Johnston County teacher lives Olympic-sized dream in South Korea

By Kathryn Brown, WRAL anchor/reporter

Gangneung, South Korea — A Johnston County woman is living an Olympic-sized dream after moving to South Korea one year ago in order to teach English.

In Gangneung, South Korea, Kate Watson is somewhat of a celebrity.

“Sometimes people come up and want to practice their English,” Watson said.

Watson, a Johnston County native, moved to South Korea to teach English after graduating from Appalachian State University. She was lucky enough to land tickets to several Olympic events as well as the Opening Ceremony.

“It was really cold, but it was worth it,” Watson said. “It’s a beautiful country that has everything and I think people only think about North Korea when people think about South Korea, so maybe South Korea can have its own reputation now.”

Watson said she’s fallen in love with South Korea’s culture, kindness and tranquility. As she explored Olympic Park, it was clear she feels at home in the country even if it seems as though she is a world away to friends back home.

“I’ve gotten used to bowing and taking things with two hands and I think that’s all a little bit different with them,” Watson said.

Watson said she gets most of her news about North Korea from family members in the United States, not from local sources.

“It’s so just part of life here that it doesn’t shake me,” she said.

She keeps in touch with her father in North Carolina through FaceTime and, while she raves about the cuisine in South Korea, there are some foods she misses from back home.

“We have fried chicken here, but it’s not quite Bojangles’ fried chicken,” she said.