Hello everyone ! ✨
This is Eva Glanger, your favorite French student!!
I hope you enjoyed my third blog post.
This is my fourth, and I wanted to talk about a topic that has really struck me since I arrived in South Korea: the sense of safety.
Before coming here, I already knew that South Korea was a safe country. I’d heard about it often. But I didn’t expect to actually experience this level of safety in my daily life. Living in Seoul has changed many of my habits and, above all, my perception of safety in public spaces.
A first impression that quickly becomes a habit
When I arrived in Seoul, I was naturally very careful. Like many foreigners in a big city, I kept a close eye on my bag and my phone, and always kept my belongings close to me. Especially since I’m from Paris, a city that makes you realize very quickly that thieves are everywhere and that security is very lax.
But very quickly, I began to notice something quite surprising.
In cafés, libraries, or even workspaces, people leave their belongings unattended. Laptops, bags, phones… everything is often left on the tables while the person goes to order something or take a break.
In cafés, it’s common to see people reserve a seat by simply leaving their bag or laptop on the table. In libraries, students can step away for long periods without really worrying about theft.
I realized that this wasn’t carelessness, but rather a genuine sense of trust among people in society: here, people truly trust one another in their daily lives.
Coming from France, I immediately noticed this contrast with what I was used to. Here, this trust in public spaces is a given.
And the most surprising thing is that in the vast majority of cases, this trust isn’t betrayed and nothing goes missing.
Losing an Item in South Korea
Losing something doesn’t necessarily mean losing it forever.
I’ve heard several stories about items being found fairly easily: phones, bags, wallets… Many are turned in to “lost and found” centers, handed over to police stations, or sometimes simply left where they were found so the owner can come back and claim them.
I’ve never actually had to deal with a real loss here, but I really feel that South Korea is one of the countries where you’re most likely to get your belongings back. And when you think about it, you quickly realize that this is connected to something broader: the trust between people in everyday life.
The sense of safety as a foreigner
As a foreigner, but especially as a woman, this sense of safety has greatly influenced my daily life. Of course, I grew up with the idea that I could be attacked and that I always had to stay alert and on my guard,
but since arriving here, I generally feel comfortable getting around alone, even at night, using public transportation, or working in a café with my belongings.
Of course, I remain cautious, just like anywhere else, but there’s one important difference: I don’t feel like I’m constantly on high alert.
Is it perfect? Not necessarily.
Of course, no country is perfect.
Even though everyday safety is very impressive here, that doesn’t mean there aren’t social problems or pressures in other aspects of life. I don’t think I’d be able to leave my valuables unattended in a public place anytime soon, haha. My French side is coming out again…
But from the perspective of everyday life, especially as a foreigner, the level of trust in public spaces remains truly remarkable.
I think it was important for me to talk to you about this!
I know that most of Enkostay’s clients are young, and it can sometimes be scary to travel to the other side of the world as a foreigner who knows nothing about the culture, language, etc. Knowing that safety standards here are very high is reassuring. I do want to point out, though, that there’s no such thing as zero risk, and that you should always prioritize safety and be mindful of yourself and your environment.
Thank you for your interest
Best regards,
Eva Glanger