Psychiatry, therapy counseling, and life coaching are distinct yet often confused approaches to personal development and mental well-being. Navigating such distinctions among these terms and services can feel confusing if not frustrating, but you are not alone in that. To better understand these differences, we must grasp the fundamental definitions of each term. This blog post will provide a breakdown of each type of service (psychiatry, therapy, counseling, and life coaching) to enable you to understand and make informed decisions on your mental health options in Korea. Foreign Language Mental Health Services International residents in South Korea may have access to a variety of the following mental health support services in a variety of languages such as English, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese. Access varies based on region and language. Psychiatry (정신 의학) First, let’s take a look at psychiatry. Psychiatry Definition As defined by the American Psychiatric Association, psychiatry is the medical specialty dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.  Credentials A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who holds an M.D. or D.O. degree with a focus on psychiatry. Purpose and Approaches A psychiatrist’s primary purpose is to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. The approach in psychiatry is mainly medical, utilizing medications to address mental health issues.  NOTE: Psychiatrists are the only mental health specialists among the four we will discuss in this blog post who are allowed to prescribe medications. Treatment Duration Treatment duration varies based on the nature and severity of the condition, with long-term options for chronic cases. Initial sessions last 30-60 minutes, followed by shorter 15-30 minute follow-up sessions. Insurance Coverage Psychiatry services are partially covered by NHIS in Korea. Medication prescriptions are a common aspect of treatment. For more information on NHIS coverage for psychiatry services, call the NHIS English hotline. To learn more about overall Psychiatry, read here. Psychotherapy Therapy (심리 치료) Next, let’s learn about psychotherapy.  Psychotherapy Definition According to the American Psychological Association (APA), psychotherapy is any psychological service provided by a trained professional primarily utilizing communication and interaction to assess, diagnose, and address dysfunctional emotional reactions, thought patterns, and behavior. Many individuals refer to psychotherapy, generally, as therapy or talk therapy. Credentials Psychotherapy is typically conducted by professionals with MA or PhD credentials in psychotherapy. Trained and licensed psychotherapists may include clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, social workers, or psychiatric nurses. Purpose and Approaches The purpose of psychotherapy is to address and alleviate psychological distress, dysfunctional patterns, thoughts, and behaviors and to provide a safe space for individuals, couples, or groups to explore and understand their mental health Psychotherapists employ various therapeutic techniques and forms of communication. Psychotherapy can be offered to individuals, couples, families, or groups.  Psychotherapy is divided into main categories:  Mental health conditions (e.g. Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, etc.) can be diagnosed by psychotherapists, if the psychotherapy clinic has the required questionnaires and resources. However, neurological or cognitive conditions (e.g. Dementia) are diagnosed by psychiatrists and neurologists. NOTE: Psychiatrists can work as trained psychotherapists, but psychotherapists cannot work as psychiatrists unless they have medical certification in psychiatry. For further information read this article by the APA. Treatment Duration Psychotherapy sessions can range from short-term to long-term, depending on the goals and severity of the mental health challenge. Session durations average around 50 minutes. Insurance Coverage In Korea, the NHIS does not cover psychotherapy sessions. However, some international insurance may cover psychotherapy services. To learn more about your international insurance coverage of psychotherapy sessions, contact your insurance provider and the clinic from which you would like to receive services.  Counseling (상담) On to learning about counseling.  Counseling Definition As per the American Counseling Association, counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to achieve goals related to mental health, wellness, educational, and career. Additionally, according to the APA, counseling provides professional assistance in coping with personal problems, including emotional, behavioral, vocational, marital, educational, rehabilitation, and life-stage issues (e.g., cultural adjustment or retirement).  Credentials Professional counselors typically have a Bachelor’s (BA) or Master’s (MA) credentials in psychology. Purpose and Approaches The purpose of counseling is to empower individuals, families, and groups to achieve mental health, wellness, educational, and career goals. Counselors offer professional assistance in coping with personal challenges, such as emotional, behavioral, vocational, and life-stage challenges. Counselors employ techniques such as active listening, guidance, advice, discussion, clarification, and test administration (diagnostics). Treatment Duration The duration of counseling can be brief or short-term, depending on specific concerns, with sessions typically scheduled weekly or bi-weekly and lasting around 50 minutes per session on average.  Insurance Coverage In Korea, the NHIS does not cover counseling sessions. However, international insurance may cover counseling services.  NOTE: Individuals may conflate their understanding of psychotherapy and mental health counseling due to the similarities between the two practices. Such confusion can lead to difficulty in choosing between psychotherapy services or mental health counseling when seeking mental health support. For a side-by-side comparison of psychotherapy and mental health counseling aspects not discussed in this blog post, read here. Life-Coaching Coaching (정신 건강 코칭) Finally, let’s delve into what life-coaching is. Life-Coaching Definition According to the APA dictionary, life coaching is a form of teaching and encouragement, conducted one-to-one or in a group, designed to assist individuals in identifying and achieving goals of importance to them in both personal and work aspects of their lives. Credentials Life-coaching practices do not have universally mandated credentials or licenses. However, a life-coach may complete a certification program to practice mentoring. Purpose and Approaches The purpose of life-coaching is to assist individuals in identifying and achieving personal and professional goals, with a focus on personal development, motivation, and goal setting.  Approaches for life-coaching often involve one-to-one or group sessions to provide guidance and encouragement, employing techniques such as goal-setting, action planning, positive psychology, and strengths-based coaching.  Treatment Duration Life-coaching is typically short-term, with a focus on specific goals. Sessions may be less frequent and more goal-oriented.  Insurance Coverage Life-coaching services are generally not covered by insurance (either NHIS or international insurance options). Snapshot Comparison of Mental Health Counseling Options Below, you will find a table that gives a side-by-side comparison of the 4 types of counseling options defined within this blog post. Psychiatry Psychotherapy Counseling Life-Coaching Credentials M.D. or D.O. MA or PhD BA or MA None required Purpose Diagnose and treat mental disorders Alleviate psychological distress Empower and address mental health Goal-setting and personal growth Approach Medical treatments and medications (1) Psychodynamic therapy (2) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (3) Humanistic therapy (4) Integrative approaches tailored to individual needs Supportive guidance Motivation and strengths-based coaching Duration Varies; typically 15-60 min sessions Varies; Short or long-term*; ~50 min Brief; weekly/bi-weekly; ~50 min Flexible; ~30-60 min sessions InsuranceCoverage NHIS** International insurance*** International insurance*** Not covered Medication Prescription Yes No No No *Short-term is typically 10-20 sessions spanning 3-5 months; long-term can range from several months to years**NHIS covers evaluations and medication management but not therapy.***Check with your provider for coverage details Conclusion By understanding the features of each approach, we hope you feel more confident in navigating the choices that align with your needs. Remember, the journey toward well-being begins with taking that first step. Don’t hesitate to make choices that resonate with you. Your mental health is a priority. The initial step might seem challenging, but as with any essential aspect of self-care, getting started is often the hardest part. Embrace this knowledge, trust in your ability to make informed decisions, and take that first step. Special Thanks to Our Mental Health Collaborators This post was enriched by the knowledge and cooperation of several local mental health organizations in the Pyeongtaek area, whose insights have been pivotal in detailing the counseling services available. We express our sincere appreciation for their support and commitment to mental wellness. Their efforts in making mental health care accessible to our international community, play a crucial role in fostering understanding and support across cultures. Thank you to the following organizations: Hope & Wellness Services: UX/UI Supervisor/Editor Research Supervisor/Editor

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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 South Korea.

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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.

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Worried about the typhoons that come through South Korea? Learn more about Typhoon preparedness in Korea and how international residents might want to prepare. 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. About Typhoons in South Korea Typhoons in South Korea occur most often between the months of May and November. The majority of typhoons impact South Korea between July and September. Keep in mind that weather changes often and typhoons may occur during any month. Please note that typhoon season and Jangma (monsoon season) in South Korea exist as two separate concepts. Typhoon season refers to the months when typhoons may commonly occur (May-November) and Jangma (monsoon season) refers to an intensely rainy time of the summer (Mid July – August) that may or may not include a typhoon. Additionally, typhoons and monsoons have different meanings. A typhoon (hurricane) describes a large, rotating tropical storm while a monsoon describes a seasonal rain pattern.  Korea experiences, on average, 7 typhoons a year. The hardest hit regions are Jeju-do, Gangwon-do, and Jeollanam-do.  About Typhoon Preparedness in South Korea Considering the number of typhoons each year, it’s important to have a typhoon Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP). Therefore, this post digs into what international residents need to know as they make their typhoon EPP. This EPP-related post begins with FEMA standards for preparing for a typhoon and then addresses some Personal Preparedness concerns. Keep in mind that no online post can cover all areas of preparedness for each person. Everyone needs to create their own individual plan based on their unique needs and lens on the world. This EPP-related post exists as a resource to consider in addition to other resources. Emergency Preparedness Plans for International Residents As an international resident in South Korea, you may need to take extra steps in creating a succesful and safe EPP. As an international resident, you may have additional concerns such as language barrier, paperwork, limited support system, and a lack of awareness regarding the hidden culture surrounding health care and emergency systems. During our 12 years living and working in South Korea, South of Seoul volunteers witnessed firsthand extremely tragic and life-threatening situations. Such situations may have been avoided or had less tragic outcomes with a fully developed EPP. Please, deeply consider carefully researching and planning for emergencies during your stay in South Korea. FEMA Typhoon Preparedness Most countries may offer similar emergency preparedness advice. Federal Emergency Management Agencies (FEMAs) around the world generally follow similar plans. However, each country may offer additional information based on unique geography, social, or cultural conditions. The Typhoon Emergency Plan Timeline infographic below shows a FEMA-recommended Typhoon Emergency Plan before, during, and after a typhoon. You can feel free to download and share this graphic as needed. Before the Typhoon During the Typhoon After the Typhoon Personal Preparedness to Consider In addition to the standardized preparations, take time to consider the following individualized planning. Personal Preparedness means additional elements to add to your EPP that related directly to your personal lived experience and lens on the world. South of Seoul has not listed all of the possible additional Personal Preparedness options. The following examples come from community interviews and feedback after previous national disasters such as floods, fires typhoons, landslides, and more. Such examples may create a useful framework for observing your own needs. Each person needs to consider their own unique situation and add to the plan. FEMAs offer excellent advice, however, each person also needs to consider their own unique situation such as: Let’s look at a few examples of some individual considerations. After reading the following examples South of Seoul provides a Personal Preparedness Worksheet to help you plan for your own personal needs. Example: Pregnant or Medically Fragile Example: Personal Vehicles Example: Living in Remote Locations Example: Securing Paperwork Example: Consider Your Employment Situation Example: Mental Health Support Emergency Preparedness Plan Worksheet for International Residents South of Seoul created an Emergency Preparedness Plan Worksheet (EPPW) specifically for international residents living in South Korea. We embedded the EPPW below. Anyone can download the following EPPW pdf for personal use or modify and share it with their own communities. The EPPW includes: Additional Resources The following resources may also come in handy: 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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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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The 2021 South of Seoul Public Health Survey found that putting effort into developing cultural competence may improve your perceptions of your own healthcare in South Korea. Let’s talk about this. 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. The Hard Parts of Ex-Pat Life Living in a foreign country can sometimes be difficult, frustrating, and lonely. It can feel like ‘everyone’ is working against you. Feelings of intense anger toward yourself and/or the culture around you may surface. You feel that you may never fit in or feel at home in the foreign country. You may find that this sentiment is common among ex-pats around the world and it has a name: culture shock. Culture shock might not be the only hurdle you face, but you can take action to overcome it. Therefore, addressing culture shock is a great place to start when tackling your integration journey. South of Seoul founder, Lanae Rivers-Woods, who has lived in South Korea for over a decade, detailed some tips she uses to overcome culture shock in her excellent blog (5 Tips for Conquering Culture Shock). Nobody needs to do it alone. The barriers that you face with culture shock can affect not only your day-to-day activity but also your ability to access healthcare in Korea. For this reason, building cultural competence is a vital skill to overcoming such barriers. What is ‘cultural competence’? Cultural competence. This technical term may invoke feelings of belittlement. Reading the term, ‘competence,’ in certain contexts may make you feel like your intelligence is being challenged. However, ‘competence’ is simply a term. If we remove the negative connotations that surround this term, we can be more open to understanding the full concept of cultural competence. Definition Many people have cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, and cultural sensitivity. These traits, however, should not be confused with cultural competence. Cultural knowledge, awareness and sensitivity make up only a part of the definition. They lack a key aspect that truly defines cultural competence: action and structural change. The CDC has a great definition of cultural competence. They define cultural competence as: “…a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. ‘Culture’ refers to integrated patterns of human behavior that include the language, thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of racial, ethnic, religious, or social groups. ‘Competence’ implies having the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, October 21). Cultural competence in health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://npin.cdc.gov/pages/cultural-competence. Human Services Edu has a more concise definition that reads: “The term cultural competence describes a set of skills, values and principles that acknowledge, respect and contribute to effective interactions between individuals and the various cultural and ethnic groups they come in contact with at work and in their personal lives.“ Admin. (2021, July 8). Cultural competency: Human services education. Human Services Edu. https://www.humanservicesedu.org/cultural-competency/. Both of these definitions imply that, to build cultural competence, you must take action or make structural changes to your belief system. Stepping outside your cultural beliefs for a moment to understand another’s allows you to have effective interactions with your community. This, however, doesn’t mean you need to give up your own cultural identity. Application Building cultural competence means taking a break from your personal thoughts and emotions to view your interactions from another perspective: putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, so to speak. Although it may come easily for some, building cultural competence takes time and practice. For instance, customer service differences between cultures remain one of the biggest points of contention for many foreigners in South Korea. Some foreigners have trouble practicing etiquette that seems rude in their home country but is not considered rude in Korea. Personally, I struggled with calling out across the room to waitstaff. This action felt horrifically rude until I took a second to look at the situation from the Korean waitstaff’s perspective. Korean restaurants (particularly small local ones) have very few waitstaff, if any. If the waitstaff had to check up on each table every five minutes (as they do in many U.S. restaurants), they would never get anything done. Calling to waitstaff when we need something allows them to efficiently do their jobs while serving their customers. Even now, I feel weird calling out, but I do it anyway because that is what the culture calls for, and I am able to get what I need more quickly. Why is cultural competence important for accessing healthcare in South Korea? Minor cultural adaptations such as my restaurant experience above can be handled fairly easily and improve the quality of daily life. Our recent SOS Public Health Survey confirmed a correlation between an individual’s level of cultural understanding, their level of integration into Korean society, and their accessibility to healthcare in Korea (shown in the below table). Where cultural competency gets spicy is when you have to deal with the high-stress experience of healthcare. In a healthcare setting, like a doctor’s visit, we deal with our own culture shock and cultural competence but also the Korean healthcare providers’ culture shock and gaps in their own cultural competencies. So, building cultural competence is a team effort. We will talk about our own cultural competencies in this blog since working on ourselves is what we have the most power over at any given moment. If we can increase cultural competence among patients and healthcare providers alike, we can increase equitable access to healthcare. In other words, if you build trust and respect regardless of the differences between you and your healthcare provider and vise versa, then you each will feel more comfortable interacting with each other. If you and your physician are able to work beyond your cultural differences, this can lead to: Cultural Competence in the West Countries designated as part of the “Western World” such as Australia, England, and the U.S. have very diverse populations. These countries have had quite some time to adapt to diversity and cultural issues (though many places in the Western World still have some ways to go on this). Due to the high levels of diversity among demographic populations (i.e. race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.) in the ‘West,’ healthcare providers have adapted cultural competence trainings as part of their onboarding process for new employees. Now, not all healthcare providers require this training which is unfortunate. Nonetheless, the implementation of cultural competence training continues to grow and evolve in the ‘West.’ Cultural Competence in South Korea Before we dive into cultural competence in Korea, we need to understand the makeup of the international population living here. In Korea, globalization is still a fairly new thing. Korea has experienced enormous growth among its international population over the last 20 years. In 2000, the foreign population count was at 491,234. By 2020, the population reached over 2 million. It can be difficult to keep up with the growing health needs of the international population with this kind of growth rate. Furthermore, the diversity that we see in Korea cannot be compared with the diversity seen in the West. In Western countries, diversity is high, but the majority of cultural groups tend to be members of the same nationality (i.e. Korean American, Black American, Mexican American). The culturally ethnic groups may differ, but each group shares some sort of base understanding of American culture as a whole. Therefore, Korea has to deal with not only people of varying racial/ethnic backgrounds but also people of varying nationalities. Each country has its own healthcare culture. The difficulty of managing patients from all these different cultural backgrounds can be overwhelming. Although it may not be fun or easy for any of us, it will take time for the South Korean healthcare system to learn how to manage this social shift; we all have to still manage our healthcare through this difficult time. Korea is known for making great strides for the growth of the country. I have no doubt that Korea will find ways to adapt to the cultural changes. However, they can’t do it alone. Healthcare workers need our patience and understanding. It is up to us to make the first move by building on our personal cultural competence about Korea and advocating for our health needs. When we practice conscious, cultural competence it allows others around us to more easily reciprocate. The fact of the matter is that this sounds easier than it is. Being present and aware of our own cultural competencies during vulnerable interactions, such as healthcare, feels overwhelming, and often we will fall off the wagon. The feeling of anger may overwhelm us. Fear may lead to our perceptions being skewed. Frustration may make us unwilling to observe things objectively. However, all is not lost when you find yourself buried by culture shock. Feel those feelings. Address those feelings. Explore what experiences caused those feelings. Advocate for yourself by learning what cultural differences could have caused this, and advocate for change where change is needed. In short, build up your cultural competence a little at a time. How do I build cultural competence to improve my comfort level in South Korea? You can build cultural competence in a variety of different ways. Here are a few tips on how I started when I first moved to Korea. Tip # 1 Learn the language Learning a new language, especially one like Korean which uses characters that look nothing like that of your native language, can be daunting. However, don’t let the Korean language scare you. It is more straightforward than you might expect. You also don’t have to become fluent. Just learning how to read can change how you view the world around you. Many people are able to get by in Korea using translating apps and interpreters. Even knowing how to speak Korean, I still use Papago occasionally for more difficult language exchanges. However, this method of communication is less personal. When you learn the local language, even if only a couple of useful phrases, it shows that you are making an effort to understand the community. When the local community can see your efforts, they may be more open to connecting with you and lending a helping hand. Furthermore, in a health setting, learning a few technical health-related words and phrases can help you navigate your hospital visits with more ease. Even in your native language, medical terms can be difficult to understand and explain, right? Understanding a few Korean medical phrases can help reduce some of the stress that results from misunderstanding. I know I feel more comfortable visiting a doctor when I at least know some of the basic medical terminology my doctor uses. As a testament to the importance of language, our SOS Public Health survey revealed that a high level of language proficiency is correlated with a high level of integration and access to healthcare. The survey results are listed below. More to come on language barriers and healthcare access in a future blog. Tip # 2 Make at least one local friend This tip is a major one that I will always recommend no matter where in the world you live or travel. Making local friends opens up so many doors. A local friend can show you their culture from a “behind-the-scenes” perspective by giving you the exclusive scoop on how to interact with other Koreans. Moreover, learning about...

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Why is self-advocacy important? Self-advocacy is an important skill that empowers you to take control over your life decisions, such as decisions based on healthcare. Your experiences are unique to you. Therefore, YOU know what you need best and YOU should advocate for your needs when possible. However, advocating for yourself is not always easy, especially when you live in a foreign country. So, what are some ways that you can build your self-advocacy skills? 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. How do I advocate for myself with a problem-solving mindset? Having a problem solving-mindset is key to self-advocacy in healthcare. According to the Knowledge Network for Innovations in Learning and Teaching, “people that have a problem solving mindset are conditioned to not give up on a problem, they have a sense of confidence and self-esteem when faced with adversity.” In order to maintain this mindset you must stay informed about your situation, know your rights, find support in your community, have self-determination, and speak up in a constructive way. Practicing these techniques will give increase your confidence in your ability to access healthcare while living abroad (and even in your native country). But how do you do this in South Korea where you may be unfamiliar with the language, culture, and may also lack community? Well, it isn’t always easy but it also isn’t impossible. We are here to connect you with your stepping stones toward self-advocacy. Stay Informed Doing research about the area you live in and learning about the resources available is a great way to start advocating for your health. When you move to a new city or town, do an online search via Naver Maps or Kakao Maps for nearby hospitals and visit those hospitals. Research important phone numbers to call in case of an emergency. Doing these small tasks will allow you to decrease stress and build confidence in your ability to navigate your area in the case of a medical emergency. There are also several online resources that help the international community in Korea stay informed about current events and information. A few of the resources include but are not limited to: Know Your Rights Have you ever avoided getting medical care in Korea for fear of receiving poor care and not being able to do anything about it? Have you ever avoided seeking medical care because you didn’t know whether you even had access to health insurance? Understanding your healthcare and legal rights as an international resident in Korea is a great way to advocate for yourself in these situations. All registered international residents who have lived in the country for 6 months or more have a right to National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and basic medical care. If you are curious to learn more about NHIS, check out Expat Guide Korea’s blog, “Everything You Need To Know About The Korean National Health Care System.” Furthermore, if you ever find yourself in a situation where your rights are being violated, Korea provides free legal services and resources, such as where to file complaints as well. Knowing your rights can really help you build autonomy and give you the ability to self-advocate for your health. Stay informed about your rights as an international resident of Korea and increase your confidence in your ability to navigate Korea’s healthcare system. Find Support For some, finding support in a foreign country is as easy as pie. For others, it can be the most difficult task on the planet. Building your own support system in a foreign country can be daunting, especially if you don’t know where to look. In Korea, many reach out for social support online. A recent survey by South of Seoul Public Health discovered that about 60% of respondents utilize social media for social support. South of Seoul is an online community that focuses on supporting the international public in Korea. This South of Seoul Blog breaks down social support systems and their importance, especially in times of crisis. A solid support system allows you to self-advocate by validating your experiences and challenges accessing healthcare in a foreign country. Knowing that others face the same challenges and are working together to create positive solutions boosts morale and motivation. Self-Determination This may go without saying, but self-advocation requires a level of self-determination. Self-determination is the process of taking control of and making decisions that affect your life instead of letting others do it for you. With self-determination, you can choose to stay informed about your rights and access to healthcare in Korea; you can choose to have a problem-solving mindset; you can choose to reach out to your community for support; or you can choose not to. The choices you make impact how you integrate into the society you live in and your access to resources. Self-determination doesn’t mean making choices all on your own. Here are some ways to build up your self-determination: Easier said than done, right? Understand that building self-determination is a process. Many factors can affect your ability to make choices about your life, especially while living in a foreign country. For example, mental health can be influenced by culture shock and derail your efforts towards building self-determination. English-language options for online counseling services that address culture shock and improve mental health are available in Korea. Taking care of your mental health is the first step in the process to self-determination. Speak Up What better way is there to advocate for yourself than to speak up. Speaking up for yourself and your right to healthcare is the obvious path to self-advocacy. Nevertheless, speaking up is not always a simple task. Because we live in a world of varying cultures and opinions, voicing your opinions and experiences may be a challenge. There may also be a lingering fear of rejection from your community for speaking up about your situation. That said, you may be surprised by how supportive and understanding your community (expat and Korean) is to your experiences. Remember, you are not alone. Others in your community may also be waiting for someone to speak up so they can openly discuss their situations, too. Be that someone. Here are some constructive ways to speak up: What other resources are available to help me self-advocate? Staying informed, knowing your rights, finding support, having self-determination, and speaking up are just a few ways to practice self-advocacy. When you want to advocate for yourself, knowledge is your friend. Research online, explore your community and connect with local friends to build your confidence in the healthcare system in Korea. Utilizing available resources and your community will help you become the best advocate for yourself. Below are some additional resources that can help you get started on your journey: Self-advocacy is not about doing it alone. It is about connecting with community and articulating need! Follow SOS Public Health for More Resources Follow us on Instagram or Facebook to stay updated on SOS Public Health Initiatives. If you have questions about healthcare in Korea, visit the Health and Wellness in Korea Facebook Group, or feel free to message SOS Public Health with any questions or concerns. Apply for an SOS Public Health Practicum Opportunity Are you a graduate student looking for practical experience in public health? Apply for a an SOS Public Health Practicum! Click below to learn more about the SOS Public Health Practicum Program. Research Design & Implementation Team UX/UI Supervisor & Editor Primary Researcher & Author 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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