For the first time on the pages of HELLO! Pakistan, we catch up with the duo behind Korea Walay. Known by their Korean names, Kim Janghoon and Kim Sangeun, and by many in Pakistan as Daud and Waseem, the content creators have built a loyal following by embracing life in Pakistan, learning Urdu, and sharing their experiences with audiences across the country. Having first arrived as students, the duo's journey in Pakistan has also been supported by Kim Traders, the company behind Kimchee Production, which manages their work and continues to be part of their journey here. They sat down with us to talk about the road that brought them here, the moments that shaped them, and the story behind the screen.
What first brought you to Pakistan, and how long have you been here?
When we were studying at an international school in Korea, it was a tradition for graduates to attend university abroad. Before graduating, we explored different countries and travelled to see where we wanted to study. Some of our seniors were already in Pakistan, so we decided to visit them during our travels. On that trip, we visited Islamabad, KPK, Karachi, Lahore, and several other cities. We were impressed by how kind and welcoming the people were, and we also saw a great deal of business potential in the country. After graduating, we applied to a university in Pakistan and moved here. We've since completed our degrees and are now living in Pakistan while working on several business ventures. We've been here for almost four and a half years.
Your Urdu often surprises people. How did you learn the language so well?
When we first came to Pakistan for university, we couldn't speak any Urdu at all. We took private lessons and studied for at least four hours every day.
However, the biggest reason we improved so quickly was that we constantly went out and interacted with people. Even when we didn't understand everything, we spoke confidently and kept trying. We weren't afraid of making mistakes, and that helped us learn much faster.
What's been the most unexpected part of building a community online?
To be honest, before we started creating content, we had already spent a lot of time thinking about how people might react and what could happen if we became well known online. Because of that, there wasn't really anything that surprised us. Most of what we've experienced was something we had already expected.
What's one thing about Pakistan that you think the rest of the world gets completely wrong?
Many people around the world, including people in Korea, tend to think Pakistan is poor, dangerous, and that the people aren't very friendly. Our experience has been completely different.
Pakistan has an incredibly strong culture of hospitality, there are far more successful and wealthy people here than many outsiders realise, and it's not nearly as dangerous as many people imagine.
Of course, every country has its own challenges, but we think the biggest issue is that many people simply don't know enough about Pakistan.
People know Korea Walay, but what's something about you that your audience would be surprised to learn?
People usually think we're very outgoing, but we're actually quite quiet when the cameras are off. Also, even though our videos look spontaneous, we spend hours planning every single one.
What's one Korean tradition or habit you'll never give up, no matter where you live?
No matter where we live, we always need to eat rice. Naan and roti are great, but it just doesn't feel like we've had a proper meal unless we've eaten rice.
If you had to introduce one Pakistani food to everyone in Korea, what would it be and why?
We would choose beef pulao. Pakistani beef can sometimes be quite chewy, but the beef in beef pulao is incredibly tender. It's comforting, filling, and one of the most delicious dishes we've had in Pakistan. We think Koreans would really enjoy it.
What's one moment from your journey in Pakistan that you'll never forget?
When we first arrived in Pakistan, we stayed at a hostel in Shamsabad, Rawalpindi. Looking back, those days were some of the most memorable. About four years ago, the hostel only cost around Rs7,000 a month. The food wasn't very good, and during the summer we didn't even have air conditioning, so we were constantly sweating. The rooms were tiny, and we had to deal with rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and even mould. It wasn't easy at the time, but those experiences became unforgettable memories that we'll always look back on.
If you weren't creating content, what do you think you'd be doing today?
If we weren't creating content, we probably would have lived a pretty ordinary life in Korea. We would have completed our mandatory military service and then gotten regular jobs like many other people our age.
How would you describe Pakistan in one sentence today?
Pakistan is a market full of incredible business potential.
Interview: Safa Adnan
Coordination: Kimchee Production
Photos: Courtesy Korea Walay