Moving To South Korea? Everything To Know About Life Abroad

This Complete Relocation Guide on Moving to South Korea has been updated as of February 2025. 

Moving to a new country is an exciting and sometimes scary chapter in your life. I promise you’re in good hands because this post is a knowledge dump of everything I know about living in South Korea. 

I worked as an English teacher in Gyeonggi, spent time studying the Korean language, and understand the cultural differences. In my not-so-humble opinion, this peninsular country is an excellent place to live abroad, and I’m thrilled for you to begin your journey in East Asia! 

When I first moved, I wished someone would have told me everything I needed to know. After living in the Land of the Morning Calm for almost six years, I am a seasoned expat in the Korean way of life.

Please note that this is general guidance for moving to South Korea, and your country or situation may differ from mine. Check and double check what Korea’s requirements are for you when applying for work permits and visas.

Teaching English in South Korea

Korea is a fantastic place to start your expat journey. International moves are exciting, and to make this next step of your life easy, I have a comprehensive guide on how to get a job teaching English in South Korea. 

While the work culture for Koreans may be toxic and consist of long hours, as a foreigner, you will have a different experience if you’re in the public education system or at international schools. I will ALWAYS recommend the English Program in Korea (EPIK) for a better work-life balance.

Full transparency: the days of English teachers getting placed in the capital city of Seoul are gone. EPIK will usually send you to more rural areas or other big cities around the country. 

Visa Requirements For South Korea

There are specific requirements for the type of visa you want to get. The good news is, an English teaching work visa or the student visa is one of the easiest ones to apply for.

For a complete list of visas available to you (including the new digital nomad visa), visit the official Korean Consulate page.You will receive your alien registration card after you get your job offer and arrive at Incheon. 

If you’re coming to the Republic of Korea to work, then these are the entry requirements: 

• Valid Passport 
• Appropriate Visa
• Clean criminal background checks

Bringing Your Pet From The USA To South Korea

I have experience bringing my beloved Pomeranian, Honey, to and from South Korea. For a successful move, I have a comprehensive post on How to Bring Your Dog From The USA to Korea to make your fur baby’s transition easier.

On the flip side, if you’re leaving Korea and want to bring your fur baby back with you, I also have a guide on how to bring your pet from Korea to the United States.

Learn Korean 

South Koreans spend a good portion of their academic careers learning English. Many are conversational, especially in major cities like Seoul. 

Do yourself a favor and spend a couple of afternoons learning Hangul with this free cheat sheet. Korean is a phonetic language; therefore, how you pronounce a word is how you spell it.

Another way to help with the language barrier is by getting the Pocketalk to help translate language in real time. I also have a guide on how I learned Korean along with all the books and methods I used. 

If you plan on getting permanent residency in South Korea to pursue other careers, I recommend enrolling in the Korean Immigration and Integration Program. The Korean government runs this free six-level program, where you are taught Korean in Korean.

Moving To South Korea

Before coming to the Land of the Morning Calm, ensure you’re all packed up. I also have a guide on everything you need to pack for South Korea.

In recent years, a large influx of people from Western countries have come to work and live in Korea. Your first week in the country will be a whirlwind of getting your cell phone, bank account, and making your apartment home.

Living in South Korea

After living abroad in South Korea for almost six years, I can attest there is a high standard of living and a lower cost of living than the United States. You’ll also find anything and everything you need in urban areas. 

During my long-term stay in the country, I learned a thing or two about the Korean lifestyle. I also have a complete guide for everything you need to know as an expat woman moving to South Korea. 

One of the first things you should also know is navigating your Korean apartment, what household items you need, and even how to pay your utility bills. 

Healthcare System in South Korea

South Korea has two types of health insurance: National Health Insurance and Private Health Insurance. There are lots of excellent medical facilities in Korea.

Please note if you’re bringing medications into the country, please check with the Korean customs regulations to ensure you can bring it.

While working in Korea, you will automatically be covered under their national health care plan, which covers 50 percent of the costs, and you will be responsible for the other part. If you choose to get private health insurance to supplement the Korean one, I recommend using Safety Wing.

Foreign nationals have praised the medical professionals in Korea. I feel like the medical care I received in South Korea was much better than anything I’ve encountered in Texas. 

Traveling in South Korea

Seoul is the largest city and the most popular destination to explore. Korea has a super rich cultural heritage, which makes visiting the country really invigorating.

From the best day trips from Seoul to the stunning beaches of Busan and Jeju Island, you have so much to choose from. While living in Korea, I had the privilege of traveling around the country and hiking in their gorgeous national parks. 

Excellent Public Transportation

All roads lead to and from Seoul. One of the best ways to get around is by having a T-Money card.

The bus system is excellent and will take you everywhere in style. There’s also a high-speed train and low-cost airline carriers such as Air Busan, Air Seoul, East Star, Jeju Air, Jinair, and T-Way. 

Weather in South Korea

Depending on where you live, you will experience different weather patterns. For example, Jeju sees a much milder winter compared to Seoul.

As a rule of thumb, Korea has pretty cold winters and humid summers. However, because the seasons are fleeting and there’s always something to celebrate, it’s common practice to enjoy festivals. 

​On my blog, you’ll also find guides on how to dress for spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Use Social Media For Unique Experiences

Koreans love this platform. They love sharing their life, fancy drinks, and what they’re doing with their friends, family, or significant other. 

If there’s a new trend coming out, chances are everyone will be posting about it on Instagram or TikTok. If you learn Korean, you can use Naver, which is the Korean Google. It’s life-changing and super informative. 

Knowing popular Korean hashtags will help you search for cool cafes, restaurants, and activities. Some of them include: 

• #(city)추천
• #(city)핫플레이스 
• #(city)핫플
• #(city)맛집
• #(city)맛집투어
• #(city)데이트
• #(city)커플데이트
• #(city)데이트코스
• #(city)카페
• #(neighborhood)카페
• #(city)여행 
• #(city)여행코스

Shopping That Will Save Your Life

Here’s what you need to know. GMarket, Coupang, and McDelivery are life when it comes to the internet. The end.

Just kidding. There’s more.

For food shopping, I highly recommend Home Plus (lots of foreign options and expensive) and EMart. If you need anything for your home or a series of knick-knacks, try Daiso. 

Underground subway stations often carry the latest fashions and for much cheaper than regular stores. If you’re over a US size 6 or have feet bigger than a size 8, your new favorite stores will be Uniqlo, American Eagle, and H&M. 

Sneakers Are a MUST

In America, yes, we can be slobs sometimes when we dress, but if we’re going out for a night out, we always dress to the nines. One of the biggest culture shocks I had when I moved here was seeing girls with cute outfits and super dirty sneakers. 

Much of the pavement in South Korea isn’t always even (and super dirty because people spit everywhere). It will scuff up, tear, and destroy your shoes. You will also be walking a lot more than you usually would in your home country. 

Know that sneakers are super cool and sold in large abundance here. If you have shoes bigger than size 8, rejoice because they have unisex sneakers.

Don’t Trust Everyone 

While I find most Koreans very hospitable and kind, you must be careful of people’s ulterior motives. Sometimes, you can ask your Korean coworkers things, and they’ll respond with, “It’s not possible” or “Foreigners can’t do it.” This often actually means, “I don’t feel like it” or “I don’t know how to do what you want.”

If you think people are two-faced in your own country, wait until you come to Korea. For instance, if Koreans want to learn English, they’ll befriend you quickly and want to spend all of their time with you. Once you’ve outlived your usefulness, then they will just ghost you. 

Always Save Face 

Many Koreans don’t like to admit or be wrong and will always try to save face. They will act like nothing is wrong and try to move past it. This means you most likely will not get an apology. 

Pick and choose your battles wisely. This means if someone is also being a complete bitch at work then just smile, and let it go like Elsa. 

Make Friends 

As adults in a foreign country, how do you make friends? One of the best places to start is your local community. 

Despite being a blogger, you’d think I was some weird shut-in recluse, but I’m actually not. I’m super extroverted, and I love meeting new people and hanging out with my friends. 

I usually make friends via social media such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or meetup.com. I’ve also made friends on group trips via Trazy and language exchanges.

P.S. South Korea does not have a super welcoming community of expats. In my experience, the people who live abroad in Korea are some of the angriest I’ve ever encountered. Also a lot of the women from the Facebook group, Expat Women in Korea are unbelievably fucking toxic. 

You Will Get Pushed 

I don’t know about other cultures, but in America, if you push someone or bump into them by accident, you almost always apologize. In Korea, ajhummas and ajhussi have clotheslined me harder than a professional NFL player. 

Younger Koreans hate this kind of behavior too, but sadly can’t do much about it due to the age hierarchy and respecting your elders. Just don’t be shocked when some grandma half your size reaches up and grabs you to move you out of the way. 

People will also not hold the door for you, so expect some doors to slam in your face.

Get To Know The Local Laws 

This should also be common sense, but you wouldn’t be able to believe some of the hot water expats have gotten themselves into. One of them primarily being the self-defense laws. 

In America, if someone attacks me, I can throw hands to defend myself. That’s not the case in Korea.

You can only defend yourself with an equal amount of strength. If you go hard, Koreans will go to the hospital, get a report, and then sue you for using too much force even if they attacked you first.

There are no good Samaritan laws in South Korea. 

I really hate to say this, but let the Koreans deal with each other and stay out of it. Even if you help someone in trouble, they will easily turn around and sue you. 

In addition, it is legal to sound record everything as long as your voice is heard. If someone is being a psycho and coming at you for no reason, make sure you video record it.

Be aware of defamation laws. A big flaw in Korean culture is how seriously people take their reputations.

For instance, if a woman is raped and tells everyone who her attacker was, the rapist can then sue her for defamation. Fucked up and infuriating, yes, but that’s how the laws work. 

You WILL Get Sick 

I hate bursting your bubble, but many Koreans don’t cover their mouths when sneezing or coughing. I wish I were joking, but they obviously learned nothing after the COVID-19 pandemic.

You will be exposed to all the different strains of the cold, flu, and whatever else is out there, so be prepared. Bring hand sanitizer and try not to touch anything on public transport. 

South Korea frequently has poor air quality. Gunk in the air causes itchy and watery eyes and excessive coughing, especially in the morning. If you’re someone who has asthma or any respiratory problems, I highly recommend having your inhaler at all times. 

Buy An Air Purifier and Masks

While the Land of the Morning Calm blames bad air quality on their neighbor, China, 70 percent of the pollution comes from Korea. It causes health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, other respiratory infections, and even death.

I highly recommend buying air purifying masks and an air purifier for your home so you can at least try to keep your health up. 

The Streets Are DIRTY 

After coming from Chicago and living in Japan, I found the streets of Korea to be especially filthy. You need to watch where you walk if you want to avoid walking in loogies, dog shit, and vomit. 

Final Thoughts on Moving To Korea

South Korea has been around awhile, and their rich culture absolutely reflects that. You’ll get to see the difference between Eastern and Western standards as well as learn a new way of life.

Living abroad is one of the best things you can do. You’ll become more open-minded, learn many new skills, and have the experience of a lifetime. 

I cannot wait for you to start your journey and hope this post will put your mind at ease. 

P.S.S. Tell your family members you’ll be okay because Kim Jeong Eun in North Korea is a big ass joke. Lol. 

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

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