Some people can realize themselves much better in a foreign country, and a star of “Beauties’ talk” Taru Salminen  is a good example.

Taru, who majored in orientalistics, came in Korea in 1998 as an exchange student from a small town in Finnish town, Elimaki. Than after finishing Korean language courses, she “decided to stay in Korea for 5 years”. Could Taru imagine back in 13 years that she would become a celebrity in Korea and have her own restaurant?

In 2003 she started working in Korean famous TV show, called “Beauties’ talk” and became one of the most popular panelists.

“I had a chance to meet different people and learn cultures of other countries, especially a Korean one,” said Taru. “All I had to do was just preparing some questions and answers to the questions they gave to us. Sometimes we had to improvise…That was a great experience!”

Life in a foreign country was not always easy for Taru. She experiences all problems that foreigners who live in Korea might face: impossibility of registration in Korean web site or buying a cell phone.

“Even if you live here for a long time, you still feel like a foreigner. It’s not like this in my country,” explained Finnish “beauty”.

Last year Taru opened her own restaurant in Hongdae. “I’ve been thinking about opening a makkolli house since I came here. Then one year ago my friend, who is a cooker, asked me if I would be interested in opening a makkolli restaurant in Hongdae,” said Taru. “That time I was still participating in Misuda, so, that was difficult to do both. And also renting a land, it’s so complicated here.”

But in spite of all difficulties and although Hongdae is very competitive, Taru Jumak is very successful and there are “a lot of clients”.

A Finnish beauty has already achieved a lot, but she doesn’t want to stop on this level. Taru dreams of opening another makkolli restaurant near Korea University and a Korean food restaurant in Elimaki, but she doesn’t want to think too far about future.

“Now, I’m writing a book about my experience in Korea and also about Finland, because there are a lot of people here who are interested in my country,” said Taru. “I don’t have any plans yet, but I think I want to stay here. I feel I found myself in Korea.”

Written by Evgeniya Akulova