Welcome to the debut of the Abroad Stories 101 Series, where we dive into the lived experiences of those bridging the gap between East and West. Our first guest is Johanna Martinho, who I am very honored to have talked with, as she was my peer group leader during my first semester at Yonsei University. She also helped me integrate into the local Yonsei/Seoul life. After completing her Bachelor’s in English and Chinese in France, she earned a Master’s in Global Economy and Strategy at Yonsei University. Today, she’s here to share her story what it is like to study, work, and live in Seoul, and especially what differences she noticed between her home country and other international students.
Korean Language: Journey of Improvement & Plateau
Johanna’s story in Korea began with only knowing the basics of 한글 (Hangeul) and was eager to improve her skills to make her life in Korea more convenient. During her first year at Yonsei, she attempted to balance academic courses with Korean language classes, but the pressure was too high. “I wasn’t super good in my Korean language classes and it was kinda messing up my grades so I stopped,” she recalls.
It wasn’t until the reality of post-graduation life set and her career vision became more clear. Knowing that a professional future in Korea required to know more Korean, she enrolled in the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP). “It’s a super helpful Korean program; I started from Level 2 and finished all levels now” Johanna says. While she admits to currently feeling “stuck” at a plateau, the program gave her the confidence to communicate effectively in a professional office. “I’m far from fluent still, but my Korean is good enough to understand everything at work and be understood,” she adds, proving that some form of fluency shows progress.
Navigating Professional Journey in Korea
Johanna had a chance of being part of the student committee, served as a TA, and interned at a small car trading company; all of these helped her to use them as good talking points for her resume and interviews. However the professional path later on was not an easy journey. Her first role after graduation was a marketing position at an online journal, which was an easy-going, English-speaking environment. However, her time came to an end when her application for a work visa was rejected.
She then pivoted to an import company, marking her first experience in a traditional Korean work environment and struggled to keep up. “It was challenging for sure, as I was working during the week and taking 8 hours of Korean classes every Saturday”, she shares. Though that role ended abruptly due to internal management issues, she eventually found her way to her current position at an IP law firm. As the firm’s first-ever foreign hire, Johanna manages communication with global partners while navigating the internal office culture in Korean. A year into the role, she’s found that perseverance about her language level has fostered a supportive environment. “I was a bit worried at first as I’m the first foreigner the company has ever hired, but it’s going well. I’m handling cooperation with foreign partners, all my communications with my colleagues are in Korean, and everyone is really understanding of my level, and really open”, she says.
The Academic, Social, & Life Climate Analysis: France vs. Korea
Coming from the French education system, the shift to Korean university life was a revelation. In France, Johanna was accustomed to 25-hour class weeks. At Yonsei, that dropped to a 12-hour class. “I feel like academics in Korea is relatively easier than France, the grading, the schedule, the exams. France is famous for it being impossible to get a full mark, whereas in Korea I felt it was easier to get an A+. Of course, it may have a lot to do with the fact that I was studying in a foreign study course, and it may be totally different depending on the university/department”, she says.
But it wasn’t just the academic climate difference, it was the student culture she enjoyed. Johanna describes a vibrant student culture full of clubs, cafes, and department-specific bonds while these types of social structures are rare in French public universities with the exception of private business schools. She says, “Student life here is amazing. I truly think if anyone has the opportunity to do even just an exchange semester, they should take it because student life here is so fun”.
She also came to appreciate the Korean sauna after she started her professional career. “It’s perfect to unwind and meditate to recharge my batteries after a long work week,” she says.
The Academic to Professional Whiplash
Johanna doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of immigrant life in Korea. She describes the transition from the exciting student life to the working world as “whiplash”. She says the experience is quite similar for both international students and local Korean students who enjoyed the fun and now adapting to the shift in their professional career. While one may assume things are easier for local Koreans, that’s not the case; “It’s even the same for Koreans. There is a lot of workload, there are high hierarchical relations, and that can be challenging.” While she knew about it in advance, being able to actively experience that workplace dynamic was still shocking.
She then reflects her experience and how it shaped her and how it may differ for each person depending on their background, which plays a huge role in determining whether you may stay in Korea. She says, “The average experience of a European student will be different than an American one, and that of an Asian one”. She notices that people from certain backgrounds, particularly if one is from China or if one is from Central Europe, there tends to be prejudice towards Chinese and favoritism towards the Central Europeans, which she finds sad and unfortunate. While one’s roots and background play a factor, how fluent they are in Korean will also play a huge role in whether you can find a job and stay.
“I feel like I’ve become much more hardworking since I’m living in Korea, but I feel like it’s just the immigrant life. You have to do more than the average local person, to prove your worth”, she adds.
The question now is would we still recommend anyone to study or intern in Korea despite the whiplash that may deter people from coming to Korea. “I think if anyone has the opportunity to do an internship or study here, to do it and enjoy it fully, travel a lot, visit the country. Don’t think ‘I have time I will do it later’. I feel like everyone here can be happy as a student, but there’s a big difference between studying here and working here. I don’t know what advice to give, aside from trusting your guts, you can give it a shot, see how you like it. I do feel like if I hadn’t met my partner, I wouldn’t have stayed, but I’m so glad I did.”
She also recommends the KIIP program for those who are aiming to study and possibly stay long term in Korea. Specifically, it is best to do the program and take classes while being a student, as students will have more ample time and not having to juggle with full time work. “It will help your Korean a lot, and give you immigration visa points, and companies like it! Also you won’t have to retake TOPIK (since those expire every 2 years). I regret not doing it then, because I had to do it while working and it’s draining”, she adds.
Takeaways: Balancing “Nunchi” & Self-worth
Her biggest advice for those looking to follow in her footsteps? Know and master 눈치 (nunchi), which is reading the room (and social cues, as well as reading the emotional atmosphere). Though it is important to have nunchi, she reminds to everyone, “I don’t believe there is one piece of advice that would fit every company, for sure hierarchy has a really big place in Korean work relationships, but it might be more or less prevalent, same for overtime. It may even be different inside one company depending on each team/department.”
She also offers her ‘hot take’ for fellow foreigners in Korea – Don’t be afraid to use the “Foreigner Card.” While not an excuse for poor work and important things in general, she views it as a tool for navigating cultural misunderstandings. This is due to the fact that no matter how well foreigners speak Korean, Koreans still do not fully accept foreigners into the local society. Moreover, as long as you explain your reasoning and be respectful, Korean colleagues will understand, though you may still need to respect and learn from them if they find the need to ‘correct’ a foreigner’s perspective. She ends with the idea of “You are your own person with your own background, and that’s okay.”
Above all, Johanna emphasizes mental health and self-worth. She warns against the “foreigner-only” job traps that promise visas but either break the promise or deliver more stress long term. In her final advice, she adds “I know it’s hard because job security is really important as an immigrant, but don’t lose yourself to that. Coming home and crying every day after work, then going to work with a weight in your stomach just at the idea of seeing certain colleagues again, it’s not worth it. Don’t stay with people who show you less respect just because you’re a foreigner. Stand up for yourself, know your worth, you will find something else, where you’re truly appreciated for your worth. And this advice is not only relevant to foreigners in Korea, it’s relevant to everyone, everywhere.”
Conclusion
Building a life abroad isn’t just about the highlight reels of student life. Rather, it’s about the quiet resilience required to bridge two different worlds. Johanna’s story proves that while the immigrant life demands twice the effort, it also offers twice the growth. But it’s not for everyone. At the same time, going to Korea is still worth the experience – whether it’s as a student or as a professional, sometimes the twist and turns of our journey makes the experience rewarding.
Stay tuned for our next story this Thursday, where we’ll continue to explore the diverse paths of those making their mark and sharing their stories across the globe.
Best,
Mason
East & Weast