South of Seoul has been writing about life in the South Korean countryside since before life in the South Korean countryside was cool. We love the laid-back atmosphere, the friendly people, the gardening, the hiking, the beaches, and delicious food. Of course, just because we love it doesn’t mean life is without struggle. Every wonderful part of life has a learning curve and that learning curve can be painful (but also makes great stories to laugh about later).
Over the years South of Seoul has documented our own struggles and listened to the struggles of others. This allowed us to systematically identify the most difficult aspects of adjusting to rural life in South Korea. Each time we identified one of these shared struggles, we wrote a blog about it. Over time, each of these blogs has added up!
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). Reading each of the following blogs may either minimize or remove many of the most stressful struggles and hurdles faced by new arrivals. The following blogs won’t remove EVERY pain point but hopefully, the ones you face will be more manageable.
We recommend reading through these blogs a few times over your first three months. Much of the information you read now (if you just arrived) will not seem important immediately. However, the information will become important as you experience different setbacks or find yourself wondering why things feel so frustrating. Each time your re-read the articles will likely reveal another nugget of information you need.
Information on Pyeongtaek Itself
There is a lot of misinformation about Pyeongtaek since 1) many English speaking residents live in Pyeongtaek for a limited amount of time, 2) information becomes muddied through translation, 3) bloggers from outside of Pyeongtaek try to provide useful information but don’t do enough research and accidentally provide frustrating amounts of misinformation, and 4) things change quickly across Korea on a regular basis.
South of Seoul created the following blogs to help bloggers from other areas understand Pyeongtaek better and to provide accurate English information for new English-speaking residents. We hope you find this foundational knowledge helpful and share it with your friends when they arrive.
A breakdown of Pyeongtaek neighborhoods: Pyeongtaek is HUGE! Learning about the many different areas will help you get oriented faster so that it feels like home in just a few months.
Pyeongtaek Subway Stops: Pyeongtaek has a variety of subway stops other than Pyeongtaek Station and Songtan Station. Learn about the different areas you can explore near the subway stations.
Information for Emergencies:
Understanding the Emergency Alert texts on your phone: You are going to want to know how to understanding your emergency alert texts. This is a MUST READ!
Calling Emergency Serves 119: PLEASE, PLEASE read this so that you understand who to call in an emergency.
English speaking vets and pet hospitals: Please have an emergency plan for your pets.
Pyeongtaek Government COVID-19 Information: Stay current on local COVID-19 information and social distancing information.
Information about Eating Out and Ordering In
Food lovers are going to what to bookmark these three blogs. This is also critical information for dealing with social distancing or quarantining.
Food delivery apps and services: Get your food delivery apps downloaded stat! The apps the linked blog will help you get connected and stay connected with the community during times of heightened social distancing or quarantine protocols.
2021 Best of Pyeongtaek Winners: If you have just arrived, this is an excellent starter list of where to eat in our beautiful community . We have many more amazing options, but these are sure to give you a great start right out of the gate.
Expat guide to grocery delivery: Get to know grocery delivery during your first month in South Korea. If you have trouble with any of the apps or services talk with your real estate agent, ask questions in FB groups, or ask a community member to help you know. Having a reliable grocery delivery service that you feel comfortable using is an important during heightened social distancing or quarantine protocols.
Halal in the countryside: We have many English speaking Muslim community members who attend local universities and work for Korean companies. Access to Halal food is an important part of living a lovely life in South Korea.
Information about the Home & Living
How to deal with mold: You are very likely to have issues with mold if you don’t take action from the start! Please read this article so that you can get ahead of the problem before it starts. Prevention can mean you never have to deal with the mold itself.
Information about Navigation and Maps Apps
The different navigation and maps apps: We recommend adapting to local map apps when your arrive. Here are all the different reasons why! It’s going to save you all kinds of trouble if you become aware of the issues from the start.
Using phone numbers instead of addresses: This is possibly the most usefully blog you will read.
How to use Naver: Now that you are more informed about navigation and map apps, here is a close look at how Naver maps works.
How to access the community
One of the best parts about living in Pyeongtaek is that it is rural, but also quite supportive when you tie into the broader community. Here are some websites you will find useful when connecting to the community.
Pyeongtaek English language Facebook groups you may find useful
City of Pyeongtaek website in English
University offering English language Masters degrees
Pyeongtaek International Exchange Foundation
Information on holidays in South Korea with a focus on Pyeongtaek
Holidays are going to be different and that may feel really hard at first. Understanding the differences will help you manage expectations and know how to interact with the new experiences around you. Although many Western holidays such as Christmas are celebrated in South Korea to the religious majority being Christian, the holiday may be celebrated in different ways than you might be used to. Knowing this in advance will help you enjoy the local experience while also bringing your own twist to the mix.
Christmas in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
New Years in Pyeongtaek, South Korea
Supportive Information for your Mental Health
Everyone gets a little wacky when they change cultures. The human brains reaction to an overwhelming amount of new information is to protect itself. You may struggle with anger, exhaustion, and depression. It’s ok. Getting help is ok as well. Here are a few articles to help you on your way. A proactive approach to mental health is a lifeline that serves us all well over time.
5 Tips of dealing with culture shock: Everyone, no matter how many times they more, deals with culture shock. Here are five ways to navigate the issue here in South Korea.
English language counseling services: Pyeongtaek is incredibly lucky to have quality, English language counselors and therapists to support us during difficult times. Asking for help us cool!
Please let us know in the comments if any of our Pyeongtaek information has become outdated and we will get it updated!
We count on our readers to inform us if things are not accurate enough or if something has changed. We then confirm the new information and get things updated! Please let us know what needs changed!
Please share this will all your newly arriving friends or friends interested in moving to Pyeongtaek! The more information everyone has the happier we can all live together.
Founded 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.
