Vladimir Maraktaev celebrated the first day of 2023 in the departures hall at Incheon International Airport, some 2,000 kilometers away from his home in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. It was the first time for the 23-year-old to spend New Year's Eve alone without family and friends. Instead of family gatherings and holiday feasts, he bought himself a cup of coffee for 5,000 won ($4) - a luxury for Maraktaev who now has only a few dollars left in his pocket, having spent almost all of his savings traveling across three countries before arriving in Korea.