South Korea is a country that has steadily been garnering the love and attention of many people for many years. With multiple diverse offerings in every aspect including culture, technology, travel, and more, Korea appeals to the tastes of many. Hallyu (the Korean wave - including K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Beauty, etc.) has also made a significant contribution to the growing spotlight on the country.

Additionally, some of the everyday heroes who have contributed to igniting this light are none other than the influencers who are living in and making content about their lives in Korea. Influencers in Korea cover a diverse realm of topics, shedding light on the intricacies of the country. This includes the glitz, glamor, and even the grit that they might go through.

Since many of our readers are curious about Korea as a whole, we at Kpopmap have decided to start an interview series called "Influencers in Korea". We hope that by highlighting the experiences of influencers in the country, Hallyu fans and Korea enthusiasts alike can quench their curiosities and gain some insights.

Stay tuned for the rest of the series for which one part will be released every Thursday KST: PART 1 (Experiences and Living in Korea) | PART 2 (Student Life in Korea) | Part 3 (What To Do in Korea) | PART 4 (Married Life in Korea)

Note: This interview will show two perspectives - being a business owner in Korea (part A of the article) and working in an office in Korea (part B of the article). 

 

Introducing Influencers in Korea

We asked each influencer to please introduce themselves and their social media accounts. Here's what they had to say. 

Dainty Knit - Rebecca

My name is Rebecca. I'm the brain behind Dainty Knit. Dainty Knit is an independent knitwear brand, designed and handmade by myself.
I started my brand back in early 2021 when I came to Korea.
The main focus of my social media is to show off my brand and try to appeal to new customers and fashion enthusiasts.
Rebecca

Social Media Accounts 

Dainty Knit Official Website | Dainty Knit Instagram

 

Kpopmap - Kay

Hey all! My name is Kutlwano (I go by Kay or 케이 in Korean) and my brand is The Musing Girl SA. I’m a 26-year-old content creator from South Africa who is currently working as a content editor and communications manager right here at Kpopmap! I’ve been in Korea for 3 years on and off. I started out my journey in South Korea as an English teacher under the EPIK program. During this time I started creating content to keep my family back home updated and it just kind of spiraled from there. I post about travel and lifestyle content in Korea but at the moment I want to create more content related to my job working in the Korean media industry. If you’d like to know more about this, follow me and stay tuned!
Kay

Social Media Accounts 

The Musing Girl SA Instagram | The Musing Girl SA YouTube | The Musing Girl SA TikTok | Sesoko Media Instagram (Photography/Videography Account)

 

Interview with Influencers in Korea

PART A - Being A Business Owner in Korea

Tell us about your business. How did you get started and what is your vision for it?

I always planned to work in fashion and had dreams of creating my own brand. I had planned to start my business back home and had already started selling to gain some experience. When I arrived in Korea in 2021 I decided to just put myself out there and began sharing my designs online.
Rebecca

 

How did you get inspired to get into this field and what inspires you when creating your product?

I have always had an interest in fashion & art. I would always design and sew outfits for my Bratz dolls as a child. Naturally, I gravitated towards this during the years I was a student. My inspiration is drawn mainly from my childhood. My hometown of Liverpool has a strong maritime history & passionate football culture. On the other hand, Bratz dolls and 2000s fashion styles that are reminiscent of when I was growing up have a lot of impact on me also. Liverpool's art scene also inspires me greatly, being home to many great creatives.
Rebecca

Can you tell us more about starting a business in Korea? What are some of the steps you have to take?

You have to be on a visa that allows you to have a business so it's not really accessible for most foreigners. Your business also has to be registered & you must pay tax.
Rebecca

 

Are there any challenges when it comes to funding a business in Korea?

For me personally no, but that's just because I currently don't have any employees & operate out of my home studio!
Rebecca

 

Before starting your business, did you have any concerns as a foreigner working outside your home country, especially starting your own business? What are some factors that eased those concerns?

I definitely felt my designs were initially a bit too 'out-there' for the Korean market. I thought I may have to sacrifice my design aesthetic to get sales. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how many sales I did get.
Rebecca

 

How do you find your clients/customers? Can you tell us more about some of the most exciting or special clients/customers that you’ve had?

I have worked with non-Koreans like Emma Chamberlain & XG. My noteworthy Korean clients include aespa, NMIXX, SHINee, HyunA, STAYC & Kep1er.
I have created outfits for music show performances, concerts, and even comeback photoshoots. When I get to create customs for music videos I always feel validated and like I'm doing what I always dreamed of.
Rebecca

Can you please describe a day in your life working in your business?

Designing and knitting/crocheting a lot! Taking inventory counts. Stock keeping my yarn & going to the post office are all things I do nearly every day.
I typically spend some time working on content creation for social media like TikTok or Instagram, too.
Rebecca

@daintyknit

My first voice over ! 😵‍💫 #crochet #knitting #southkorea #emergingbrand #니팅 #fashion #daintyknit

♬ Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz - MaSssuguMusic

What's in your office drawer? Please share with our readers.

Measuring tapes, pins, diaries, and a lot of different knitting needle sizes.
Rebecca

 

What do you like about and have a hard time with when running a business in Korea?

Initially, I had a hard time finding my place but now I think I'm at a point where I'm happy with my brand. I found my own niche in the market and I've worked really hard to get here.
Rebecca

 

PART B - Being An Office Worker in Korea

Where do you work at the moment? For how long have you been working there and in which position(s)?

As I said, I work right here at Kpopmap as a content editor and communications manager. I’ve been working at Kpopmap for almost 2 years now and it’s been quite the adventure. I get to write articles about numerous topics, interview celebrities and industry players, as well as cover the occasional showcase or event. Almost everyday holds something new.
Kay

 

Where did you see the job announcement at first and how did you apply?

I first saw the job announcement on the Seoul Global Center website. I applied by sending in my resume which had links to my portfolio and my YouTube channel.
Kay

 

What do you think is really needed on your resume? Did you have it when you applied?

As I mentioned, I had links to my portfolio website and YouTube channel on my resume. I think this is super essential when applying for a job. If you’re in the creative industry especially, experience will almost always trump your qualifications. You need to be able to walk the talk and prove that you can do what you claim to. Hence a good portfolio is a high priority. To give you some background as a practical example… I already had 5 years of experience working in my home country (South Africa) as a freelance media creator (under my other brand Sesoko Media). Starting straight after high school, I did videography, photography, editing, etc. for many brands and South African celebrities/influencers such as Jeep Footwear, Miss Earth South Africa (the beauty pageant), Glam Africa magazine with DJ Zinhle, etc. I also did a lot of corporate work and worked as a media creator for the Korean Embassy in South Africa. Allll of this was in my portfolio, along with fun creative projects – which I think showed a multitude of skills. Of course, I can’t be sure since I wasn’t there for the hiring process, but this is what I think played a big role.
Obviously, this won’t apply to every industry but in media, portfolio is king (in my experience).
Kay

@themusinggirlsa

#CapCut #seoulfashionweek #서울패션위크 #sfw #seoulfashionweek2023 #seoulfashion #koreanfashion #expatinkorea

♬ On My Mama (Official Sound) - Victoria Monét

How was your job interview? Do you maybe have some interview tips for our readers?

I think it went pretty well. My interviewer actually mentioned that they were impressed with my answers. So, I’ll take that as a sign that it went well haha. I have a few tips on acing interviews actually. I made a YouTube video about this when I interviewed for EPIK – and whilst the video is specific to getting into the EPIK program, those tips apply to any job interview. Look professional, take the little things like lighting and your hair, etc. into account, link all of your answers back to the job at hand even if they seem unrelated, etc.
Kay

Before starting your job, did you have any concerns as a foreigner working outside your home country? What are some things about your job that eased those concerns?

Hmmm I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have any. I had no actual concerns about the actual job itself but more about the shift in lifestyle. Firstly, I had to move from a smaller city in Korea (Cheongju) to the big city (Seoul), which was one thing. However, to be honest, when you’re a foreign English teacher in Korea (especially in the public sector) almost everything is taken care of for you. You need a place to live? Your co-teacher will help you find a place, if not have it set up for you already. You need a visa appointment at immigration? Your co-teacher will sort it out and most likely take you there personally. You need to do some complicated piece of admin? Your co-teacher will do it for you or at least guide you through it. You just need to show up to work and do your job for the most part (in most cases). However, going into a non-teaching job meant that I had to take on literally everything on my own. Granted I had two years of experience living in Korea under my belt – but still haha. The idea of having to be 1000% independent in a foreign country was definitely a little bit intimidating, but thankfully my colleagues and boss were (and still are) super helpful in many regards.
Kay

 

Please tell us how many Koreans and non-Koreans there are in your office. Is your direct superior (the person you report to) Korean?

Our company is constantly growing but at the moment we have about 10 Koreans in the office and then a couple of foreigners. My direct superior is actually from France hehe.
Random TMI: This is another nice thing about my job now. As a teacher, I was the only foreigner among a staff of who knows how many Korean teachers (across multiple schools), but now it’s nice to be able to be with other foreigners, as well. I’m pretty fluent in Korean and well-adapted to the culture, but if you live in Korea for a while, you’ll know how isolating it can be to be the only foreigner in a space sometimes hehe.
Kay

@themusinggirlsa

#latepost This is what a day in my life looks like sometimes - I don’t go to media showcases all the time but I was invited by someone at KQ Ent this time. 📸 Also, for those of you who create consistent content with a 9-5 job. What’s the secret to your energy levels?😭 #CapCut #xikersdebut #xikers #kpopjournalist #musicjournalist #nonteachingjobseoul #nonteachingjobkorea #싸이커스 #kpopjob #lifeinkorea #expatinkorea

♬ Super Shy - NewJeans

Can you please describe a day in your life working in a Korean office?

So, there are two versions of a typical day in the life that I can describe. Actually, every day is a bit different but I’ll be general in my description lol.
The first version of a day in my life: I get to the office at 09:30, switch on my computer, get started on admin (emails, etc.), then continue with my other work for the day (publishing articles, editing videos or pictures, etc.), have lunch with my colleagues (either in the office or at a yummy restaurant nearby), then wrap up work and go home. This is the case most of the time.
The second version of a day in my life would be pretty similar but might include leaving the office to go work on-site for a project we’re working on (e.g. going to the TMAs) or even attending a showcase, event, or interview. It really just depends on what’s happening.
Kay

 

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What's in your office drawer? Please share with our readers.

Not much to be honest lol. I’m not exactly a minimalist but I don’t have much of anything in my drawers other than some essentials (chewing gum, vitamins, lip balm, hand lotion), etc. I have business cards and some photo cards on display, too. Oh, and I also have an emergency snack drawer. Lol I’m a snacker so I have an emergency stash for if I get peckish during the day, but that’s about it. Anything else that I need is most likely in my handbag because I’m the type who likes to be prepared at any given moment.
Kay

 

What is one item that you won't go to work without having in your bag?

My cellphone and purse? Is that too obvious? I lead a simple life lol. If I have those two then I can get through any part of the day without any problems.
Kay

 

Is Korean office life like in the K-Dramas? If so, can you give us some examples?

Uhm, to an extent? Haha. It depends on which K-Dramas you’re watching I guess lol. Most of the K-Dramas either exaggerate the bad stuff about Korean offices or over-glamorize the good aspects. I think an accurate representation of office life in Korea would be the K-Drama “Monthly Magazine Home”. At least this drama is the most similar to my current experience in terms of vibes lol.
Kay

 

What do you like about and have a hard time with in the office?

I like the more or less laidback culture in our office. I mean we work really hard but there’s none of that typical pressure that’s prevalent in most Korean companies. There’s not a lot of overtime, just once and a while when deemed necessary. We’re also able to express ourselves without having to feel too much nunchi? That’s something I really like about being in our office.
One thing I don’t like… Not to say that I don’t like it but it would be nice if we had this haha. It would be nice if we had a cafeteria (구내식당 in Korean) like other companies do – just because then I don’t have to think about what to eat for lunch everyday haha.
Kay

 

Do you go for office dinner (회식)? If so, can you explain your company’s way of going about it?

Yes, we have office dinners once in a while. I personally really enjoy them. I like the social and more relaxed vibe where we can all get to know each other on a deeper level (and, of course, the free food and drinks too haha). The way the company goes about it usually depends on the occasion. If we’re welcoming a new employee or sending off an old employee, then we usually match everyone’s schedules and then go to the company dinner. However, sometimes they happen on a whim (for no particular reason or for teambuilding purposes) and whoever has time on that day will go.
Kay

 

What is your visa type and can you describe what it means to readers who might not know?

I’m on an E7 visa. It’s basically a visa that allows you to work in a non-teaching field in Korea as a professional with a specific skill.
Kay

 

Have you picked up any habits from your Korean colleagues or have your Korean colleagues picked up any of your habits?

Hmm, this is hard to say. I think there’s nothing specific that I’ve picked up from them. I have a different approach to work than my Korean colleagues but in our company it works well that way since we have a global target. I’m not sure if I’m making sense but our differences/different perspectives are what makes us work well? So I’ve never tried to pick up specific habits or anything like that and it’s probably the same case vice versa. One thing I can say though, is that I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues about the industry and Korean society in general. I’ve also picked up some Korean speech patterns that I didn’t use before.
Kay

 

Do you think you’ll remain working in Korea for the rest of your life? Or will you eventually head back to your home country? Why do you say this?

Theeee toughest question to ask an expat living abroad hahaha. I initially meant to be in Korea for two years but I liked it so much that I stayed for longer lol. I’d love to live here for a long time but for the rest of my life… If we’re keeping it real, Korea isn’t a paradise. Even the K-Dramas these days portray more of the real Korea along with its issues. All things considered, there is no perfect country – they all have their own (and different) issues. For example, South Africa has a lot of issues but is generally more laidback, more accepting of diversity, etc. which would be a huge factor in me wanting to go back. Additionally, sometimes living in Korea feels like no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be fully accepted into the society. However, the lifestyle here is super appealing. So, it’s a bit difficult to say. For now, I have no immediate plans of going back to my home country but I miss a lot of the things that I think are fundamental to my general happiness. I don’t know, it’s a lot to think about haha. Luckily, the nature of my career allows me to be anywhere in the world. So, we’ll just have to wait and see where I end up in the long run.
Kay

 

Finally, can you give some advice to readers who are looking for a job in Korea and maybe some tips on having a good relationship with your Korean co-workers? Thank you.

No matter how much you want to come to Korea and work a job here, don’t let desperation get you into a tricky situation. Take your time to research companies and do the same due diligence that you would back in your home country. It’s sad to say but (judging by the experiences of those around me) companies will try to take advantage of foreigners if you’re not ready to stand up for yourself. You deserve to get paid your worth, you deserve to have your opinion heard. Of course, be prepared to adapt to the work culture of the company you’re in, be respectful, and all that. That’s common sense. But don’t get starry-eyed about the fantasy of working in Korea to the point where you sacrifice yourself. As far as your co-workers go, just make sure to show an active interest in speaking with them and learning about their culture, work hard, be proactive, and everything will be alright.
Kay

Thank you, once again, to the influencers who participated in this special interview series. Readers, make sure to give each influencer a follow on their social media platforms to see more of their adventures in Korea!