New Arrival Information
Be kind to yourself and have grace for yourself when you first arrive in South Korea.
When you arrive in South Korea, you may find yourself scrambling to acclimate. That's ok and that is normal. You are dealing with a new language, new culture, new customs, new foods, new co-workers, and often-times a new career. Culture shock is a very real and often painful experience. Taking the time to inform yourself about the world around you will couple perfectly with having grace for yourself and others.
Be kind to yourself and have grace for yourself when you first arrive in South Korea.South of Seoul volunteers empathize deeply with your struggle.
We have also struggled through that pain as well and our mission is to help minimize the struggle as much as possible. That's why South of Seoul volunteers put together this list of blogs that each shares something we wish we had known in the first three months of our arrival in South Korea. We recommend revisiting these blogs regularly over the first three months because each time you read them something new will stand out.Is there a blog you think we should have on this list?
Information you wish you had? Please leave a comment or message us at southofseoul@gmail.com and we will add it to our list of blogs to post.
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Entry/ Exit Info for Foreign Legal Residents in Korea
While living in South Korea, you will likely fall in love with traveling to all kinds of nearby international destinations. When entering and exiting South Korea, you may wonder if you need your Foreign Registration Card (FRC aka ARC). Here is some entry/exit info for Foreign Legal Residents in Korea related to the Foreign Registration Card. What is a Foreign Registration Card In South Korea, a Foreign Registration Card (FRC) (also called an Alien Registration Card (ARC) in English) is an official identification card issued to foreign nationals who plan…
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August in South Korea, July in South Korea, June in South Korea, Korean Travel & Adventure, New Arrival Information
15 Summer Fun Ideas in Korea for Locals 2025
Summer in Korea means hot sun, high humidity, and the potential heavy rains. Some people prefer to embrace the elements while others stay inside. We have 15 different Summer Fun Activities for those that don’t mind tackling the elements and those that want to stay inside. No matter your preference, you will find summer fun in Korea! 15 Ideas and Over 100 Places This blog post introduces 15 fun things to do and then links to blogs for each of these ideas. This allows us to share the maximum amount…
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Korean Severance Pay and Contract Renewal Bonus Info
Severance Pay and Contract Renewal Bonus information
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ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, New Arrival Information, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
Pyeongtaek Living 101: Workshops Recap
Here’s a blog recap for the Pyeongtaek Living 101 Workshops for 2024! We hosted 3 sessions of the Pyeongtaek Living Workshops, each session included 4 different workshop topics over the span of two weeks. Here is how they went. Pyeongtaek Living 101 Workshops Recap The Pyeongtaek Living 101 Workshops were a fantastic opportunity for our community to dive deeper into practical topics essential for navigating life in Pyeongtaek. As a follow-up to the Pyeongtaek Living 101 Course, the workshops focused on hands-on, interactive sessions where participants gained valuable insights into…
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Best Phone Apps in Korea, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
Naver Maps V. Google Maps in Korea
Feeling pressured to use Naver Maps (네이버 지도) instead of Google Maps while living in or visiting South Korea? Many valid reasons exist for this pressure. Time to explore the differences between these two map systems that provide different levels of access to information in Korea. Culture Shock Around Map Apps in Korea During our research in satisfaction with integration into South Korean life, we found technology important. For example, we found that a low adaptation to technology may negatively impact life satisfaction. Conversely, those who reported a high level…
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5 Misconceptions About Korea’s Suneung (CSAT) Exam
As a public school teacher in South Korea, I’ve learned that the echo chamber of English language information about Suneung lacks detail. In fact, the English language research and information about the Suneung was so misleading I could find no ethically viable sources for my Master’s thesis. Therefore, I would like to reveal some misconceptions about Korea’s Suneung (CSAT) exam. The Suneung (CSAT) in Western Media and Literature In Western media and conversations, the Korean Suneung (College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT) often gets sensationalized. Researchers, YouTube creators, and blog…
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Struggling with English Naver Maps? Here’s Why It Happens
Trying to use the Naver Maps app with the English interface? Struggling to find information? Noticing a weird lack of parking or Korean restaurants? English speakers in Korea encounter several common issues when using Naver Maps. In this post, we will talk about Naver Maps and how it handles English UX/UI and the data you search. We LOVE Naver Maps in Korean but we want to be honest about the issues for English language users. About Naver Maps Naver Maps is Korea’s most popular navigation app. Created by Naver Corp.,…
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Comparison of Rental Systems Near US Military Bases
Did you know that there are two types of realtors in areas near the US Military bases in South Korea? In such areas, some realtors focus on US military-affiliated people while the majority focus on Korean residents. In the following blog post, we will provide a few areas of comparison between the realtors and rental systems used by US military v. Korean Residents. You may feel surprised by the differences. Additionally, at the end of the post, we will offer questions for each type of realtor. About Realtors Near US…
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About Pyeongtaek-si, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, Living in Pyeongtaek-si, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
Pyeongtaek Living 101 Online Course: Integrating in Life in Korea
Want to arrive in Korea ahead of the game? Take the Pyeongtaek Living 101 Course before you arrive and then sign up for workshops once you are here. It’s a great way to make the most of your time living in South Korea. Keep reading to learn more about the online course for integration in Korea. Don’t Wait To Get Started: Everyone Welcome Are you planning to move to Pyeongtaek-si, South Korea, or have you recently arrived? The Pyeongtaek Living 101 online course is your key to a smooth and…
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Discover Dalbang / Wolbang Short-Term Rentals in Korea
Looking for short-term rentals in South Korea? Maybe you want to ski for the season, spend a month at your favorite beach, or need a place to stay between work contracts. Consider renting a dalbangs (달방) / wolbang (월방) (these terms literally translate to monthly rental). You can rent a hotel, pension, or apartment for a short time with a less intense deposit than a regular apartment. About dalbangs (달방) / wolbang (월방) Dalbangs (달방) / wolbang (월방) exist as a popular type of monthly, short-term rentals in South Korea.…
