In A Very Gyopo Time of My Life: Korean-American in Seoul

One of the biggest questions I asked myself before coming to study abroad was: How am I going to tap into my roots when I come to Seoul? 

          In Korea there’s a term called 교포 (pronounced ‘gyopo’) and it means someone of Korean heritage living outside of Korea. Growing up in a Korean household in California, Korean gradually became my secondary language in a school environment where English was the norm. So coming back to Korea independently as a gyopo heightened my belonging uncertainty and I didn’t feel secure in my Korean-American identity.  Midway into studying abroad, I’ve learned more about myself beyond my Korean-American identity than I realized and I think there are things that I can share that can help anyone that feels like they don’t belong in a new country.

Tip 1: Don’t let the fear of others judging you discourage you or make you feel unworthy of participating in things you want to try. 

         When I first came to Korea, the awkward language gaps that would happen in my daily interactions when I went to try new cafes or restaurants felt like public failures instead of simple mistakes. I’d avoid venturing out to new places more often than I could when I first arrived. If you’re someone who’s relearning Korean like me or is attempting to embrace the language more whilst studying abroad, know that exposing yourself to these attempts more and more will only make it easier. And it did for me. None of these store workers are judging you more than you’re judging yourself. 

Tip 2: Remember that your identity is not more than or less than based on how much you fit into a local culture. 

        The differences in your looks, mannerisms, and language can stick out more when you’re in a new country and that’s completely normal. For me, I can pass as Korean but I don’t exactly fit the common beauty standard and my Korean isn’t fluent either. Something I realized is that although I’m Korean-American, my unique individual identity beyond that is still something to be celebrated and not dimmed just because of where I am. Integrating into a local culture is key but don’t let that make you view yourself as someone who will never fit in because your differences stand out more. They’re something to be celebrated and embraced wholeheartedly. 

         Essentially, these are some things that I wish that I knew deep down before studying abroad but I know that I wouldn’t have been able to learn unless these experiences had shaped a new perspective within me. I think I would answer the big question of ‘how am I going to tap into my roots when I come to Seoul?’ with the answer of embracing my differences and appreciating the culture that I can reconnect with while being here.