There is a perception that some Koreans may not take foreigners very seriously when it comes to dating, and there are certainly situations where this can happen. For example, in nightlife and pickup scenes in places like Hongdae or Gangnam, some people may approach foreigners more casually, sometimes simply out of curiosity, attraction, or the desire to have a fun experience.
However, it would be a mistake to assume that someone asking for your number in these places automatically means they are looking for something casual. Some people genuinely meet someone they like through these kinds of situations and eventually develop a serious relationship. The environment may be casual, but the intentions of each individual can be completely different.
The same idea can be applied in the opposite direction. In areas such as Itaewon, there can also be foreigners who see dating Korean people as something casual or enjoyable, especially when they are in Korea temporarily. Again, this does not mean that foreigners in Itaewon are generally unserious about Korean people. It is simply one of the patterns that can sometimes be observed in places where international nightlife and short-term visitors are common.
Ultimately, it is very much a case-by-case and person-by-person situation. Rather than focusing only on whether someone is Korean or foreign, one of the more important factors is whether the person is a short-term visitor or a long-term resident.
If someone is only traveling in Korea or staying for a short period for language school, university exchange, or another temporary purpose, it can be more difficult for a relationship to become serious. This is not necessarily because they do not like their Korean partner, but because there is already an expiration date attached to the situation. If one person is leaving the country in a few months, maintaining a serious relationship can become complicated very quickly.
On the other hand, if a foreigner is planning to live in Korea for the long term, the possibility of a serious relationship can be much greater. The same is true when the Korean person is willing to live abroad or move to the foreign partner's country in the future. Once both people are willing to build their lives around the relationship rather than simply dating while they happen to be in the same country, the relationship has a much stronger foundation.
In this sense, it may be misleading to say that "Koreans do not take foreigners seriously." A similar situation can happen anywhere in the world. Imagine a Korean person moving abroad for a short-term language program or traveling for several months. The local people they meet may be interested in them, but whether those people see the Korean person as a potential long-term partner can depend heavily on how long they expect that person to remain in the country.
The same principle applies in Korea. A foreigner who is only visiting for a few weeks is in a very different situation from someone who has lived in Korea for years, has a stable job, speaks Korean, has built a social circle, and plans to remain in the country.
Therefore, when trying to understand whether a Korean person genuinely sees a foreigner as a potential long-term partner, the person's nationality is probably less important than their circumstances and intentions. Are they staying long term? Are they willing to deal with cultural differences? Are they open to living in another country if necessary? Do they make an effort to maintain the relationship outside of the initial excitement?
These factors often tell you much more than the fact that one person is Korean and the other is foreign.
In the end, it really comes down to individual personality, circumstances, and intentions. Hongdae, Gangnam, and Itaewon may have environments where casual encounters are more common, but meeting someone in a casual setting does not automatically make the relationship casual. Likewise, being a foreigner in Korea does not automatically mean someone is viewed as a temporary fling.
The most important question is not simply, "Are Koreans serious about foreigners?" but rather, "Are both people willing and able to build a life together?" When the answer is yes, nationality becomes much less important.
