It was about a month after I quit my job. From May 30th to June 29th, I spent exactly 30 days traveling across several countries in Europe and meeting many new people.
In Italy, France, and the UK, I met people through a popular online community called 'Yurang,' and in Germany, I met others at Korean guesthouses. Among them were those I wanted to keep seeing back in Korea, while others remained as fleeting, one-time connections. Regardless, I believe the time we spent together will remain etched in a corner of my memories.
Most people I met while traveling were wonderful. The very idea of travel—doesn't it make your heart flutter? We lived different lives and pursued different goals, yet everyone I met on the road shared one common spark.
However, rather than focusing on the pleasant parts, I'd like to share a different side. While travel is exciting, we sometimes experience moments that are anything but. Just as not every moment in life is perfect, the same goes for travel. These moments are usually defined by our relationships, and negative emotions can be amplified by the people we meet—or could have met—on the journey.
Upon finishing my trip, I posted the following on the 'Yurang' cafe, which I’m re-sharing here:
Title: Has Being Ill-Mannered Become a Trend for Travel Companions?
Hello, this is Taehoon Kwon.
Through this community, I’ve met many people during my travels. Thanks to them, my journey was far more enjoyable than it would have been alone. They shared restaurant recommendations and local tips, and helped me create better memories as we shared meals or drinks. Some were even individuals who could have a significant impact on my life.
I can't say I remember every face or every name. That is the reality. But I do remember the moments. In the movie Into the Wild, there’s a line: "Happiness is only real when shared." My days were a continuous string of such moments.
I believe everyone has had an experience like this at least once. Even if it’s not a trip to Europe, the moments we experience while traveling tend to stick with us for a long time. I think that’s one of the reasons we love traveling.
However, it’s disappointing to see people who sever these potential experiences, either intentionally or through ignorance. Based on my own experiences and stories I’ve heard from others, I’d like to highlight a few common issues.
Here is what I’ve experienced and heard:
1. Using informal language (banmal) immediately upon first contact.
2. Making plans and then failing to show up at the agreed time.
3. Excluding or bullying an individual when meeting as a group.
4. Consistently failing to respond to messages.There are many other issues, but I’ve summarized the most common ones. I’ve seen this happen across the board, regardless of gender, but (without intending to disparage any specific group) it seemed more frequent with younger travelers and, in some cases, more often with women.
Because of this, travelers start to judge potential companions more strictly. We screen people through their messages and posts, questioning if they will treat us with basic human decency.
I have a request. As I wrap up my European trip and head back to Korea, I hope this post serves as a starting point for a better companion culture, so that others might suffer less from these issues.
Let’s maintain basic etiquette. Please use polite language (jondaemal) with strangers and take responsibility for the promises you make.
Just as you invest your time and money into the people you meet, they are doing the same for you. I hope we can all try to leave good impressions and create positive memories rather than sour ones.
It’s never too late to decide whether a connection is meant for a single meeting or a lifetime after you actually meet. Everyone has something to teach us, simply because they are better than us in at least one way.
While I’ve focused on the negative here, as I said at the beginning, the majority of people I met were wonderful. Thanks to them, I was able to finish a great trip. I end this here, hoping it doesn't spark unnecessary debate.
Thank you for reading this long post.
I chose a somewhat provocative title on purpose. While many might think these things, I hadn't seen anyone put them into words. To someone like me, who genuinely likes people and values human connection, meeting new people is incredibly precious. Because of that, writing this felt like a small, necessary duty.
I sincerely hope for a better companion culture to take root. Whether you’re preparing for a solo trip to Europe, have already been, or are there right now, I hope we don't show such disappointing sides of ourselves to our fellow travelers.