Until a few years ago I knew nothing about Korea and I didn't have any particular curiosity towards this country enough to want to go there. Then, thanks to the first K-dramas and K-pop groups, I started to read up on this nation, its history and its culture. In many ways my desire to know remained incomplete and unsatisfied, because news regarding history and culture was relatively difficult to find on the Internet, and even books were and still are very few and not always translated into Italian. I then started looking, through social media and various sites, for Korean people to compare myself with. At first I struggled to get exhaustive answers, but then I got to know a man who confirmed what I had suspected for a long time. I thus discovered that often the information that circulates on the Internet and tells of the history and culture of this people does not report completely and truthfully what the "true" story is; often those who sign articles, magazines or books are misled by the inaccuracies that have been transmitted over time and which contribute to bringing forward erroneous information that in some way damages the identity of Koreans. These people are still fighting for the truth to be told and for Korea to finally have not only justice, but also see its identity affirmed.
The more I learned about the facts from the direct voice of a Korean, the more the desire to go to Korea grew in me. So in 2018 I got together with a friend and we planned the trip, even if in the end I found myself alone. Having never travelled, mine was a real leap into the dark and trying to understand what I actually needed was a little adventure in itself.
An adventure that I still remember as if it were today…
MY JOURNEY
I get my passport and in the meantime I save money for the trip and get information. I contact the Italian embassy in Korea and ask what documentation and vaccinations are required and whether a visa is required or not. Having obtained the information that arrived immediately, I book the flight and on October 15th 2018 I take a plane for the first time and take an eleven and a half hour long journey.
There is, however, a problem. My phone breaks shortly before departure and I lose everything I have on it, including the contact of my only support and knowledge. I have not stored his number anywhere else and I no longer have a way of contacting him, because up until now we have remained in contact mainly using an App called LINE and which is the equivalent of our WhatsApp.
In Korea they use Line and Kakao Talk more. Line app is not like WhatsApp, which adds people through their phone number. Line does this through an identifying ID and the user can choose whether or not to make their number available. To protect themselves, most people often choose to use only IDs.
Despite this inconvenience, I decide to leave anyway, hoping that, despite having no longer heard from me, he can still come and check at the airport, given that he knows the date and time of my flight.
THE BEGINNING OF MY MISADVENTURE
The day of departure finally arrives and, with half an hour left until landing, we are given the passenger card which needs to be filled out and there I realize I'm in trouble and that my journey could end before it even begins. I stop the hostess who comes to collect the document and I show it to her my problem: I don't have destination accommodation because my contact was unable to send me the booking details and I don't have his number. The young woman, very kind, listens carefully, helps me fill out the document and advises me on how to behave upon arrival during airport checks.
I am invited to go up to the immigration offices, where, after having explained my problem and having carried out further checks with my documents, I obtain permission to enter the country, but, since I have no way of contacting my Korean friend, they require me not to leave Icheon and to preferably stay near the airport. Of course I can't take another plane to Ulsan; for my safety they ask me not to move too much, after all I have to consider myself lucky if they don't send me home immediately. This whole process of checks lasts two and a half hours which, added to the hours of travel, begin to take a toll both physically and emotionally.
This difficulty leads me to reflect on how I have never felt judged when faced with my problem; they were kind, patient, understanding and considered everything carefully, which often doesn't happen in Italy
After getting the green light, I go to collect my luggage knowing that probably, after two and a half hours, even if my friend had come looking for me, not seeing me come out, he would certainly have left. However, I don't lose hope and cross the threshold that truly allows me to enter Korean soil.
Incheon Airport is so big that it feels like a city within a city!
I steel myself and decide that the best thing to do is to exchange some cash. I look around in the hope that he is among the crowd but nothing, so I go to the information desk and, after having explained my situation again, I ask if they can make an announcement and call him. I decide to wait for another hour and a half, but then the evening approaches and I don't have accommodation, I'm alone and I don't know the place. I cross the pedestrian crossing to reach the taxi rank, when a tall boy wearing uniform and badge approaches me smiling. He asks me if I should take a taxi and where I'm headed. I explain to him my situation and the need to find a hotel near the airport that is not too expensive; he says he has a place that's right for me and, after waving to a black taxi to come forward, he explains to the driver in Korean where he should take me. I feel faint and the boy notices it so much that he promptly supports me and, after making sure that I am okay, helps me get into the vehicle; he makes sure my luggage is loaded and, after smiling at me and wishing me a good stay, he tells me not to worry, I'll be fine and wishes me good luck with everything. Maybe it's because in this moment I feel the need for comforting words and a smile, but as the car leaves I continue to look at that kind and thoughtful young man who continues to smile at me and make me ok and greet me with a bow and a hand, and this somehow gives me the strength not to completely collapse. I dry the tears that I have held back so far and compose myself, this is certainly not the time to let myself go. I realize that my crying has attracted the attention of the driver who, from the rear-view mirror, is watching me worriedly; I smile shyly and apologize, he shakes his head and smiles back at me reassuringly; it's clear that he doesn't know English and so the only word he says to me is ok, but even so I feel his empathy and sincerity and I'm grateful.
ARRIVAL AT THE HOTEL
The taxi takes me to Day's Hotel & Suites. I reach the counter at the entrance but there is no one there; I wait but nothing, I look around when finally a man in his fifties tells me that to check in I have to go to the upper floors with the lift. I thank you and when I arrive on the floor I find myself at the hotel entrance and I immediately head to the reception.
Here comes the third drawback of this trip which has started off on the wrong foot since its organization. Despite everything, I like the place and there is a lot to see without me having to travel so much, this is what I think, so in the end even if I can't meet up with my contact and I'm alone I reassure myself that I can still enjoy my first experience abroad. I therefore decide to pay for the fifteen days of my stay, but when I hand over my credit card I am told that the payment will not go through. I turn pale and wonder how it is possible, given that there are 2,500 euros in the account. The young man, who is at the reception and who is following my check-in, notices my panicked expression and immediately reassures me. He tries a second time but it doesn't work and he explains to me that maybe the payment doesn't start because I'm there seven hours time difference between Italy and Korea, therefore, it may be possible for me to access the banking service only the next day. He confirms that we can still check in for one night and try again the next day. If it doesn't work many times, I recommend contacting my bank to understand why.
He explains to me that certain credit cards often don't work, especially if they are Italian banks, but that I can always withdraw money from an ATM.
I feel uncomfortable: what if my card doesn't even work with the ATM? I'm so tired and finally I agree to postpone everything until tomorrow, I think of having some cash and I pay for the first night with that.
Once again I am amazed at how they helped me get out of a difficult situation and how once again I didn't have to deal with prejudices or suspicions, but just a lot of courtesy to put me at ease and reassure me. Once again I can't help but compare my country to Korea and find myself thinking that I probably wouldn't have found the same understanding and kindness in Italy.
MY ROOM
Once I reach the room I enter and, for a quarter of an hour, I remain motionless on the doorstep exhausted and unable to think; then physiological needs bring me back to reality and, after pushing the suitcase into the room, I open it and take out clean underwear and comfortable clothes. In the bathroom I live a fun little parenthesis. In Italy we have the classic ceramic toilet bowl with lid and plastic ring, in Korea they have the donut toilet bowl made of a soft, heated plastic material; in fact, accustomed to sitting in the cold, upon contact with the heat I literally fly away in surprise, so I discover that not only is the cup heated but also equipped with a side button. We have the bidet to wash certain delicate and intimate areas, they do everything with the electronic toilet bowl. Now try to imagine a forty-five year old woman playing naked with the toilet button and discovering its functions exactly like a child would and you will have the perfect shot of this solemn moment. Satisfied with my discovery, after laughing at myself, I take a nice shower and, once settled, I throw myself into bed.
But I can't sleep, despite my tiredness, so, after hours spent tossing and turning in bed, I connect by phone first with my mother and then with the bank. The bank confirms that I have availability, the problem is probably the incompatibility of hours and communication between the banks, therefore they advise me to go to an ATM to withdraw money. The following day I get dressed but it's too late for breakfast and too early for lunch, plus my stomach is upset and until I manage to withdraw the money I don't feel at ease, so I go to the area indicated to me but I find it closed.
I discover that everything in Korea is closed until nine in the morning; ATMs in Korea are not available 24 hours a day like here, but follow the opening and closing times of the banking institution.
However, on my second attempt I find myself in difficulty again, the ATM is all in Korean language and I have no idea what to type to access the withdrawal service; I look around when an employee notices me from the inside and comes out to help me. Once again I was helped without hesitation, the young man told me that if I needed to make any more withdrawals, to come back and he would help me.
Now that I have 2000 won which corresponds more or less to our 400 euros, I go back to the hotel and decide to stay in the room for another three days; the fact that every time I have to resort to cash withdrawals worries me, and I therefore decide to carefully evaluate what to do on the days for which I stopped the room. But those first three days in Korea were not well spent: the jet lag has knocked me out so much that I can't eat or do anything else, so I spend the time in my room. On the third day, feeling stronger, I decide to go back and collect some food, eat something and stay in the room for another three days and see if it is possible for me to explore the surroundings without getting lost. But my body still reacts to Italian timetables and, when I go looking for a place to eat, I find everything closed except a sandwich shop and a restaurant where they only serve soups. Not yet having a good stomach to try new flavors and new dishes, I buy myself a stuffed sandwich.
I realize that finding my way is difficult, there are no streets or house numbers and I have no idea where to go, so resignedly I return to my room.
MINIMARKET AND KOREAN FOOD
On the fourth day I discover a mini market in front of the hotel and I enter it: it's like crossing the threshold of a doll's house, it almost seems like I'm realizing the dream I had as a child, I wander around the few shelves full of savory and sweet snacks, there is also a small wall-mounted fridge. I decide to get some chips, caramel milk with a bear-shaped bottle and some crackers which I consume between lunch and dinner.
The next day the boy from the mini market becomes my best friend; I ask him to eat something hot and he shows me instant rice of various flavors and the inevitable noodles: I'm undecided, I know that my stomach can't tolerate flavors that are too strong and I ask him for something that isn't too spicy.
Thus I learn another lesson: never believe a Korean who assures you that it is not very spicy.
In many convenience stores in Korea you can consume what you take inside, there are tables with benches, a kettle with hot water and a microwave oven available to the customer; The clerk kindly helps me prepare my instant rice, I sit down and happily take the first spoonful into my mouth… Well, it's slightly spicy but I can eat it. I put the second one in my mouth and I start to feel hot, my eyes water at the third one. The clerk looks out from the shelves smiling and asks me if everything is okay and if it's good. I can't answer, my throat is on fire. Do you think I'll finish it? No, with all my good will I can't. I tell my friend that he fooled me because it is very spicy and that I will never believe him again. He bursts out laughing, I with him, we make up.
In the few surroundings that I have observed of the place, in addition to the people who always win you over and make you feel at ease and at home, Korea is the most organized and cleanest place I have ever seen, there is no street corner or environment where you see things out of place, dirt, etc. Everyone works efficiently and well-coordinated; the chaos that you often find in Italy doesn't exist there. If a problem arises, they immediately work to resolve it as best as possible and discreetly without making the customer feel uncomfortable. I stayed in Korea for a total of six days, I decided against my will to return early: my inexperience, the fact of not being familiar with the currency, and being alone led me to decide to shorten the trip. But one thing is certain: when the plane lifted off towards Italy, within me, along with the height, a desire rose and a promise made to the Korean sky to return more organized and with more information and more knowledge of this wonderful country. The moment you enter Korea you fall in love with it and the only thing you want is to be able to return.
@hoseky73 all right
Credit: canva cover photo / article photo @hoseky73