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
Why Koreans may ask personal questions
In many cultures, asking an adult’s age can feel rude, intrusive or oddly personal. In Korea, however, the question often comes up early in casual conversations. For foreign residents, this can be confusing. A person you have just met may ask how old you are, where you studied or whether you are married. The question may feel like prying, but in many cases, it is meant to help the other person understand how to speak and behave around you. Age still plays an important role in Korean social inter
July 9, 2026 - 10:01:10
First-timer’s guide to traveling beyond Seoul
South Korea may be small, but planning a trip here can still feel overwhelming for first-time visitors. The country offers everything from royal palaces and mountain trails to beach towns, seafood markets, old capitals and volcanic islands — all within a few hours of one another. A record 4.76 million foreign tourists visited Korea in the first quarter of this year, and the country is seeking to draw travelers not only to Seoul, but also to destinations across the peninsula. For those unsure whe
July 6, 2026 - 11:21:03
Child care options for foreign families in Korea
Foreign parents in Korea can legally send their children to kindergartens and day care centers, but access to public day care and government subsidies can differ sharply depending on the child’s nationality and family status. Under the law, non-Korean children are not barred from attending kindergartens or day care centers. Facilities have discretion over admissions, but Korean and foreign children should be given equal consideration. In practice, however, foreign parents may face two main barri
July 2, 2026 - 10:48:26
How foreign parents can get help with daycare fees in Korea
Many foreign residents in Korea face restrictions in receiving government subsidies for daycare fees, but they are eligible for partial support. Under the current law, only children with Korean nationality who are enrolled in certified daycare centers are eligible for the central government’s childcare subsidy for children 5 and under. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea in 2023 recommended revising the rule to include foreign children, but no related legal revision has been made so fa
June 27, 2026 - 09:00:00
Bike rules in Korea: What riders should know
Cycling is both an effective form of exercise and a convenient means of travel — as well as a lot of fun. But under Korean law, bicycles are also subject to a wide range of traffic rules. The rules are intended to protect both pedestrians and riders, who generally have a higher risk of injury than people in cars or other vehicles. Some bicycle rules are often ignored in practice, such as wearing a helmet or avoiding the sidewalk. Traffic police may be more flexible with bicycle-related violation
June 23, 2026 - 11:08:40
Running in Korea: Understanding the unwritten rules
On a weekend morning in Seoul, it is no longer unusual to see groups of runners filling riverside paths, parks and neighborhood tracks. But as running becomes more visible in public spaces, so do complaints about noise, crowding and runners brushing past pedestrians. Running has gained popularity in Korea, with the share of regular sports participants who named running, including jogging and marathons, as one of their main activities rising to 7.7 percent in 2025 from 4.8 percent a year earlier,
June 14, 2026 - 08:00:00
Guide to waste disposal in Korea (2)
The key rule for recyclables is to make sure items are clean and not mixed with other substances. Used cup noodle containers made of polystyrene foam or paper are often too contaminated to recycle and should be disposed of as general waste. Cardboard and paper, such as receipts and boxes, are recyclable, but attached stickers are not. Remove stickers and dispose of them as general waste. Paper mixed with other materials, paper coated on both sides and insulated food delivery boxes that are diffi
June 5, 2026 - 09:00:00
Guide to waste disposal in Korea (1)
Many foreign residents in South Korea may have run into problems with garbage disposal. Public trash bins can be found on some streets, but they are few and far between, and they are not meant for household waste. Those caught disposing of household waste in public bins may face administrative fines. Household waste in Korea is generally divided into general waste, food waste, recyclables and large waste items. General waste and food waste must be thrown away in government-approved bags sold at
June 2, 2026 - 14:01:27
Want to learn Korean? Here’s where to start
Living in a foreign country brings both opportunities and difficulties. For many foreign residents in South Korea, the biggest challenge is language. Some 75 percent of foreign residents said Korean was the main difficulty they faced in daily life, according to a 2024 survey by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. A variety of Korean language courses are offered by public and private institutions, from the state-run King Sejong Institute to city and provincial governments and university language
May 30, 2026 - 09:00:00
What to know before visiting dog cafes in Korea
For pet owners who consider their animals part of the family, their companions’ physical and emotional well-being is a top priority. Dogs in particular are generally more social than many other pets, and dog cafes offer a space where they can meet and interact with other dogs. Many also provide basic training, temporary boarding and grooming services. A dog cafe usually requires visitors to buy beverages or snacks, hence the name, and some charge a separate entrance fee. The cost is usually not
May 19, 2026 - 09:06:31
How to keep your animal healthy
Editor's note: This is part 2 of a series on tips for living with a pet in Korea. Ensuring a healthy and long life for pets is one of the biggest concerns for owners, from vaccinations to finding medical care when animals fall sick. Before adopting a pet, prospective owners should consider whether they have allergies, enough time to care for the animal and a suitable home environment. They should also check the animal’s eating patterns and basic health conditions. When taking pets outside, owner
May 12, 2026 - 10:51:58
Living with a pet in Korea
Pets are becoming an increasingly common part of life in Korea, but living with an animal here comes with rules that foreign residents should know before bringing one into the country, adopting one locally or moving into an apartment. Government data showed that a record 29.2 percent of the population had a pet in 2025, reflecting the growing place of companion animals in Korean households. But pet ownership also involves requirements on quarantine, animal registration, safety measures, housing
May 6, 2026 - 13:07:15
Guide to cheaper alternatives to Korea’s convenience stores
Convenience stores are everywhere in South Korea, offering quick access to snacks, drinks and daily necessities. But they aren't always the cheapest option. For travelers looking to cut costs, discount chains and supermarket apps offer significantly lower prices on everyday items -- options that are often overlooked by visitors. E-Mart, one of the country’s largest discount retailers, launched its budget label No Brand in 2015. The line now includes hundreds of items sold at stores across Korea.
April 14, 2026 - 09:24:07
Finding a pharmacy in the middle of the night
There's no telling when you may be coming down with something, and responding to a sudden medical issue is tricky late at night or in the wee hours. If it's serious, the best thing to do is call the 119 emergency services, but sometimes all you need is an aspirin to nurse your headache. Most pharmacies in South Korea close at around 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. on weekdays, and around 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. on Saturdays, with a handful of stores taking turns opening on Sundays. In a bid to fill gaps in the supply
March 9, 2026 - 09:00:00
Health benefits (3) – Hospital services for foreign patients
Many Korean hospitals have staff members fluent in English, but some, particularly university hospital-level institutes, have international health care centers that cater specifically to foreign national patients. These departments cover not only the conventional medical services, but also offer interpretation services along with physicians and staff members dedicated to helping those with international backgrounds. The International Healthcare Center at Seoul National University Hospital, for e
March 7, 2026 - 16:00:00
