Back to Korea? How about some other country?

[MichaelY]

Lately, I've been watching YouTube videos on the following (not necessarily in the order of importance).

1. Americans buying cheap houses in Japan,

2. Westerners living in the Phillipines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, etc. Vietnamese call these people "loosers in their own countries" because these people had to move to cheaper Southeast Asia.

3. The option of living in US territories such as Guam and Saipan.  For US citizens, it is really easy to move to these islands.

4.  Of course, going back to Korea is an option.

5.  Lastly, just stay where I am.  In California.

I am just thinking about these choices and see which makes sense for me and my wife.  After all, she has to say yes.  A lot to think about.  Michael Y.

[풀컵]

You may may want to consider visa viability, and whether you are okay with dealing with gray area of immigration rules (visa runs may be risky and many countries are cracking down, also requires frequent travel + cost to renew tourist visa, tax agreement between countries)
eg: Japan, Vietnam, etc... don't have a long term stay visa options freely available
Parts of SEA have "burning seasons"due to agricultural burning that make them hazerdous to live for months
I'd also recommend living in these places to test the waters before commiting
This forum will obviously be biased for Korea :)

[형제]

It sounds like you're eager to travel outside the US and experience different cultures. I don't know which part of California you're in, but the weather here in Southern California is absolutely beautiful, and we have a wonderfully vibrant Asian population.
I'm sure you want to hold onto your American citizenship. Likewise, it's great to keep your homebase in the United States and travel as often as possible to see what the rest of the world is like.

[Piapi]

I searched for far and wide for my spot to retire in the world. I would check out your backyard first, Mexico(inland cities like Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Gudalajara) not the touists traps like PV, Cancun etc. Visa issues are real and some expensive others just impossible to get, like Japan. I lived in Japan 10 years and speak the language but impossible to get resident visa. For Asia, I consider Thailand a best option(Check out Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and other small cities). US is in general not bad but just not a value and AI will even make the income gaps wider and life toughe

[Elipaz/남/1960]

There are more than 2 million abandoned homes in japan, an Australian white guy bought one cheaply and renovated it very nicely that i watched in NHK Global. i think that guy married a Japanese lady, so he had a green card (permanent residency). Therefore, he has no visa issues. I understand a US citizen can have a tourist visa for90 days stay at once, but i am not sure i am able to acquire real estate and so on for that period the visa allows me stay for.

[Piapi]

Unlike other countries, Korea and Japan do not have retirement visas: you can only become resident, either you marry a national or sponsored by your employer. Japan does not have even 역이민 system for Japanese Americans. Akiya(empty houses) is well documented. You can buy one but purchase does not give you a right to live in Japan. Some foreigners purchase and live part time with tourist visas(3-6 months) but it is considered illegal. My guess is within next five years, Korea will face the same issue as Japan. But to live in Japan, added burden is that you need to speak Japanese.