[KapanLagi Cerita Korea Ep 3] Korea that is All Easy: Living Conveniently in the Land of Ginseng

Kapanlagi.com - “Yes, yes, thank you. Fan, the chicken is about to arrive.

My roommate, Pamul, called me, a black cellphone stuck to his ear. Every two or three weeks, Pamul and I order delivery fried chicken as a yashik, or late-night stomach filler. Conveniently, just a phone call away, the chicken is delivered to the front of our dormitory complex. Occasionally, to entertain ourselves from the exhaustion of studying, it's okay to be a little extravagant. I looked at my cellphone screen, it was 9:35. Usually, the chicken arrives 8 minutes after being called, but with my thick jacket, I immediately went out of the room and entered the elevator. Floor 1, I press the button.

The night wind in the UNIST campus dormitory complex surrounded by high hills really makes me shiver, but I always want to be the one who goes out of the room to get the chicken. "You make the call, I'll get the chicken," I suggested to Pamul. The reason is simple, buying instant rice. Indonesians, when eating chicken, must have rice. I push the glass door of the convenience store in front of the dormitory, the small bell on top jingles.

"Eoseo oseyo (welcome)," I hear the same welcome greeting from the cashier every day.

In my campus, pyeoneui-jeom, or convenience store becomes an important source of food, because not all UNIST students eat in the cafeteria, and the dormitory does not provide a kitchen. From the entrance, several large shelves can be seen, one filled with cup ramyeon, one filled with rows of biscuits and chips, another dominated by ready-to-eat burgers and doshirak, a complete lunch box containing rice, vegetables, and meat, a cheap and healthy lunch menu.

I found what I was looking for in front of the doshirak shelf. Instant rice, haetban, as my friends usually call it. This haetban is a convenience that I have never encountered in Indonesia. Cooked rice is cooled and wrapped in a plastic bowl, just microwave it for 3 minutes, ready to eat. The price is 1,900 won, or about 20 thousand rupiah. Indeed, in Indonesia I can get a complete uduk rice for half the price, but in Korea this price is still comparable to instant noodles. In days of saving money and time, I often eat haetban with practical friends, starting from ramyeon to ready-to-eat canned tuna, all can be bought at the Convenient pyeoneui-jeom, for an easy life.

Tonight there is a buy two get one free promotion for haetban, so I took 3 at once and brought them to the cashier. I took out my student card from my wallet, which also serves as a bank debit card, dormitory key, and laboratory access. All-in-one. In the past, I even marked my attendance in class by sticking this card on the classroom entrance, but because of many incidents of students "sticking and running away", UNIST switched to a Bluetooth system from mobile phones.

"The total is 3,800 won," said the cashier lady, once again with that standard tone, although her expression looked tired. I handed her my card. Although I always have cash in my wallet, I hardly ever use it because everyone transacts with electronic money. It's not complicated to count change. It's also safer, if it's lost it can be tracked immediately.

While waiting for the transaction, I see the microbiology textbook open next to the cashier machine. Hehe, I got an A in that class last year, I thought. Many UNIST students work part-time at pyeoneui-jeom, and they usually study when there are not many customers. Even if there are customers during exam week, they still study. Korean people really value time, work as hard and as fast as possible. Maybe it's also because everything is made practical here, so you can focus on work without being disturbed by trivial things.

“The transaction is successful, thank you,” said the cashier lady, my card in her outstretched hand. Without taking the card, I checked the time on my cellphone. 9:40 am, still a few minutes left.

“Can I top up my ‘my bee’ balance? Just 10,000 won,” I said while handing over a 10,000 won bill. This is the use of cash in my wallet, for ‘my bee’ balance, electronic money for bus and subway rides. The balance is stored on my student card, which also functions as a transportation card, and I often refill it because I frequently take the bus off campus. 

In my opinion, public transportation is indeed the number one convenience in Korea that I rarely experience in Indonesia. In Ulsan City, where UNIST is located, even though there is no subway network yet, the bus facilities are very well-organized. I remember one night after watching a movie in the city center, it was raining quite heavily and the early spring weather was still cold. I was running around looking for a shelter because I was cold, and I saw a bus stop. After opening the plastic curtain that blocked the rain, the atmosphere immediately changed. The bus stop was equipped with room heaters, and even the bench I sat on felt warm. On the wall next to the bench, there was a monitor screen showing real-time bus schedules, ranging from city buses, intercity buses, to express buses to the station and the airport. And this facility was used correctly by the passengers, no one got on or off the bus other than at the bus stop, nor did they fight to get on or off the bus.

"The balance has been topped up with ten thousand won. Thank you,"

Oh, right, I'm still at pyeoneui-jeom. Check the phone screen, it's 9:42. The chicken is almost here. I received my card from the cashier.

“Thank you. Your studying spirit is great, the exam is easy,” I said with a smile, pointing to the package book next to it. She was surprised and laughed, waving her hand towards me who was pushing the door out of the convenience store. The bell jingled above my head.

Walking to the front of the dormitory complex to pick up the fried chicken, my cellphone vibrated. Chat from Pamul. ‘Why is it taking so long, where's the chicken?’ was written. I replied, ‘Just wait a little, I bought rice first’, and put my cellphone back into my pants pocket. I smiled to myself. It turns out this is how it is when life is practical and comfortable, patience is needed.

Written by: Irfan Rulianto (Instagram: @irfan_ruli)

(kpl/mit)