during the pandemic, people were very supportive of each other. Koreans made a joint effort to keep social distancing rules and wear masks at all times. This is also why South Korea was seen as a benchmark when managing the COVID crisis in its early stage.”

This Sign Is Not For A Cat Crossing. It Means “Caution: Cat Is Around”

Glad To See My Favorite Tree Standing Healthy After This Year’s Numerous Typhoons And Landslides, South Korea

This Hand-Painted Underside Of A Temple Roof In Korea

Took These In The Same Spot Over The Past Year. Korea’s Four Seasons: Yeouido

#10

This Subway Car In Seoul Has A Mini Library

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South Korea Puts Traffic Lights On The Ground So That People Who’re Looking At Their Phones Can Still See The Light

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Apartment Complex In Korea Being Painted, So The Painters Shrouded All The Cars In The Parking Lot To Protect From Splatter

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I Get To Walk Through This Everyday On My Way Home From Work

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Modern Korea Built Around Historic Korea (Seoul)

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Just Received This At My Door! S. Korea Gives Out Food Rations To People In Quarantine

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I’m Staying In Korea Right Now And Apparently There Is A TV Channel Dedicated To Dogs, As In Programming For Dogs

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This Ice Lolly I Bought In Korea Has A Little Tray To Prevent It From Melting All Over Your Hands

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“Root Bench” Is A Public Installation By Architect Yong Ju Lee In Hangang Art Park, South Korea

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Solar Powered Benches Here In Seoul, South Korea. Complete With USB And Wireless Charging Docks

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This 2D Café We Visited In Seoul

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Cakes Sold In South Korea Usually Come With Free Candles And Matches Hidden In The Plastic Cake Knife

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The Bananas We Got With Our Delivered Groceries Here In South Korea Came With Little Stickers To Put On Them

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Chips Organized Into A Rainbow In Korea

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Starbucks In Seoul Offering Used Coffee Grounds For Gardening

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Self Cleaning Roads In South Korea

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Korea Is So Beautiful

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Traditional Korean Architecture

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These Helpful Robots That Wander Incheon Airport, Seoul, That You Can Use To Check Flight Information

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This Here Is The Entrance Of The Club Chroma In Seoul, South Korea By MVRDV Architecture, Which Is Said To Be The Largest Nightclub In The World

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Small Restaurant In The Snow, Seoul, South Korea

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Every Half Kilometer They Have A Resting Place Made For Pedestrians In This Korean City Ansan

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Bukhansan Yesterday

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Found Totoro On The Side Of The Road

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An Old Pine Tree, Daedunsan, South Korea

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This Latte Art From A Cafe In Seoul, South Korea

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South Korea Isn’t Joking When Battling Covid-19

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South Korea Now Has Walk-Through Covid-19 Test Booths

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This Library In Seoul, South Korea

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In Korea, They Have Single Person Karaoke Booths On The Train

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The Wavy Building Called The GT Tower In Seoul, South Korea

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Automatic Ramen Dispenser In Korea

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Escalator Sanitizer In South Korea

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Cherry Blossom Themed Coca Cola Bottles In South Korea

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Daegaksa Temple Near Jongmyo Shrine In Seoul

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They Have A Sauron’s Tower In Seoul

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Supermarkets In Korea Offer Toilet Paper Samples For You To Test

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“1,000 Doors” Building In South Korea

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Pump Toothpaste In South Korea. One Pump Is The Perfect Amount For A Toothbrush

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This Is Simply The Prettiest Library That I’ve Been To. It Was Beyond Words. Starfield Library In Seoul, South Korea

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Korea Has Sock Vending Machines

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Colorful Memories From The Bongeunsa Temple In Seoul

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Just Another Casual Lunch In Seokcho

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Saw A Fat Iron Man At A Street Shop In South Korea

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My Relative Just Entered Self-Quarantine And The District Government Sent This Free Of Charge

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Limited Edition “Frozen 2” Tickets In South Korea

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This Immigration Office In Korea Has Glasses You Can Borrow For Filling Out Forms

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In S. Korea: An Unmanned, Self Service Drink Stand Where You Just Put Money In The Teapot And Take Your Drink Of Choice

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This Bollard In Daejeon, South Korea Is Squishy

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This Helium Balloon Vending Machine In Korea

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Just Another Casual Lunch In Daejeon

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Bongeun Temple At Night

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In Korea They Have Air Hoses At Parks To Blow The Dust Off Your Shoes When You Leave

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This Flower Vending Machine In Seoul, South Korea

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A Woman Only Parking Spot In Korea

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Snowy New Year In Daejeon

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Onion Flavored Cereal, Found In Korea

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Seoul To Busan For 40 Bucks While Almost Laying Down? With Chargers, Table, And Foot Sitter? Ya Why The Hell Not

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I Love Korea And The Regular Updates On How Close The Toilet Is. I Need My Updates Every 3 Meters Or So

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In Korea You Can Buy A Gift Set Of Spam And Canola Oil

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I Found A Bar Where You Can Do Indoor Fishing In South Korea

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A Starbucks In South Korea

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Well, That’s One Way To Encourage People To Use The Stairs

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Monsoon Season

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If You Happen To Park Near A Construction Site You Would Probably Find Your Car Wrapped Like This To Not Get All Dusty And Dirty

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In Some Asian Countries (Korea) The 4th Floor Button In The Elevator Is ‘F’ Because It 4 Sounds Same As ‘Death’. When I Go Home I Always Have To Pay Respect

#76

It’s Not A Stuck Cruise Ship. The Floating Cruise Ship Is Actually A Specialty Resort Hotel In South Korea

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The Building Across From My Seoul, Korea Quarantine Hotel Looks Like A Zipper

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Dongguk University, Seoul Campus, In The Month Of Buddha’s Birthday

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This “Sandwich” My Co-Worker Ordered For Me For Lunch Today

There are some good independently run bakeries in Korea and many more good desert shops where the chefs are Korean. Bread and baking are just not part of Korean culinary history so you can’t really expect it to be widespread, but some are learning the craft, and doing it well.

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I Found This In A Restaurant In South Korea. It Is Mouth Wash

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Korea Air Has Stickers To Signal The Cabin Crew What To Do When You’re Sleeping In Flight

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Foil Tea Bag, Not With Paper Tea Bag In Korea

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Perfect. I Always Wish I Could Brush My Teeth With Fire Noodle Sauce (It’s A Chili Toothpaste)

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Movie Theater In Korea Have Two Strawholes On Their Lids

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This Staircase At Seomun Market (Daegu, South Korea) Tries To Depict How Many Calories You’ve Burned And How Many Seconds You’ve Added To Your Life

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Dining In A Toilet Themed Cafe, Seoul, South Korea

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This Is A Door To A Bar In Daegu, South Korea

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I Moved To Korea A While Ago. While Driving This Weekend I Saw A Sign For This: Welcome To Queen Seondeok’s Tomb

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My Sausage Here In Korea Comes With Pictures And Words Of Encouragement Written On It

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This Is Korean Ice Cream. You Just Squeeze It Out From The Bottom Up

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Hyundai Dealership In Cheongdam, Seoul

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Krispy Kreme In Korea Where They Sell Milk Flavored Ice Cream Cone With A Drip Cover

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My Apartment In Korea Hooked All The Trees To IVs Instead Of Installing Sprinklers

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Delivery Guy In South Korea

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These Grooved And Bumpy Tiles Are For The Blind To Follow In Seoul’s Subway Stations

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In Korea, They Serve Thick Slabs Of Butter With Red Bean On Bread As A Popular Snack Called “Ang Butter”

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Korea’s Coffee Milk Comes In These Pyramid Bag Thingies

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Korea Has A Drink With A Real Four Leaf Clover In It Called The Oat Green Tea Latte

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Supercharger V3 In Guro, Seoul. One Of The Latest Supercharger Installed In South Korea

There are tons of m3s and mYs in Korea, not just in Seoul. Model 3 was the most sold imported sedan in 2020 March, and Model Y was the most sold imported CUV in 2021 May.

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Coffee Coke In S. Korea

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This Parking Lot In Seoul

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Chupa Chups Drink In Korea

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I Found A Pog In A Pack Of Cheetos Here In Korea

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These And Pickles (Usually) Come With Pizza In Korea

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