From Burnout to Jeju: The Tour Guide Helping the World Discover Korea’s Most Magical Island | Soraya Ho 허소라
What happens when you walk away from a successful corporate career with no real plan, follow your curiosity across continents, and accidentally build an entirely new life?
In this episode, Holly sits down with Soraya Ho, multilingual tour guide, podcaster, former software developer, and one of Jeju Island's most passionate cultural ambassadors.
After years of intense corporate work in South Korea, Soraya made a life-changing decision to leave it all behind and travel through Latin America. What began as a short trip turned into a complete career pivot, leading her into tourism, language learning, cultural storytelling, and eventually a new life on Jeju Island.
Together, Holly and Soraya explore the realities of Korean work culture, the unique identity of Jeju, the legendary Haenyeo women divers, ancient traditions, local myths, and what it means to create a life guided by curiosity instead of certainty.
If you've ever wondered what life looks like outside the expected path, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best opportunities begin when you stop trying to control the outcome.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why Soraya left a demanding corporate IT career in South Korea
How a six-month Latin America trip changed the direction of her life
The surprising connection between travel, language, and reinvention
What makes Jeju Island so different from mainland South Korea
The truth about Jeju's legendary Haenyeo women divers
Why Jeju is often called the "Hawaii of South Korea"
The unique culture, mythology, and traditions that still exist on the island
How to become a great tour guide and read people quickly
Why curiosity is one of the most powerful life skills you can develop
What it looks like to build a life around adventure instead of expectations
We talk about:
00:00 Meet Soraya Ho and her unexpected path to Jeju Island
02:00 Life inside South Korea's corporate IT world
04:00 The personal loss that sparked a major life change
05:00 Traveling across Latin America and discovering a new direction
08:00 Becoming a tour guide and leading month-long international trips
13:00 Moving from Seoul to Jeju during the pandemic
16:00 Reading people, managing groups, and guiding travelers
19:00 Why sometimes it's better not to overthink big decisions
20:00 Launching a podcast and sharing Jeju with the world
21:00 The growing fascination with Jeju's Haenyeo women divers
24:00 Jeju spirituality, traditions, and local rituals
27:00 Training to become a Haenyeo diver herself
31:00 The future of Jeju's diving culture and younger generations
34:00 What makes a truly great tour guide
36:00 The best time of year to visit Jeju Island
38:00 Common misconceptions visitors have about Jeju
41:00 Why Jeju's culture feels different from anywhere else in Korea
43:00 Living as an outsider in a place with deep traditions
47:00 Soraya's personal warning label and philosophy for life
Call or Text or Chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988. Hours are available 24/7 and the cost is free.
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Connect with Soraya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vamosajeju/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soraya.jeju/
Connect with Holly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly_hughes_intuitive/
Get Holly’s book here: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/my-book/
Website: https://hollyhughesintuitive.com/
#JejuIsland #SouthKoreaTravel #Haenyeo
