What I learned from my Korean friends

Few days ago, when I was a tour guide to four Koreans (read here and here), who were backpacking across Europe, I got a lot of information on their country, the people and life there and on various other things. Let me share some of the things my Korean friends told me and also some of my personal impressions on Koreans:

1. Koreans seem to be very polite, a bit reserved, yet friendly (my impression).
2. They get along very well in groups (my impression).
3. Korean girls are "hard to handle", my friends say. I wonder.
4. Korean girls supposedly want to be treated like princesses all the time, I've been told.
5. Korean girls may not be as loyal as their reputation is, my friends say.
6. Many Westerners date Korean girls.
7. It's hard to get a job in Korea: You need like 50 interviews, I've been told.
8. Korean food is mostly spicy.
9. Koreans love soju, their national drink.
10. American military is not very liked in S. Korea, but my friends say if it was gone, S. Korea couldn't defend itself.
11. Koreans are crazy about cell phones and cameras (my impression).
12. Life in S. Korea is very fast-paced, many Koreans don't find time to relax.
13. Koreans study very hard and have many exams.
14. Koreans drive on the right side of the road (unlike UK and Japan).
15. Speed limit on Korean highways is 110km/h.

This is the info I got so far. I knew some of these things, but some other were new to me. I got a better picture, because the info came first hand. It's so different than reading something on a Korea-themed blog or article. Anyhow, I'm keen on learning more about Korea, because I was always interested in it, especially when few years ago I started to watch Kim Ki-duk's movies and later started to like Lee Hyo-ri.
After my Korean friends left my country, two of them offered me to go to Tokyo with me. We had a discussion where I want to travel and I said I wish I could see both: Seoul and Tokyo. If I had company, that would be so much better. And my friend, Hwan, is really a good planer. I'd totally trust him, if he organized a trip to Tokyo (from Seoul). I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope I will make it at least to Korea, my newest passion.

[Photo of Han Chae-i by Clemens 2009: Source]