Is Seoul Worth Visiting? Reflections on a Month-Long Stay

Seoul feels like an idealized Asian Disney World—safe, beautiful, friendly, and fun. The people here are truly some of the kindest and most helpful I've ever encountered. We've had people go far out of their way to help us navigate, order food, and find what we needed. All of this may sound incredible, but this level of perfection and control also has downsides. I'll share more of Seoul’s positives, but also explain why I personally wouldn't stay long-term.

A Near-Ideal Society

The positives are outstanding. The level of safety, cleanliness, customer service, friendliness, public infrastructure, parks, museums, transportation—and let me re-emphasize cleanliness—and overall fun make it feel like an ideal society. For those who can afford it, the quality of life competes for first place in Asia, and perhaps the world. Everything is organized, everything works.

Having left the US to travel the world, I've realized how much I took reliable public infrastructure for granted. You might think that's an odd compliment for the US, as plenty of countries perform better in this regard. But after traveling to 40+ countries, I can say there are far more that perform worse. And South Korea? It's on another level. It makes the US look as bad as the US makes many other places look. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, everything in South Korea is organized and efficient.

Take a few examples: outside our apartment, an older gentleman ensures that recycling and trash are properly sorted into the correct containers. Trash bags are labeled by area and must be placed at specific times of the day. Large umbrellas are present near pedestrian crossings and open during the day to shield people from the sun. Stores have umbrella-drying contraptions for rainy days. There are emergency buttons scattered throughout the city, ready for use if needed. Street food stalls will even ask you to hand over your random trash for disposal. The level of order and social consciousness is truly admirable.

Why I Wouldn't Stay Long-Term

It may surprise you, as it did me, that South Korea has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. I'm far from an expert on why this is, but there is a level of perfection here that feels too self-conscious, not as carefree as I would prefer.

Life here, in general, is expensive; taxis feel like a luxury. Fruit, in particular, is oddly out of reach—$7 for a bag of grapes or $20 for a watermelon. Of course, it depends on your budget, but from research and experience, it's clear even locals struggle with financial stress.

If you don't speak Korean, the country’s infrastructure and resources can feel less accessible. Many websites, apps, and services don’t work well in English or with foreign payment methods. It's doable, but far from easy. Even Google Maps doesn't work here, and the Korean navigation alternatives are a headache without knowledge of the language.

Final Thoughts

Don't get me wrong—I 100% encourage anyone to visit Seoul, and some may find it to be their dream city. But for us, the month we spent here felt like just enough. I'm excited to return, but I couldn't see myself living here long-term. So yes, definitely visit Seoul! But as always, visiting a place as a tourist is far different than living there, and nowhere is without its challenges.

I'm still reflecting on my experience, and I'll have a more complete video on this soon. Let me know your thoughts or questions!

Best,

Naser