ContentsView article sectionsAbout the Following Hobby ListTips for Joining a Hobby Community OnlineRead and Follow Group RulesGo SlowGive Back to the CommunityBe a Safe CommunicatorDemonstrate GratitudeHome & LifestyleFoodCafesCraft Beer & BrewingGardeningBoard GamesAnimal Rescue & SupportSportsSkateboarding, Inline Skating, and Roller SkatingHikingRock ClimbingCyclingSurfingEducation and LearningCommunity ClassesKorean Language ClassesLanguage ExchangesTravel Around KoreaPlanning TripsCampingOther Posts You May Find HelpfulRecently we posted Tips for Making Friends in Korea and we mentioned embracing your hobbies. Of course, that’s easier said than done. You’ve moved to a new country and language limitations may make accessing your hobby difficult. I want to help make it easier by connecting you with groups in Korea where you can search for connections. About the Following Hobby List Koreans absolutely love indulging in hobbies. The country is filled with clubs, academies, and groups for just about any hobby you can think of. Additionally, if you join something like a climbing gym the other climbers will likely want to engage with you and hang out after hours. Assuming of course, you act open to friendship. The following list does not even come close to touching on all the hobbies available. Just because a hobby isn’t on this list doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist in Korea. You can surf The following list of hobbies list is based on easy-to-access information. The hobbies included here have information available in English or online support groups that help you connect. Consider these your gateway to discovering many more wonderful things to do. South of Seoul volunteers love to support the development of hobby-based groups. If you don’t see something you love here, create a group focused on the hobby of your choice and let South of Seoul know! Tips for Joining a Hobby Community Online Of course, once you find a community, how you interact within that community may heavily impact your ability to find friends and support within that community. Remember, you likely joined such communities to make friends and find support. Since yo have a goal, you want to approach others in the groups with the same care and support that you seek to find in return. In order to find the support you seek within online groups, emotional labor may be required. In my 20 plus years of online community management, I’ve found that group members who do the following things have a higher success rate in building strong relationships within online communities: Read and Follow Group Rules Always read the group’s rules. I can tell you right now, group admins and moderators create those rules for a reason and we need you to go by them for a reason. Go Slow Remember that you are stepping into a community that already exists. Get a feel for the relationships that already exist, the patterns of communication the group values, and what information already exists in the group (search the group before asking questions). Give Back to the Community Many people join communities only to take. This quickly gets tiring for those involved with the group. Make sure that you are contributing to the community by commenting, sharing information that’s on topic, and communicating in a way that adds value to the community. Be a Safe Communicator Clearly articulate your needs and requests for information in a way that values other people’s time and effort. Remember that nobody knows where you live, what you value, or your current emotional needs. In other words, avoid asking things like “What’s the best place near me to get herbs.” Instead ask something like, “Where in eastern Pyeongtaek can I find oregano and Indian curry?” Demonstrate Gratitude Thank those that provide you with support and let folks know what you were able to accomplish with the help. Remember that group admins, moderators, and contributors volunteer their time to support you. Thanking them and letting them know how much their support helped helps fill their often heavily depleted emotional gas tanks. Home & Lifestyle When building a new life in Korea, ‘nesting’ may become a big part of feeling ‘at home’ in a new country and culture. It’s very natural to want to create a safe and comfortable home life where you can decompress after a stressful day. Food Learning to cook new foods or groups that focus on your dietary preferences can be a great way to build community. Have friends over to cook food together or throw a potluck. Food helps bring everyone together. Search your area for food-related groups like the ones below. Cafes The hunt for the best cafes can be a fun experience. You could even create some meetups or trips for exploring the best cafes. Craft Beer & Brewing Korea has two very awesome craft beer focused communities that work together to create events and community for beer lovers! Join these groups for meetups and to learn how to brew your own beer! Gardening Gardening has the most chill of all the people. People who take the time to grow their own food often take the time to grow friendships as well. Gardening also gave me a way to connect with others in the agricultural area where I live. The slow food movement was awesome and I loved being a part of it. I even had the honor of speaking and presenting at the Aisa Gusto Slow Food Festival in 2013. Since there wasn’t support for ex-pat gardeners at the time, I co-founded the Expat Gardening in the ROK Facebook group. Of course, you don’t have to grow the garden yourself. You can just go pick fruit with friends as a bonding activity and then make jams, pies, etc. Board Games Board game groups are popular across South Korea and so are board game cafes. To find board game cafes in your area search 보드게임카페 and your city name in Korean. Board games cafes provide space and games to play with your friends. To connect with friends who love board games: join either a local board game group, start a local board game … Continue reading Hobbies for Making Friends in Korea