Have you considered Korean vs American kitchen expectations? Learn the differences and how to choose your new home.? Kitchens in different countries are not created the same since each kitchen represents the culture and lifestyle of those using it. Since Korean and American cuisines and lifestyles differ, you should expect that there will be some differences in the kitchens. Let’s have a chat about what kinds of differences may exist.
The KimchiRednecks Kitchen Experience
The KimchiRednecks team includes military contractors and military-affiliated persons. We moved to South Korea to work for the US government. This allows us to have two types of kitchen privileges. First of all, our incomes allow us to live a middle-class/upper-middle-class lifestyle, and 2) our areas include many homes designed with a North American aesthetic.
We have done our best to interview other ex-pats and Korean friends to learn about their kitchens. However, we acknowledge that other experiences exist and other information exists outside of this blog. We encourage our readers to read many blogs and watch other YouTube videos regarding this topic in order to develop a deeper understanding of how kitchens may differ.
Additionally, we have lived in South Korea for over five years which means that we may have forgotten a key difference along the way. Feel free to leave your kitchen observations in the comments. We know all expats have different kinds of experiences that can add to the conversation.
Now, let’s dig deeper into Korean vs American kitchen expectations
Importance of Kitchens in Apartment Hunting
When arriving in Korea to work for the US military or a large corporation, you will often meet with one or more realtors to view apartments and homes and find your best fit. While you are checking out the available space, we recommend that you keep a close eye on your kitchen areas as there are many differences between the Korean and American kitchens. You will want to consider these differences when choosing the right place for you.
Top Differences Between North American and Korean Kitchens
Keep in mind that these are the differences we have noted in areas surrounding US military bases in Seoul, Pyeongtaek, Daegu, etc. This is not a comprehensive list and represents observations by US residents living and working in Korea. We know many experiences exist and we would love to hear about your observations in the comments.
Cooking and Storage Space
Kitchens built in Korea for Koreans may be smaller and more compact than some North American kitchens. Korean kitchen designers often try to maximize storage space while not offering a great deal of counter space. Depending upon the home you have chosen (officetel, studio, one room or multi-bedroom apartments or a house), the amount of kitchen space you have will vary.
Korean kitchens often include less counter space due to the fact that food preparation techniques vary. This includes using folding floor tables as a comfortable way to hang out and clean or prep veggies. Additionally, traditional Korean cooking does not require as many countertop gadgets such as mixers, coffee machines, etc.
However, if looking at rental homes built specifically for US service member families, you may find that these unique homes have kitchens similar to kitchens in the US in middle-class homes. If you have your heart set on a kitchen like the US it might be smart to ask for villes (this is a Korean term for a condo or townhouse style home) and single-family homes designed for the US military.
Dining Room Space
The dining area is also often not a separate room but a part of the kitchen as well. This definitely can make the home feel smaller if you are used to having a designated dining room. Large North American dining sets often struggle to fit into Korean apartments in traditional North American configurations. For example, tables often get pushed to the side except for special occasions.
Many Korean homes still use the Korean floor table to prep for cooking as well as eating. This table is usually put out when needed and then stored for future use.
Appliances
Since Korean cuisine and American cuisine differ, the needs of the cook are much different in the Korean kitchen.
Ovens
Most Korean recipes do not require the use of an oven and traditionally ovens don’t exist in Korean kitchens. However, builders include ovens in Korean kitchen design more than they used to. Some Korean rental units include a combination of grill, microwave, and oven. Such multi-use ovens may be smaller than North American ovens and may bake unevenly. Studying how to use an oven with uneven temps may help you adjust in Korea.
Korea uses the metric system for temperatures. You may want to arm yourself with a conversion chart from Fahrenheit to Celsius if you are used to using Fahrenheit.
Dishwasher
We were surprised that in our first apartment we had a combination washing machine/dryer instead of a dishwasher. Later homes that we moved to did have dishwashers. By then, we became accustomed to handwashing dishes and used the dishwasher as a storage area (many Asian families do this too!). Generally speaking, the dishwashers in Korea may have a much smaller load capacity. They may also have different settings from North America. Expect a learning curve.
Cooktops
Cooktops often come in either gas or electric. We thought we had an induction glass cooktop stove in our apartment but later discovered that it was an electric cooktop. The electric cooktop in Korea cooks differently than what I had been used to in the states. We recommend taking your time getting used to your new stove so that you can learn the best way to cook with it.
Many Koreans also have portable gas stoves for tabletop cooking as well. You can find these at E-mart and other stores in the area. We find this to be convenient since we prefer to cook with gas on a regular basis.
Kimchi Refrigerator
Fridges and freezers may vary quite a bit from the North American standard due to different needs regarding preserved foods. You may find that you need to purchase a deep freeze or you may find that you have new types of refrigeration that you’ve never used before.
We have two refrigerators in our apartment. One is a normal fridge that has a cooling section and freezer. Our second refrigerator is a kimchi fridge. This fridge is perfect for families who make and need to store a lot of kimchi. For us, this fridge ends up being a drink fridge.
Miscellaneous Appliances
South Korean kitchens may include new types of appliances you haven’t used before. Prepare to encounter appliances that you may not find useful since you do not cook Korean food. Similar to how Koreans often find ovens useless.
For example, our current apartment has a vegetable washer built into the countertop. We also have a sterilizing unit for knives and cutting boards. Neither of these appliances has been used since we moved into our apartment. They don’t exist in our North American kitchen habits and we have not adapted to them over time.
Electrical Outlets
In the states, our kitchen had several countertops and many electric outlets for all the appliances (coffee maker, Kitchen Aid mixer, toaster, etc.) In our homes here in Korea, there have been fewer electric outlets and often less counter space. We have adjusted to fewer outlets by adding power strips to our kitchen.
If you have many appliances and want more outlets, we recommend making that a priority on your ‘apartment shopping needs’ list when finding a new home.
Additionally, Korea runs off of 220v and the US runs off of 120v. The difference in voltage means that your electronics may need voltage regulators or they will self-destruct. They will also need plug adaptors. If you live near a US military base, you may find homes that have been wired for both 220v and 120v. However, if you live in a home designed for the Korean population the voltage will only be 220v.
Adjusting to Our Korean Kitchen
Moving to a new country, you definitely need to allow yourself some time to adjust to your new living space. Though it is an adjustment, learning to adapt to a different style of kitchen, you may not find it difficult if you embrace the process.
Feelings that you may need to overcome include:
- A sense of loss regarding what you had at home.
- Frustration because kitchens in Korea have been designed for Korean cooking and not western cooking.
- Anger because you need to learn new techniques, settings, and solutions
- Irritation because stores don’t carry North American kitchen options.
We have all been there and you will get through it.
Our Experience Adjusting to Our Korean Kitchen
In our first apartment, the kitchen was so tiny. Adding a shelving unit created more counter space and storage areas for her cooking and baking supplies. Our dining table was also in the kitchen, so we used it as a prep space for cooking.
Melissa loves baking and having an oven that was more familiar to her ended up being a hurdle for us. We decided to order a countertop oven that suits our needs quite well. Our new apartment has an electric cooktop. Our preference is to cook with gas, so we opted for buying a couple of portable gas cooktops to use.
All of these were small hurdles that we learned to make adjustments to as we adapted to our new surroundings and made Korea our home. We have even added many items to our kitchen that help us as we learn to cook even more Korean cuisine.
We have filmed two of the four homes we have lived in while in Korea so far. Those videos are on our KimchiRednecks YouTube channel. Each of them has its perks, but I believe our current kitchen may be our favorite.
If you are ready to start cooking in your new kitchen, be sure to check out our series “A Year To Learn Korean Cooking.”
Check Out Our Videos From When We Moved
More information about making a home in Korea
The KimchiRednecks channel was created in September 2018 by Chuck Whittington and Melissa Edwards-Whittington. They moved to Korea in July 2017 with their three Shih Tzu daughters, Sookie, Minion, and Mayhem.
The YouTube channel started as a way to share their lives here with their friends and families back in the states. They both have a deep love for Korean culture, people, and food and love being able to share that with others.
Chuck Whittington graduated from Francis Marion University with a Bachelors in Information Systems Management. He has worked in Information Technology roles for over 20 years. Chuck has always had an interest in Korea and has traveled here many times in the past.
Melissa Edwards-Whittington graduated from Mid-Atlantic Christian University with a Bachelors in Bible and a Minor in Elementary Education. She has worked in various roles in customer service and marketing over the years.
The YouTube channel has many interests just like they do because it is an extension of their lives here in Korea. You will often find videos on their channel about daily life in Korea, cooking, foodie adventures, traveling and exploring, computer and tech pursuits, gaming, and working on the Subaru BRZ.
Over the years, many of their friends have joined them for their videos and adventures because they enjoy sharing their lives with those around them. In addition, they add new interests from time to time, like making moonshine in Korea.
Life is about growing and changing, and the longer the KimchiRednecks live in Korea, the more they learn to love this country and culture and all it has to offer.
