When I moved to Korea, I didn’t have a local network, and I had no idea how people actually made friends. I was in Daegu — not Seoul — and I wasn’t sure where to start. I was a student at the time, so I met a few people through class, but I still had to figure out what worked outside of school hours.
If you're new to Korea and feeling a bit lost socially, here's what helped me build a solid circle — without depending only on language exchanges or endless chatting on apps.
If you’re a student, ask someone after class if they want to grab food or coffee. That’s how I met some of my first friends — just breaking the ice after a long lecture.
If you’re working, ask your coworkers where they hang out. What neighborhoods do they recommend? Do they ever go out after work? Most people are happy to show you around if you ask. You don’t need to be super close — just start somewhere.
I went to a few. They're not bad. You can meet interesting people. But a lot of the time, I didn’t connect with anyone in a way that stuck. The crowd can be random, and it’s hard to get past surface-level chats. Everyone’s there for different reasons — not always to make actual friends.
If you try it, go a few times to the same one so you start recognizing faces. But honestly? It wasn’t where my closest friendships came from.
I tried them. Some convos were fine. Some were weird. Most just… fizzled out. It was a lot of effort to maybe meet someone, only to realize they weren’t looking for the same thing.
That experience is part of why I createdOmeet — because I wanted something better. A way to meet people nearby who actually want to hang out, without days of small talk or awkward vibes.
Sounds scary, but it works. One of my best friends in Korea? I met by asking him what mobile game he was playing on his phone at a bar. Simple.
Sit at the counter or a shared table. You don’t have to come up with anything clever — just ask a question. Most people are open to talking, especially if they’re solo too.
Even if you don’t feel like hanging out with people from your home country — do it at least once. I’ve met some of my closest Korean and international friends through people I didn’t think I’d stay in touch with.
When someone invites you to something, say yes — and then talk to the people they bring. It’s way easier to connect when there’s some built-in trust.
This was a game-changer for me.
Instead of waiting for plans, I just said, “Hey I’m going to this bar Friday night — snacks and beer. Come if you want. Feel free to bring someone.”
It’s casual, no pressure, and super effective. People bring their friends, the group grows naturally, and you get to meet people in a chill setting.
Whether it was a café tour in Gyeongju or a random day trip out of Daegu, I’d gather a few people and say, “Bring whoever.”
Trips give you way more time to bond than a one-hour coffee. You end up laughing, getting lost, sharing snacks — and somehow everyone leaves as actual friends.
You don’t need to be extroverted. You don’t need to attend every event in town.
But if you’re a little open, and create moments where people can connect naturally — you’ll find your people.
And if you want a shortcut to all of that? Omeet makes it way easier.
Skip the flaking, skip the awkward chats — just meet people who are nearby and up for something real.
