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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Culture & Community, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, Fun & Entertainment, International Student Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
Hobbies for Making Friends in Korea
Recently we posted Tips for Making Friends in Korea and we mentioned embracing your hobbies. Of course, that’s easier said than done. You’ve moved to a new country and language limitations may make accessing your hobby difficult. I want to help make it easier by connecting you with groups in Korea where you can search for connections. About the Following Hobby List Koreans absolutely love indulging in hobbies. The country is filled with clubs, academies, and groups for just about any hobby you can think of. Additionally, if you join…
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Culture & Community, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, New Arrival Information, USA Military Welcome Packet
Tips for Making Friends in Korea
Have you recently moved to Korea for work or school and are you looking to build your community? Here are some of my personal tips for making friends in South Korea. Hold onto your hats because this isn’t short but it may be helpful. 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 accessible. If you would…
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Intro to Cross-Country Cycling in South Korea
You may find cycling cross-country in South Korea surprisingly doable with the proximity of towns, regular services, and extensive river bike paths. I personally think that South Korea may be one of the best places to do extended cycling trips since you can carry next to nothing and still ride for days easily. Let’s take a quick look at what riding in Korea may look like for you based on my experiences. Listen to the BlogCast Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible…
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Korean Q-Code Support Options
Are you having issues with the Korean Q-Code system? Looking for Korean Q-Code Support options? Korea requires incoming tourists to create a Q-code for entry into South Korea and it’s not easy for everyone to use for two reasons: 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 accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team…
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About South Korean Health Care System, Health care self advocacy, Medical & Health, New Arrival Information, Physical & Mental Wellness, Public Health, US Military and Korean Health Care
Navigating Healthcare in South Korea: Introducing the “Health and Wellness in Korea” Facebook Group
Have you ever needed to find a specific hostpial or clinic in Korea for a health challenge that you've faced, but didn't know where to go? Korea has a complex system of hospitals and clinics of which many medical services don't overlap. Finding trusted information on healthcare options can be difficult if you don't know where to look. To overcome these challenges in healthcare information access, SOS Public Health and Fedmedi collaborated to create the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group.
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August in South Korea, Culture Shock Tips, Dining & Drinks, Education, July in South Korea, New Arrival Information, Pyeongtaek Restaurants, Restaurants and Bars, SOS South Korean Seasonal Guide: Summer
Business Summer Vacations in Korea
Summer vacations are coming. Expect to feel frustrated when you first show up at your favorite spots and they are closed for summer vacation. It’s hard at first, but when you understand the cultural standards, the frustration gets easier. Let’s talk more about business summer vacations in South Korea so that you can go from upset to aware faster. About Business Summer Vacations in Korea Many family-owned businesses or small corporations take a summer vacation sometime between mid-July and the end of August. The timing coordinates with when kids are…
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Income Comparison Foreign ESL Teachers in Korea v US Public School Teachers
Would you like to see an income comparison foreign ESL teachers in Korea v US public school teachers? Let’s dig into how the money may shake out after basic expenses. We will look at the entry-level income v. expenses. Comparison of Salary and Expenses To understand the difference in income between entry-level teachers in the United States and entry-level foreign public school teachers in South Korea you need to compare not only salaries but also basic life expenses. Nothing listed below should be considered a guarantee or a promise. The…
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Driving Tips, Korean Travel & Adventure, New Arrival Information, Public & Private Transport, Real Estate & Auto
5 Reasons Romanized Korean Addresses Suck
Honestly, we don’t have a nicer way to say this. We LOVE Hangul addresses but the Romanized Korean addresses sucks and makes life harder in many situations. In order to truly navigate Korea, you need the Korean address written in Hangul. We know that’s frustrating but it’s the truth and the struggle isn’t talked about online enough. So, let’s talk about it. What is Romanized Korean? Romanization is a linguistic term that refers to taking one language and converting it to Latin letters. In this case, when Korean is written…
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Breweries, Pubs, & Craft Beer, Korean Travel & Adventure, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
30 Top Korean Craft Beer and Breweries
Looking for the 30 top Korean craft beer and brewery adventures. You have come to the right place. South of Seoul’s “Korean Craft Beer and Breweries” Adventure Map takes you across Korea on a flavor adventure. Click here to jump straight to the list. About Craft Beer in South Korea The craft beer scene began to take root and grow in Korea within the last decade. That means Craft Beer remains a small and developing aspect of Korean life. Exploring this new industry takes you to some of the most…
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A Year In South Korea, ESL/EFL Educators Welcome Packet, International Student Welcome Packet, SOS Seasonal Guide: Spring, SOS Seasonal Pyeongtaek Guide: Fall, SOS South Korean Seasonal Guide: Summer, SOS South Korean Seasonal Guide: Winter, Tourist and Traveler Welcome Packet, USA Military Welcome Packet
How to Appreciate Korean Seasons
Wondering what to expect during Korea’s four seasons? Let’s take a look at what a year looks like living in Korea. Discover tips for how to appreciate Korean seasons for their own unique style. Korea’s ‘Four Seasons’ is Part of Small Talk Korean culture puts great importance on the 4 seasons. While living in South Korea, you may even hear about Korea’s four-season slightly more than feels comfortable. For example, many social conversations may begin with the question, “Do you know about Korea’s four seasons?” due to the fact it’s…
