10 Types of Guys You Meet in Korea

I honestly wanted to title this blog post, “10 Types of Fuqbois You’ll Meet in Korea”, but I don’t think Google would find it very funny. Hence why I’m going to talk about the types of guys you meet in Korea because legit, they do really fall into stereotypes.

Every country has their own unspoken dating rules and styles, and coming into it can be super overwhelming. That being said, dating in Korea as a foreign woman is no easy feat.

This blog post is meant to give you insight into the douchebags that lurk in the dark clubs, masquerading as “nice” guys, or the types of men you find on the language exchange and dating apps.

I’m not here to say all men are trash because there are good humans out there. Unfortunately, in my experience being single for the last couple of years, I have met a plethora of less than satisfactory men. I’m making this blog post to help my fellow women because there are a lot of selfish dickheads who don’t care how badly they hurt you in the end. We women MUST look out for each other.

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1. Cheating Choon

You’ll usually find Choon on all the apps. This includes Interpals, HelloTalk, Meef, Bumble, and Tinder. (And honestly whatever tf else is out there.) His profile will usually be sporting grainy photos from 2007 of him rocking his wife beater and visor. He’s an older guy and tries to play the maturity and baller card. Choon has Peter Pan Syndrome and loves juggling multiple girlfriends.

Choon’s double life consists of a wife and/or kids in another city in Korea. (Sometimes he’ll have two phones. One for his wifey the other for his many girlfriends.) Choon should probably keep his pathetic cheating ass at home, but instead gets off on the ego boost thinking he’s desired by many women.

Beware Cheating Choon because he’s just one nasty ajhussi. He’s been subjected to Korea’s nonexistent sex education and doesn’t wear condoms. Choon might also have an ultimate goal of sleeping with 100 women in his lifetime.

2. Gangnam Gunwoo

Gangnam Gunwoo is the boy you’ll always find exquisitely dressed. He spends a fortune on hair, skin, and makeup. Don’t even dare touch him with your unmanicured, dirty hand, you selfish swine. He’ll lose his shit.

He’s also always on the ‘gram flexing his biceps, designer clothes, and man clutch. Take your pick of a BMW, Audi, or Porsche. Chances are, Gunwoo drives it, and probably can’t afford it.

This wannabe high class man thinks he’s hot shit because of his 10K Instagram followers. You’ll find the comment section filled with girls throwing their kitty cats because of his money, image, and club baller status. Let’s be real, most of his photos feature his fancy VIP table in an overpriced club, surrounded by club models chugging the Dom Pérignon he paid for.

Gunwoo can’t go more than five minutes without checking himself out in all of Korea’s public mirrors or telling you he’s from Gangnam. He most likely had plastic surgery for his high nose and double eyelids. Also, stop eating so much because you’re gonna get fat and he hates fat girls. Gangnam Gunwoo is disgusted by the rest of Seoul, particularly Hongdae and Itaewon. You’d never catch him gracing said areas with his pompous ass.

3. Han the Hoe

Han the Hoe is pretty decent looking, traveled through most Western countries, and only dated foreign women. He speaks great English because of his previous lovers, and doesn’t like Korean girls. In fact, he’ll probably tell you multiple times how he hates them, their expectations, and how shallow they are. Be careful because this will make you feel special and he’ll use this to manipulate you.

Han won’t stick around longer than a few months or until the next new and shiny foreigner comes to Korea. His social media is full of foreign chicks in their early 20s that he probably slept with, met at the club, or met on dating apps. His ulterior motives include using you for a hot rump and a free place to stay while he’s traveling abroad. There’s also a very high probability he had sex with every second foreigner you know in Hongdae. 

4. Hip-Hop Hyun

Mr. Hip-Hop Hyun is infamous for appropriating black culture he sees on TV. Sometimes he’ll have permed hair, cornrows or dreadlocks. You’ll only see him in street clothes or the weirdest shit he can find. As his name suggests, he strictly listens to Western hip-hop and thinks Bruno Mars is Godly. (I’ll have to agree with him on this one too.) Hyun will be donning his fake Supreme getup at Sinkhole every weekend showing off his moves.

If he’s not showing his mad skills, he’s creepily standing in the corner looking for foreign girls to force dance with him. He will most likely ask:

• Do you like hip-hop? Do you know Tupac?
• Do you like Korean boys?
• Do you like K-pop? Do you know Jay Park? I danced in his video once.

5. Loser Back Home

This was the guy who was a total loser in his home country and girls wouldn’t even give him the time of day for his less than sparkling personality. He’s usually an ESL teacher and speaks barely passable Korean. (Which to him means he’s completely fluent.)

Here, he realizes some Korean chicks have a fetish for white men, and he quickly morphs into a well versed Casanova. His white skin and blue eyes give him get out of jail free passes with almost everyone in Asia. His go to line is, “I prefer Asian women because they’re not fat, ugly, loud, and opinionated like Western women.”

Alas, spoken like a true, entitled, sack of shit…

6. Military Mike

This specimen is extremely dangerous so approach with caution. Military Mike lived in Korea for around six months to four years, has or had a Korean girlfriend for a while, and pretends like he knows everything about Korea and Koreans. In reality, he speaks zero Korean. For him, Korea is like an escape from his crappy job and testosterone filled workplace.

Some Military Mikes will occasionally have significant others back home and use the line, “I’m separated, but in the process of getting a divorce.” Or if they’re about to leave and want some booty, they’ll lie through their teeth. Their go to line is, “I’m in Korea until May, but I might extend.”

7. Superior Sanghoon

Superior Sanghoon will make your stomach hurt from laughter with how highly he thinks of himself. He’s usually below average and much better looking after three or so bottles of soju.

Sanghoon speaks fluent English he studied in Korea. He’s never been abroad and his intolerance or ignorance for other cultures and countries shows this. However, he’ll try to make up on his bad points by telling you he’s a college educated engineer from one of Korea’s sky universities. Sanghoon will endlessly brag about his knowledge of your country’s politics, recent events, or sports. Then, he’ll swoop in by saying you can be besties. In reality, he’s trying to set you up to go drinking and get in your panties.

8. Gyopo Greg

Most Gregs were born in America or Canada, and not accepted as a full Korean in Korea. He spent most of his life abroad so you’ll start thinking, “Yes! Someone who has a western mindset and perhaps more in common!” You’ll usually find him on Tinder under the names of Jay, Charles, Ryan, Sam, etc.

Often handsome and charismatic, he claims he’s more at ease with foreign women, but would never marry one. (Come on ladies, his parents expect him to marry another Korean or Asian and make cute babies.) You might believe things are going swimmingly when out of nowhere, you’ll find you’ve been blocked on Kakao and he has turned into a phantom.

9. Exchange Student Ethan

New to Korea, Ethan wants to meet people to use as a free tour guide or hang out with at the clubs in Hongdae. You’ll find him in his hometown’s sports team getup or letterman jacket 24/7. This guy is usually really spoiled and his ridiculously expensive semester abroad was funded by his parents. Ethan knows less than Jon Snow, and doesn’t care about anything or anyone. He just wants to have fun and leave Korea in four months. Every other weekend Ethan is getting lost in Japan or Thailand. He’ll most likely ask, “Have you tried those live octopus legs yet?”

10. White Horse Woobin

White Horse Woobin is your fantasy man fresh out of a K-drama on SBS. He doesn’t speak a lick of English but insists he wants to learn it. His smile will make you melt and you’ll really feel like you’re living in your own Korean drama. This guy is the ultimate soft boy and will make you think he cares deeply for you. Remember, he’s only banking on your wildest dreams to reach his end goal.

One of his favorite lines will be, “나는 나쁜 남자 아냐. I’m not a bad man.” He’ll continuously tell you this to ease his guilty conscience.

Woobin will then jump the broom within two days, tell you he loves you, and you’re the most gorgeous woman on the planet. In reality, he just wants to ride the white, brown, or black horse. Sadly, Woobin the loser actually has a Korean girlfriend, so no Kakao! Only Line! (ALL Koreans have Kakao. If they don’t they’re lying. It’s a red flag, so girl, RUN.)

So ladies, let’s hear it. Have you encountered any of these wannabe men with ill intentions? Do you have any other types you’d like to add or more descriptions? Whatever the case, now you know the rag muffin drugstore cowboys to watch out for. I wish you all the best on your dating endeavors.

Note: Before some of you come at me with your guns blazing, all of the photos of the men used are stock photography photos. That means these are copyright free photos and I am free to remix, transform, and use for commercial purposes.

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