Survive & Thrive In series
A guide to living in South Korea for those new to the country

Survive & Thrive In series
A guide to living in South Korea for those new to the country
Series preview
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
Getting around at night
Seoul wouldn’t be famous for its lively nightlife scene if getting back home after a night out were a major challenge. Recognizing the need of a public that is socially active at night, South Korea’s public transport operates at least until around midnight, although one is strongly advised to check
May 23, 2023 - 15:21:24Reasons to forgo cash for bus fare
The sight of a bus passenger paying their fare with cash is dying out in South Korea nowadays. There are several reasons for this. Cashless payments, via Tmoney cards, credit cards or mobile payment options, are not just more convenient but safer, as the conductor can focus only on driving, which ca
May 16, 2023 - 15:36:43Transportation (1): Free transfers within 30 minutes
Getting around in any of South Korea‘s major cities is easy and convenient, thanks to the cheap and extensive public transportation system. As the first segment in a four-part series on South Korea‘s mass transit systems, this article will review how to transfer between buses, the subway and other f
May 9, 2023 - 15:32:13Renting a home: Jeonse, wolse and everything in between
Navigating the rental market in South Korea requires understanding two key terms and their concepts: “Wolse” and “jeonse.” Wolse, which means monthly rent, is self-explanatory: Tenants pay a deposit and the monthly rent to live in the residence. But the deposit is usually much higher than most other
April 26, 2023 - 13:54:09Korean ‘villas’ are not what you expect
Korean housing terminology reflects various types of inexpensive dwellings, from ‘villa,’ ‘banjiha’ to ‘oktapbang’ An introductory guide to Korea‘s housing would be incomplete without an explanation of the prevalence of apartment homes -- the tall, uniformly structured, multi-unit buildings that Kor
April 18, 2023 - 14:15:58Naturalization exam: How difficult is it?
To become a naturalized citizen of South Korea, applicants must have a basic knowledge of the Korean language, customs and culture, which is evaluated through a written test and an interview. The Korea Immigration and Naturalization Aptitude Test comprises of multiple-choice questions, a writing tes
March 14, 2023 - 17:12:01Becoming a Korean
Being a naturalized Korean citizen comes in various forms, from marrying a local to having a special talent Survive & 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 naturalize
Feb. 14, 2023 - 14:21:11