"They are open even on Sundays" – A Polish student shares the charms of living in South Korea

Ria, a first-year student at Yonsei University from Poland, shared her life in South Korea and the process of challenging herself toward her dreams. In the released video, Ria spoke candidly about Korea's convenient infrastructure and her career concerns.

A journey of challenge: From idol trainee to Yonsei University Business Administration major

Ria, who came from Marianshuba, Poland, is a first-year student in the Department of Business Administration at Yonsei University with a tall height of 175cm. Ria revealed her past history of working as an aspiring idol trainee. She said that for about two and a half years after graduating high school, she traveled back and forth to South Korea to take auditions and practice at academies to pursue her dream of becoming an idol. Ria explained the reason she was fascinated by K-pop, saying, "Since I was young, I felt alive when dancing and singing." After her first visit to South Korea for tourism in 2017, she participated in a global training camp in 2019 and began staying in South Korea in earnest in 2022.

Regarding her studies, she showed traces of struggling between her parents' expectations and her own aptitude. Ria said, "My parents forced me to study a lot, and there was great pressure regarding grades," adding, "It didn't suit my aptitude, but I had no choice but to study." Nevertheless, she chose Business Administration with the goal of finding employment in the entertainment field in the future. Ria added, "I chose to major in Business Administration because it offers the most open career paths for someone who wants to work in the entertainment field," and "Even if I don't become a celebrity, I want to possess the ability to work behind the camera."

To live in South Korea, Ria also shared an anecdote of traveling down to Jeju Island to take the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). She stated that at the time, all testing sites in Seoul and nearby areas were fully booked, so she took the exam in Jeju City. Additionally, regarding Korean university life, she mentioned the system where students study at the Incheon campus during their first year and can move up to the Seoul campus starting from their second year.

"All stores close on Sundays" – Korea's convenience compared to Poland

Ria cited infrastructure and convenience as the biggest differences she feels in Korean life. Mentioning the novelty she initially felt from Korea's wide roads and bright signboard lights, she expressed high satisfaction, especially with the shops that operate even on Sundays. Ria explained, "In Poland, all stores close on Sundays," and "In Europe, there are almost no convenience stores that operate 24 hours, and if there is a store nearby, it is so far that you have to walk for 25 minutes."

Regarding her residential experience in South Korea, she mentioned living in a Goshiwon. Ria said, "I lived in a Goshiwon because it was the cheapest," and "The poor soundproofing was a bit inconvenient, but the places with good facilities were cozy and fine." She explained that the Goshiwon she lived in at the time was about 400,000 to 500,000 won per month, and it was a room of about 4 pyeong (approx. 13 square meters) with a bed and a desk. Currently, she is living in a dormitory with Korean roommates, and she shared her experience of having lived with friends of various nationalities, such as those from Paraguay, Morocco, and Ukraine, previously.

'Halmaenial' taste preferring Korean food and dietary management

In terms of eating habits, Ria showed a high level of familiarity with Korean food. Ria picked Bibim-naengmyeon, Gimbap, and Jjolmyeon as her favorite foods, explaining that she has a "'Halmaenial (Grandmother + Millennial) taste" that likes things like bread, rice cakes, and Injeolmi. She stated that she prefers rice over the traditional Polish foods like Pierogi (dumpling type) or diets centered around potatoes and meat.

Despite the environment making it difficult to cook directly due to dormitory life, Ria manages her diet using delivery food. Ria said, "I rarely eat out and instead eat meals focused on fruits, vegetables, yogurt, and dairy products through delivery," stating that she maintains a healthy diet.

Source: original video (YouTube)