I spend lots of time in south korea and VPNs are fine to use. I primarily use mine for getting around region blocks or for added privacy when on public networks.

Exactly the same here. I loathe kakao

Org roam could work if you’re your cool with emacs. Create files on the fly that are named with the date/topic and it could be setup to allow timestamps since you mentioned that. Notes can be linked to each other or easily merge or split as it develops.

Also org roam comes coupled with a daily diary that attaches to emacs calendar system.