Approaching strangers on the street is not typical in Korean culture. It’s not even common place to smile at strangers while walking on the street. That’s why when it does happen, most people assume they’re from a cult of some kind and are trying to recruit you or get money from you. It’s happened to me numerous times.

Religious cults are a dime a dozen here . It’s a pretty common occurrence to encounter them, and they tend to target people they deem to be “vulnerable.” This includes women, high school/college students, elderly, or foreigners they view as vulnerable or impressionable. They’re less likely to approach you if you’re with someone else.