You've probably heard of "Working Holiday" at some point.

The official definition goes something like this: a program that allows you to live in another country for a year (or a limited period), eating their food, exploring their culture, and working along the way. That kind of program.

Back in the day, people thought of it as "language study + part-time job" combined. But honestly, somewhere along the line, the perception of working holidays in Korea took a bit of a hit. Haha. Side note—some Koreans who went abroad got involved in drugs or sketchy situations, which unfortunately tainted the whole image. (Not everyone though! No generalizations here, please.)

Also, Korean parents? They generally want you to settle down at a "nice, stable company" and stay there forever. The idea of voluntarily becoming a "foreign laborer" (yeah, that term has some condescending undertones) doesn't exactly spark joy in their hearts.

But me? I've always wanted to experience life abroad. I think my older sister had a lot to do with that. She went to the US as an exchange student in middle school, did a homestay with a local family, and finished college there. I was pretty jealous, honestly. But all of that was funded by our parents and family... so I couldn't go. (I really wanted to, though.)

So even though I've had this working holiday dream since I was young, life happened—work piled up, life got in the way—and suddenly I'm approaching thirty. (Fun fact: most working holiday programs have age limits!!!)

Anyway, during my break, I started looking into it again... and Ireland caught my eye. An English-speaking country with not many Koreans around (I prefer fewer Koreans, less drama—wait, I'm Korean too LOL). The clear appeal of that combination sparked my curiosity.

2025 Korean Working Holiday Programs by Country

Source: Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Working Holiday Info Center (2025)

What really got me was that Ireland selects only around 800 people per year through a lottery system—400 per each half of the year. That exclusivity was tempting. So, five minutes before the deadline, I submitted my application.

And guess what? I actually got selected...?

After submitting additional documents and even my passport to the embassy, I kept thinking "Should I really be doing this? Is this the right move?" But in the end, my Ireland Working Holiday visa came through..!

Now I have to find a job in Korea, sort out my living situation, and suddenly it all feels very real. I have one year from the issue date to actually go, but the thought of suddenly leaving Korea to live in another country for a year... it feels strange.

Lonely. Nostalgic already. A bit guilty. Regretful. Relieved. A mix of emotions I can't quite put into words. I think "bittersweet" might be the closest description.

And at the same time, I keep thinking—in Ireland, nobody cares which university I graduated from, which companies I worked at, or what my resume looks like. The people there won't know anything about Korean credentials or social status...

I'll probably have to go in with the mindset of a newborn, starting from zero.

(Waah!)

I'm also worried about Ireland's notoriously brutal housing costs. I have a comfortable life here in Korea. Do I really want to trade my money, time, physical effort, and youth for this experience? I'm still not sure.

I want to think it over a bit more, watch for the right opportunity, and make myself stronger before deciding.

I haven't made concrete working holiday plans yet, but this whole visa process made me realize something I'd forgotten—how precious the familiar and comfortable things in life really are. Even if just for a moment, I felt grateful for what I have.

If I do end up using this visa before it expires—I might just start a series documenting the chaotic survival story of an East Asian guy in Ireland..!

Haha, who knows what fate has in store. But no matter what happens, I want to keep doing my best, staying focused, and living with gratitude.