About

63 comments

QiRanger Picture

Steve Miller, the QiRanger, is Korea’s best-known travel video blogger-journalist. His videos have been viewed by millions and seen on media outlets in throughout the word. In addition to sharing his entertaining and informative videos, he writes about life abroad and releases a popular podcast. Steve appears regularly on two of Seoul’s radio stations, talking about travel and Korean culture and on Arirang Television sharing unique aspects of Korean life.

For more up-to-date information, connect via Twitter, his Facebook page, or use the contact form below.

  • http://real-english.ru/ Ivan Zamoranov

    Hi Steve,

    Since there is no other contact form on your blog, I figured I could use this one to send you a quick note.

    I thought I’d let you know that I like your podcasts, and even picked one of them (the one on dieting and new year’s resolutions) to use as the audio material for one of my English lessons I teach on real-english.ru.

    If you are wondering what the website is all about, it is a free ESL service for Russian-speaking learners of English where I try to leverage what I have picked up throughout my ten years as a Canadian resident, combined with my web-programming skills, to build an online community of enthusiastic English learners.

    In case you want to see how your podcast was used, here is the lesson: http://real-english.ru/assignments/2009-01-19/

    While the content is mostly in Russian, I am sure you will figure out that the assignment was to listen to, comprehend and transcribe what was said in the podcast. I chose your video because I liked your voice and your manner of speaking.

    I hope you do not mind if I refer to your other podcasts in the future. Over time you may become quite popular in Russia :)

    Thanks for the great work, Steve, and I would love to hear back from you, as to whether you like this idea or not.

    Best regards,

    Ican Zamoranov

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      Glad to know you got some use out of it! Thanks for letting me see the
      lesson.

  • crystar683

    Hi Steve!

    Thanks for the comments on my blog (crystar683.wordpress.com, in case you don’t recognize me!)

    I’ve been paging through your blogs…we’ve definitely had some of the same experiences teaching in Korea. Since you seem like a traveler, and I’m always up for tourism :), was there anything in Korea that you really loved or wish you had seen?

    Hope to hear from you!

    Crystal

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I really enjoyed my time in Korea and will be returning there June 1st (Dongtan, near Suwon). I really liked Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon. It was rich with History. The other place that really really impressed me was Changdeokgung (the palace with the Secret Garden). The tour gives you a nice over view, but as I recall, on Thursdays, you can roam the grounds without a guide. I really never made it outside of the Seoul area that much, since I was trying to hit as much as I could.

      I’m going to try and hit Busan and Jeju this year, as well as a flight over to Japan. I would recommend going to Everland and Lotteworld. In July, there’s the Mud Festival, which is a blast.

      Well, that’s a start of some of the more interesting things. Oh…. and Seosaemun Prison was really neat too.

  • http://joaquin.typepad.com Joaquín Menchaca

    Darn, I missed you, I wanted to see if you wanted to have coffee when you were in Korea. I couldn’t figure out how to contact you (youtube is in Korean in Korea), but now I came across your blog. If you have any questions about this region, I might know, might not know. ^^

    Now, I’m finishing up a 27 page essay for my Korean history class titled, “Fall From Heaven, How the Collapse of the Sinocentric System Shapes the Destiny of Korea”. Of course it is a bit amateur, but I feel I am getting strong in this area, as I read multiple sources from books on Chinese, Korean, and Japanese history to be a bigger picture on the topic…

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I’m still in Korea… Where are you located? I’m in the process of getting my ARC again, so no mobile yet.

      • http://joaquin.typepad.com Joaquín Menchaca

        I am in Shinchon. You have facebook? I’m Joaquín Menchaca on there. Search for suavecali@yahoo.com. I’ll add you as friend, and my phone number is on there. Right now I am in final’s week.

  • http://www.gmarket.co.kr/index_eng.asp Christina Koo

    hi! this is Christina Koo from Gmarket Global-

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    please let me know (email would be great!)weather you okay with this :]
    thx-

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    Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.

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    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      Thanks for the great comment!

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    This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work.

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  • Kali

    Hi, I stumbled on your blog after researching for more information about my homeland. After reading your blog I stumbled across (not sure if it was part of your’s or not) a blog about Korean Mt. Dew lol. My boyfriend’s dad is a Mt. Dew junkie and for his b-day in April we thought it would be really funny and cool if we could somehow give him some Korean Mt. Dew haha. I read on the blog that it’s even sweeter than American Mt. Dew so I’m sure it would be right up his alley. If you (or anyone reading this) would have any info as to how we can order this please let me know. I’ve been looking on the net all day now and can’t come up with anything :( My e-mail address is kalcan8@hotmail.com
    I appreciate you taking the time to read this and sorry if it sounds like a really weird thing to ask.

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I haven’t seen it… but it’s probably sweeter since it’s made with real sugar.

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  • Mike Carroll

    Hey I am thinking about going to teach in Korea and was wondering what schools are worth applying to.

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      Unfortunately I can’t answer that in a blanket statement. I would advocate doing research on all schools and branches at sites like Dave’s ESL Cafe to get feedback from numerous teachers.

      • Mike Carroll

        Ok Thank you.

  • MDC

    I was wondering what schools you have taught at and what your thoughts on those schools were.

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I’ve worked for two school here and have seen contracts for many more. While I won’t name names, I will say that it really doesn’t matter that much. A well known chain can have a crap branch and an unknown mom & pop hagwon can be the cat’s meow. In my opinion, the best thing to do is research a specific school.

  • jinhee-kim

    Hello, I’m Kim Jin-Hee and I am a script writer at Arirang TV.

    We are looking for someone to join us on our new program called and we would like to have you parcipate on our show!

    Our program features information on Korean culture and much much more seen through the eyes of foreign residents living in Korea.

    The program is 5 minutes long. It will be a great opportunity to create some fun memories of your life in Kores.

    My e-mail address is kjh880315@naver.com

    My phone number is 010-4546-7696. but I can’t speak english very well. Please leave your message. :-) I will be thrilled to hear from you.

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      Messages sent. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

  • andrea

    hello, my name is andrea laguna, I just found your bog and youtube videos about korea serching for korea information on internet
    the thing is, I am living in southamerica, asuncion paraguay, I do acctualy work in a radio station, but I always liked cultures and arts, as my hobbys
    I have friends in south korea and they told me about the beauty of the place,
    My only problem is that plane tickets to there from southamerica are very expensive around 2000 dollars or more , so I was wondering if you could help me giving me some information about some exchange or entity dedicated to cultural exchenge or similiar interest so I can go to korea and maybe work or made as a cultural work and get the plane ticket paid by doing so,,,Thats all I need, cause I will stay at my friends house over there
    any way
    I would appretiate any help you could give me,
    Just for the record, I do speak spanish and english
    thank you
    andrea laguna
    andrealag@yahoo.com

  • sunah

    hi steve

    i’m really enjoying your blog/vlog and i must say they’ve been both interesting and helpful. i’ve just been offered to teach in hwasung dongtan (i’m not sure which is county and which is town) but i was wondering if you could share some of your thoughts on what it’s like to live in dongtan.

    you mentioned in one of your entries that it lacks amenities, and i was wondering if amenities like theaters restaurants bars etc., were hard to access in dongtan. is dongtan a city of families or elders or college students… pros and cons of living in dongtan compared to seoul for instance..

    i’d really appreciate your help as to giving me some insight and help me make my decision on taking this job. my email is persisttotry@yahoo.com

    thank you!

  • Halynn

    Hello Steve ! :’D
    reading and watching your experiences in the internet, makes me wanna take the same route and live in korea ^^
    do you know if there is a way to teach korean the german language? My parents are vietnameses, but i was born in Germany, do you know which graduation degrees I need?. Oh and how long are you staying in Korea? Are you going to live there forever? Isn’t it sometimes lonely there? (no parents and friends from the US?)
    anyway i wish you happy days ! ;’D

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I’m not sure about the requirements for teaching languages other than English, but would assume they are the same as an E-2 Visa. Jo and I plan on staying in Korea for a long while. We enjoy it here and have a great time. As for it being lonely, I keep in contact with friends and family on a regular basis and make the trip back ever few years. It really isn’t any different than being on the opposite coast of the US.

  • Halynn

    thank you for the information, by the way how long have you been studying the korean language?
    Is it difficult for you to learn?

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      I have been learning it for for over a year. By that I mean I’ve spent some time learning it, but not a real concerted effort. I find it quite easy when I put my mind to it!

  • Dean

    You have my dream job – honest. Basically, I am from Canada and I want to teach in South Korea. However, I don’t know I am going to get accepted for I speak English with a French accent. By any chance, do you know if my English speaking will affect my chances of being selected? I am graduating from High School next year (peace out high school), and I am planning on majoring in English and education. I don’t know if my major would help me lose my accent ( I genuinely hope it does) ; however, my writing is pretty good, provided that I have been living in Canada for less than two years now, and went straight into regular English (not ESL).
    Regards

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      Dean, schools hire teachers from all over the world, not just North America. In fact, I’ve met teachers with very strong Aussie, New Zealand, and Irish accents. Just put your best foot forward in the interview and I’m sure you’ll do fine!

  • M. Rivera

    Have you anyn knowlege/ experience with the ability of one (American) to bring their dog with them when coming on a teaching Visa- Does the gov. allow it? Do the appartments?

    • http://www.youtube.com/qiranger Steve

      There are regulations in place that allow foreigners to bring their pets with them. Check with immigration and customs for the latest regulations. I know of one teach that brought her dog from San Francisco to Korea in 2009.

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    kitchen appliances should be always cleaned after use to prevent the growth of microbes “‘:

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    What i find difficult is to find a blog that can capture me for a minute but i think you offer something different. Bravo.

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    Hi from Italy! Can I quote a submit within your blog using the link to you? I’ve tried contacting you about this issue however it seems i cant achieve you, please response when have a moment, thanks.

    • Steve

      Sure.

  • Yu-yu

    where did you learn korean and how ?? im half korean ( recently found out) and i wanna learn my language and culture.

    • Steve

      I use Rosetta Stone and Talk To Me In Korean for my language lessons! Are you planning on coming to Korea soon?

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bataan_paintings/sets/72157623755314303/ Hers

    Hi Steve,

    I have watch your video in Bataan and Tarlac (Bataan Death March)…….thanks man….I hope many people out there like you will remember the sacrifice of our heroes in Bataan (Filipinos or Americans). I really love the scene where you show the km. marker one by one at the same time your car is on the road. Many people don’t realized how significant these markers are…speacially the zero km in Bagac and Mariveles.
    Though I don’t have any relatives involved in Death March……..but I know what you feel when you are in Capas, Tarlac……its a totally different feeling when I visited it.
    Well man…… MABUHAY KA ! Congrats for your excellent video……..

    • Steve

      Thanks for the very kind words! I’m hoping to get back to the area soon

      Maraming salamat po.

  • Justin

    Hi Steve,

    I first saw you on one of the TTMiK Youtube videos where you were in the coffee shop. I remember watching that video over a year ago and wondering who you were, but as with most Youtube videos, I just moved onto the next one without thinking too much.

    As I was looking up more videos on Youtube about Korea, I came across one of yours and immediately recognized you as the guy from the TTMiK video. So just out of curiosity, I started going through some of your videos, and before I knew it, I had stayed up all night watching your fascinating journey, all the way back to the time you left Arizona for Korea.

    I spent the majority of my childhood between the age of 9-18 in Arizona, moving a few times throughout the various Phoenix suburbs until I moved to the East Coast to venture out on my own.

    Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your incredible journey with the world. In all of your videos, you look incredibly happy and full of life. I will be moving to Seoul sometime this fall and would love to meet up eventually if you have the time. I would love to hear some of your stories and perhaps a bit of advice on my career plan in Korea if you have the time. I am not much of a coffee drinker, but perhaps I could buy you a beer :)

    Justin

    • Steve

      Justin,

      Thanks for leaving this comment. I can’t believe that you spent so much time going through all my videos!!!! Please do let me know when you come to Korea, so we can hook up and have a drink and catch up over each others’ lives… past, present, and future.

      Cheers,

      Steve

  • Linus Sukhyun Jung

    I thought this place is much better place to put my phone number than facebook webpage.

    Here is my phone number.
    xxx-xxx-xxxx
    I hope we can meet and spend some time together three of us.
    We should go to coffee shop where I told you in central Phoenix.

    Sukhyun aka Linus

    • Steve

      Got it!

  • http://Website Soma

    Hi Steve my name is Soma and i live in Sweden. Im not korean but i do want to study or live in korea. But im kinda lost i don’t know how to start planing to get there,which makes it even more difficult to plan. I have many questions I want to ask you. how do I contact you?

    • Steve

      You could always ask them here, and then I can respond via the QiRangerVlog channel or contact me via the email listed on this page.

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    Haven´t visited your blog for a while but I have to say that your new-wordpress layout works really well.

    • Steve

      Thanks! Might end up changing things in a few months, though, but I do really like this one.

  • S.S Alice

    Hi Steve.
    Your blog is impressive.
    I wonder if you still live in Dongtan or have some friends there.
    I am looking for friends to hang out or to have language exchange in my town. I am asking for your help if you can because I don’t know where to start. I am Korea with some English speaking ability. ^^

    Well, looking forward to hearing from you soon.
    Have a great day.

    Alice

    • Steve

      Hi Alice! My wife and I still live in Dongtan and know a few people. You can also join the Dongtan Clan on Facebook to get meet lots of people here.

      • S.S Alice

        Hi Steve.
        Yes, I found Dongtan Clan on Facebook yesterday on my research. ^^ I sent my request but so far no answer. I can’t wait to drop a few lines to say hello there. lol
        Hopefully, meet you in person too.

        Thanks
        Alice

  • yun

    Hi!
    I was searching something.
    and i found your vedio about Dong-tan area where i live also.

    Nice to meet you : )

    • Steve

      Nice to meet you as well!

  • Tia

    Hello,
    I am getting ready to leave for student exchange to South Korea. I am looking for gifts for my host family and I was wondering if they sold AXE body wash and hair products in Korea. Is there any thing else that you could think of that would make a good present for my host father?
    I heard that pure honey and maple syrup are hard to find or really expensive so I thought of picking those up too.

    • Steve

      All of those items would be good, since they are all quite expensive. Liquor is always usually welcomed as well. Something unique to your home town may go over well, too.

  • Tia

    Thank you for your help, I appreciate it.

  • Sean

    Hello,

    I was an exchange student in Seoul for 4 months. I had a hard time learning hanggul during my stay. How long did it take for you to learn the language?

    • Steve

      I am no where near fluent, so I am still studying. But I learned to read in about a week.

  • Swan Lee

    Hi, Steve Miller. I’m the editor of http://Kholic.com, ‘Hallyu’ web magazine.

    I’m wondering about foreigners who talk about Korea, and am finding them through youtube and blog. Yesterday Hyunwoo Sun, CEO of http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/, he introduced you. So I want to interview you. How you got interested in Korea, where you live now, what your YouTube video concept is, and so on.

    Would you accept my interview request? My English is not good enough to speak on Skype or phone. But if you’d accept, I’ll email you questions. I’d appreciate if you would accept. Thank you.

    Sincerely yours,
    Swan Lee.

  • Edward

    How often are you mistaken for actor Patrick Stewart?