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Side Quests In series
Small opportunities, events and tips for international residents in Korea
#expat life
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Side Quests In series
Small opportunities, events and tips for international residents in Korea
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Free resume feedback for international students
Have your resume polished by a professional before job hunting in Korea. Seoul Global Center is offering a free resume review service for 50 international students. International students who want their resumes to sound more natural, better present their work experience or receive detailed feedback on their cover letters may apply. Applicants must submit resumes and cover letters written in Korean. The required format is available through the Google Drive link on the application page. Feedback m
June 7, 2026 - 13:24:36
Eligible foreign voters can take time off to cast ballots
Foreign nationals eligible to vote in South Korea's June 3 local elections are entitled to request time off work to cast their ballots if they are scheduled to work on Election Day, the Seoul Foreign Resident Center said in a recent notice. The notice comes as the number of foreign voters eligible to participate in local elections has reached a record high of 151,532. Some foreign residents have reportedly expressed concern that they may not be granted time to vote, even though Election Day is d
June 1, 2026 - 11:45:46
Seoul opens honorary citizenship nominations for foreign residents
Seoul is accepting nominations for its 2026 honorary citizenship program, which recognizes foreign residents who have contributed to the city in fields such as culture, the economy, welfare, science and AI. Foreign residents who have lived in Seoul for at least three consecutive years, or for a combined total of five years, may be nominated if they have helped raise Seoul’s profile or contributed to the city’s development. Nominations require a recommendation from the chair of the Seoul Metropol
May 29, 2026 - 16:03:36
Hospital seeks medical interpreters for migrant women
Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital is recruiting 10 volunteer mentors to assist migrant women with medical interpretation. The hospital is seeking bilingual speakers of any language who are fluent in Korean to help foreign residents communicate with medical staff and provide emotional support during treatment. Applicants who have completed a medical coordinator course or have experience in medical interpretation will be preferred. Applications will be accepted through May 29. Interv
May 28, 2026 - 17:30:17
Foreign parents in Seoul can get help with daycare costs
For many foreign parents in Seoul, childcare can become one of the biggest financial pressures of raising children in Korea, especially for families still adjusting to visa procedures, housing costs and life in a new country. To ease some of that burden, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is continuing its daycare fee support program for foreign children enrolled in daycare centers. The program provides partial support for childcare fees for foreign children aged 0 to 5 attending daycare faciliti
May 28, 2026 - 17:05:53
Seoul volunteer program pairs foreign residents with seniors
A volunteer program near Dongnimmun Station is inviting foreign residents to spend an afternoon helping Korean senior citizens practice conversational English. Rather than formal tutoring, the session focuses on relaxed, everyday conversations designed to help seniors build confidence speaking English while meeting people from different countries and backgrounds. Organizers emphasize that native-level English is not required, making the program accessible to foreigners who speak English as a sec
May 28, 2026 - 15:52:38
Learn to cook bulgogi burritos, bibimbap in Suwon
The Suwon Migrant Community Service Center will open applications for two Korean cooking classes open to foreign and Korean residents in Korea. According to the center's Tuesday announcement, applications for the bulgogi burrito and miyeok naengguk class opens Wednesday at 1 p.m. Miyeok naengguk is a cold, tangy seaweed soup with cucumber. Applications for the gochujang and bibimbap class open Thursday at 1 p.m. Each session will be open to seven foreign nationals and three Korean nationals on a
May 27, 2026 - 11:02:21
Paige Morris to discuss climate in Korean literature
Seorae Global Village Center will host a free English-language talk on how Korean literature explores climate and environmental issues, in collaboration with the Literature Translation Institute of Korea and Dulwich College Seoul. From Page to Planet: Korean Literature in the Age of Climate Change will feature award-winning translator Paige Aniyah Morris, whose translations include works by Han Kang, Hur Heui-jung, Kang Ji-young and Park Hyung-joo. The talk will explore how storytelling and tran
May 27, 2026 - 10:36:38
Seoul opens Korean-Chinese speech contest
Applications are open for the fifth Korean-Chinese bilingual speech contest, which invites youths from elementary through high school across Korea to speak under the theme “My Dream.” Participants are asked to deliver speeches in both Korean and Chinese, sharing stories about the dreams they hope to achieve, the experiences that inspired them, or the efforts they are making toward their goals. Organizers say the event aims to create a space where migrant youths and Korean youths can grow togethe
May 19, 2026 - 12:14:43
Language exchange with Korean grandparents
Most language exchanges in Seoul take place among students and young professionals. This one brings together foreign residents and senior Koreans, with life stories and decades of Korean history at its center. A volunteer program organized with the Gangnam Senior Welfare Center invites foreign residents to spend afternoons chatting with senior Koreans in English, Japanese or Chinese. Rather than structured lessons, the sessions are designed as relaxed conversations on topics ranging from daily r
May 19, 2026 - 11:28:39
Caregiver license course opens extra seat for foreign resident in Suwon
Suwon Migrant Community Service Center is accepting one additional participant for its caregiver certification course, with the center covering 820,000 won ($547) of the 920,000 won tuition fee. According to the center, applications for the single vacant spot will open at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The course will run from June 24 to Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, at a caregiver training center in Jangan-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Applicants must live in Suwon or nearby areas and hold a va
May 19, 2026 - 10:53:50
Workplace Korean class opens for foreign jobseekers
The Seoul Foreign Resident Center is organizing a Korean language class for foreign residents in Korea who are preparing to find jobs, with a focus on real-life expressions used in the workplace. According to the Seoul Foreigner Portal on Monday, the program consists of four sessions held every Sunday from June 7-28. Each class will run from 10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. at the center’s third-floor classroom in Yeongdeungpo-gu, southwestern Seoul. The class is free, but applicants are required to have a
May 19, 2026 - 10:22:38
Mental health talk for Chinese-speaking foreign residents in Seoul
For many foreign residents in Korea, talking about mental health can be especially difficult when language and cultural barriers are added to the mix. The Gangdong Foreign Resident Center is hosting a small-group mental health lecture this month, led by a psychiatrist fluent in Chinese, to offer a more accessible space for support. The session will focus on depression and psychiatric medication, while also opening up broader conversations about emotional well-being, stress and mental health care
May 18, 2026 - 15:27:55
Free Seoul Land outing offered to 40 foreign residents
The Geumcheon Foreign Resident Center in Seoul is inviting international residents to enjoy a free trip to Seoul Land on Tuesday. According to the Seoul Foreigner Portal on Saturday, the center is accepting applications from up to 40 foreign residents in Korea for a visit to the theme park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Participants will gather at the Geumcheon Foreign Resident Center at 8:30 a.m. and together to the theme park, where they will enjoy rides and visit the zoo until 3:30 p.m. The
May 18, 2026 - 11:36:09
Gangdong center offers acupuncture, cupping session at no cost
Foreign residents looking to relieve stress, muscle tension or fatigue may want to check out a free traditional Korean medicine clinic hosted by the Gangdong Foreign Resident Center on Saturday. The one-day event will introduce participants to treatments commonly used in Korean medicine clinics, including acupuncture and cupping therapy, along with herbal medicine and wellness consultations. Acupuncture involves placing thin needles at specific points on the body to help improve circulation, eas
May 18, 2026 - 11:26:03
