South of Seoul (SOS) volunteers welcome you to the US Military Virtual Welcome Packet. Our information applies to life that happens beyond the bases. How are the Welcome Articles Curated? SOS Volunteers associated with the US Military curate the US Military Virtual Welcome Packet for South of Seoul. The SOS Volunteers group information with the most important and immediate information showing first and then flowing into more lifestyle and community-focused information. Additionally: ***Jump to the US Military Virtual Welcome Packet*** How are the Welcome Articles Developed? SOS volunteers develop articles for the international residents of South Korea including but not limited to the US military. SOS blog articles answer general knowledge, common knowledge, and domain-specific knowledge-related questions. This means that some of the SOS-developed content included in the Military Virtual Welcome Packet may be specifically for the military while other blogs may be information that pertains to all residents of South Korea that those associated with the US military should be aware of.  Keep in mind, South of Seoul has no governmental affiliation with either the US or Korean Governments. Our volunteers work independently to facilitate communication between communities. Does everyone have the same experience in Korea? Each international student experiences life in Korea from their own social/cultural lens. Such lenses may be based on their country of origin, health care needs, culture, race, Korean language ability, location, and so much more. This means that each educator may experience Korean life in different ways unique to them. South of Seoul volunteers seek to provide easily emotionally accessed information scaffolded for a variety of social/cultural lenses. We do this in order to support the diverse international community with empathetic and equitable information. ***Jump to the US Military Virtual Welcome Packet*** Why don’t you move more articles about…..? If you have ideas for blogs that need to be added to this list, feel free to let us know in the comments or message us at southofseoul@gmail.com. Where can I find South of Seoul of Listings? Download to the South of Seoul app! We have designed an app specifically for international residents living in South Korea with a focus on Pyeongtaek and the surrounding areas. After you read these blogs the app will take your life to the next level. ***Jump to the US Military Virtual Welcome Packet*** South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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One military families experience moving to South Korea. Learn more about the PCS experience to from Hawai'i to Gyeonggido.

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This blog is a rough overview of how US Military personnel may use a Korean Foreign Residency Card to make life easier in South Korea. The following blog is not an in-depth look at each US Military personnel’s unique situation based on their own moderating variables. Please message us at southofseoul@gmail.com with any details that could be added to this blog to help US Military personnel in the future. Although all foreigners living in South Korea follow a similar process ( the South of Seoul blog represents a wide variety of foreign communities), this specific blog post has been developed for the US Military personnel and will be updated with information related to unique experiences related to such issues as 1) SOFA visas, 2) being active duty, and 3) how living on base may impact the following information. The facts appear to be that families of soldiers, DOD contractors, and others associated with the US Military but not enlisted directly in the USFK -have more room to make personal life choices within the Korean systems. Those enlisted directly with the USFK should speak with their individual leaders to determine their course of action regarding life in South Korea. About the Foreign Registration Card This is the 2nd blog in a series by South of Seoul to inform US Military personnel about information related to having a Foreign Registration Card (FRC) while living in South Korea. Apart from US Military personnel who live in South Korea under the SOFA, the Korean government requires long-term foreign residents have an FRC which is similar to a Social Security Card. Although US Military personnel live in South Kora under SOFA, many may apply for the FRCs during their time living in South Korea. You can learn how US Military can apply for FRC cards here. Once the FRC has been acquired, here are the next steps to make life easier by solving issues US Military personnel experience related to: Let’s learn about the steps to connecting your FRC to services. How to Connect Your FRC to Koreas Social Support Systems to Make Life Easier Once you have acquired your FRC you will need to take the following steps to integrate your life into Korea’s social systems. 1: Connect Your Phone Number and Your FRC Estimated Time: If you already have a phone, maybe 30 minutes. However, if you are buying a phone it can take 1-2 hours to get all the paperwork completed and the phone setup. In order to connect with Korea’s banking and health systems, you need to have a smartphone registered in your name in South Korea. This can either be a monthly plan or a contract. However, the phone can not be a disposable / burner phone. Here are two experiences by US Military affiliated persons: We went to the on Osan Air Force Base KT store and told them we need our ARC cards attached to our phones. I don’t think it took her but a few minutes to update pur accounts. Then we were able to update in Kakao for our QR codes. Melissa, Contractor with the USFK (5 Years in South Korea) When I received our FRC card I asked the KT office on Camp Humphreys to add it to our phones which we opened with an ID number associated with US Military. The on-base KT office said we needed 3 months of paid phone service before they could change to using our FRC number. Katie, Military Spouse (2 months in Korea) 2: Get a Bank Account Estimated Time: Set aside 1-2 hours for managing the language barrier and setting up all your banking services. Ideally, you have your FRC and phone before getting your bank account. We recommend creating a Korean bank account with either Hanna Bank or KB Bank. These two financial institutions have solid English banking apps that will allow you to easily send bank transfers and pay online. The majority of South of Seoul volunteers prefer Hanna after over a decade of experience with a variety of banks. When you get your bank account you MUST ask the bank to set up your online and smartphone banking during the appointment. You can not do this yourself from home. You will regret not doing this as smartphone banking is what makes life work smoothly in South Korea. Pro-tip: Learning the new systems for Korean online banking can be a truly frustrating and stressful process. However, once you are signup life gets easy after that. We recommend having a person show speaks Korean and understands Korean online banking help you with setting up your online banking systems. 3: Setup Kakao Wallet and Kakao Pay Kakao is life in Korea. Specifically, Kakao Wallet and Kakao Pay are life in Korea. Once you have your FRC link to your phone and Korean bank account, you are now free to fall in love with life with Kakao. Kakao Pay makes ordering things online just a few simple clicks away. Watch this video on how to signup: 7: Download Apps and Shop! Popular apps that you can now use with your FRC/Phone/Bank/Kakao Pay system: Covid-19 NOTE: The following are no longer relevant as they are from the Covid-19 restrictions that were in place pre 2022. They have been retained for historical interest. Get Kakao Talk Shake! Estimated Time: 5-10 minutes depending on your technical skill level The most commonly used contact/trace QR code is likely the Kakao version, however, Naver and PASS also have QR check-in codes that work across the country. Get your easy-to-access shake-and-scan Kakao QR code like this! For US Military personnel, you don’t need to have your vaccine registered to start using the Kakao QR code check-in. However, you will need to show your Form 49 when you scan your Kakao QR code until you finish registering your vaccine in the next steps. Pro-Tip: In order to have Kakao QR codes work your Kakao account, your Kakao account must be linked to your phone number which is linked to your FRC. If you have a Kakao account registered to only an e-mail account or a Kakao account linked to a phone number registered under a US Military ID number – you can not use the QR check-in function. (If South of Seoul documents changes in this system, we will update the blog) Register Your Vaccination with the Public Health Center Estimated Time: To fully complete this process (assuming you have your FRC and smartphone) it may take 1 hour. However, it all depends on the business of the Public Health Center (보건소) When one registers their information with the local Public Health Center, it can theoretically be done with or without an FRC. If the vaccine is registered without an FRC only a paper verification certificate will be given. If the vaccine is registered using an FRC both a paper printout and the COOV app become available. A blog documenting how to register vaccines a local Public Health Centers coming soon. Each Public Health Center manages such registering foreign vaccines in their own way. Keep in mind, South of Seoul publishes articles about what Korean public policy allows in relation to those associated with the US military living in Korea. Our work does not speak to US Military rules for enlisted USFK persons. Information is always changing and South of Seoul updates blogs as access to new information presents itself. Download the Coov App Estimated Time: You will need a person who speaks Korean to help walk you through this, but it should only take 30 minutes or less. Once you have registered your FRC with your phone number and registered your vaccination at a Public Health Center, you will be able to download the COOV App. The COOV App is a ‘vaccine pass’ used in Korea to track and verify COVID-19 vaccination status. Logging into COOV can be a challenge. Registration is in Korea and you can’t take screenshots to translate in Papago (this is how many of us navigate signing up for apps in Korea). Please find a Korean-speaking person to help you. Once you register for the COOV app they do have an English interface that you can use. One big benefit of the COOV app is that it also syncs with your Kakao Wallet. This means that when you scan your Kakao QR code at a restaurant for contact tracing purposes, it also validates your vaccination status at the same time. More about Kakao Wallet coming up after banking! South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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While this blog is to help US Military members and their families get a Foreign Registration Card, this is not a US Military affiliated blog. South of Seoul independently researches and documents situations related to different foreign groups in Korea. We do not speak for the US government or the Korean government. We speak to what is happening in real-time and the information provided to us by professional sources. For more information that might be of use to US Military service members and their families check out our US Military Welcome Packet. About the Foreign Registration Card (FRC) The Foreign Registration Card (FRC) used to be known as the Alien Registration Card (ARC). South Korea changed from ‘Alien’ to ‘Foreign’ in 2020. Any time you see ARC in this blog or other publications, ARC is interchangeable with FRC. The FRC allows foreign residents living in South Korea to easily access many different aspects of Korean social systems such as officially registered phone number which links to banking and health systems. Having a Foreign Registration Card (FRC) and a registered phone number (not a disposable phone) means residents can: One might say that once you have an ARC and phone number linked to your ARC, life in Korea goes on easy mode. Almost everything you could need is a few digital clicks away. The Reason US Military Personnel Are Not Required to Have the FRC US Military personnel live in Korea under the South Korean Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). Under SOFA, the South Korean government does not require US Soldiers to register in Korea as residents of the country. This means that many US Military personnel do not enter into Korean social systems such as phone, banking, or health care since they have no Alien Registration Card (ARC). Over the last decade, South of Seoul volunteers have watched US Military personnel increasingly struggle with the mounting inconveniences associated with living without an FRC. Life with No FRC Causes Many Issues for US Military Personnel Due to not having an FRC, the US Military members regularly experience inconveniences related to their non-resident living status. Such inconveniences, in the past, have primarily included issues related to banking, shopping locally, and using Korean payment systems. Although many US Military personnel find such issues highly frustrating, they could be managed during a one-year deployment. However, with COVID, many new challenges related to living without and FRC began to develop. In late 2021, with the adaptation of COOV (an electronic vaccine verification system across South Korea) the US Military personnel (who did not choose to voluntarily apply for an ARC) found themselves inconvenienced in new ways. With the increased reliance on digital systems, businesses across South Korea began denying entry to US Military personnel as government regulations related to vaccine verification increased and US Military do not have their vaccines registered in the Korean systems. Confusion about vaccine verification ensued. US Military found their ability to live comfortably in South Korea heavily impacted by two key factors: 1) inability to verify their family lived at the same address and 2) foreign vaccinations not registered in South Korea. Additionally, many US Military personnel did not have clear, easy-to-understand information on how to apply for FRCs or how applying for an FRC could positively impact their lives. South of Seoul volunteers decided to aggregate actionable information based on interviews with US Military personnel who had successfully acquired FRCs for their families and create a blog to support other US Military personnel searching for solutions. How USFK Can Apply for a Foreign Registration Card in South Korea Make an Appointment with Immigration All Foreigners, including USFK, must schedule an appointment online with HiKorea. HiKorea is the official South Korean immigration website and they have an English language website. Appointments are often booked 4-6 weeks in advance. US Military personnel interested in living more comfortably in South Korea may want to consider scheduling their Korean Immigration appointments upon arrival in South Korea. Important Note: Military with two passports. You need to make the appointment with the passport you used to enter the country. The same passport used for your SOFA visa. If you use the wrong passport you may see the following error: No Result Found Important Note: The website does not work with all browsers. If you are using Chrome and are getting an error message, try using Microsoft Edge. Important Note: An appointment must be scheduled for each person in the family who needs to register and attend the application process. Registering every member of the family for their FRCcould be recommended for the following reasons: Important Note: Sometimes when making an appointment for the service member their passport number won’t work and they need to use their DOD ID number or possibly SSN Sourced from a US Military personnel Interview 1345 Korean Immigration Hotline If you have issues making your reservation with Korean immigration call 1345 (82-1345 from outside Korea) and wait until you are prompted to press 3* for English. The hotline is usually open from 9am to 10pm and they can help problem solve the system. Paperwork US Military Personal Need to Apply for a FRC My appointment for the FRC was a breeze. Had all of the right documents, thanks to you all. I was in and out of that place within 15 minutes. Mahalo! Camp Humphreys Spouse The paperwork required to apply for an FRC is minimal. As of 2021 multiple US Military personnel confirmed that they needed the following information to successfully and smoothly acquire their FRC: Korean immigration confirmed that the following form can be used by US military living on post to verify their address in Korea: The ‘Application Form (Report Form)’ You will need to complete the ‘Application Form (Report Form)’ for each person applying for the FRC. Such a form can be found on HiKorea or at Korean Immigration on the day of application. If applying for a large family, consider completing all paperwork prior to arrival at Korean immigration. This is the same form used by all foreign residents in South Korea. Complete the items highlighted in the following image: Photo Machine Available at Immigration Immigration has a photo machine with correctly sized images. It will cost 10,000 per person for such photos. You must have the exact amount of cash in KRW. The photo machine does not take cards. Copy Booth at Immigration If you need copies, don’t worry. On the 2nd floor of the immigration office is a small booth where they will make copies for you. Make sure to have some won on hand to pay for copies that might be needed. 3-4 Weeks Later, Pickup Your New FRC Cards It will take 3-4 weeks for the paperwork to process. Immigration does not mail FRC to US Military Personnel. SOFA Base FRC Expiration Date The FRC issued to SOFA-related personal will likely not have an expiration date and will not need to be renewed. Upon leaving Korea for the final time (not during holidays or temporary travel), the FRC card must be turned over to immigration. Hurdles US Military Personnel May Face in Acquiring a Foreign Registration Card Choosing to Live in South Korea without a Foreign Registration Card is Choosing to Live with Many Inconveniences US Military personnel do NOT need an FRC to live legally in South Korea, however, some US Military personnel may find that living legally does not always equal living comfortably. South of Seoul wishes to state the following disclaimers South of Seoul volunteers have a commitment to well-researched and informed blogs. We need your help in making sure all information is accurate and complete. Always let us know if our words are confusing, you have additional information that could improve the blog, something is not correct, etc. It takes a village to stay current on all information. Additionally: Pyeongtaek Immigration Office and Parking The best parking for immigration is the Pyeongtaek City Parking lot. The for city hall still takes Korean won cash. Have a few thousand won available to pay for making. If you can have 500 and 100 won coins as well so you can pay in exact change. Contact 1345 Korean Immigration with Questions During COVID, contacting 1345 (Korean Immigration hotline) has been hectic. However, Korean Immigration does have a foreign language support hotline. Feel free to contact immigration with questions related to your FRC. More Blogs About Syncing Your FRC with Korean Systems Coming soon…. we are writing these as fast as we can and still be accurate with information. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Here are some things that individuals associated with the US Military may want to know about opening a checking account in South Korea. About Banking In Korea Like banking systems around the world, Korean banking is designed for the people of South Korea and the Korean social systems. Much like the United States does not allow foreign nationals to freely open bank accounts free of all restrictions, South Korea also has banking requirements for international residents. This blog post will talk about some (but not all) of the ways South Korean banks may be different from US banks. Like all countries, South Korea has its own banking culture. Understanding some of the ways banking in South Korea differs from your home country may help the transition go more smoothly. Types of Korean Banking Organizations Like in other countries, there are different types of banking institutions in South Korea. There are virtual banks like Kakao Bank, International banks, Credit Unions, National Banks, etc. Each of these banking institutions, much like the United States, has different rules which govern what they can and can’t do and who they can and can’t serve. A List of South Korean Credit Unions Korean Credit Unions May Be Unwilling to Open US Military Accounts Many foreigners do not have successful banking experiences with Korean credit union-style banks such as Nonghyup. The US Military-affiliated people may not be able to open accounts at all due to an A3 visa type. This situation exists because Credit Unions may not offer easy international money management, and their services are tailored for their focus groups. I showed my A3 visa at Nonghyup and they just said, “No.” I had to go try another bank. They did not even entertain the thought of opening an account. Military spouse This can be confusing since many Nonghyup Bank locations – 농협중앙회 (A type of agricultural cooperative) have branches outside of US military bases. Such credit unions exist for local industry rather than for the base itself. US Military may need to find a national bank location instead for opening bank accounts. A List of Banks In South Korea Recommended Banks for the US Military The following Recommended Banks list for the US Military does not mean that other national Korean banks will not work with individuals associated with the US military. Such a list simply denotes the banks South of Seoul that volunteers have documented the most successful US military personnel and DODEA-affiliated personnel experiences at certain bank branches. This Recommended Banks for the US Military list may be subject to change based on Korean law and branch rules. The following banks have a history of offering checking accounts to US Military. Update: Shinhan Bank in Pyeongtaek told our volunteers they stopped providing bank accounts to US Military-affiliated people in 2025. This may change over time. South of Seoul volunteers recommend calling to talk to banks to learn about the checking accounts in English prior to visiting a local bank branch to open your account. Calling before visiting a local bank may help you feel prepared with the correct paperwork and knowledge of what type of account you need to open. Such knowledge may make it easier to work with the teller who may have little to no English ability. A Common Checking Account Type Offered to US Military Unemployed spouses of the US military or DODEA will likely be offered a Limited Checking Account. Such limited accounts are a common global practice, unemployed international residents. The Limited Checking Account rules may look something like this: What this means in practical application is that you can freely use your debit card based on the amount of money in your account, but will be limited from taking large amounts out of ATMs or moving large amounts between accounts. Generally speaking, the limitations associated with the Limited Checking Account may not have a large impact on life. Additional Checking Account Types Additional checking account types with different limits for different types of transactions may be allowed based on verifiable income and visa type. Recommended for Korean Bank Branches for US Military Living in Pyeongtaek Items US Military Affiliated People May Need To Open A Korean Bank Account All paperwork for opening a bank account in South Korea may change over time. Generally speaking, US military or DODEA spouses should provide the following information may be required: Active military or DODEA employees may be asked for: Useful Phrases for Visiting the Bank: Explicitly Request Each Banking Feature When you do your banking, you will need to be explicit about your banking needs. You must not assume the teller understands when you need them to do. You need to clearly ask for each banking feature that you need. The concept of “upselling” the customer is not a Korean banking standard. If you ask them to “open a checking account,” this may be all they do. Example Script for Opening Your Bank Account in Korea Spouse of US Military or DODEA Employ: Hello. I am with the US military. I do not work in Korea. Here is my passport and Korean ID. (Put these items on the table in front of you). I would like to open a limited checking account. I want a debit card. I want online banking and I want phone banking. For best results, stay aware that your teller does not speak English as a first language (or at all). Confirm at least 3 times that they have activated BOTH internet and phone banking for your account. It’s very easy for one to be missed in the stress of a bilingual interaction. Request a Check Card (Debit Card) Request a debit card. You need to be clear that you want a debit card (체크카드) and not a credit card. Each bank will offer either Visa or MasterCard, but not both. You will not be able to choose. They will make this at the bank, and you may be able to use it immediately. Online Banking and Phone Banking Are Separate Features Request online and phone banking. You must sign up for both of these services individually. You will need a Korean phone number attached to your FRC in order to use phone banking. You may be required to download special software to use online banking. It’s a whole new process where you will need to learn new security systems. You Must Register for Online Banking and Phone Banking in person at a Bank Branch. You can not set up online banking or phone banking at home on your own. You can not set up internet banking or phone banking over the phone. You MUST ask for these services in person. It can be done when you open your account. Estimated Time to Open a Korean Bank Account Realistically speaking, it will take 1-2 hours to completely set up your bank account. For best results, visit the bank in the morning. We do not recommend attempting to set up a bank account after 3pm or around 12pm due to lunch hour and evening rush. Different National Bank Branches May Have Different Rules In Korean business, much like the Korean government, individual branches of an organization may have great freedom in creating their own systems. What this means for international residents is that different bank branches may ask for different paperwork or offer different types of accounts. Even if you verify what you need on the phone with the bank headquarters, some details may be different in person. Since the US military-associated person may not be employed by a South Korean company, it may create challenges related to opening bank accounts at some bank locations. Additionally, if the person opening the bank account is an unemployed spouse on an A3 visa, many bank branches may not be willing to open accounts. It is important to know which bank branches have the authority and systems in place to work with your visa type. Banking Culture in South Korea When documenting the culture shock US military personnel experience related to Korean banking systems, South of Seoul has found the following items important for the US military-associated people to know. Some of the following items may create positive culture shock, while others may create stress points. Some Check Cards Can Double as Transportation Cards (T-Money Cards) Some banks allow check cards to be used as transportation cards. You simply deposit 30,000 won, which will be held for transportation. You can set this up as an autoload feature when refills when you have used up your transportation account balance. (KB Bank offers such a feature.) No Joint Accounts in South Korea In South Korea, adults do not share bank accounts. In order to have a check card in your name, you must have your own checking account. This means that both husband and wife need to open their own accounts in order to have equal access to the benefits offered by Korean banking. Banking Fees in South Korea South Korea does not have as many banking fees as banks in the United States. If you accidentally use your debit card and your limit is low, the charge will be declined, but you may not be charged a fee. Additionally, monthly checking account fees and ATM fees are far lower. In fact, Korean checking accounts have very few potential fees, which may make them relatively stress-free. The Public Sharing Bank Account Numbers Is Common In South Korea, we freely share and post our bank account numbers. Businesses (especially small businesses) often have their bank account numbers posted at the point of check-out, on business cards, and on their websites. You may even get a discount for using the bank transfer option. Additionally, others will comfortably ask you for your bank account number. Businesses, strangers, and friends will not be shy about asking for your bank account number, and no one will understand why you would not want to provide your bank account number. A friend may ask for your bank account number in order to transfer money, or a business may ask for your bank account number for different types of transactions. If you become angry or defensive about providing your bank account number, the person you are working with may be greatly offended and confused. What may seem very unsafe based on US banking practices feels comfortable and sustainable in South Korean banking culture. Person to Person / Person to Business / Business to Person Transfers Residents of South Korea love to pay for things using bank transfers. Such transfers can occur via: Businesses may even offer discounts for paying via bank transfer. As previously mentioned, this means bank account numbers are freely shared. Many businesses may only accept cash or bank transfers. Especially tour and travel companies. In order to make a bank transfer, you need to know: Some businesses or utilities may even offer multiple deposit accounts for you to choose from so that you do not have to pay transfer fees. For example, if you have a Hana Bank Account (하나) you might choose to transfer to a Hana Account (See below photo) Bank Transfers Are Nearly Instant Once you transfer money, the money almost instantly arrives in the recipient’s account, available for use. It’s hard for any of us to understand how long banking takes in the US. Korean Banking Hours Banks are generally open from 9:00AM to 4:00PM, Monday through Friday. They will usually not take new customers after 3:30pm. There is generally no weekend banking in Korea. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, Hana Bank has one location in Cheonan and one location in Pyeongtaek with limited Sunday hours. Other locations such as these may exist in other cities as well. SPECIAL NOTICE: During the pandemic, some banks and branches close at 3:30pm and you must have a number by 3:00pm in order to be served. If the bank closes before your number is called, you will need to come...

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Looking for the best apps for life in South Korea? Here is a list of our volunteers favorite apps. If we are missing one, tell us!

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You may have heard about 1330, the Free Korean Tourism phone number that offers support in a variety of languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Malay. But did you know that you can freely use this service to support your ex-pat life in South Korea? That’s right, you have access to a free support system that can help answer questions. What kinds of questions can 1330 answer? This is an information services so they can help with all kinds of things such as, but no limited to: Where can I buy tickets for ______? Does _____ need reservations? Do I need to take the train or the bus to go from (Pyeongtaek) to (Daegu)? What time does the business close or open? What is the closest Legal Translator or Korean Notary near me? Where is the local tax office? What is the cost of parking near (fill in the blank) and what is the address for the parking? What is the famous Korean food for my region and what is a good place to try it? How can I make a reservation for this place? (They can not make a reservation but they can get you the website or a cell-phone number to send your reservation request.) Where is the nearest bank and what time are they open? What is the closest place that rents (kayaks) to me and what are the costs? What time does the bus leave in the morning from (Songtan Terminal) to (Nambu Station)? Keep in mind, the list of questions they can answer is nearly endless. Sometimes they can’t do things, but at least you tried! Can 1330 make reservations for me? No, they can not. However, they can call the business to find out how a person who only speaks English can possibly make a reservation. In the past, they have contacted the business and found a smartphone number that English language reservation requests could be sent to and let us know what information needed to be included in the reservation request. Call 1330 if you need help with translation in a shop. If you desperately need help understanding a shopkeeper or person on the street, you can call or message 1330 and they will help with translation. Just let them know the situation. This can be a lifesaver sometimes, like when you need to get a taxi somewhere and can’t communicate with the driver. The 1330 app also provides SOS emergency service support Keep the 1330 app on your phone for emergencies. Calling 119 when you can’t speak Korean is extremely stressful. Keep the app on your phone so that you have support in calling the police, fire, or ambulance in an emergency. The 1330 app provides disaster alerts in English You can turn off the Hangul emergency alerts on your phone and still receive the alerts through the 1330 app, except in English. I have found the 1330 disaster alerts to be the best translated so far. It’s a huge added benefit to having the 1330 app on my phone. We are using it to track when we can register for our vaccines. The 1330 app allows you to connect to 1330 operators using either chat or voice Requesting help via chat is often easier than requesting help via phone because you can share Naver links back and forth with ease. Sometimes the operator might not have the information you have access to. Working with the operator as a team will often get you the best result when you are looking for information outside of Seoul. When should I use 1330? Each time you are tempted to ask a Facebook group, “Who has the bus routes to Busan? When is the next train to Cheonan? Where can I buy light bulbs? How much will a taxi cost to Mokpo?” Just message 1330 and get the info right away. You are not a prisoner of ex-pat groups and 1330 will likely provide more accurate and concrete information on many topics. Do I have to have the smart app to access 1330? No, you don’t. You can simply call 1330 to ask your questions or chat with 1330 via the Visit Korea website. However, these options don’t archive your chats or give you direct access to the 1330 SOS support. Where can I get the 1330 smartphone app? Search “1330” in the Apple App Store or Google Play. It is that simple. The app is free. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Unfamiliar with the Korean expressway and HiPass system? We’ve got your covered. Making the most of your stay in Korea means taking advantage of every opportunity to travel.  For most trips that are over 2 hours away, OR when driving into Seoul, you may encounter at least one toll along the way. Setting up a HiPass system can make such trips less stressful and save you money. Here is what you need to know. About Korean Expressways Korean expressways are toll roads that crisscross South Korea. Korean Expressway Corporation manages the expressways in South Korea. The program began in 1968 and now manages over 4,000km of roadways. Using Korean expressways can save you hours of drive time. Taking the expressway from Pyeongtaek to Sokcho can take as little as 3.5 hours while a non-express way trip could take 8-12 hours. Learning about the Korean Expressways before jumping on the road can greatly reduce your stress and improve your travel experience. We recommend reading this blog and then watching the following video to help put the content into context. Korean Expressway Toll Gates A driver passes through two toll gates on a Korean expressway. The first gate marks the beginning of the toll fee and the second gate marks the end of the toll fee. Drivers usually pay Korean expressway tolls upon exiting the expressway. However, there are some unique areas that do charge upon entering a small stretch of expressway. Such unique situations tend to occur in areas surrounding Seoul. About Korean Expressway Tolls Korean expressway toll fees are calculated according to the following criteria: Korean expressway toll fees should be paid using either a Korean debit card with a transportation function (you need to set up the transportation function at your bank), cash, or a Hi-Pass card. Some (but maybe not all) expressway toll booths accept cash. To keep life simple, South of Seoul encourages drivers to get HiPass. The Hi-Pass system allows drivers to pay tolls without having to stop at toll booths. As of 2020, over 50% of Korean drivers use a HiPass card. Kakao Maps and Naver Maps tell you your estimated toll fee when they route your journey. If you use either of these apps to route your trip you should not be surprised by toll fees. Make sure the expressway toll fees reflected in your Naver Map or Kakao Map apps are correct by customizing your app to reflect your information. Below you can see that the user has a small car using an alternate fuel and has HiPass installed. Such detail will ensure that their estimated tolls reflect their individual situation. Pro-Tip: If you drive a 경차 (lightweight vehicle) you get a 50% discount on expressway toll fees. Such vehicles include cars such as the Matiz, Morning, Spark, and Ray. Pro-Tip: HiPass users may get a discount for using a HiPass depending on the time of day and highway. Hi-Pass discounts vary between 5% to 50% depending on the situation. About HiPass Lanes for HiPass Holders A driver must choose between HiPass and Non-HiPass lanes at both the entrance and exit of their journey. As previously mentioned in this blog post, a driver passes through two toll gates on a Korean expressway and their lane choices need to match their payment options. If you have your information added to Kakao or Naver map apps, these apps may help guide you to the correct lane at each toll gate. About HiPass On-Board Units To use such HiPass lanes the driver must have both an On-Board Unit (OBU) which is installed at the front of the vehicle, and a Hi-Pass card that is inserted into the OBU. If a person only has a HiPass card they can not use the HiPass lanes as the lane needs an OBU to read the card from a distance. The OBU, sometimes marketed as a “Hi-Pass device” or ETC unit (Electronic Toll Collection), is produced by a variety of manufacturers.  You can find OBUs in a variety of locations such as: The OBU devices come in many different shapes, sizes, styles, and price ranges. Some need to be wired into the vehicle while others run off of solar power. Special Announcement for US Military: Purchasing a HiPass on Camp Humphreys At Camp Humphreys, you may purchase an OBU and Hi-Pass in the Main PX Exchange BLDG 5700.  About HiPass Cards for HiPass On-Board Units There are three types of HiPass cards. Depending on your Korean visa type and bank account situation, you can choose between: About Re-fillable HiPass Cards Re-fillable HiPass cards do not require a Korean bank account or Korea FRC. You can purchase re-fillable HiPass cards at the following locations: Once you have a card and device, it may need to be registered and the form looks something like the following as of 2021: To register for the Hi-Pass you will need your Korean vehicle registration, driver’s license, and possibly a registration fee depending on the situation. Re-fillable Hi-Pass Plus cards can be re-filled/re-charged at a variety of locations including About Auto Loading (자동충전) HiPass Cards In order to use an auto-loading HiPass card, you will need to have a Korean FRC, a Korean smartphone under your name, and a Korean Bank account linked to your FRC and smartphone. Once the auto charging card has been activated and linked to a Korean bank account, a pre-determined amount is automatically added to the card each month. You can set up your auto-loading HiPass card on the HiPass website. You can purchase an Auto Charge HiPass card at the following locations: Pro-Tip: Not every bank may allow international residents to use an auto-loading card. About Auto-Charging HiPass Cards Auto-charging HiPass cards are connected to Korean credit cards. HiPass automatically charges for the fees used each month. The cards do not need to be loaded since you pay as you go. It may be more complicated for international residents in Korea to obtain. Credit cards are only available for certain visas, with certain job types, etc. However, a number of South of Seoul volunteers on different visa types have credit cards through Hana Bank that offer an auto-charging HiPass card option. Pro-Tip: Banks may confuse a request to set up an auto-loading card with a request for an auto-charging card. Recognizing HiPass Lanes Many entry and exit gates will clearly label the Hi-Pass lane in bright blue. These lanes are designated for cars with a Hi-Pass OBU (onboard unit) and Hi-Pass card. Not all HiPass lanes have the same speed limit. Notice, the speed limit for going through the HiPass gate has been painted on the road over the blue line. All other vehicles are expected to use the other lanes.  Some entry and exit gates will have additional lanes for large work vehicles. These lanes often have large yellow frames but this may not be the case. Common HiPass Errors Experienced by Foreigners It’s common to experience one or all of the following challenges as a new user of the Korean expressway systems. Don’t panic, the system was not designed to be a burden. You will be ok and it is unlikely you will experience untenable financial consequences. Error 1: Passing Through A HiPass Gate Without HiPass If you accidentally run a HiPass lane and the siren goes off, don’t panic. Remember the place you entered and tell the attendant when you exit the tollway. Here are the options that you have. As of 2020, the Korean Expressway Corporation does not charge a ticket for making mistakes on toll roads, they simply charge you the price of the toll (so don’t panic). Solution A: Pay at the toll when you leave In our experience, we took note of the name of my entry gate and briefly explained our mistake to the toll agent, who made a quick phone call, then told me the amount I had to pay. It was a hassle-free exchange that took less than a minute. The price I was charged was also the same as the price listed on Naver. Another great reason for using Naver, it lists toll fees for your route. If you need help communicating with the toll booth attendant use 1330. Solution B: Wait for the HiPass Bill in the Mail If you accidentally go through a Hi-Pass lane without an OBU, then you will likely be mailed a traffic ticket. If you go through the entry gate and forget to grab a ticket or if the ticket doesn’t print, don’t fret. The toll agent at the exit gate will calculate your toll at the next booth.  How to Pay Your HiPass Bill If you get a HiPass bill in the mail you can pay the bill 1) at your Korean bank or 2) at a HiPass office, or 3) Korean bank transfer via ATM or smartphone. We always recommend having a Korean bank account to help make such situations as stress-free as possible. If you accidentally forget to pay your expressway toll fee bill, they do not charge excessive penalties. In fact, there are often no late fee penalties. Just get it paid as soon as you can. Error 2: Passing Through a Non-HiPass Gate with a HiPass Card If you have a HiPass reader and accidentally pass through a cash gate, do not worry. Simply remove your HiPass card from your HiPass Reader and give it to the cashier. You do not need to pay with a card or cash, just hand them your Hi-Pass card Error 3: Hi-Pass Card Has No Money If you have a re-fillable or auto-loading card you may accidentally take a trip without enough money on your card, don’t panic. Solution A: Pay as you exit If you realize your mistake upon entering the expressway you can simply pay at the toll gate with your Korean debit card with a transportation function (you need to set up the transportation function at your bank) or cash. Solution B: Wait for the bill If you realize your mistake up exciting the expressway just wait for the bill in the mail and go get your card filled. Avoiding Korean Expressways and HiPass System If you are not fond of using the Korean Expressway and HiPass system, both Naver Map and Kakao Map apps allow users to set trip preferences including routes that don’t use tollways. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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What is a language barrier? Before we jump into the challenges of language barriers, we need to understand what a language barrier is. There are several definitions for language barriers that essentially say the same thing. For the purpose of this article we will use Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary. According to Google’s Oxford Languages Dictionary, a language barrier is “a barrier to communication between people who are unable to speak a common language.” This is a pretty simple, standard definition of a language barrier. If you don’t speak the same language as someone else, it can be difficult to communicate. So, to solve this language barrier problem, you can simply learn the other person’s language, right? Well, not exactly. If you break down the definition a bit, you will realize the complexity of language barriers. 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 apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations. Let’s break it down Common Language Let’s begin at the end. What is “common language?” The term ‘common’ describes something that is “shared by….more than one” [person/group/entity]. The term ‘language’ encompasses “the principal method of communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture.” Therefore, a ‘common language’ can be defined as a shared method of communication conveyed by speech, writing or gesture. This definition seems pretty straightforward. If you share a language, you should be able to communicate well with one another. At least, that is the overarching assumption. However, if you think a little deeper, I’m sure you can tell me about time when you’ve experienced a miscommunication with someone who shares your language. Here is my experience: I once visited a friend in Tennessee. My friend invited me to go skiing over the weekend… It was the middle of summer with no snow in sight… Thoroughly confused, I agreed to go. When we arrived at the lake, it became clear that he meant WATER skiing. I asked, “if you call water skiing, ‘skiing,’ then what do you call skiing in the mountains?” He replied, “oh, that’s SNOW skiing!” In Utah, which was my place of residence at the time, skiing (without the adjective in front) meant snow skiing. If we were on the water, then, we would specify water skiing. A simple, harmless miscommunication, but a miscommunication nonetheless. Although we spoke the same language and were from the same country, our cultures influenced the way we communicated verbally. Sharing a common language doesn’t exempt us from experiencing language barriers. Communication Communication is defined as “the imparting or exchanging of information or news” or “the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings.” As mentioned above, communication can be conveyed by speech, writing, or gestures. Is it as simple as that? You guessed it… the answer is no. Think about the different ways you communicate with someone. How many did you come up with? If you do a quick Google search on different modes of communication, you will find an array of results. This blog by Team Leverage Edu explains 16 Types of Modes of Communication. Our culture and environment shape how we choose to communicate. Having various communication methods means more ways to experience language barriers. For example, in many countries such as Sweden, China, Japan, Romania and Russia, gift-giving is a form of communication. Gift-giving within each culture communicates different things. Read more about what gift-giving communicates to different cultures here. Korea practices gift-giving as a style of communication as well. When someone invites you to their home in Korea, you should always bring a gift. Bringing a small gift communicates your respect and gratitude for the invitation. Not bringing a gift may make your host feel like they offended you in some way, even if you didn’t mean to. Your host will never voice their opinion out loud, but they will internalize their feelings about the situation which may cause tension in your relationship. Communication mistakes will occur and that’s okay. These types of communication styles won’t necessarily be written in black and white. However, there are ways to learn about and overcome these communication barriers. One way would be to research cultural etiquette. More tips on how to overcome language barriers to come in a future blog! Barrier ‘Barrier’ is a much more straightforward term to define compared with the terminology above. A barrier is simply “a [figurative or literal] fence or other obstacle that prevents movement or access.“ A language barrier consists of various obstacles that you must overcome to gain understanding and access to your community. Language barriers occur not only among those who speak different languages, but also among those who share a common language. Barriers to language and communication are complex. They may be difficult to manage at first. However, we can all overcome barriers if we put in a little effort. Language barriers in Korea Many of us living in Korea have experienced a language barrier at some point in time. I am half Korean and have intermediate to advance level conversational Korean proficiency, and I constantly face language barriers. Below are some examples of my personal experiences with language barriers. “Have you eaten, [insert meal time]?” One night, I met with a Korean friend at 10pm, and they started the conversation with “have you eaten, dinner?” Where I am from, when you ask if someone has eaten, it generally means that the person who is asking is hungry and wants to grab a bite. That is not always the case in Korea. Instead, it is a common greeting to show that your friend cares about your well-being. “Would you like some chips and “Seolsa?” About 8 years ago, I was shopping at Homeplus. I planned to make some crispy black bean tacos for dinner and needed to purchase salsa. I couldn’t find any salsa in the sections that I searched so I flagged down a store worker and asked for help. “Do you, by chance, sell salsa?” I ask in Korean. She gives me the most confused look and asks, “What are you looking for?” I repeat, “Salsa, it’s a sauce you dip tortilla chips in…you know, salsa.” Then, I show her a picture. “OH!” she replies with a look of relief on her face. She directs me to the aisle where I found my salsa. Later that day, I told my Korean friend about this experience. She laughed hysterically. It turns out Korean pronunciation is extremely important. I was apparently asking the store worker for some diarrhea (pronounced Seolsa 설사) rather than salsa (살사). My bad. “Can I [insert request]?” “I don’t know, can you?” I went to the bank to open an account. The teller spoke English, so in English, I asked “Can I open a bank account?” She replied with a smile, “Yes, you can.” Then, the teller sits and stares at me. I ask, “Can you open a bank account for me?” The teller replies, “Yes, I can.” She sits there and stares at me. I was very confused as to why she didn’t start the process to open an account for me. Then, I realized I needed to rephrase my question. “Open a bank account for me, please,” I say. Then, she proceeds with a smile to open a bank account for me. In America, when you ask “Can you [insert request]?” it is implied that you want an action completed. In Korea, if there is no direct request for action, the question is taken simply as a question to gain knowledge. The teller thought I just wanted to know if it was possible for me to open an account. She didn’t realize that I wanted her to actually open the account at that moment. The nuances between the request for “can you” and “will you” are very distinct in Korean. When translated to English and without cultural context, the request can be misunderstood. Putting it all together While words themselves are important to consider when talking about language barriers, culture, environment, and life experience are just as important. All of these things influence the way you communicate. It is important to understand how complex language is in order to overcome barriers to communication. Some language barriers are very obvious and straightforward, like when you don’t understand a Korean vocabulary word or a sentence said with a regional accent. Others are less obvious because they are ingrained in the culture such as the differences between “can you” and “will you.” However, all of these forms of communication matter and are crucial to your understanding of how to overcome the obstacle of language barriers. Now that you understand the complexities of language barriers, you are ready to take the next step to overcoming your language barrier challenges in Korea! Stay tuned for our next blog on tips for overcoming language barriers. Lisa Peck, MPH, CPHMs. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis. Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC. In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation. www.southofseoul.net

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The blog you are reading now includes links to what South of Seoul considers the most important things you need to know in your first weeks and months in the South Korean countryside (Especially Pyeongtaek).

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