Esteban suffers from the cliche of being Spanish. People will expect him to speak fast and with many words. Only, he’s actually quite reserved and always very precise with what he’ll tell you. Maybe it’s the software engineer in him, maybe it’s his ability to take life as it comes - of just being in the moment. 

If you ask him, Esteban will tell you it’s laziness, but he likes to be thrown out of his comfort zone way too much for us to agree. No one lazy likes challenges like he does, or works as hard as he does. Coming to Korea wasn’t something he planned… And that’s exactly why the country seduced him instantly.

When he landed for the first time, nothing went according to plan and he loved it. There was a very specific way Seoul challenged him and three years later, he’s still around for more.  

How does one end up randomly in Korea?

Destiny? (laughs) I’m kidding. It was just a coincidence. I feel like I’m one of the rare people who didn’t know anything about Korea before coming. Everyone is obsessed with K-pop or the country’s pop culture today, but I had zero knowledge about it. I was more interested in China. 

‍China? 

And Japan. My goal was always to go to Asia when I started being a digital nomad. I only started with Europe because it was February 2022 and I didn’t have a choice because of Covid restrictions. It played out well, though. It was good to try the lifestyle before going so far - what if I hated traveling, felt lonely, and wanted to come home? 

So you came to Korea because of Covid… It was one of the first countries in the region to lift the restrictions, right?  

Yeah. I was super eager to go to Asia, but in August 2022, China was closing more and more, and Japan wasn’t very promising. Korea was one of the first countries to open so I thought, ‘I’ll go there and wait for the other countries to relax’. I had zero expectations. Maybe that’s why Korea became my place. I came and I just stayed here. I completely lost the desire to go to Japan or China. 

Totally?

Well, I did end up going to Japan. But you know what’s funny? I had the opposite experience. I went with so many expectations that I was kind of disappointed. I felt like Japan was a bit stuck in the past compared to Korea.

Why do you think you were hit by this instant crush on Korea? 

The culture shock hooked me. It was something I never experienced before. Because I knew nothing about the country, everything was so difficult but so rewarding in the beginning. I love this feeling. The smallest thing becomes satisfying when you achieve it. 

What small things?

I don’t know… Things like ordering food or taking public transportation? (Laughs.) It’s funny because, now, none of this is difficult for me anymore. It’s hard to remember.

Come on, there must be some memories… 

Ok, so… I do remember landing in Incheon, the first time, around 9 PM, and I think I got to my Airbnb around nearly 2 AM. It took me… seven hours to get out of there (laughs). It’s my fault, 100%. I didn’t prepare anything and it was a pain (laughs). Every single step: getting the cash, buying the T-money card for the subway, realizing I couldn’t use Google Maps or Uber, having to download Naver Maps and Kakao Taxi... I was already a digital nomad in Europe so I thought it was going to be the same. It would just be different food, people, and language (laughs). When I landed, I realized ‘I cannot do anything, I’m totally useless here’. I remember I needed to go to Hongdae, and someone at the airport explained how to me. I had my address but couldn’t figure out how to go, so I asked a guy on the street and he walked with me for almost ten minutes. It was almost 2 AM so I was super hungry. There were many restaurants open but every time I went inside one, they were making big gestures with their arms and telling me ‘No, you can’t come in’. I was so confused. 

Oh dear (laughs). 

Now I know why (laughs). It’s because they were all BBQ places and in Korea, you can’t go eat in a BBQ unless you’re getting a serving for two, minimum. They were just saying no to my single self (laughs). It’s so interesting because it’s all about the things you don’t expect. 

But now you’ve been here for a while, you don’t feel like going somewhere else to experience the culture shock all over again? 

I don’t have the feeling that I want to experience this culture shock again. I keep coming to Seoul and, from here, I travel around to other places in Asia. I just like living here, now. That’s it for me (laughs).  

Every time you come back, you stay at Hoppin House. Why do you keep coming back? 

The community. Everyone I’ve met has been so great. I think my amount of followers on Instagram doubled (laughs). From something like 200 to 400 (laughs). I think the profile of the digital nomads that come to Korea is different compared to places like Chiang Mai, Bali, etc. I’ve been asked so many times: why are you wasting so much money in Korea when you can just go to Thailand and have a very cheap life, go to the beach every day, and have a nice condo. And I was like, yeah that’s nice for a week, but that’s not what I’m looking for. I want to live like a local. I feel like the nomads who come to Korea are more into that part of the experience. 

So, it’s all about the people?

I also fell in love with the house. It’s so convenient. I’m a really lazy person so I appreciate having my office next to where I live (laughs). There’s always people coming in and out of the coworking space. I love the area, Yeonnam. Although in summer it’s kind of bad because I don’t move from the neighborhood at all (laughs). Hoppin House is everything I need: the office, the food, and the people. 

You sound like you’re into food.

Oh man, food is my biggest hobby. I go explore new cafes and restaurants every day. That’s why I like Yeonnam so much: there are more restaurants than a human being could ever try and they open new ones faster than I can ever try them. International food is also very good here. 

You work European hours, so you often go out quite late... 

I think because I’m a food lover, I love how the nightlife blends with the food. It’s something I don’t see much in other countries. You go have samgyeopsal (pork BBQ) and you already start the party with drinking. Then you go to a pocha (street food tent stall) and you continue (laughs). It’s not like in London, where you just drink beer. You ask ‘What’s the dinner?’ and Brits are like, ‘This is the diner’ (laughs). I got so tired of that. 

You never cook?

When I’m in Europe or Spain, I cook all the time. I love cooking. But in Asia and Korea especially I feel so overwhelmed with the food out there and how affordable it is. I don’t feel like I need to cook at all? It’s weird but I don’t mind. 

What’s your favorite dish? 

My favorite is mulhae. It’s kind of like Korean ceviche. It’s similar in concept - raw fish, marinated, with a kind of citric and refreshing taste. But I also love makgeolli (fermented rice wine) restaurants. The jeon (Korean pancakes), and mandu (dumplings) - all the food is fried because the oily fat pairs very well with the acid milkiness of makgeolli. 

I’m hungry now. 

I could continue forever. 

Please do. 

(Laughs.) I love the concept of banchan. There are always many little plates of marinated or fermented vegetables, fishy or meaty dishes. In local restaurants, sometimes they are even better than the main dish! It’s something I’ve never seen in other countries. It’s very unique to have free starters - and then be able to ask for free refills. Sometimes I judge the restaurant by the quality of the banchan instead of the food. 

You went to Busan with the Hoppin Busan trip, right? 

Yeah. Workation trips are fun. It’s a good chance to meet people who are not necessarily living in Korea and are coming for a shorter time. It’s a good way to engage in activities that I wouldn’t do by myself. It’s also a very nice working environment, very motivational. 

Special food recommendation there?

I had an amazing king crab in Busan. 

Oh yeah, that’s a specialty in the area… 

I tried horse meat during the Hoppin Jeju workation. Malgogi. It was an interesting experience, but I don’t think I’ll eat again. I prefer beef (laughs).  

Alright, we’re done with the interview, right? Let’s go for dinner. 

I know a place (laughs). 

Esteban’s recommendations

🥐 Somewhere to eat

In Yeonnam-dong, there’s this bakery called Jayeondo Sogeumppang that does an amazing ‘salt bread’, which is a Korean half-bread, half-brioche kind of pastry. Why is it amazing? It has a ton of butter, salt, and sugar in it (laughs). I feel like it’s a croissant on steroids. Everyone I invited there agreed it’s so tasty.

☕️ Something to drink

Cafe Hanyakbang in Euljiro. You’ll have to be careful when looking for it because it’s located on a very narrow street, barely one meter wide. The design looks incredible, with mother-pearl walls, vintage wood furniture, and a beautiful fish tank (try to grab a seat next to it). There’s a little pastry shop just in front. I’m not sure if they are the same company or if they just collaborate, but you can buy the coffee from one, the pastry from the other, and enjoy them upstairs, in the house.

🏋 Somewhere to work out

I don’t know if this place has a name, but it’s the best outdoor free gym that I’ve ever seen! It’s located under Yanhwadaegyo bridge, on the north side of the river, by Hangang Park. It’s not your classical outdoor gym where ahjussis and ajummas go for light exercises. Nope, here the machines are so good you’ll barely miss the ones from your usual gym. You might even not miss them at all because of your new routine: bicycle along the Han River from Mangwon, then stop by the gym to do your workout, and continue with the ride! 

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