Japan or Korea? which country is better to live in as a foreigner

Lifestyle & daily-life differences (Japan vs. South Korea)

Social vibe

• Korea (Seoul): Generally more outgoing/talkative, especially early on. People may be more likely to chat in bars/nightlife and socialize faster.
• Japan (Tokyo): Locals may take longer to build relationships. Day-to-day coworker socializing can be more limited, which some people find quieter/less lonely, depending on personality.

City layout & “how you spend time”

• Tokyo: Larger, more integrated neighborhoods, making long walking/biking stretches easier. Exploring different areas can involve less “in-between” distance.
• Seoul: More hilly, with major hotspots spread out. Residential areas between them can feel less “busy.”

Pace

• Korea: “Bali bali” (“hurry/hurry”) culture—daily life and social interaction tend to move faster.
• Japan: Feels more steady/quiet in comparison.

Work-life & communication style

Directness and teasing

• Korea: People can be more direct. Playful teasing and personal questions may be more common, and the line between work vs. personal life can feel blurrier.
• Japan: The work/personal boundary feels more distinct.

Housing & moving in

Korea (common deposit system)

• Requires a large key money/deposit upfront (lump sum).
• The owner invests it, and you get the original amount back when you leave (as described).
• Expect a significant capital requirement.

Japan

• Deposit is described as smaller, often 1–2 months worth (per speaker).

What’s ready in the apartment

• Korea: Some places may include essentials like a washing machine and/or refrigerator, reducing what you must buy.
• Japan: You may need to prepare more items yourself (buy/bring everything).

Language & day-to-day usability

If you don’t know the local language

• Both can be hard, but experiences differ:
  • Korea: Service industry staff may use less English, making routine tasks harder unless you know Korean.
  • Japan: Tourism/foreigner infrastructure is described as stronger; more restaurants/taxis may have some English support.
• People report being able to go days without talking to anyone in Tokyo.

English skill levels (as perceived by speakers)

• Korea: Generally described as better English on average, especially among younger people.
• Japan: People try hard and help (e.g., using Google Translate), but fewer may speak English.

Education-driven English

• Korea: Many English hagwons/private academies. Younger generations learn earlier and more intensively.

Practical advice

• There’s strong emphasis on learning the language (Korean or Japanese):
  • Without language, daily life can feel like you can’t navigate normally—the “ecosystem” shrinks to foreigners.

Visa (general impressions)

• Korea: Described as a bit easier to obtain than Japan (one speaker’s view).
• Japan: Described as having more complicated visa requirements (one speaker’s view).
• Another speaker notes that visa options/types can make Japan feel easier, so impressions vary.

Nightlife & drinking culture

Drinking pressure

• Korea: Social pressure to drink can be stronger, framed as workplace bonding/community expectation; described as sometimes “forceful.”
• Japan: Drinking pressure exists too, but the tone differs. It still involves coworkers/friends and a communal drinking atmosphere.

Shared behavior

• People often get very drunk, pass out, and throw up.

Foreigners’ perceptions & integration

What foreigners are assumed to be

• Korea: Foreigners (especially Westerners) may be assumed to be English teachers, and conversations can quickly focus on English.
• Japan: The “English” theme can still happen, but speakers report more variety in what foreigners do and what interests are discussed.

Foreigners’ interest

• Korea: More random interest/approach in public spaces (especially in certain bars near apartments).
• Japan: Foreign communities exist and are strong, but some say integration depends more on personal effort and language.

Tattoos & acceptance (personal experience)

• Korea: Tattoos are described as technically illegal without a medical license, but tattoo culture appears more visible/accepted than expected (especially in popular districts like Hongdae).
• Japan (Tokyo): A shock is that some gyms/venues may require tattoos to be covered, with signs explicitly restricting tattoo visibility.
• Personal takeaway: Some foreigners arrive expecting similar treatment in both countries, then adjust behavior (e.g., buying long sleeves).

Beauty standards for women (and pressure)

Similarity but different emphasis

• Both countries are described as sharing broad beauty ideals, but Korea places more emphasis on appearance.
• This can contribute to greater self-criticism/insecurity, especially for those in media-heavy industries (e.g., K-pop).

Korea-specific pressures (as described)

• Widespread expectation of cosmetic surgery.
• Beauty markers (e.g., moles/beauty marks placed in specific “ideal” locations).
• High pressure regardless of gender—even men report pressure to match societal/job expectations.
• Mentioned: photos or taped resume photos used to evaluate appearance (speaker’s claim).

Japan perspective

• Speakers suggest a more natural/comfortable feel about beauty norms compared with Korea.

Learning languages: Korean vs. Japanese (tips from speakers)

Why Korean can feel easier for some

• One speaker claims ~80% of Korean vocabulary comes from Hanja/kanji-based roots, so recognizing kanji patterns can help meaning and pronunciation.
• No “onyomi/kunyomi” complexity (as stated); readings can feel more consistent once learned.

Challenges in Korean

• Some learners struggle with pronunciation accuracy (ki-sounds were mentioned as commonly misremembered/mixed).

Why Japanese can be easier for others

• Japanese pronunciation is described as closer to Spanish pronunciation for one speaker.
• Korean-to-Japanese learning effects:
  • One speaker says learning Korean first makes Japanese feel easier due to shared sentence structure and overlapping words.

If you only know English

• One speaker suggests Japanese may be easier to speak than Korean if starting from English, but emphasizes that reading/writing Japanese can be harder because it uses multiple scripts (kanji + hiragana + katakana).

Notable locations, products, and recurring speakers

Locations mentioned

• Seoul, Tokyo, Hongdae, Gangnam, Chonan, Jungju/jungju (as referenced), Noan (neighborhood/district)
• Hawaii, Brazil, Orange County (California), New York City (comparison)

Notable concept/product mentioned

• “ROG Ally” / RG RX (handheld gaming PC device), used as a travel gadget (Windows-based; plays games like Elden Ring and Genshin, per claim)

Recurring speaker / creator

• Takashi (host/interviewer)

Interviewees named

• Shannon, Armen, Elia, Aru
• Plus others referenced by partial names/identities (e.g., someone with a researcher/anthropology background in Tokyo)