"At first, I was even scared to order at Starbucks..." Now they’re seeking kimchi stew and going on cafe tours; for the families of KBO foreign investors, Korea has become part of daily life

*This content was translated by AI.

A strange land where ordering even a single cup of coffee once felt daunting has now become a familiar routine of visiting cafes and restaurants with his wife.

Wes Benjamin (33, Doosan Bears) first set foot in Korea in 2022. After spending three seasons with KT Wiz before returning to the United States, he came back to the KBO League this year wearing a Doosan uniform.

Recalling his first days in Korea, Benjamin said, "Honestly, I was really afraid to leave the hotel. Even when going to Starbucks, I worried that if I couldn’t order properly, people waiting behind me might get annoyed or dislike it. So at first, I rarely went out."

Four years later, everything is completely different. He laughed and said, "Now I can speak enough Korean to place an order, and I’ve developed the ability to handle whatever situations arise when I go out. It’s fine now."

His range of movement has naturally expanded. Coffee-loving Benjamin and his wife frequently visited Suwon’s cafe 'Vanilla Blossom' and a brunch spot during their time with KT. Since moving their base to Seoul this year, they’ve been exploring new restaurants around Jamsil and COEX. The menu item Benjamin enjoys most is the vanilla latte.

There are also players who, after leaving Korea once, came to appreciate what was good about it. Logan Allen (29), who first experienced the KBO League with NC Dinos last year before returning to the U.S., then rejoined KT this year, said, "When I returned to the U.S. after last season ended, there were so many things in Korea that I missed."

His wife searched for where to find foods they had eaten in Korea while in the U.S., and even looked up recipes so they could cook them themselves. Logan said, "My wife really loves things like Korean skincare products. I love food and ingredients. Especially the quality of meat and fruit is truly excellent. If I can bring anything back to the U.S., I want to take all of those."

One of the dishes the couple grew to love most during their time in Korea was Hanwoo beef, and food will likely be what they miss the most in the future. Logan added, "I think kimchi stew or budae jjigae will probably be what I miss the most. I like kimchi and spicy foods. Since we can eat beef in the U.S., I’ll probably miss Korea’s various stews more than Hanwoo. In the U.S., people don’t eat soups or stews as diversely." He laughed.

Logan has now even developed advice he wants to give to foreign players coming to Korea for the first time. He said, "I want to tell them to just accept Korean culture as it is. It’s different, but in a good way. Once you get used to the basics and the stress of being on the other side of the globe fades away, everything becomes much easier. And then you start enjoying life in Korea itself."

For Austin Dean (33), who has worn an LG Twins uniform for four consecutive seasons since 2023, Korea is no longer a special tourist destination but rather close to an ordinary living space for his family. The Deans frequently visit the famous shabu-shabu franchise 'Modern Shabu House' and are regulars at a nearby Korean barbecue restaurant.

Austin said, "There’s one Korean barbecue restaurant very close to our house that we often go to. It has the most American-sounding name among the restaurants I know. The meat is truly delicious, and the ssamjang is also tasty." He added, "When I’m back in the U.S., I really miss Korean-style barbecue."

Sam Hilliard (32, KT), who is experiencing the KBO League for the first time this year, is only in his first year of life in Korea. Yet for his family, Korea has already become a place they will never forget. His second son was born in Korea last August. At first, there were worries about having to give birth in a country other than the U.S. However, after delivery, Hilliard expressed satisfaction with Korean hospitals and the support he received from those around him.

His mother also visited Korea to meet her daughter-in-law and newborn grandson, and watched her son play in the KBO League firsthand. Hilliard said, "It was the best possible scenario for having a child in a country other than the U.S." and conveyed his gratitude.

Time spent in Korea ranges from one year to four years. The pace of adaptation and what remains in memory all differed. At first, even stepping outside the hotel was difficult, but soon they were exploring neighborhood coffee spots with their wives. Others, meanwhile, quickly immersed themselves in Korean culture through spicy foods, even seeking out kimchi stew after returning to the U.S.

For them, Korea has, at some point, ceased to be merely a temporary place to stay for playing baseball. The ordinary daily life they’ve built together with their families—eating, walking, raising children one step at a time—is what makes Korea memorable for the long term.

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*This content was translated by AI.