Many South Korean businessmen operate stores in the South Korea Commercial Street in Meijingxincheng(美璟欣城) housing estate, Kunming. (Photo/ Du Wenlei)

A South Korean runs a tea shop in the South Korea Commercial Street, Kunming. (Photo/ Du Wenlei)

The number of South Koreans in Kunming has been on the increase

There are more than 2,300 South Koreans living in Kunming now. For many of them, Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province as well as a spring-like city all the year round, is like their second hometown.

After the first South Korean company was launched in Kunming in 1998, more and more South Koreans have come to settle down in Kunming. Many of them have bought houses in the city.

For most of the South Korean families in Kunming, husbands tend to work in enterprises invested by South Korean. Their wives are responsible for taking care of the family, and their children learn Chinese in schools.

Kunming is just like their second hometown

Jin Hongfan(金洪范) is one of them. Jin is the Chinese market's principal of a South Korean medical device company. He had traveled to many cities in China before, only Kunming gave him a sense of affinity and attracted him to settle down.

"South Korea and Kunming share a similar cultural background. Meanwhile, Kunming boasts its mild climate. I have a very good life in the city." said Jin.

He and his family settled down in Kunming in 2004. They have lived here for 9 years.

Jin felt unaccustomed to life pace of Kunming in the beginning. "I was used to work over 10 hours every day in South Korea, and the definition of weekend was totally disappeared in my dictionary due to overtime working. However, the situation in Kunming is quite different form my hometown. The city's life pace is very slow. Maybe it is because that local residents suffer less pressures from commodity price and competition."

Jin's friends feel the same as him. Cui Chenyou(崔辰友), the owner of a South Korean restaurant in Kunming said, "Many diners may chat for over one hour during their lunch time. This kind of situation is extremely rare in South Korea."

Nevertheless, before long, they got accommodated to the life in Kunming. Jin's family had bought a house in the Chunzhicheng Housing Estate(春之城小区). In spare time, Jin likes to play soccer tennis with his friends in Yunnan University of Finance and Economics. Jin and his wife usually take their two sons to stroll in Yueyatan Park(月牙谭公园), or to visit other parks or nearby cities, such as the botanical garden, Chengjiang City, etc.

"Many relatives of mine envy my life in Kunming." said Jin,"I have abundant time to develop my hobbies, such as swimming, shopping, and watching movies."

Jin said that he finds Kunming adorable not only for its cozy environment and slow pace of life, but also for the helpful residents around.

Jin recalled, "My two sons are not very adept at speaking Chinese. They have gotten lost in Kunming three times, but each time they were sent home by warm-hearted residents safe and sound."

"My wife once left over her wallet in a taxi. The worse part was that we did not leave our address or telephone number in the wallet. However, traffic police looked for our contact information by all means, and contacted us two days later at last. I was deeply touched." said Jin with great appreciation.

Jin can speak Chinese quite well and is very familiar with this city now.

The storekeeper of a South Korean restaurant makes bibimbap, a famous cuisine of South Korea, for diners in his restaurant, Kunming. (Photo/ Du Wenlei)

Kunming is no longer a lonely and unfamiliar place to Jin and his fellows, since more and more South Koreans have settled down here. In the Chunzhicheng housing estate, dozens of stores operated by South Koreans sell foods, clothes, teas, etc. It is just like a South Korean city.

South Korean families don't need to worry about schooling of their children. Kunming South Korea International School, which provides multilingual teaching in South Korean, English, Chinese, is fully equipped with kindergarten, primary school and high school. The school has over 40 teachers, most of whom are from China, South Korea, America. At present, more than 80 South Korean children study there.

Various activities help them to get involved in local culture

South Koreans in Kunming have been keen on participating in local cultural activities over the past years.

A China and South Korea food cultural festival was held in a South Korean restaurant in November last year. The most authentic foods of the two countries were exchanged and shared during the festival.

More than 40 residents from Yueyatan Community prepared various Chinese traditional foods, such as Guoqiao Rice Noodles(过桥米线), dumplings and so on, while South Koreans in Kunming made many featured foods of their country, including bibimbap and rice cake.

They also participated in a party which was sponsored by Yuayatan Community to celebrate the Chinese new year. South Koreans performed their traditional songs and dances at the party.

Moreover, there is a China and South Korea Cultural Exchange Association in Kunming. An Genying(安根英), who is 60 years old, is the chairman of the association.

He brought an elephant-foot drum back to South Korea last year. "With the drum, I presented a performance to my relatives and friends. They enjoyed a lot." said An.

The association often organizes activities to promote cultural exchanges. According to An, they often invite residents of Kunming to play South Korea-featured games during the Mid-autumn Festival(be celebrated in the 15th day of the 8th lunar month annually) and the Dragon Boat Festival(be celebrated in the 5th day of the 5th lunar month every year).

The association also holds South Korea sporting contest every year. They compete in the Yunnan University of Finance and Economics for over 10 items, such as running, football and basketball.

"We enjoy to work and live there. Kunming is just like our second hometown now." said An, at last.

Click here to view Chinese report.

（Editors: Tracy, Cathy Chen)