New Arrival Information
Be kind to yourself and have grace for yourself when you first arrive in South Korea. Living in Korea as a foreigner isn't easy.
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 oftentimes 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.
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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The Reality of Student Work Permits in Korea
Can international students work in South Korea? The short answer is yes, but there are many different rules that you will need to navigate and each student’s situation is a little different. There is no such thing as one set of paperwork or a guaranteed outcome. Such ambiguity may leave international students feeling vulnerable and frustrated. It also may impact a student’s ability to focus on coursework. Therefore, let’s dig into the different factors that impact students’ ability to work on D-2 or D-4 visas in South Korea. Information Disclaimer…
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International Students and Housing in Korea
Moving to South Korea to study? Let’s talk about the reality of housing and the expenses you may need to prepare for as an international student. Remember universities don’t usually cover student living expenses so international students must budget for setting up their new lives. Barriers to Student Housing International students in South Korea often struggle with finding housing. Understanding the many issues associated with finding student housing can help international students mentally prepare for how hard moving to a new country for school may feel. Language and Culture International…
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Health Insurance Rules for International Students in Korea
Let’s talk about the Korean National Health Insurance requirements for international students studying in South Korea. It’s important to have a strong health safety net while you are studying and Korea and that includes health insurance. Thankfully, South Korea makes health insurance mandatory and affordable for many students. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content…
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International Student Visa Guide for Korea
Interested in studying in South Korea but you don’t know your visa options? This is the perfect place to start. This visa guide for international students will help you better understand your options. About Studying in South Korea South Korean universities continue to expand their programs for international students who wish to study in the country. Such a drive to attract foreign students means that South Korea offers a few ways to become an international student. In this post, we will look at information for two groups of people: 1)…
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The Dirt on Applying for Korean D2 Visas
Korean student visas, D2 Visa, Studying in Korea
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Intro to the International Student Virtual Welcome Packet
Would you like to know more about being an international student in South Korea and how this Virtual Welcome Packet can help? What types of students study in South Korea? As an international student in South Korea, you may meet other students studying in: Since international students choose to study in Korea due to different reasons, information in this International Student Welcome Packet may apply to different levels of education or different visa types. Does everyone have the same experience in Korea? Each international student experiences life in Korea from…
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About South Korean Health Care System, Maternal Health, Public Health, US Military and Korean Health Care
SOS Public Health Maternal Health Survey Descriptive Analysis: Pregnancy and Childbirth in South Korea
Would you like to know more about pregnancy and childbirth in South Korea? The following blog post provides a descriptive analysis of the data gathered in the SOS Public Health Maternal Health Survey (2022 SOS PHMHS) The following data may so such things as 1) provide support and information for people considering childbirth in South Korea, 2) support additional research into the lived pregnancy and childbirth experiences of international residents living in South Korea, and 3) contribute to a better understanding of how international residents experience pregnancy and childbirth in…
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Korean E2 Visa Renewal Online
Time to renew your E2 Visa for your ESL/EFL teaching job in South Korea. Let’s go! Many posts on the topic of Korean E2 visa renewal online leave out some critical details. We will add to the information to remove some of the fear and stress. Specifically, this post will look at how to apply online on the HiKorea website. Blog Written From Lived Experience Many volunteers came together to compare E2 visa renewal experiences. However, your experience may be different based on your own personal situation. So, you’ll need…
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Applying for Residency with Your E2 Visa
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Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
As a SAHM (stay-at-home mom), who arrived in Korea with a one-year-old and later traveled back to the States with a three-year-old, I am now psychologically and emotionally ready to share a few lessons I’ve learned along the way about traveling with babies and toddlers. I have to thank all of the moms who share their stories on social media because their stories helped shape my content through my own travel experiences. Choosing Flights When possible, opting for an overnight flight saved us the most both in setting up a…
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About South Korean Health Care System, Culture Shock Tips, Health care self advocacy, Medical & Health, Public Health, Support Services, Tips of Living Your Best Life, US Military and Korean Health Care
2022 SOS Public Health Needs Assessment of International Residents in Korea
This Needs Assessment was conducted by graduate student Olivia Bowman as part of her practicum with SOS Public Health (SOSPH) in the Fall of 2022. This needs assessment examines healthcare information access among the multinational English-speaking community living in South Korea, with a focus on the role that cultural dissonance may play in such access.
