Bakulya, born in 1989 in the Talas region and having completed her studies at a college of economics and law, shares her adventures in South Korea. Currently, she is successfully working, studying, and raising children in her new country.
After receiving her education in Kyrgyzstan, Bakulya moved to Russia, where she got married and became a mother of two children. However, after seven years, without officially registering her marriage, she separated from her husband. Finding herself without financial support and alimony, Bakulya struggled to cope with rising expenses.
“Every year, expenses grew, and it was impossible to afford anything extra,” she recalls.
Striving to create better conditions for her children, Bakulya did not want them to go through the same hardships she faced. Her dream was for her children to lead a full life, engage in their favorite activities, and not just survive.
In search of a country for relocation without a visa (which became easier with Russian citizenship), she turned to travel agencies. As a result, she was offered a ticket to South Korea. At that time, Bakulya was suffering from allergies, and the doctor advised her to change the climate, which she took as a sign of fate. “I decided that this was my path, indicated by the Almighty,” she shares.
Upon arriving in Korea in 2018, she was surprised: her allergy disappeared in just three days. This became a convincing argument for her to stay.
Bakulya notes that Koreans show respect to those around them, trying not to make noise in apartment buildings. For example, they use special socks for chairs to avoid disturbing neighbors who work night shifts.
Gradually, after marrying a Korean man, she began to immerse herself in Korean traditions. “Koreans greatly value their customs. There are only two major holidays celebrated with parents here,” she explains.
Bakulya is impressed by how Koreans value family ties: children gather with their parents, cook, eat, and spend time together, which she considers a wonderful tradition.
Employers in Korea, according to her observations, are generous with rewards: for good work, they invite employees to dinner, provide free lunches, and transportation. When leaving for their homeland, they also give gifts. “They know how to express gratitude,” Bakulya notes.
She pays special attention to the mentality of elderly people, who do not stay at home and do not command their daughters-in-law. Her mother-in-law, for example, says that even cleaning is a way to maintain health.
According to her, the climate in Korea is very humid, and even 30-degree heat feels much heavier than in Kyrgyzstan: “It feels like the atmosphere in a sauna.”
At first, Bakulya found it difficult without knowing the language. Once, lost in an unfamiliar city late at night, she met people who helped her get home. They even took her to the library and encouraged her to study.
There were many such instances of help. At the employment center, her boss, understanding that Bakulya was struggling to find work due to a lack of language skills and experience, fed her every day. “I used to be a migrant worker, and now I am the wife of a Korean. I see a different side of Korea,” she shares.
In Korea, there are programs for foreign citizens that include free language education and providing toys for children. Bakulya's older children, upon arriving in the country, received support from a Russian-speaking teacher.
Initially, Bakulya found it difficult to adapt to the language and culture. At first, she only ate rice. Funny situations arose due to differences in mentality, especially when she learned about Korean funerals, where she was introduced as a “blonde” because of her citizenship.
Koreans are not accustomed to spontaneous visits. They prefer to notify in advance of their intentions, even when going to their parents. For example, her husband's grandmother decided to live separately to avoid stress.
There are many Kyrgyz communities in Korea that gather for holidays and in difficult times.
Bakulya's husband is a Korean who lived in Chicago for 14 years. They have a daughter together. He holds three degrees and works as a chef, although his professions are quite different. They met on a blind date, where they discussed their expectations of marriage. Bakulya immediately stated that she disagreed with the idea that a woman should do everything.
She chose him because she understood that family relationships require respect and mutual understanding. Her husband accepted her children and takes care of them, and he also showed care by giving gifts to her family.
To make Bakulya's adaptation easier, her husband invited her mother and brothers with their families to Korea, who now also live and work here.
According to her, she has almost no free time: “Even a visit to a friend needs to be planned in advance. Every minute is scheduled.”
In the future, Bakulya dreams of working in the tourism sector, connecting Korea and Kyrgyzstan. “Our country has many amazing places: mountains, nature, natural food. I want to organize tours in Kyrgyzstan,” she concludes.
