South African teacher drawn to Korea's 'rich culture' and Jeju's sea

“I was drawn to a country with a rich culture”… Jeju elementary school teacher often visits the sea

“Please talk to us first, even if you use Papago”

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Se-jin = Thabisile Makhathini (29), from South Africa, had long dreamed of living in different countries around the world.

When she decided to move abroad, she wrote down the names of several countries and carefully compared them one by one. In the end, she chose Jeju Island in South Korea.

The most important factor for her was finding a country with a "rich culture."

She said she wanted to live somewhere that was not only economically developed, but also full of history, traditions and vibrant everyday life.

Makhathini said she was deeply impressed by Korea's innovation and rapid industrial growth, but what attracted her most was the country's resilience in rebuilding itself from the devastation of war into one of the world's leading economies.

"My curiosity about how Korea achieved such rapid growth was very strong," she said. "The resilience and work ethic of the Korean people were extremely impressive to me."

She added that her mother, who worked for a nongovernmental organization(NGO), also had a strong influence on her decision to live abroad.

"She always told me to travel, experience other countries and see the world for myself," Makhathini said.

Before choosing Korea, Makhathini repeatedly watched videos of traditional Korean dance online and became interested in Korean temples, traditional architecture and colorful "hanbok."

She was also fascinated by the pink muhly fields that appear across Jeju during autumn.

Korea's culture of respecting elders also stood out to her.

"Respecting elders is also very important in South Africa," she said, adding that although many things in Korea felt unfamiliar, there were also cultural values that felt surprisingly familiar.

Makhathini first arrived in Korea in February 2023 and described the country as "fast and efficient, yet still deeply connected to its traditions and culture."

Having grown up in a relatively quiet city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, she said the pace of life in Korea initially felt overwhelming but refreshing.

She also pointed to Korea's safety and social order as major advantages.

"The fact that people can walk around relatively safely even late at night is something I really appreciate," she said.

Makhathini, who currently teaches English at an elementary school in Jeju, said she still believes choosing Korea was the right decision even after more than three years of living here.

She said one of the biggest attractions of life in Korea is the opportunity to continue learning and growing in a society that values development and innovation.

The interview was conducted through SNS messages and a phone conversation.

Makhathini said the ocean is her favorite place in Jeju.

She enjoys walking or jogging along the beach after work and joked that she loves the sea so much she does not want to leave the island.

She also expressed affection for her students.

"My students work very hard to learn English," she said. "They are kind and respectful, and they often introduce me to new K-pop songs."

At the same time, adapting to life in Korea was not always easy.

"In South Africa, people tend to start conversations with strangers very easily, but in Korea, people are generally more cautious," she said.

She added that loneliness was one of the hardest parts of living alone in Jeju, especially in the beginning.

Still, she said life in Korea has made her mentally stronger.

Before attending university, she also spent one year living in Germany.

"The work ethic and diligence I see in Korean society motivate me to become a more mature person," she said.

Makhathini, who majored in business management at university, also helps fellow South Africans living in Korea manage their finances and investment plans.

She shares information related to loans and property purchases in South Africa and connects people with useful resources through social media and video calls.

Her activities recently led to her nomination for the "Icon of the Month" program organized by the Korea-Africa Excellence Awards (KAFXA), which recognizes active members of African communities living in Korea.

She added that more South Africans living abroad are becoming interested in investing in property back home.

Makhathini said she hopes Koreans will approach foreigners more openly.

"Please try talking to us first, even through Papago," she said. "We are also trying our best to communicate in Korean, even if our Korean is not perfect."

She added that many South Africans come to Korea hoping to build meaningful lives and contribute positively to Korean society.

(By Park Se-jin, Ubuntu Content Team of Yonhap News)

※ Editor's note: This article is the English version of a Korean-language story, helped by AI translation in part and checked by an editor.