Translation result
[Herald Economy=Reporter Kim Bo-young] A Chinese man who said he visited Seoul more than any other foreign city over the past year left a candid review of life in the city that has caught people’s attention.
Recently on the social platform X, a user wrote, “I come to Seoul once every one to two months to get skin treatments in Gangnam,” and the post started circulating.
He admitted Seoul didn’t wow him at first. “It wasn’t as grand as Beijing, not as polished as Shanghai, and didn’t feel like the high-tech Shenzhen,” he wrote. “Some areas looked ordinary and a bit worn—like third- or fourth-tier county towns in China.”
But after more visits, he began noticing Seoul’s quieter charms.
“People you meet on the street look tidy, fresh, and well put together,” he said. “It feels like everyone pays attention to personal hygiene and appearance.”
He also praised the city’s public spaces. “Public restrooms are very clean everywhere, and even the subway air feels fresh,” he wrote. “Thoughtfulness for people with disabilities shows up in small details across facilities, and the city is very pet- and animal-friendly.”
He commented on public-transport etiquette as well. “There are many seats reserved for the elderly, disabled, and pregnant women, and people avoid sitting in the red seats even when standing,” he observed. “Everything feels maintained with dignity.”
He highlighted Seoul’s neighborhood life and convenience. “The alleys branch out like capillaries—clean and lined with handy convenience stores and cozy cafés,” he said. “No matter where you live, you can go downstairs and find small, delicious restaurants everywhere. Even ordinary eateries feel clean and warm.”
On prices, he said they’re “not as burdensome as I expected,” noting that a Venti-sized iced Americano at Starbucks is about 27 yuan (approximately 5,000 KRW, about $3.75).
“Some people measure a city’s development by infrastructure and skyscrapers, but that’s not how I see it,” he concluded. “Order, cleanliness, consideration, and convenience matter more to me.”
The post drew around 200 comments. Some Chinese netizens agreed: “True. I spent a year in Korea and the air was really good,” “Spring there makes you so happy—the air smells wonderful and people dress neatly,” and “That dignified feeling is a rare, healing experience when you travel.”
Others raised cultural and social differences. Comments included, “From afar it looks like Manhattan, but up close it’s ordinary people struggling,” and “When social norms conflict with personal gain, Chinese people tend to choose the latter. Those who relied on the central government didn’t survive troubled times.”
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