Yana Zhvirbo, 31, left Moscow for Seoul to learn the language and stayed there to work. She is now engaged in internet marketing and developing her own business.
How long ago and why did you leave Russia?
I left Russia in autumn 2017 to learn Korean. Six months later, I quit my job and decided to study for three months only and try to find a job on the spot. I didn't find a job then, as I didn't know the language, so I returned to Moscow. I thought I would stay for good, but it turned out to be for two months.
I was invited to a project by a Russian fintech: to work for a week in Korea at a conference. There I met my future manager, who made me an offer and I moved to Korea. Now I am working for a financial technology company and developing my own business in parallel: a marketing agency and an online shop for designer clothes.
No one helped me, I planned the whole journey and the move myself. Despite the fact that I was freelancing, four months before my first trip I managed to save up money for courses, to pay for my flat and even to save for a rainy day.
Explaining why I decided to leave Russia in the first place is difficult in my case. I probably wanted international business experience, and I also really like people who have experience of life in another country. Apparently, on a subconscious level, I wanted to become just such a person. I chose Asia because I have a long history with it, connected with my family business, my university and so on.
When did you realise that you are living in a new country?
Perhaps the first sign came when the red tape with the documents was over. I got a sense of how things work here and how they differ from Russia.
The next stage was when I was able to look for some information on the local search engine Naver. Everything in Asia is localised, and without knowing the language, you will have to eat bad food, overpay for things, and actually end up in the wrong hospital (they are divided according to the part of the body being treated).
Finally, when I flew from Japan to Seoul, it felt like flying home.
How do they treat people from Russia in the country where you now live?
I think it's positive. Russians do not need a visa to fly to Korea. Many Koreans love and fly to Vladivostok as if it were the nearest Europe. Many Russian-Korean families live here. Modelling agencies are very fond of Russian girls, so there are a lot of models and bloggers. True, in matters of work, locals are always favored here, and you should not forget that without accepting local rules you will not get anywhere in South Korea.
If you were asked to pick the main benefit of moving, what would you name?
For me, it is a tremendous inner growth, especially in my relationships with people. I also found inspiration here to start my own business, something I had dreamed of for so long.
What was your first big purchase abroad?
Korean language courses and iPhones.
With whom do you socialise more: with locals - or with Russian-speaking friends? Why?
Both, but Koreans from Russia and Kazakhstan were the closest to each other. It is difficult to find a soul mate in another country, especially in such a short period of time. But I found it with them. I have a lot of Korean acquaintances, mostly from work. I attended three Korean weddings during the year.
Do you like local food? If yes, what do you like? What don't you like?
Everything in Korea is spicy, and I didn't like spicy food before I moved here. I had to get used to it, and then I grew to like it. I even learnt how to cook the main dishes: soup (찌개) and rice (볶음밥).
The food here is delicious and cheap in the restaurants. When you live alone or as a couple, it is more expensive to cook at home.
The meat soups I like most here are the 갈비비탕 (kalbithan) and the 회덮밥 (pibimpap) dish.
Are there any features of local life that puzzle you? What are they?
Here, cars never give way to pedestrians, even on the zebra. It is not worth trying to retrain them - there have been unfortunate cases. Koreans also like to call for any reason instead of writing a message. This is especially difficult if you are a foreigner who is not fluent in the language.
And then there are things like 약속 (yaksok) - a promise or agreement that is not meant to come true. Here, you try not to say no or be blunt so as not to offend the person. Instead, you are promised a meeting sometime in the future, but it may not happen. You have to get used to it, not to wait for the promise, or always insist on saying it clearly.
You should also always talk about how hard you tried and how tired you are. If you've taken a step, share that information with everyone, by all means.
Which of the things you miss most of all (apart from family and friends)?
Clean air. I have never been particularly interested in environmental issues until I lived in a country where it was bad. Now I am deeply immersed in the issue: tracking applications, particle composition, environmental rankings of countries.
I get up in the morning and look out of the window - if I can see the mountains, it means the air is clean, if not, it means my eyes, throat and head will hurt. I put on a mask, but it doesn't help much. Koreans themselves often don't wear masks because they are not very useful, and they try to spend more time indoors where there are air filters.
Do you ever intend to return?
There are no such plans for now, only if it is necessary for business or love. It is very difficult for me to find love here.
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