Just wanted to echo giblet's comments. My wife was concerned about visiting Japan last years because of potential difficulty with language and communications. However, it was probably one of the best travel experiences we've had.

Part of it is tho is attitude. We learned a few key phrases and words (probably <50) before we left and that generally got us by "self serve". There's generally enough English signs IMO but our guidebook helped us along also. However, whenever we got stuck, we experienced very friendly help. Yes, people were insecure about their English but it was always enough to get the points across.

Haven't had a chance to travel to Korea yet. However, I've had the opportunity to host a few groups from Korea as part of my work. Everyone I met were generally friendly but a bit reserved. Can't really explain it but a bit hierarchical too. Tough to compare tho between vacationer setting vs business setting I suppose.

What variation?
You've described us Brits perfectly
(You've also described us Spaniards - it's just that we're also convinced of the superiority of our inferior things - chapuzas - too)

I know Britain well - and I think there's an obvious gap between any rhetoric that you might hear about the "great British" whatever and people's true belief in the greatness of whatever is being described. Fundamentally, British people are not convinced of the superiority of much in this country.

If British people in general were truly convinced of the superiority of all things British, most of us would drive British cars, eat at restaurants serving British food, drink traditional British ales, and go on holiday at British resorts - at least most the time.

So ... no ... it's not the same as the attitude that I perceive in some of my French friends. Not at all.

They are smart people nevertheless. Like building the A380, let alone Airbus itself, exporting Renault management to Japan, the province of Quebec keeping Canada at bay...