Life&Culture
Survive & Thrive In series
A guide to living in South Korea for those new to the country
#Expat
# Seoul life
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Survive & Thrive In series
A guide to living in South Korea for those new to the country
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Becoming a Korean
TSurvive & Thrive is a weekly series offering a guide to living in South Korea for those born outside of the country. – Ed. According to the latest government data, there are 210,990 naturali
From seasonal flu to TB, some foreign residents eligible for free shots
A guide to navigating Korea’s immunization program and checking your eligibility for subsidized vaccinations As the summer heat gives way to the crisp autumn air, it‘s time to start thinking about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the flu. If you’re a foreign national resident in South Ko
Oct. 1, 2024 - 15:09:57
S. Korea's safest cities? Data blackout clouds the picture
A reader asked: which city is the safest in S. Korea? Our attempt to answer this seemingly straightforward question met unexpected challenges Safety ranks high on the list of priorities for South Korean and foreign residents alike when choosing where to live in the country. But despite extensive onl
Sept. 17, 2024 - 16:00:52
Need tools? Seoul has you covered
Community centers in Seoul and other major cities offer tool rentals Did you just move to Seoul and need tools for furniture assembly? Or perhaps you need items like an electric drill, hammer or wrench for your latest DIY project? Instead of buying and keeping these tools at home for the few times y
July 16, 2024 - 18:06:16
Introducing new rain alerts and why you should pay attention
Deadly flash flooding in Seoul in 2022 summer behind the development of a new mobile alert system Living in South Korea involves learning to differentiate between various mobile phone alerts and announcements, and deciding which ones to heed and which ones to disregard. These alerts, sent by differe
July 8, 2024 - 17:40:09
Like my hair? Get yours done at a Korean hair salon, if you know how
Discover Korea‘s secret to perfect hair If you thought perfect hair was only possible in Korean dramas or on K-pop stages, you might be surprised to see so many Koreans on the street with voluminous, perfectly styled hair. The secret may lie in Korean hair salons, or rather, in their abundance. Acco
April 30, 2024 - 15:16:54
Finding secondhand treasures in Korea
In neighborhood public spaces such as subway stations, it‘s not uncommon to witness individuals engaging in suspicious exchanges like in a spy film, often starting their exchange with a question that includes the Korean term, “danggeun.” “Hoksi danggeun?” one might inquire to initiate the exchange,
March 19, 2024 - 14:06:46
Tropical nights in Seoul, chilly nights in Taebaek
South Korea in recent years has seen a significant rise in both the number of days with midday temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius and above, and the number of “tropical nights,” where temperatures remain at or above 25 C throughout the night. To avoid any confusion, the climate of the Korean Peninsu
Aug. 15, 2023 - 16:21:42
Hottest and coolest regions in Korea
Korea is known for its harsh summers, with high humidity and daily temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. This year‘s summer, however, may be among the hottest so far, with preliminary data for July showing record high temperatures. As locals scatter in search of the best spots to survive
Aug. 8, 2023 - 16:24:48
Reasons to not overlook community service centers
Local community service centers are easy to spot, but many overlook the services they provide for their communities. Taking the time to become acquainted with these centers can lead to various benefits, from saving money to accessing a wide range of cost-effective or even free programs and informati
Aug. 2, 2023 - 16:37:38
Table manners and public bathrooms in S. Korea
No matter what country you visit, restaurants and public bathrooms are probably among the places you visit the most. Here are some tips on things one might find handy when dining with South Koreans, or going to a bathroom here. Dining manners in Korea Conventional table manners suggest that one shou
July 11, 2023 - 16:09:53
Amenities, customs unique to public spaces in S. Korea
Among the more tech-savvy and rapidly changing countries in the world, South Korea in recent years has adopted various technologies and amenities in public spaces or for commuters that are hard to find anywhere else. Priority seats for the pregnant A number of mass transit systems across the world h
June 27, 2023 - 15:58:55
Apps that help travelers get around Seoul
Among the basic practical issues when travelling to another country are luggage and transportation logistics. This edition of Survive & Thrive will take a look at apps that help you rent lockers for your bags or public bikes in Seoul. Luggage storage In nearly every subway station in Seoul, there ar
June 21, 2023 - 10:50:50
On Korea‘s streets, Naver beats Google
As one of the most tech-savvy countries in the world, South Korea has a number of useful mobile apps that can aid everyday tasks, ranging from delivery and transportation to administrative services. For the next few weeks, Survive & Thrive will introduce free apps that provide such services in Engli
June 13, 2023 - 16:30:31
How to rent a car in Korea
For those traveling in areas with limited access to public transportation, renting a car may be the best option. Here‘s a look at the country’s car-sharing and rental system. Rental For most companies, foreigners who have a driver’s license issued by local authorities can rent a car under the same c
June 6, 2023 - 17:19:01
Hailing and riding a taxi
Kakao is not just the name of the mobile messenger that almost all South Koreans use. It is a Korean substitute for the US’ Uber or Southeast Asia’s Grab. KakaoT, operated by the messenger app company, is by far the most widely used app to hail a taxi, although there are smaller competitors. One of
May 28, 2023 - 16:00:54
