Living in Busan for 1 Week: The Good & the Unexpected

My first week living in Busan has been full of surprises — and honestly, most of them have been beautiful ones. There’s something about this city that feels calm, safe, and intentional, almost like life moves at a slightly different frequency here. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I realized just how far your money goes, how peaceful the streets feel, and how good the food really is. It’s a different lifestyle in the best way possible.

But I also ran into a few things that definitely caught me off guard — not ‘bad’ things, just cultural differences nobody really talks about. The recycling system deserves its own documentary… there are layers. The social culture is quieter and more private than what I’m used to. And even something as simple as throwing out trash comes with rules that I had to learn real quick. It’s all part of adjusting to a new country, and honestly? I respect it. It’s structured, it’s organized, and now that I’m learning it, it all makes sense.

Overall, Busan has already shown me more good than anything else. The affordability, the safety, the food, the transportation — it all makes living here feel easy and comfortable once you get the hang of the differences. This is just my honest take from week one, and I’m excited to see what else this city teaches me as time goes on. If you’re curious what life in Busan is really like, here’s my experience so far — the things I love, the things that surprised me, and everything in between. #travelabroad #digitalnomad #nomad #movingabroad