Gyopos! Listen up. You need your own special post because you've got a more intricate relationship with Korea. That might be the reason you want to come. It also might make your life here more difficult. I know, some of you laugh. You figure you speak the language so life will be easier for you than for the average foreigner. Not likely...
Okay, first thing you need to know. Get an F-4 visa. You have to prove your family is in some government registry books. Some people have a hard time with this, but I'd highly recommend it. This gives you freedom. You can work part time. You can work more than one job. You can quit a job any time. You can get loans / credit more easily.
Just so you know, the average non-gyopo foreigner gets none of those freedoms. And if they want similar rights, they need to marry a Korean. Or work really hard to qualify for a similar visa (it would take most people 3-10 yrs to get it). Or invest half a million dollars in Korea and hire 10 Korean staff....unlikely.
Ok, back to gyopos. Here are some of the challenges: Your Korean probably sucks. Sorry, but most gyopos are shocked when they get here. You probably sound like you're five. If that's not you, sorry - you may indeed be fairly fluent.
Even if you're fluent, there's a good chance the culture shock is going to be more intense. In fact, it's sometimes worse for gyopos than non-gyopos. Here's why: Koreans look at a non-gyopo and think "Foreigner. Speaks English. Strange customs / actions expected. Acts like Hollywood."
Koreans look at gyopos and think "Korean. Strange style. Strange attitude. Arrogant. Can't speak Korean. Idiot." Or - "Can speak Korean. Must be fully Korean. Should act more Korean. Doesn't know how to behave. Very rude." Yeah, basically - if you look like a duck, why aren't you acting like a duck?
Oh, and you know all those annoying things your family does - you're going to find out why. And that makes it harder for you too, because the average non-gyopo doesn't have all the hang-ups that someone raised with Korean culture might have. It's like how your mom can annoy you with a simple comment, but your friends might think it's endearing, or cute, or sweet that she cares, or just no big deal. But because you have history with your mom, she knows how to push your buttons.
But here's the benefits: You will start to understand your family. At least, they won't seem so crazy to you. You'll learn how to communicate better with the older generation, maybe even improve your language skills. And if you're an adoptee, you'll learn about the heritage that you missed out on.
Basically, you'll have a lot of baggage coming in. Even if you think you won't, you'll discover the hidden baggage here. And your culture shock might be even more severe. Oh, and did I mention Koreans might treat you like crap?
BUT it's totally worth it. You will find out just how Korean you are - and how Korean you're not. And that'll probably help you embrace your background and be a more well-rounded, balanced human being. All in all, not a bad thing.
Oh, but don't forget: Get the F-4 visa!
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