Life In Korea (한국의 삶)
What to know about life in Korea from the places to shop to being pregnant in Korea. Here is everything you need to know to live in Korea. (쇼핑하는 곳부터 임신하는 곳까지 한국 생활에 대해 알아야 할 것. 여기 당신이 한국에서 살기 위해 알아야 할 모든 것이 있다.)
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Tap Water In Korea: Is It Safe to Drink… and Why Most Koreans Don’t
Fill up a glass of water from the tap in Korea and start drinking it in front of your Korean host and watch their reaction. Despite the tap water in Seoul going through more rigorous quality testing than most developed cities in the world, the vast majority of Koreans won’t drink it. They’ll reach for bottled water, a filtered pitcher, or boiled water before they’ll drink straight from the tap. So, what’s going on? The short answer: yes, tap water in Korea is safe to drink. The longer answer involves old pipes, a government overhaul, a cultural preference that data hasn’t shifted yet, and some genuinely interesting statistics about what’s…
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How To Celebrate New Year’s Eve In Seoul
Ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Korea? Like many places around the world, on New Year’s Eve there are parties galore across the country from Seoul to Busan and everywhere in between. But I think it should be noted that traditionally, January 1st is celebrated with a sunrise hurrah not a midnight kiss. These days there is a lot to do from night to morning though. Whether you want to celebrate traditional Korean style or are looking for where to countdown in Seoul or maybe where to see fireworks in Seoul, there is plenty to do to ring in the New Year in Seoul. There are numerous ways to…
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What To Wear In Winter In Korea: Uniqlo Heattech
Winter in Korea can be really frigid and apparently this year is going to be colder than most. Are you ready? Usually people ask when they can see snow in Korea, but it’s really important to ask if they can even be outside in the winter. Some winters are really mild and quite nice, but others are frigid frigid frigid and you really need to prepare or you’ll just be running from interior space to interior space to stay warm. There are a few things that I make sure we have every year and one thing I make sure everyone in my family has is Uniqlo Heattech. To be honest,…
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How To Transfer Money To / From Korea
I was working on a trends report recently and one of the sections was on apps for people sending money to/from Korea. I have lived in Korea for almost 20 years and way back at the beginning, the only way to transfer money outside of Korea was to go into the bank and initiate a international remittance with the teller. The process took some paperwork each time. It got a bit easier over time to send money abroad from Korea but nowhere near what you can do now. I had gotten so used to using the bank systems that I didn’t realize there were new and amazing startups, companies, and…
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57 Things That Might Surprise You When In Korea
I’ve been living in Korea for almost 20 years and I still walk down the street and find things surprising. I don’t think there’s a right way or a wrong way to do things, there are just a lot of different ways to do something so with that in mind, here are 57 things that might surprise you when you come to Korea. From fans that might kill you to bidets everywhere… there’s a whole lot of cool, interesting, and different things you might not have realized. Here is what to expect when you come to Korea. My biggest tip if you’re planning to move to Korea, or just visiting…
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Quarantine In Korea: What To Expect
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we go about our daily lives and how we travel… or maybe don’t travel. Things are opening back up again and a lot of people are looking to travel to Korea. The government recently made an announcement that more people would not have to go through quarantine in Korea. That said, if you’re just coming here to travel, you didn’t quite make the cut yet. Currently, the only people that won’t have to go through quarantine are residents and resident’s family members that have been vaccinated. If you’re a tourist looking to travel through, you’ll still have to go through the 2 week…
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How to Get a Korean Driver’s License: Three Ways for Foreigners and Residents
Korea’s public transportation system is absolutely excellent, the Seoul subway alone covers more ground than most tourists ever need, buses connect virtually everywhere, and taxis are reliable. But once you start wanting to see the parts of the country that buses don’t reach, the coastline, the hidden valleys, the places that require a car and a willingness to turn off the main road, you’ll need to know how to get behind the wheel legally. There are three ways to drive in Korea as a foreigner, and which one applies to you depends on how long you’re staying and whether you already have a license from home. There are three ways…
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How To File Taxes While Abroad: Taxes For American Expats
It’s tax season… or is it? Fun fact, in Korea, if you’re working for a company, your taxes will be filed in December. However, if you’re a freelancer like me, they won’t be filed by you until May. Oh, and you have to make sure you do your American taxes somewhere in there too! Yes, you MUST file your American taxes every year. A lot of Americans move to Korea and seem surprised to learn they must file taxes every year. The US is one of just two countries that enforces citizen-based taxation. Since you’re abroad, you actually get an extension on filing, but you absolutely still need to file…
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Online Shopping In Korea With iHerb
Shopping online in Korea is pretty easy (if you have a Korean bank account and card) and with fast shipping and all that jazz, it’s great. That said, I’ve never really jumped on that bandwagon until COVID hit. Grocery shopping in Korea is a whole new experience and shopping online can be overwhelming especially when everything is in Korean and I just want to get on and get off real quick. I did tap sites that are tried and true and easy to get the essentials, like iHerb, though. This post is sponsored by iHerb but all opinions on the service and products are my own. Seriously, iHerb is one…
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Kada:Kudu: Shopping For Shoes In Korea Just Got Easier
Shopping in Korea can be so so fun, if you can fit into the clothes. While the streets of Hongdae and the roads of Myeongdong are lined with store after store of chic, fun, and quirky items, they’re often only available in a select (read: small) size and that just doesn’t cut it for many people. Fashionable clothing is one thing, but when it comes to shoes, it’s an even more difficult endeavor to find shoes in Korea for anyone with a size 9 or higher. Actually, I should say, a size 250 or higher. I remember the first time I went shopping for shoes in Korea, I wondered what…
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A Guide To Gift Giving In Korea: From Weddings To Housewarming Parties
Whether you’re living in Korea for a short time, staying for an extended period, or marrying into the culture, knowing Korean gift giving etiquette matters more than most people expect. The wrong gift at the wrong event isn’t just awkward, some choices carry real symbolic weight that can make a lasting impression in the wrong direction. The good news is that once you understand a few core principles, gift giving in Korea becomes surprisingly straightforward. Money is often the right answer. Context determines the amount. And knowing what not to give is as important as knowing what to give. Get ready to give gifts in Korea. Here’s what you need…
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What You Need To Know About Taxes If You’re An American In Korea
Have you moved to Korea? Working as an ESL teacher for a year or starting a business perhaps? Whether you’re living here for a short time or long term, you’ll want to be aware of what you need to do to file taxes. Did you know, as an American, you’re expected to file taxes every year no matter where you’re living? Not every country requires this but as an American expat, it is your responsibility to file taxes. If you’re an American living in Korea, make sure you know how to file taxes from abroad. If at some point you move home and you never filed, you could find yourself…
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How To Rent a Bike in Seoul: Seoul Bike, Han River Rentals & Bike Tours
Do you want to see Seoul, Korea in a different way? I’ve seen more and more tourists on bike tours in downtown Seoul. Wonder how easy it is to rent a bike in Seoul? Getting around the city can be super fun. I know for me, when I want to make a day of traversing around the city, I want to make it more memorable. Of course walking is a great way to explore any city, but sometimes you want to put the pedal to the metal. Korea has so many different options for biking and scooter rentals to ride around the city and parks. The ones I’ll be telling…
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SlowBox: The CSA To Use In Korea
Slowbox is a service that delivers produce direct from local farmers to consumers throughout the country of Korea. I’m always on the lookout for ethically-sourced produce and I used to always head to local farmers markets like Mangwon Market since we lived so close. However, since moving and only having the large brand grocery stores within walking distance now, Slowbox has been an amazing option for us for more than a year now. Slowbox is a community supported agriculture (CSA) program that sources their produce from small family owned farms around Korea and you can meet their farmers right on their Slowbox Instagram page. Here’s what you’ll find in this…
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Do I Need A Fine Dust Mask In Korea?
We aren’t living in a smog filled polluted country all of the time, but when it’s bad, it can be pretty bad. While most advanced countries in the world are decreasing their reliance on coal for energy, Korea has actually been increasing their coal-fired power plants. We could get into the reasons and place blame, but that’s really for another article. For this one I want to answer the questions I have been getting from tourists. Do I need a fine dust mask in Korea? Which fine dust mask is best for Korea? Can I go outside when fine dust levels are high? This is useful information for not only…
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Rugby Clubs In Korea & The Seoul Rugby Charity Dinner
Rugby is a sport that may not have a ton of history in Korea but it definitely has some avid fans and those fans have even gone on to start rugby clubs around the country. Whether you want to play, promote, or support these programs, there’s a chance to be apart of the sport from Seoul down to Busan. Recently, I was invited out to the Seoul Rugby Charity Dinner. Hosted every four years in the run up to the Rugby World Cup, this event held at the JW Marriott this year, raises money for a number of charities here in Seoul, Korea. The event is hosted by the South…
