How to Make Friends in Korea as an International Student
A Korean Local’s Guide to Building Real Connections
Moving to Korea is exciting, but let’s be honest — making friends in a new country can feel like leveling up in a video game without the tutorial. The good news? Koreans are warm, curious, and genuinely happy to meet international students. The secret is knowing where and how to connect.
Here’s your friendly, local-approved guide to making real friends in Korea without feeling awkward or lost
1. Start With Your Classmates
Your classroom is the most natural place to meet people. Korean students might seem shy at first, but once the initial awkwardness disappears, they tend to stick with you like family.
Try this:
Ask about class notes, homework, or good places to eat near campus. These small questions open up surprisingly easy conversations.
2. Join School Clubs and Circles
Korean universities are famous for their club culture. Whether you’re into dance, music, sports, languages, volunteering, or gaming, there’s a group for you.
Club activities are one of the fastest ways to make real, long-term friends because you meet the same people regularly — and Koreans bond through doing things together rather than just small talk.
3. Say Yes to Group Hangouts
In Korea, friendships grow through shared meals, café chats, and group outings. If someone invites you to grab Korean BBQ, study together, or join a trip, say yes whenever you can.
Even if you’re introverted, attending a few group gatherings makes a huge difference. Many international students say their closest Korean friends came from one spontaneous after-class dinner.
4. Join Language Exchange Meetups
Korea has countless language exchange communities, both online and offline. These events attract people who are open-minded, friendly, and excited to meet foreigners.
You’ll practice Korean, help others with English, and often make friends who genuinely want to hang out outside the meetup.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make the First Move
Something many foreigners don’t know: Koreans appreciate when international students take initiative. A simple “Do you want to get coffee?” or “Let’s study together sometime” goes a long way.
Most Koreans won’t reject friendly gestures — they’re just unsure how confident you are in Korean or whether they might say something wrong in English. Break the ice, and they’ll meet you halfway.
6. Use Apps and Online Communities
KakaoTalk open chats, university Facebook groups, Instagram communities, and study-abroad networks are full of people looking to connect. Many Korean students join these groups specifically to meet international friends.
You’re not alone — thousands of students are looking for the same thing.
7. Explore Korean Culture Together
Friendship grows faster when you share experiences. Try inviting classmates to do something typically Korean:
- Eat tteokbokki at a street stall
- Visit a night market
- Go to a K-pop dance class
- Explore a quiet hanok village
- Study together at a 24-hour café
Koreans love showing foreigners their culture, and these shared moments often turn into your best memories.
8. Learn a Little Korean
You don’t need to be fluent. Even beginner-level Korean helps you build trust and connection instantly. Saying simple phrases like 잘 지냈어? or 밥 먹을래? makes people feel more comfortable around you.
Your effort matters more than your grammar.
Final Tip: Be Genuine
Koreans value sincerity. You don’t need to act overly outgoing or pretend to love kimchi if you don’t. Just be yourself, show interest, and people will naturally gravitate toward you.
Making friends in Korea isn’t difficult — it’s just different. Once you understand how Korean social culture works, you’ll find yourself surrounded by classmates, club members, and new friends who feel like home.
Soon, you’ll not only study in Korea — you’ll belong here.