Is Racism Common in South Korea? A Korean Local’s Honest View
Racism is a loaded word, and when people ask if it’s common in South Korea, they’re not just curious — they’re trying to understand what it feels like to live, work, study, or raise a family here. I want to approach this from the perspective of someone who was born and raised here, and who has seen Korea change significantly over the past decade.
The short answer is: yes, racism and discrimination do exist in South Korea — just like in many societies. But how it shows up here is influenced by Korea’s unique history, social structure, and rapid modernization.
Let’s unpack this clearly and realistically.
1. Historical Context: Homogeneity and Change
For most of modern history, Korea saw itself as a homogeneous ethnic society. Unlike countries built through centuries of migration, Korea developed with very little ethnic diversity until recently. That doesn’t mean diversity never existed, but it was not widespread.
This background shaped how people think about “us” and “others.” When most people in a society have grown up with only one predominant ethnicity, reactions to people who look or sound different can range from curiosity to discomfort — not always malicious, but noticeable.
That’s the context in which questions about racism often arise.
2. Everyday Experiences: What Foreigners Notice First
If you ask foreigners living here, many describe incidents like:
- Curious stares in public
- Surprised reactions when speaking English or another language
- Assumptions about nationality based on appearance
- Being asked where they really come from
These behaviors don’t always come from hostility. Often they stem from unfamiliarity — people simply don’t encounter diversity often, and they don’t always know how to interact smoothly at first.
For someone from a multicultural society, this can feel like exclusion.
3. Discrimination Can Be Subtle — and Structural
Unlike overt hate crimes you might read about in other contexts, discrimination in Korea often appears in more institutional or subtle forms. Examples include:
- Difficulty renting apartments without a Korean guarantor
- Employers preferring native Korean speakers
- School programs that don’t accommodate non-Korean language support
- Assumptions about work identity based on nationality
These issues are not universal, but they are common enough that NGOs, community groups, and international residents talk about them regularly. They reflect structural barriers, not always individual animosity.
4. Racism vs. Cultural Ignorance
I hear this distinction a lot from both Koreans and foreigners: Sometimes what feels like racism is really cultural ignorance.
Many Koreans simply haven’t been exposed to diverse ethnic groups. This lack of exposure can make interactions awkward, unintentionally rude, or insensitive — not because someone hates another race, but because they genuinely don’t know better.
This distinction matters because:
- It shapes how we educate society
- It affects how foreigners interpret behavior
- It influences how Korean society evolves
Over time, more exposure leads to more understanding.
5. Young Koreans Are Changing the Narrative
If you spend time with younger Koreans — in universities, start-ups, cafés, or informal gatherings — you’ll notice a shift.
Many young people:
- Follow global cultural trends
- Value multicultural friendships
- Learn languages
- Travel abroad
- Embrace diversity on social media
These young Koreans often have more global perspectives and are more comfortable interacting across cultural boundaries than older generations.
6. Racism Can Be Intentional — and Real
I don’t want to dismiss lived experiences. Some foreigners in Korea report explicitly racist comments, refusal of service, or exclusion in social situations. These experiences are real, and they matter.
When this happens:
- It’s often about stereotype, not deep hatred
- It’s uncomfortable and painful for the person targeted
- It signals areas where society still needs to grow
No one should minimize these experiences — they’re valid and worth addressing.
7. Legal and Social Changes Toward Inclusion
Korea’s government and civil society recognize these challenges. There are ongoing efforts to promote multicultural understanding:
- Multicultural family support centers
- Korean language programs for foreigners
- Anti-discrimination discussions in media
- University diversity initiatives
- International community events
Progress is not perfect, but it is happening.
8. Comparisons With Other Countries
Many foreigners compare Korea to places like the United States, Canada, or Europe, where multiculturalism is more deeply institutionalized.
In those societies:
- Diversity has a long history
- Legal protections against discrimination are well established
- Public education often includes multicultural awareness
Korea is on a different timeline. Its multicultural journey is newer and more uneven, not because Koreans are inherently unwelcoming, but because the society is still learning what diversity means in daily life.
9. What Indians Specifically May Notice
Indian residents and visitors often mention:
- Surprise at how little racial diversity Koreans have historically experienced
- Curiosity from locals rather than hostility
- Assumptions about nationality or language ability
- Genuine willingness from some Koreans to learn about Indian culture
Many Indians feel welcomed once they build personal connections, even if the first impressions were confusing.
10. How to Navigate These Cultural Dynamics
If you’re planning to live, work, or study in Korea, here are practical understandings that help:
- Expect curiosity — not necessarily negativity
- Learn some Korean — it opens doors socially
- Build support networks with other internationals
- Seek out multicultural spaces and communities
- Share your culture openly — Koreans often appreciate that
- Speak up respectfully when boundaries are crossed
These approaches shift misunderstandings into opportunities for connection.
Final Thoughts from a Korean Local
So, is racism common in South Korea?
The honest answer is it does exist, but it is not a simple or uniform phenomenon.
Korea has historically been ethnically homogeneous, and that shapes how people perceive and interact with difference. Some behaviors stem from unfamiliarity and lack of exposure rather than deliberate prejudice. That’s not an excuse, but it is context.
As Korea becomes more global — through international students, multicultural families, foreign professionals, and travelers — the society is learning, adapting, and slowly becoming more comfortable with diversity.
From my standpoint, the presence of racism doesn’t define Korea. What defines Korea now is the growing awareness of diversity and the effort to understand it better.
That’s an important distinction — and a hopeful one.