Life as a South Korean in Chennai: Mum of two reveals why India stole her heart

India is well-known for its South Korean fanbase. From BTS love to K-drama fever there is no aspect of K-culture that Indians have not acquainted themselves with. However, it seems the story is a romantic one where both sides seem to have fallen for the other.

Approximately 17,000 South Koreans reside in India as of 2026. This is accompanied by the development of Little Koreas in numerous areas around the country including Chennai, Delhi and Pune.

More than 3,000 South Koreans reside in Chennai today and among them is Jung Ae Um, a social media influencer and mum of two who has happily blended her life with the Indian culture and its people. Jung Ae is a content creator who runs the account wonny_brothers along with her two sons, recording and sharing their life in India.

What began as a way of assuring her family of her safety in the country soon attracted public intrigue and led to her opening a YouTube channel as well. "Many people think India is a crowded, dangerous and dirty place. But when I came here there were as many beautiful and clean places as in South Korea. People said they weren't kind, but there were more kind and warm people than in South Korea," she said to CNA Insider.

Dosa and Tamil

"The first restaurant I visited in India had dosa. I can't forget the crisp texture and soft taste," she added. South Korea does not have any eateries that serve dosa and thus upon her arrival in Chennai, Jung Ae and her family had no clue about the South Indian delicacy, But now, the family of four loves visiting Geetham in Chennai for plates of cone dosa. "They love dosa so much that they come out to eat it once a week," shared the mum.

At an Indian festival at her kids' school, Jung Ae had to don a saree and she was surprised to see how one fabric became a full set of clothes. "It was so beautiful that I want to buy it again," she said.

Not just the culture and its components, Jung Ae has delved deep enough into the Indian culture to master the art of negotiating a discount. She celebrates Diwali and Pongal donning Indian clothes. "I wanted to negotiate the price but they couldn't fully understand English. So, I asked my friend what the word for 'discount' in Tamil is. That's where I started learning Tamil little by little," she shared.

While most of the South Korean husbands find employment in MNC's the wives engage with the culture and community back home. Due to the large presence of the nationality in the city, the Indo-Korean Cultural and Information Centre was formed in 2006 to connect the two communities. Since most of the community is Christian they also congregate at churches for mass.

With a welcoming community and a love for the nation, it seems many like Jung Ae have found a second home in India.