Hello! My name is Soo Gwang, a 22-year-old college student living in Seoul. I've been living a pretty normal life, just like most Koreans. However, ever since I traveled to another country and experienced a whole new culture, I've become more open-minded. Although I consider myself an introverted person, I can say that traveling and meeting new people are what make my life richer!

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Interacting with new people from vastly different backgrounds and mindsets always makes me think about the ideal type of personality—those who are enlightened and have risen above their own cultural biases to embrace universal goodness and altruistic love for humanity. That's why I found Couchsurfing to be the best option for achieving this. Through Couchsurfing, I can meet a diverse range of people who may have nothing in common with me, which is incredibly thrilling for someone like me who was born and raised in a mono-racial country.

Interests

• culture
• books
• working out
• music
• guitar
• badminton
• bicycle

Music, Movies, and Books

I love listening to almost every genre of music, but my favorite is band music from the '70s to '90s — two guitars, one bass, and drums. From Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Nirvana — you name it. Back in high school, when my hormones were all over the place, I used to blast distorted guitars and screaming vocals to let out my anger for no particular reason. But as I’ve gotten older, I find myself drawn to clean tones or subtle bluesy overdrives, even mellow piano sounds. These days, I prefer music that calms me rather than makes me frantic.

My taste in movies tends to revolve around themes of personal growth and life stories. I also find it interesting when a film reflects a realistic side of the world, rather than an overly romanticized, K-drama-like setting — where the male and female leads bump into each other on the street and magically fall in love out of nowhere. Going to the theater alone, munching on a hot dog, and sipping iced coffee is one of my favorite things to do when I have free time.

I’ve tried reading classic books to understand ideas about the world and human life. Along the way, I was lucky enough to discover a thinker who really broadened my perspective — Erich Fromm. But aside from that, I still struggle to fully grasp the meaning of books when they get too philosophical or overly academic.

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Cambodia, China, Guam, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea