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| Juno Kim of Runaway Juno |
TRAVEL INTERVIEW WITH JUNO OF RUNAWAYJUNO
I’m excited to announce fun-loving Juno of Runaway Juno, the only Korean backpacker and blogger that I know, and a woman to boot! Her travel blog just celebrated its 1st anniversary, having amassed an amazing 4000 followers in just one year! Her popularity no doubt stems from her charming personal travel stories and friend-filled photos of her travels around the world. Without further ado, Juno:
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| In New Zealand_Franzjosef |
Q1. Juno, you mention on your website that the first time you went backpacking you knew travel was going to be a big part of your life. Tell us about your first backpacking trip. How did you end up doing solo travel with a backpack? When was it? Where did you go? How long was your trip? How did you feel?
I felt ‘right’ at that moment: learning a new life style, new cultural experiences for the first time, and the excitement.
I went to New Zealand. I didn’t know much about the country. I didn’t know anything about hostel life and most of all I had almost zero English skills. Still, I don’t know where I got the courage to do it. One day I just bought a ticket and booked a hostel at Auckland airport. About 5 complicated days later, I knew that I was doing the right thing for myself and this was my calling.
More and more experiences later, I strongly believe I can’t stop moving now and I’m constantly moving.
Q2: Where have you traveled so far?
–Still my list is so long. So many places I haven’t been. But to list a few, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, parts of China and parts of Taiwan. Oh and of course Korea, except North Korea.
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| Juno at Lake Takapo |
Q3: What are your 3 favorite places and why?
– Jeju Island, Korea : I know my country is beautiful, but I could really see it after my summer break to Jeju Island. It’s the biggest island in Korea, but not that big compared to other countries’ islands. Anyway, it’s a mild-tropical atmosphere with different nature because it’s a volcanic island. It’s perfect for short budget backpacking trips. I thought “I can’t believe this is Korea,” during the trip.
– Lake Tekapo, New Zealand : It’s my favourite place in New Zealand. I call New Zealand my second home. Because of the family I met during my first backpacking to New Zealand, I bonded with the country from the beginning. On top of that, Lake Tekapo became my favourite spot though it’s not well known as a touristic spot. I loved its calmness. Also New Zealand has the most amazing night sky.
– Melaka, Malaysia : It’s a small town on mainland Malaysia which is very rural and nature friendly. There’s beautiful scenery, amazing food and people who are friendly but not too serious. I enjoyed Melaka’s cultural destinations and life of locals. It was a great place to chill out and enjoy Malaysia.
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| Juno in fishing boar at Jeju Island |
Q4: Are there many Korean solo travelers/ backpackers? Is it common or unusual for Koreans?
– I have to say no. There are some, but not many. Backpacking or hostel life is not in Korean’s travel definition. It has been around and people have interest but it’s not something they are normally willing to do. Many people think of backpacking as really exotic and just something young people do once. Maybe because of Korea’s rough historic background, comfortable luxury travel quite suits the meaning of ‘travel’. Backpacking is spreading among younger people but I don’t think it’s going to be big like in other countries.
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| Hanging out in Seoul |
Q5. What do your fellow Koreans think about your travel style? Do they admire you, find you inspirational and brave? Or do they think it’s weird, scary ?
– It’s hard to say. I’ve been judged for years, for being a solo traveler as a start and for being a backpacker. My own family doesn’t understand why I travel and why I have to travel the way I do.
Questions, no. Statements I have heard so many times are, ‘You are going to be bored,’ ‘It’s dangerous,’ and ‘You are crazy to drag a backpack around.’
So yes, the response is not always so positive from people around me. However some are inspired from time to time. One of my friends went backpacking and after that he said I had inspired him to do that. It was a moving moment.
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| Chilling out at West Baray, Siem Riap |
Q6. Who are your followers? Are they mostly westerners? Do you have many Koreans also following your adventures?
– Last week we broke the wall of 4,000 followers. Yoohoo! I guess many of them are westerners since most bloggers in the travel blogging community are westerners, or at least people I talk to. The biggest percentage of visitors for Runaway Juno is from the US according to Google analytics. Next is Europe and some from different parts of Asia like Malaysia and Indonesia. Not many Koreans. Maybe because I only write in English.
Q7. Currently you’re living in Seoul, working as a mechanical engineer (smart girl, too!) How often do you get to travel and for how long?
-Thanks! Not so much. Not because of my job but because of the work style in Korea. I’m trying to get as much travel as I can but now all I can do is short trips. I don’t get to have many days off, so I’m planning to escape!! I will tell you when I get the answers. :)
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| Juno sitting in the King’s Chair of Korea |
Q8. Where do you plan to travel this year?
– Actually I wrote about this at the beginning of the year. I’m planning to travel more through Korea in 2011. It’s not as fascinating as overseas travel, but it’s worth it. Because I’m into astronomy, I’ve been to so many rural places around Korea. But now I have this new view as a travel blogger. Everything seems different now.
After I started Runaway Juno, all the domestic travels I had were successful in so many ways. As I see it, we need to know more our about home country to appreciate other cultures. Well, it can be different for other people but that’s what I’ve learned.
Q9. Do you see yourself as having a ‘niche’ / ‘strong point’ for your writings in the travel blog world ? (like maybe, Korean travel, Asian travel, connecting with people) Or do you consider yourself an all-around travel blogger?
– Yes and no. Not many Koreans do travel blogs, or at least not in English, so that could be my niche. Many followers said ‘Wow, I didn’t know there was a backpacker and a travel blogger in Korea!” I’m proud to say that many friends have said I’m ‘the first Korean they’ve ever met’. :)
The fact that I’m from Korea, which is not the most well-known destination, has brought readers’ interest. Korea is still quite an exotic place to others and everyone wants to know how to travel like a local. As a local and a trained backpacker I’d like to tell about it.
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| Learning culture in Melaka, Malaysia |
Q10. Your website is becoming very popular! Congratulations! When did you start your blog? What would you like to do with it now and in the future?
– Thanks!! I just had my one year blog-versary on 4th March. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I’ve been doing this. In the future, I would like to monetizing Runaway Juno to pay for my travel. Isn’t that everyone’s goal eventually? :) I’m looking for the right moment and opportunity. But mostly I plan to continue having fun with Runaway Juno!
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Juno, thanks so much for telling us about your travel life and experiences as a Korean female solo traveler!
Learn more insiders’ scoop on Korea and follow Juno’s charming stories:
Juno Kim Authour of Runaway Juno
Visit Runaway Juno for wicked Travel stories.
Follow Runaway Juno at Twitter
Follow Runaway Juno atFacebook
Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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TRAVEL INTERVIEW ROUND UP: ONE YEAR OF WEEKLY TRAVELERS' INTERVIEWS - LashWorldTour
2012/06/01 at 5:34 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
[…] Jeju, Korea #5. For instance, who do they travel with?* There are solo women travelers such as: Juno of Runaway Juno and Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler* solo men such as: Anil Polat of FoXnoMad and One Step 4 Ward- […]