This article covers the benefits of a Wise account, including how you can send money internationally, spend in Korea by card, and how to receive payments from abroad. There’s also information about who can get a Wise account, what currencies you can use, and how to spend and send money.

I’ll also share the best ways to send money from abroad to Korea (including the US and UK) and how to send money out from Korea to other countries, too. These include Korea-based banks and banking apps that you can use as an expat in Korea to send and receive money with lower fees than banks charge.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is Wise And How To Use It In Korea

In the words of Wise, their service is “an international money transfer service designed to make cross-border transactions more affordable, transparent, and efficient.” Wise utilises peer-to-peer technology to offer the mid-market rate for international transfers and currency exchanges, which helps to reduce currency conversion costs for you. Revolut offers a similar service.

Basically, you can send, receive, and spend money internationally at rates that are better than what you’d find at airport money exchanges and offered by banks for international transfers. You can use the app or website to send and receive money internationally and also get a physical or digital card to spend in shops, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and elsewhere.

Here are some of the benefits I’ve discovered of having a Wise account and getting a Wise card:

How To Use Wise In Korea

If you want to get a Wise account to spend money in Korea or make international transfers, you’ll need to make sure you sign up for a Wise account before you travel to Korea. Unfortunately, you can’t create a Wise account from inside Korea. You’ll need to confirm your identity by phone when you create an account, therefore, do it in your home country before going to Korea.

Once you have a Wise account though, you’ll discover a world of international banking that is much easier than using local banks in each country and, in my experience, much cheaper, too. If you travel internationally a lot, or visit other countries on holiday from time to time, you’re sure to find that a Wise account can make spending your money more convenient and less risky.

There are several ways you can use Wise in Korea as an expat or traveller. I use Wise to do all of these things and more, as I’ll show you in the following sections.

Learn more: For full details about how to use Wise and the many benefits of using a Wise card to pay for things in Korea, check out my article all about how to use Wise in Korea. For details about how to plan your travel money and what methods of payment are accepted in Korea, check out my article about ways to pay in Korea and you’ll discover the best travel money mix for you.

If you’re interested in getting a Wise account, you can use these links below to find your local Wise site:

How To Use Wise To Send Money To Korea

This section will show you how to use Wise to send money to Korea in two different situations, based on who is sending the money and who is receiving the money. The first situation deals with how to transfer money to Korea from your own account using Wise, while the second details how someone else can send money to Korea from other countries into your Wise account.

1 – How To Transfer Your Own Money Using Wise

This situation is for expats living in Korea or people travelling to Korea. It assumes you already have a Wise account that you created before going to Korea to live or travel. You need to open a currency account in Wise for whatever currency you want to transfer into Korean won – this is really easy and you just have to select the currency in the app and choose ‘open’. It takes ten seconds.

Step 1 – Add money to your Wise account in your own currency: I have a UK bank account, so I add money from my UK bank account to Wise. You can add funds by credit card, debit card, bank transfer, or Swift transfer. To add money, select the currency you want to add in the app and click on the big green button that says ‘Add‘ and follow the instructions. The money usually transfers instantly.

Step 2 – Convert your currency into Korean won: You can convert money into Korean won in the Wise app in two ways. Firstly, click on the button that says ‘Convert‘ in the currency you just added (GBP in this case) and choose to convert to Korean won. Secondly, go to your Korean won account in the app and select ‘Add‘. There’s a small fee to convert money, as shown in the image above.

Step 3 – Spend the money in Korea using your Wise card or withdraw cash from an ATM: Once you’ve converted your money into Korean won, you can use your Wise card to spend in Korea at most shops, restaurants, hotels, etc., or withdraw cash from a ‘Global ATM’. I recommend using the card as there’s no fee to pay by card but the Korean ATMs will charge a fee to withdraw cash.

2 – How To Send Money To Wise For Someone Else

This situation is for people outside of Korea who want to send money to people in Korea who have a Wise account. You (the person sending the money) don’t need to have a Wise account yourself, but the person receiving the money should have a Wise account. You will be sending money in your own currency and shouldn’t have to pay any fees to transfer the money.

Step 1 – Ask for the Wise account details of the person you want to send to in Korea: When you create a currency account in Wise (e.g. GBP or USD), you will receive a bank account number, along with details including your Sort Code, IBAN, SWIFT, or BIC numbers. You can find these account details by going to that currency in your Wise app and clicking on the account number (as shown below).

Step 2 – Send money to the Wise account from your own account: For this example, I will assume that my mum wants to send me £100. I provide her with my Wise account details for my GBP currency account that is shown in the Wise app. She can make a bank transfer from her bank to Wise in the same way she’d transfer money to anyone else in the UK. I receive the money in my Wise account.

Step 3 – Convert the money you received into Korean won: After my mum has kindly sent me £100 to my Wise GBP currency account, I can now convert that money into Korean won and use my Wise card to spend it in Korea to buy myself a new pair of shoes or a fancy meal out. Thanks, Mum! The transfer didn’t cost my mum anything and I now get to spend the money in Korea as I like.

Can You Transfer Directly To Korean Won With Wise?

Unfortunately, as Wise doesn’t allow people in Korea to sign up for a Wise account (I suspect this is due to strict Korean banking regulations), you won’t be assigned a Korean bank account when you create a Korean won currency account. That means you can’t transfer money directly from one country into Korean won and will need to choose one of the methods shown above.

Simply put, to transfer money to Korea with Wise, you need to transfer money to another currency account in Wise and then convert that into Korean won. Even though there’s no Korean won bank account, you can still spend money in Korea with your Wise card without any extra fees or hidden conversion costs after you’ve converted money into Korean won in your Wise app.

Transfer Money From Wise To A Korean Bank Account

You can transfer money from your Wise account directly to a Korean bank account in the Wise app. Select the Korean won currency account in the app and click on ‘Send‘. Enter the details of the recipient (bank account, name, etc.) and select the amount of Korean won you want to send. Alternatively, you can share a payment link and send that. There’s a fee of ₩1,450 to make a bank transfer.

Currencies That Offer Bank Accounts With Wise

Although it’s not possible to get a Korean bank account with Wise, you can open bank accounts in the following currencies and make transfers or receive deposits in those currencies:

AUD / CAD / EUR / GBP / HUE / MYR / NZD / PLN / RON / SGD / TRY / USD

You can also add money to your Wise account in the following currencies:

AUD / BGN / BRL / CAD / CNY / CHF / CZK / DKK / EUR / GBP / HUF / IDR / JPY / MYR / NOK / NZD / PLN / RON / SEK / SGD / TRY / USD

Please note: There are some exceptions and conditions for certain currencies based on the country you’re in. Check the Wise website for more details about money transfers in your desired currency.

Why I Use Wise For International Banking

As an expat who works online, I receive and spend money in various currencies (USD / GBP / AUD / EUR / KRW) and use my Wise account to manage and convert them as I need. I can receive money into my USD account on Wise and use the app to convert that into Korean won to spend in Korea, as detailed previously. Wise allows me to manage my international banking needs in one app.

Not only do I use Wise to spend my USD / GBP money in Korea in Korean won, I also use my Wise card when I travel internationally. I recently travelled to Thailand and used my Wise card as my main payment method when cards were accepted. I converted USD and other currency balances to THB in $200 batches and then spent with card or withdrew cash from Thai ATMs as needed.

Another reason I use Wise for international banking as an expat in Korea is that it allows my family to send money to my Wise account (or UK bank account which I then transfer to Wise) that I can spend in Korea. The alternative to using Wise for this would be to receive money into my UK bank account and then withdraw cash in Korea or pay by card – both are expensive options due to bank charges.

Sometimes I need to receive money in currencies that aren’t KRW or GBP and, thanks to Wise, I can do that without having to do a complicated or expensive international transfer between another country and the UK. It’s free to add extra currency accounts in Wise and you don’t need to go through the long, complicated process of setting up a foreign bank account. It’s so simple and quick.

How I Send Money From Korea To My Wise Card

As mentioned, Wise doesn’t allow you to create a Korean bank account, so you can’t send money directly from a Korean bank account to Wise. Fortunately, there are other ways to send money from Korea to other countries. My favourite way is with SentBe, a Korean FinTech company providing international money transfers for a low fee (₩2,500). You need a Korean phone number to use SentBe.

To transfer money from your Korean bank to your Wise account using SentBe, you will need to enter your international (Global) account numbers provided in the Wise currency account of your choice. For example, I would enter my Wise GBP currency account details into SentBe and send money from my Korean bank account to my Wise account. The money is converted into GBP, not KRW.

Alternatively, you can send money from Korea with SentBe directly to your home bank account if you don’t plan to use that money with your Wise card. If you need to send large amounts of money from Korea to other countries, please note that there is a limit of 50,000 USD per year that you can send. I believe this is being increased to 100,000 USD in the future. There are daily limits, too.

There are other apps and websites that provide international transfers from Korea, such as WireBarley, Western Union, and MoneyGram. I haven’t tried any of these options, but from my own experience and feedback from other expats living in Korea, SentBe seems to be the cheapest and most used method.

Other Ways To Transfer Money To Korea

Apart from using Wise to transfer money to Korea, there are some other methods you can use.

Bank Transfer (Remittance): Send money to Korea by entering in the Korean bank details of the person you’re sending money to in Korea. This is how I used to transfer money, but the fees for doing this can be high and the exchange rates can be bad.

International Remittance Provider: You can use companies like Western Union, Currency Fair, or Remitly to send money to a Korean bank account or (in some situations) to be collected in cash at an approved location. Be careful with this method as some frauds are conducted through international remittance providers. Only send money to accounts you trust.

Based on my experience as an expat for more than 13 years in Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, I can say that using Wise in combination with my home bank account, Korean bank account, and SentBe has been the best option for sending money to Korea and transferring money out of Korea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to use Wise to send money to Korea. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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This article will show you the pros and cons of one of Europe’s most awarded mattresses and help you decide whether it’s right for your Korean home. Not only does this review focus on the details of the Emma Original mattress, it also covers issues related to buying and using this mattress in Korea.

Having lived in Korea since 2015 and slept on many mattresses in different apartments, guesthouses, and hotels, I can honestly say that the Emma Original mattress, which is reviewed here, has been one of the best. Find out why I like it and whether it could be the right option for you in Korea or abroad.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Emma Mattress Korea Review: Verdict

In this article I will be reviewing the Emma Original mattress, a high-quality foam mattress created in Germany that is sold around the world. I will be specifically looking at the version sold in Korea and considering the pros and cons of this mattress based on conditions found in Korea.

The Emma Original mattress is Europe’s most awarded mattress and has been designed using Emma’s proprietary technology by German engineers to protect your spine while you sleep. This is done by keeping your spine aligned and straight, which helps to reduce back and lumbar pain.

After testing the Emma Original mattress in my Korean apartment during the hot and humid Korean summer months, I have found that the mattress has improved my sleeping conditions. It helps me get a good night’s sleep while reducing the aches and pains I sometimes had from my old mattress.

Overall, I’ve been very pleased with this foam mattress, despite being skeptical about it at first due to bad experiences with other foam mattresses in Korea. Furthermore, the price of this mattress for the quality of mattress you get makes it very competitive compared to other mattress brands in Korea.

I hope this review of one of the best mattresses in Korea that I’ve slept on outside of a luxury hotel is useful. If you want to see just the pros and cons, check out the table below. I encourage you to read further so you can see my insights into each point and learn more about this comfortable mattress.

Exclusive Discount Code: An Extra 5% Off

Get an extra 5% off your purchase with this coupon code exclusively for readers of In My Korea. Enter the code “INMYKOREA” after you select any mattress from the Emma website in Korea.

Detailed Review: Emma Original Mattress Korea

I’ve spent over three months sleeping on my Emma Original mattress in my Korean apartment before writing this to make sure that I have enough experience to give a detailed review. All opinions expressed here are my own and based on my experience using the Emma Original mattress.

I’m not an expert mattress reviewer (I’ve added video reviews by people who are), but I hope my opinions and insights will help people in Korea who are looking for a new mattress. I’m a light sleeper and take bedding supplies seriously because they can really make or break a good night’s sleep.

Disclaimer: I was asked to write this review by Emma and was given a queen-sized Emma Original mattress to help me with the review. Before accepting, I mentioned it to my family in England, who told me they all use Emma mattresses at home and were very pleased with their quality and comfort.

I agreed to write this review for Emma, but please know that all opinions expressed in this article are based on my own experience of using the mattress. I decided that this would be a useful opportunity to help other expats in Korea who are looking for a good priced mattress for their apartment.

1: Emma Mattress Specifications

I received an Emma Original Mattress for this review, one of the most popular mattresses available from Emma. The specifications of this mattress can be seen in the table below:

2: Mattress Delivery

The Emma Original Mattress was delivered to my Korean apartment compressed (vacuum sealed) and packed neatly inside a box 110cm high and 50cm wide. The total weight was light enough that I could move it into my apartment by myself, however, it might be best to get a friend to help.

As is usual in Korean apartments, the mattress was delivered to my apartment (on the 8th floor) and left outside the apartment door. This is how parcels and other packages are left and theft inside apartments in Korea is very rare. I’ve never experienced any issues with items being left in this way.

As you can see from the pictures below, the outside of the delivery box was slightly damaged, but the contents inside were safely sealed away and in perfect condition. Although the mattress is 150cm x 200cm, it fits comfortably in this delivery box until you remove the mattress from its packaging.

About compressed mattresses: This isn’t the first time I’ve had a mattress delivered like this and I believe it’s quite normal for mattresses to be vacuum packed to make delivery easier. The last mattress I had delivered like this had springs and both have been fine to use after a few hours.

3: Unboxing The Emma Mattress

Once I’d manoeuvred the mattress and the box into my bedroom, sliding out the mattress and placing it on my bed frame was probably the hardest part of installing the mattress, but possible alone. The mattress is rolled up and had to be cut open using the provided cutting tool, as shown below.

After cutting through the packaging outer layer with the Emma cutting tool, the mattress unfurled easily and unrolling it was like undoing a Swiss roll cake (but bigger). When the mattress was flat, I cut the rest of the wrapping off and flipped the mattress over so the dark section was on the bottom.

The mattress quickly expanded and started to resemble its final look in about a minute. Vacuum packed mattresses need some time to adjust, so it’s best not to sit or lie on the mattress for at least 5 hours. The handy picture card instructions included (pictured below) helps to remind you of this.

Please note: The picture above shows the mattress the wrong way up. The white section should be at the top with the darker section at the base. You can see the correct position in the picture below.

If you want to see what the unboxing process looks like, check out this short video from the Emma website that shows how compact and convenient everything is.

4: Mattress Materials & Design

This is my first foam mattress and I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical when I thought about using this kind of mattress. Having travelled in Korea a lot, and suffering some uncomfortable nights on cheap futons in Korean guesthouses, I thought that a foam mattress might be too soft and not suitable for me.

I’ll cover the materials more in the section ‘How The Emma Mattress Works‘, but for now I want to say that I was happily surprised both with the firmness and the quality of the materials of the Emma Original mattress. The mattress is medium-firm and provides good support while you sleep.

The design of the Emma Original mattress is convenient for living in Korea as the outer cover of the mattress is machine washable. This is particularly useful during summer in Korea when the weather is very hot and humid. Being able to wash the cover is a definite advantage over other mattresses.

5: Comfort While Resting On The Bed

The Emma Original mattress is firm but comfortable, making it good to sit or lie on while relaxing in the bedroom. I like to sit up and read in bed at night and I’ve found this mattress is firm enough to stop me sinking too low into the bed and offers good back support while reading.

Thanks to the motion isolation features of the Emma mattress, I don’t get disturbed when my girlfriend moves around and she hasn’t had any problems sleeping when I’m reading. The only issue I’ve had is when sitting on the edge of the bed as the mattress sinks more than it does in the centre.

6: Comfort While Sleeping

Sleeping well is the main issue when considering which mattress to buy in Korea, and with such extreme weather in summer (hot and humid) and winter (very cold at night), making sure you’re comfortable when sleeping is key. As someone who has trouble sleeping easily, comfort is crucial.

I’m writing this review after the Korean summer, which for me is one of the hardest times to sleep due to the hot evening weather. Therefore, any mattress will have to work hard to help me sleep well. Fortunately, the Emma Original mattress hasn’t disappointed me in terms of comfort while sleeping.

I use a fan to sleep at night, despite the threat of fan death (a Korean myth), and rely on my mattress and bedding to keep me cool, too. While the Emma Original mattress isn’t a cooling mattress, it does include an UltraDry cover (for moisture wicking) and an Airgocell® layer to regulate temperature.

I can happily state that I’ve had many nights of comfortable sleep and have been happy to sleep on my Emma Original mattress after a long day commuting, travelling, or hiking in Korea. The mattress is very comfortable and I’ve found the firmness just right for both sleeping on my back and on my side.

I have read from other reviews of the Emma Original mattress that it can retain heat despite being breathable. I have noticed some heat build up, but this is easily avoided with air conditioning or a fan at night. This could be an issue during the summer months if you don’t use a fan or air conditioning.

7: Sleeping Position & Back Support

I primarily sleep on my side and one of my biggest concerns about getting a foam mattress in Korea was that it wouldn’t support my shoulders and back properly when I sleep. This can be a problem for me when sleeping on a futon or mattress without adequate support and pressure release.

Thanks to Emma’s German-designed mattress, I have found that I get less back pains than from my old mattress. The Emma website states they have “studied in depth the alignment of the spine, sleep quality, air permeability, and pressure release of the mattress” to provide a comfortable night’s sleep.

When I take a nap for an hour or two, I tend to sleep on my back instead of my side. The firmness of the Emma mattress allows offers great support for my back and body in general while sleeping in this position. I’ve found it more comfortable and easier to get to sleep than I did on my old mattress.

8: Edge Support & Motion Isolation

I’m not an expert reviewer, but I tried to consider all aspects of what makes a mattress worthwhile. The areas of edge support and motion isolation aren’t something I’d thought of much before, but I’ve become more aware of them while writing this review. The Emma mattress has mixed results here.

As the Emma Original mattress is a foam-based mattress, it is lacking the edge support that I’m used to from my old sprung mattress. When I sit on the side of the bed, the mattress drops considerably. This isn’t a serious issue, but it is worth being aware of if you sit on the edge of the bed a lot.

The central area of the Emma Original mattress is really well designed and has a really good motion isolation feature. As mentioned, when someone else is sleeping or lying on the mattress, you hardly notice them moving at night. This is perfect as I tend to move around a lot when sleeping.

After reading other reviews of the Emma Original mattress, I decided to replicate a test for motion isolation by placing a glass on the mattress and pushing down on other areas. Sorry, the picture below isn’t a video, but I can tell you that the glass hardly moved when pushing down on the mattress.

9: Emma Original Mattress Vs My Old Mattress

My old mattress was the Hamarvik mattress from IKEA which I bought in Korea about 7 years ago. At that time, there was less choice for good-priced mattresses that offered a reliable night’s sleep. I tried this one and found it was good enough for the small apartment I was living in then.

The Hamarvik mattress (which I believe is no longer made) was a sprung mattress that was was described as medium firmness. However, when I compare it to the Emma Original mattress, I can say it was, or has become, quite soft. It wasn’t uncomfortable though, despite the age of the mattress.

When I compare the two mattresses, the Emma mattress offers better support for my body when resting or sleeping than my old mattress and is better suited for two people thanks to the motion isolation features. The Emma mattress is generally more comfortable all round.

The ability to wash the outer cover of the Emma mattress and the Airgocell® foam will surely prove to be a major advantage over my old mattress in the years to come, especially during summer. The improved back support should also lead to an improvement in my spinal health vs my old mattress.

10: Is The Emma Mattress Korea Worth The Price?

The Emma Original mattress starts for as little 435,000 KRW on sale right now (original price 725,000 KRW) for a single. This is certainly a very reasonable price for a mattress in Korea, especially when you consider the quality of the mattress, the features it provides, and the 10 year warrantee.

Compared to other foreign mattress brands, which usually charge a premium in Korea, the price is very competitive and lower than some of the big-name brands that I’ve encountered in Korea. When shopping for a queen-sized mattress in early 2023, I often saw prices of more than 1 million KRW.

When you compare the Emma Original mattress to Korean-made mattresses, which have had some issues in the past due to health concerns (covered later), this mattress is worth the price. In fact, Korean brands such as Ace Bedding charge more for their mattress, despite being locally made.

Unlike a futon, which can be bought cheaply in Korea and offers minimal back or body support, the Emma mattress is more expensive but worth the extra cost for the advanced features. After all, there’s nothing worse than sleeping on a cheap foam mattress that feels like you’re lying on a sponge.

Exclusive Discount Code: An Extra 5% Off

Get an extra 5% off your purchase with this coupon code exclusively for readers of In My Korea. Enter the code “INMYKOREA” after you select any mattress from the Emma website in Korea.

See The Emma Original Mattress In Action

If you want to hear more opinions and see the Emma original mattress in action, check out these video reviews. These channels offer more opinions to help you decide whether an Emma mattress is right for your Korean home, and you can also see how the Emma memory foam mattress works.

How The Emma Original Mattress Works

The Emma Original mattress is made of three layers of foam and removable breathing cover that keeps everything in place. Here’s a breakdown of those four different components:

Removable breathing cover: This is a detachable cover made of breathable material that provides a healthy sleeping environment. It can be machine washed, helping you to keep your bed hygienic. Simply unzip the cover where the white and black segments meet to remove.

Airgocell® foam: The top layer of foam (blue) is made from Emma’s patented Airgocell® foam, which fills at least 50% with air as the pores of the foam open. This special design helps to disperse heat and moisture and enables you to sleep comfortably at night, even when it’s hot outside.

High-density viscoelastic memory foam: The middle layer of foam (yellow) is a high-density memory foam with a higher than average density. This helps to distribute your body pressure and wraps tightly to relieve pain in the shoulder and back.

7-zone HRX foam: The bulk of the foam mattress is the bottom later (green). This specially designed foam is essential for a restful and peaceful night’s sleep. It’s designed to absorb shock with Emma’s unique cutting technology, it provides stable support from head to toe.

The combination of these three layers of foam helps to ensure that you have a good night’s sleep and maintain a healthy spine position while you rest. The high-quality and eco-friendly materials ensure you stay healthy and happy at night with a hygienic, easy to maintain Emma mattress.

Benefits Of This Emma Original Mattress For Korea

I’ve written this Emma mattress review for people in Korea and tried to include considerations about how the weather, apartment sizes, and other conditions in Korea might impact your choice of mattress. Here are 5 reasons why I think buying an Emma Original mattress in Korea is a good idea:

Price: A queen-sized Emma Original mattress costs just over 555,000 KRW (when using the discount code “INMYKOREA”), which I think is a great price for a mattress in Korea. This includes delivery within 2-4 days. This is considerably cheaper than other mattresses I’ve looked at in Korean stores.

Convenience: I know from experience that trying to find and buy a mattress in Korea as an expat can be a struggle, especially if you don’t speak Korean well. Knowing you can go online and get a good quality, affordable Emma mattress delivered in a few days makes living in Korea a little bit easier.

Hygiene: Heat and humidity are a serious issue during the Korean summer and sweating in bed can occur. Thanks to the removable cover, as well as the breathable materials, the Emma mattress can help reduce hygiene problems and keep you sleeping healthily at night.

Reliability: Although I haven’t had the Emma mattress for long, I have read reviews online and heard positive feedback from my family about the reliability of Emma mattresses. This is useful for expats in Korea for a few years as they won’t have to purchase a second mattress and can resell this one.

Space: The Emma Original mattress comes in a wide range of sizes, from single (100 x 200) all the way up to large king (180 x 200). Apartment sizes in Korea are getting smaller and, for single-person households, a single Emma Original mattress is both cheap and very conveniently sized.

For couples and families who still might not have lots of spare space, but value a good night’s sleep and prefer to have a larger bed, the queen-sized mattress is perfect. Sometimes you have to prioritise your use of space in a Korean apartment, and having a good sized mattress is top for me.

Are Emma Mattresses In Korea Safe To Use?

In 2018 there was a big scandal involving mattresses made in Korea that were found to emit more than 9 times the amount of radon than the national standard. Being exposed to high levels of radon over long periods of time can lead to health issues, including lung cancer.

To prove that Emma mattresses in Korea are perfectly safe to use, Emma Korea has submitted to the KOTITI radon test and passed with a radon score of 9.12 Bq/m3 (vs. the recommended standard of 148 Bq/m3). People of all ages can safely use Emma mattresses with no concerns.

Furthermore, Emma mattresses come with an OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 label – one of the world’s most well-known hazmat-tested textile labels. This guarantees that all components, including yarn, button and other fittings, have been tested for harmful substances and have high product safety.

About Emma Mattress Korea

Having lived in Korea since 2015, I had never heard of Emma mattresses before. That’s probably due to the fact that the company started in Frankfurt, Germany in 2015. The Emma Original mattress was the first product created after many hours of research and testing in the Emma sleep lab.

Now, Emma is one of the leading sleep brands in the world and operates in 33 countries, including South Korea. That’s quite incredible for a company that only started in 2015 and a clear sign that the effort to create well-made and affordable mattresses that are easy to buy has paid off.

Emma is the UK’s most awarded sleep brand, winning the most awards in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, including the Which? Best Buy award (4 years in a row). Emma mattresses also have top customer reviews, with the Emma Original mattress receiving a score of 4.8 stars in Korea.

Highly awarded, eco-friendly, world-class German engineering, and consumer focused – the are many reasons to buy an Emma mattress in Korea, as well as the fact it’ll help you have a comfortable night’s sleep. In case you’re not sure, Emma mattresses also come with 100 day trial service:

If you are not satisfied after using the Emma mattress for 100 days after purchase to see if it fits your body, we will return it.

From my own interaction with the Emma company, I can tell that they are focused on delivering a great customer service and trying to find out what issues people in Korea are facing and how to meet their needs. I think that the mattresses they’re offering here are going to be very popular in the future.

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Expat Life In Korea

You determine that there must be something better out there and decide to search for what that thing might be as soon as you get home. Later that night, you come across a website advertising English teaching positions in South Korea and feel a sudden, unexpected impulse flooding through you. After applying for a teaching position and a few hectic months of gathering and sending documents to the other side of the world, you find yourself on the plane ready to take off, wondering how exactly you got yourself into this position. Are you really ready to move to Korea for a new life?

Like everyone else who makes it to this point, you’re intrigued about what might lie ahead, which is why I’ve compiled this list of tips for anyone planning to make the big move in 2024. So sit back and relax as I take you through some of the most important things to know about moving to Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Learn Korean Before You Move To Korea

This one sounds incredibly obvious and daunting in equal measure, I get it. And I’m not suggesting you need to become conversational overnight or anything, but as you can probably appreciate, learning Korean when you’re about to go and move to Korea is going to have countless benefits.

You might also be surprised to learn that Hangul (the Korean alphabet) is one of the easiest alphabets to learn and once you touch down, your boss / coworker / students will inevitably tell you how ‘scientific’ it is within your first 5 minutes of moving to Korea. The best thing is, it’s not difficult.

As someone who has lived in Korea on and off for 13 years and who certainly wouldn’t class himself as anything close to a ‘language buff’, I can wholeheartedly attest to this. It’s also a massive help when you’re out and about as you can easily learn to read menus, signs, and posters.

A lot of signs use English words – just written in Korean – so the sooner you learn, even just the alphabet, the bigger the advantage will be for you. I actually learnt Hangul at work. My entire class were off one afternoon, except one kid, who taught me the alphabet in one 50 minute sitting.

Maybe I was doing myself a disservice by claiming I’m no language buff in hindsight. Honestly, you could probably learn on the flight out here with an app like Duolingo. Just don’t leave it months like I did. Worst case, use an app like Papago to translate Korean while you’re learning the language.

The benefits of learning Korean are endless. And instant. Your boss and coworkers will also be pleasantly surprised if you already have a little bit of Korean in your arsenal when you arrive, which is sure to make a good impression. Just a few basic Korean phrases will go a long way from day one.

Do you need to learn Korean to move to Korea? Not completely, but grasping the basics will definitely help you make friends, eat out, shop, and live a semi-normal life more easily. It will also be of use if you want to hang out with your coworkers and know more about what your students are saying.

Make Friends With Your Korean Coworkers

Making friends with other expats in Korea is a great idea, one that I wholeheartedly endorse. The benefits of having friends from a similar cultural background are countless and can do wonders for not only your social life, but also your mental health. Sometimes you’ve got to be around familiar people.

However, there’s a very real threat that you simply enclose yourself in a Westernised bubble of expats once you get to Korea. Not only do you shut yourself off from making local friends, you might also end up ignoring or not knowing about Korea’s other wonders, such as amazing food, which I’ll cover later.

The likelihood is that you’ll get to your destination and instantly be introduced to a Western coworker or two, who will then in turn take you out for dinner to introduce you to their friend group. This can often mean your interactions with actual Koreans outside the classroom can be limited at best.

One way around this is to befriend a coworker. These guys are often the unsung heroes of life in Korea. I mean, they’re working in an English-speaking environment all day, so their English is usually pretty good, which means they can provide an obvious link between yourself and the local culture.

Take advantage of this when moving to Korea. Koreans who work in English schools are usually pretty eager to practice their English at any given opportunity, so befriending your coworkers is a two-way street. Of course, it can also mean you gain a friend for life even if you move away from Korea.

Many Koreans are super-helpful, especially in those early days when you’re brand new, so don’t be scared to invite your coworkers out for dinner or whatever it is you might do in your spare time. Not everyone will want to chat with the foreign teacher, but there’s always someone who will.

Request A Bigger Korean City

You may have heard horror stories from English teachers in Korea stuck in the middle of nowhere with no friends and few modern conveniences. Contrary to what you may think, recruiters are eager to get you over to Korea and will usually do their best to provide you with your first choice location.

This means you don’t have to settle for a position in a tiny village out in the sticks. Of course, these positions have their own charms and can often be rewarding in their own way, but for a first-time expat who doesn’t know the language, they might not be the best choice for when you move to Korea.

Making friends in these places can be virtually impossible, too. Korea is a dream for the socially minded amongst us – the possibilities and friendship circles are endless. However, if you’re moving to Korea to embrace a new culture and way of life, living in the countryside might suit you fine.

In Korea, having a lot of friends is like owning a diverse collection of books, with each one offering a unique perspective on life on the peninsula. Most of the time, expats are more than willing to open their social circles and welcome new members, especially in the smaller cities outside the capital.

As someone who has spent the vast majority of their time in Korea in a mid-sized city, I can attest to this first-hand. As great as Seoul and Busan are, they can, on occasion, feel a little impersonal. The same can be said for being an expat in any large city around the world though, I would guess.

You won’t struggle making friends in the bigger cities in Korea, but you might struggle to form and maintain close personal friendships; there’s simply too much happening and the faces you will bump into each weekend will almost certainly change. Also, people move to and leave Korea all the time.

So yes, my advice would be to request a bigger city, but maybe not a huge metropolis like the big two of Seoul and Busan. Older expats with plenty of experience and established friend groups regularly make the move to the big cities, but to just rock up in Seoul fresh off the boat may be a little daunting.

Be Prepared For Lots Of Korean Surprises

As someone who has lived in Korea for more than a decade, I can categorically confirm that Korea can be one of the most bizarre places on the planet. In a good way. Of course, the peculiarities are cultural, and what may seem odd for an expat is often seen as perfectly normal for a Korean.

If you happen to be offended by old men hocking up and spitting all over the street, Korea might not be the best place for you. Yes, these older Korean gents can often be as wise as an old sage, but have no problem engaging in this particularly nasty habit. It’s certainly shocking if you’re not used to it.

Moving to Korea can often be overwhelming when in big urban areas, too. If you’re reading this as a veteran of life in The Land of the Morning Calm, you will undoubtedly have been in a position on the subway where an ajumma (an old Korean lady) has rudely pushed past you.

Social etiquette in these situations, i.e. saying, “sorry”, is virtually non-existent, so don’t take it personally. This is all part of Korea’s famous ppalli ppalli (go quickly) culture. This is also tied into Korea’s Confucian-based social structure, where the young are expected to defer to the elderly.

Whilst Korea is one of the cleaner and more developed Asian countries, you still see public toilet bins full to the brim with used toilet paper. This can be off-putting for a first-time expat, so be prepared. Fortunately, since the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Korea has been trying to bin this habit.

Oh, and whilst on the topic of public bathrooms, you should fully expect to see Koreans brushing their teeth when you go to the bathroom. Koreans brush their teeth after every meal so this is a common, if not pretty unusual, sight (for a Westerner). It’s a cultural difference, one of many.

There are plenty of other strange behaviours you will almost certainly notice on a daily basis when living in Korea. But it’s important to remember that you are a guest, so respecting the culture is of the utmost importance. Be sure to brush up on Korean etiquette rules before you move to Korea.

Why not ask your Korean coworkers or class about specific behaviours you’ve noticed in a nice, respectful way? They will usually be more than happy to discuss and compare these peculiarities with you and will often be happy that you are taking an interest in Korean etiquette and culture.

Embrace The Korean Work Culture

If you are the type of person who likes to have an opinion, like I myself have been known to have, you might have to realign your expectations, particularly in the work place. Usually, what the boss says goes and they do not like to be challenged. This again ties back to Korea’s Confucian heritage.

If you find yourself in a situation at work you’re not quite comfortable with, take a second to collect yourself before you speak up. When you want to complain about something, it may be best to ask yourself if this is really something you have to pursue. Expats in Korea learn to pick their battles.

In Korea, workers who complain about things are not seen as team players and are instead breaking the harmony of the group – a big no-no in Korean culture. I’m certainly not suggesting you should accept abuse or harassment at work, but you may be better off letting the small things slide.

Koreans work hard and play even harder. You might be asked to partake in a ritual bonding session known as a “hoesik” (pronounced hway-shik). This basically amounts to a meal with coworkers and the boss usually trying to beat the world record for the amount of soju ever consumed in one siting.

Of course, this is obviously dependent on the boss in question, but people who have lived in Korea for any serious amount of time will definitely have come across this sort of person. If you want to drink a lot and get to see your coworkers without their work-faces on, this is the time to do it.

When I first arrived, these dinners were pretty much mandatory, but the work-life culture in Korea is gradually beginning to change in favour of the worker. During the pandemic, these events were cancelled for obvious reasons, and now some workers aren’t always eager to start them up again.

Yes, Koreans will still more than likely be expected to attend, but Westerners will probably be given a little more leeway. If drinking isn’t your thing, then don’t be afraid to speak out. Nobody will force you to get involved. You can always turn your shot glass upside down or ask to fill it with water instead.

But if you do drink, these nights can be a solid way to get to know your coworkers better and can be a lot of fun. You will probably end in a noraebang too, which is a Korean karaoke place. I mean, what’s not to like about that? And don’t worry, they will have plenty of songs in English for you.

Get Stuck Into Local Korean Delicacies

Most expats are in agreement about the quality of food on offer in Korea. And if you happen to be English, it’s not too difficult to outperform English food (I’m English, so I can say that). Korean food is a (sometimes) spicy, exciting blend of local and Asian cuisine that’s cheap and delicious.

And there are loads of different types of traditional Korean food to try, too. Korean cuisine is like a firework show exploding in your mouth, with each dish leaving a lingering trail of deliciousness. From chamchi-jjigae (spicy tuna stew) to Korean barbecue, there is something for everyone.

Kimchi (fermented cabbage) is a big deal over here and served with every meal. It’s no exaggeration to say that Koreans are obsessed with it. In my first year of moving to Korea way back when, it took quite some time to get used it, but I can now proudly call myself a kimchi connoisseur.

A little heads up though: Korea isn’t really a place which accommodates vegans all that well. Their cuisine is heavily meat based, but if you do happen to be a meat eater, you will find yourself like a kid in a candy store, with endless delightful options. That being said, veganism is increasing in Korea.

Koreans also use meals to bond with each other and sharing food from the barbecue or a big communal heated dish is commonplace. As a person who didn’t particularly like sharing food, a la Joey from ‘Friends’, this came as quite the shock, so be warned (and ready to love it).

On the whole, Korean food is some of the best in Asia and you should jump into it fork (or chopsticks) first. Korea has loads of seasonal dishes, including hot and spicy Korean winter foods, and cool and refreshing summer desserts. You’re sure to find something yummy when you move to Korea.

Be Open Minded About Everything

As mentioned earlier, Korea can occasionally be a little strange – especially in your first few months here. If you let it, this can make life somewhat difficult for you. This is known as culture shock. The best advice I can offer would be to embrace the fact that you are living in a foreign country.

Yes, some days life might be a little more difficult than if you were still living in your home country. But in my humble opinion, the life-changing experiences far outweigh any of the negatives. Most people start off being amazed with everything, the honeymoon phase, and this time is a blast.

However, sooner or later, people start to feel down about living in a new culture, having to deal with a new language, and feel isolated. Don’t worry, this happens to everyone and there’s really no other way through it than eating some comfort food, talking to friends (here and at home), and being brave.

Take little steps to burst through your comfort zone. Try that Korean dish, even if you’re not sure what it is. Go out for a meal with a coworker if they invite you. Check out a student’s sticker collection when they offer to show you. Say hello to the bus driver in Korean. Take a day trip to see another city.

Approach every new situation as an opportunity to grow and to not just learn about Korean culture, but also to teach your new Korean friends about your culture. Share, interact with, and absorb the local culture and expat life in Korea will be less intimidating, less confusing, and hopefully more fun.

There are a ton of things you can do in Korea that you might not be able to do at home. Skiing, for example, is pretty cheap in Korea so if you’re from a warmer country, this is a great opportunity to try it. Just don’t get evacuated off the slopes by mountain rescue after wiping out like a friend of mine did.

Living as an expat in Korea is a great excuse to try new hobbies, join clubs you can’t find at home, practice a foreign language, and experience sights and cultures you wouldn’t normally be able to. Make the most of your move to Korea and create some unforgettable memories and new friends.

What To Bring When You Move To Korea

Korean clothes sizes are different to Western sizes and can be misleading. A ‘small’ in the US could be a ‘medium’ in Korea or even a ‘large’. If you’re worried about finding size-appropriate clothing in Korea, definitely stock up before you travel or be prepared to search Seoul’s specialist clothing shops.

Shoes can also be an issue, especially if you have longer than average feet or wide feet. If you plan to do any outdoor activities or go to the gym, I recommend buying training shoes in your home country so that you’re guaranteed a comfortable fit. Korean shoes also follow a different shoe size scale.

Even though Koreans are generally very fashionable, you might find that Korean fashion tastes aren’t always what you want to wear. Fortunately, there are plenty of international fashion stores in Korea, including Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Gap. You can also order clothes online from Amazon.

Another odd aspect of living in Korea I’ve never quite gotten to the bottom of is the amount it costs to buy deodorant ($6+). I’ve heard tales over the years that Koreans don’t actually use these products because they don’t smell when they perspire. Bring a few extra roll-ons when you move to Korea.

Asides from clothes and personal goods, you probably don’t need to worry too much if you’re only planning to move to Korea for a year. You can find a wide range of goods, clothes, cosmetics, and medicine in Korea that should be as good or better as what you’re used to back home.

If you do have a medical requirement and need prescription medication, or you’re worried about what drugs you can bring into Korea, check out the guide to medical assistance from the US Embassy in Korea. This site also includes a list of English speaking dentists and physicians.

One final thing, I recommend investing in some good quality bedding. Summer in Korea is really hot and winter is really cold, making it hard to sleep for light sleepers. I use an Emma Original mattress as it’s cheaper than Korean mattress companies and helps me sleep well whatever time of year it is.

How To Move To Korea With EPIK

If you are interested in starting a new life working and living in South Korea, then one of the best options for people from native English speaking countries is the EPIK Program. This is a government-led program to bring native speakers to Korea to help develop the English skills of school students.

You can start on EPIK in the spring or autumn and there are thousands of positions across Korea, from big cities to small villages in remote mountains. This guide to applying for EPIK covers all you need to know; from completing the application form to acing the interview, and all in between.

Not only can EPIK help you move to Korea more easily by guaranteeing you a job and an apartment for when you arrive, it also has a great community of expat teachers to meet. Of course, as mentioned in tip 2, you should definitely make Korean friends, too (starting with other expats helps, though).

To apply for EPIK, you will need to be a native English speaker from one of these 7 countries:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Africa

You will also need to have at least a bachelor’s degree and an online TEFL certificate (not hard to get and can be completed in less than a month). Want to know what working on EPIK is like? Find out in this review of life on EPIK. Whether you join for a year or five, the experience can be life changing.

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In this guide to how to use Papago, you’ll discover the many different ways you can translate Korean to English and other languages. Besides the basic typed translation, there are many other ways to translate Korean words, including image translation, voice translation, and website translation.

This simple to use guide to Papago will help you get the most out of the best Korean translation app for travelling in Korea. There are lots of pictures to show you all the functions of Papago and practical tips for using the app as you travel. Find out why Papago is one of my favourite apps in Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Use The Papago App To Translate Korean In Korea?

The Papago app is the best method to translate Korean into English and other languages as you travel in Korea. With the Papago app, you can translate signs and written Korean into English, as well as translate words and phrases you want to say from English into Korean.

Here are some of the useful things the Papago app can do for you:

• Translate English into Korean
• Translate Korean into English
• Translate Korean images into English
• Translate Korean websites into English
• Translate conversations into Korean
• Provides you with 100s of essential Korean phrases
• Can help you learn Korean vocabulary

This article will show you the various ways to use Papago to translate Korean into English or English into Korean and the different ways the app can do this. To help save you time, I’ve answered some of the most common questions about the Papago app here before giving a more detailed overview.

What is Papago? Papago is a translation app from Naver, one of Korea’s largest tech companies. It launched in 2016 and allows translation between Korean and 12 other languages. Papago is a multilingual AI-based cloud translation service that uses neural machine translation to learn from its mistakes and improve the accuracy of the translations it offers. In Korean, it’s called 파파고.

Is Papago the same as Naver Dictionary? Naver Dictionary is a Korean translation service that offers direct translations based on dictionary entries from a stored database. Papago is not the same as Naver Dictionary as it is uses neural machine translation to improve its personalised translation services based on people’s experience of using the app.

What languages does Papago translate Korean into? Papago translates between Korean and English, Chinese (simplified), Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese (traditional), Spanish, French, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian.

Where can you download the Papago app? You can download Papago on Google Play and the App Store. You can also access Papago from a desktop browser by visiting papago.naver.com.

Is the Papago app free? The Papago app and website are both free to use.

Is Papago better than Google Translate? Both Google Translate and Papago are used to translate Korean into English and vice versa. However, Papago is often recognised as being more accurate when translating into Korean as it has been created by a Korean company.

Do you need to be connected to the Internet to use the Papago app? The Papago app works best when it is connected to the Internet as it can access Naver’s language database and offer better translations from Korean into other languages. There are also offline language packs that can be downloaded for English, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Below is the English language pack.

Does the Papago Korean translation app translate spoken words? The Papago app can translate spoken words, typed words, pictures, text, and even whole conversations into Korean, English, or other languages. It is a versatile app that can be used to translate any Korean words into English

Does Papago provide reliable Korean translation? Translations by Papago into Korean and from Korean are more accurate and authentic than translations by other translation services. Because of the neural machine translation used by Papago, translations are increasingly more reliable.

Can Papago help me learn Korean? The Papago app not only translates between Korean and other languages, it can also be used to study Korean. The ‘myEdu‘ section of the Papago app allows you to study Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese and can help improve vocabulary retention. There is also a section with useful phrases that has hundreds of essential phrases for travellers.

Do you need to create an account to use Papago? You don’t need to create an account to use Papago’s translation services. Once you download the app, you can use the translation functions freely. There is an option to sign in to a Naver account to keep a history of your translations. To sign up for a Naver account, you need to enter your personal details and have an available phone number.

How To Use The Papago Korean Translation App

The Papago app is one of the easiest and most reliable methods of translating Korean into English and other languages into Korean. Not only are the results more accurate, the app is simple to use and works quickly. The app is available in English, meaning you don’t need to understand Korean.

To use Papago, type the English word you want to know in Korea into the home screen of the app. This will instantly translate the word into Korean and show you the word written in Hangul, the Korean alphabet, and the phonetic spelling to help you pronounce the word.

The images below show you an example of how Papago translates English into Korean. The word ‘hello’ has been entered into the central area and then translated into Korean. You can see the most common Korean translation in the main screen, as well as alternative words below.

When Papago translates from English into Korean, it shows the Korean word in the honorific form, which is the polite form used to speak to people in Korea that aren’t your friends and family. This is the recommended form to use when travelling in Korea unless you are socialising with Korean friends.

The speaker icon above the Korean translation allows you to listen to the pronunciation of the word so you know how to say it. You can use this to practice learning how to speak Korean or to let a Korean speaker understand what you want to say without saying the Korean words yourself.

There are many other functions of the Papago app, which will be covered below. These functions include translating typed words, translating websites, translating text on images, and translating spoken words. Each of these are covered in the next few sections of this article.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean And English Words

You can translate single words or whole sentences into Korean using Papago. If you aren’t comfortable speaking Korean, use the Papago app to write what you want to say and show that to the Korean speaker you’re trying to communicate with. Alternatively, click the speaker icon for sound.

Not only can you translate from English into Korean with Papago, you can also translate Korean into English. This function is very useful if you receive a text message or visit a website with Korean text that you want to translate into English. Copy the text and paste it into Papago for instant translation.

Tip: Some words in English or Korean can have multiple meanings and Papago won’t always know which one you want to use. For example, the word ‘lead’ can mean to lead someone somewhere or is a type of metal. Translating sentences gives Papago context to help it know which meaning of the word you want to use. If you’re not sure if you have the correct translation, check it in a sentence.

Using Papago To Translate Websites From Korean Into English

The Papago app can translate websites in real time as you browse them, allowing you to use Korean language websites as if they were in English. This can be done by selecting the ‘Website Translate‘ option on the side bar of the Papago app. Tap the three lines to access the side bar in the app.

Enter the URL of the website and Papago will translate it from Korean into English or one of the other supported languages. Copy the URL from a browser on your mobile device and paste it into the box in the Papago app and it will translate the site for you. You can save favourite websites for later.

Once you’ve chose which website you want to translate, you can easily change which language is shown using the to and from language options at the top of the screen in the app. Select the original language on the left and then the language you want to display the website as on the right.

The example above shows a translated version of the Wikipedia homepage from English to Korean. Translating English websites into Korean with Papago could be useful when you want to share information from an English website to someone in Korea who doesn’t speak English.

The Papago app can be used to translate Korean websites into English and other languages, making them more accessible for foreigners travelling in Korea. This works for Korean text that is present on a website, however, it won’t translate images as these aren’t formatted as text.

As you can see from the examples below of a translated website from Korean to English by Papago, there are a lot of Korean words still present. This is because a lot of Korean websites use embedded images with text on them instead of writing directly onto the webpage.

Fortunately, it is possible to translate images with text online and offline thanks to the Papago app. This can be done with the next feature of the app, which is to translate Korean text in a picture.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean In Pictures

One of the most useful functions of the Papago app is to translate signs, pictures, and images with Korean text into English by using your phone’s camera. On the main translation screen, select the ‘Image‘ icon, as shown in the picture above. This will open up your phone’s camera to take a picture.

Below is an example of how the Papago app translates images with the camera. The first picture is the original text on a box of delicious chocolate mushrooms that I often eat with a coffee. The second picture is the translated version of the same picture with the Korean text now showing in English.

When you choose the camera translation with Papago, you can choose to translate everything the camera can see (translate all), translate instantly as you move the camera around (realtime translation), or translate only selected areas (translate partially). A flash option is available, too.

The Papago app can use images stored on your phone, including screenshots, downloaded images, and pictures taken with your phone’s camera, and can translate these into Korean. Below is an example of a screenshot from a Korean website translated into English using the Papago app.

As well as translating images with Korean text into English, you can also do the opposite and use Papago to translate English text into Korean. This can be useful to show a Korean speaker a business card, image, or similar picture that you need to show that’s written in English.

Using The Papago App To Translate Spoken Words

If you need to talk to a Korean speaker face-to-face, then the voice and conversation functions on the Papago app can be useful to help understand what is being said by both parties. The voice translation function in Papago allows you to speak Korean or English and translate it to the opposite language.

To use the voice translation feature in Papago, click on ‘Voice‘ on the home screen and start speaking. You might need to change the language settings first, which you can do by choosing the desired languages at the top of the screen. Press the green microphone button to start translating.

The images below show the result of the voice translation function for the word ‘hello’, spoken in English in the first image and then spoken in Korean in the second image. When translating into Korean, Papago will add in the phonetic spellings and speaker button to hear the word spoken.

You can say more than single words in the voice translation section of Papago and the app will translate whole sentences into Korean, English, or other languages. This can be useful for telling simple sentences and requests to Korean speakers, asking for help, or answering questions.

Using The Papago App To Translate Korean Conversations

If you plan to have a conversation in Korean, then the ‘Conversation‘ function in Papago will be more useful as it allows direct conversational input and output in Korean and English. In this screen there are two halves to the screen. The top half is for translating Korean, the bottom half is for English.

Depending on whether an English or Korean speaker wants to translate what they’re saying, push the blue button on the top (Korean) or bottom (English) half of the screen and then talk. This will show the spoken words in both Korean and English on their relative screens, as can be seen below.

This is a faster way to communicate with instant translations between Korean and English with each speaker having a screen they can speak into. To hear the pronunciation of the Korean or English words, tap on the text in either screen and Papago will play the word or sentence out loud.

After you finish speaking in English, Papago will automatically play the spoken sentence in Korean, which allows for faster translations and conversations. Only the currently translated sentences are shown on the screen, but there is a ‘History‘ function in the sidebar to check past translations.

There is a lot more to simply knowing the language when having a conversation in Korean. There are also a lot of Korean cultural and etiquette issues to understand, too. This can include knowing to shake hands with both hands, when to bow, why Koreans may not be able to refuse offers, and more.

How To Use The Papago App To Study Korean

The Papago app not only works as a direct translation tool for Korean text, images, websites, and spoken words, it can also be used to help you learn Korean and other languages. There are two key language learning features in Papago; vocabulary flashcards and a Korean expressions phrasebook.

This section will give a brief overview of these two features.

Learn Korean Vocabulary With Papago

One of the most popular ways to learn Korean vocabulary on your phone is with flashcards. Flashcards can help you build association between a word and an image, which can improve vocabulary retention. Papago helps you learn Korean with flashcards covering 27 useful topics.

There are flashcards to help you learn the Korean words for various animals, foods, numbers, colours, body parts, clothes, dates, jobs, sports, and more. You can practice learning these in Korean, English, Chinese (simplified), or Japanese and can learn multiple languages at the same time.

Below are two screenshots from Papago’s ‘Word Cards‘ section that shows some of the different topics and the straighforward word cards with image and text in both languages. Word pronunciation is in the top right corner and there is an option to cycle through the word cards automatically in a loop.

Learn Basic Korean Phrases With Papago

Knowing some basic Korean phrases can really help you when you travel Korea as you can not only ask for what you need, but also understand what’s being said to you. The Papago app can help you prepare for common expressions with a Korean phrasebook that covers many typical situations.

The ‘Phrasebook‘ section of Papago covers topics such as accommodation, phrases for eating out, transportation, emergencies, shopping, and more. There are hundreds of phrases covered in this phrasebook that will be useful when travelling in Korea and talking with Korean speakers.

The images below show some of the topics that are covered in the phrasebook, with each topic having various subsections within them. Not only are there phrases in each section, there are also example conversations to help you react and interact with Korean speakers more naturally.

How To Create A Naver Papago Account

It isn’t necessary to have an account to use Papago’s translation services, but creating a Naver Papago account will allow you to get more from the Papago app. A feature that is only available when signed in is the Papago Gym. Below is a brief summary of how to create a Naver Papago Account.

To sign up for a Naver Papago account, you will need to have an email address and phone number. Select ‘Sign In‘ at the top of the sidebar on the app and then select ‘Sign Up‘ under the large green Sign In button to create an account. You can also log in with a Facebook or Line account.

The first step of creating a Naver Papago account is to accept the terms and conditions. Next, enter your preferred username and password, followed by your personal details such as name, date of birth, gender, and phone number. These can be seen in the images below.

You don’t need to have a Korean phone number to create a Naver Papago account, you can use a phone number from any country. However, you will need to be able to receive a verification code to activate your account, so you will need to have a network connection to receive messages.

After you verify your phone number, you can finish the account creation by clicking the large green Sign Up button. Your Naver account should now be activated and you can use it to log into Papago and get the full set of features from this Korean translation app.

What Else Can You Do With Papago?

There are further features to the Papago app not mentioned above. One of the most useful is the Papago Mini function which allows you to place a floating widget on your phone’s home screen so you can translate text, voice, or an image instantly. This is useful when travelling around Korea.

New features of Papago include the ‘myEdu‘ section, which allows you to learn English, Chinese, or Japanese with Korean. This looks like it will be useful for studying between those languages with Korean. There’s also a study camera on the home screen to take a photo of study materials (or upload them) and to make your own notes, flashcards, and to translate them instantly.

The Papago app is moving beyond simple translation between Korean and other languages and appears to be becoming a tool for learning Korean through self-study. Even if you don’t plan to study Korean through Papago, Papago is definitely the must-have translation app for travelling in Korea.

Why I Recommend Papago For Travelling In Korea

As I live in Korea, and I’m not yet fluent in Korean, I use the Papago app all the time. Relying on translation apps can be a double edged sword, something I talk about in my article about whether or not you need to learn Korean to live in Korea successfully. Papago is on the front screen of my phone as I always need access to it. I use it a lot, especially in these situations:

• Translating signs and notices in various places.
• Communicating with my coworkers, especially about work matters.
• Translating text messages and emails from Korean to English
• Checking Korean websites to find information.
• Translating into Korean when dealing with banking matters.

There are lots of other times when I use Papago, but those are the most common. Expat life in Korea is much easier with apps like Papago and allows me to have conversations, solve problems, find information, and learn about what’s going on much more easily. I’d be lost without it.

For travellers coming to Korea, Papago should definitely be one of the first apps you install on your phone. There are lots of English translations in Korea, but you’re almost certainly going to need to translate a bit of Korean as well, especially if you travel out of the big cities.

If you want to make friends and a make a good impression with the locals, then learning or using a few phrases when you travel Korea will make a big difference. You can use Papago to speak to others, thank them for their help, ask for help, and navigate transport signs, menus, and shop signs.

Overall, Papago will be an essential app for travelling in Korea.

Useful Apps For Travelling In Korea

Besides Papago, there are several other apps that will make travelling in Korea a lot easier and save you time, money, and hassle. I’ve covered these in my South Korea travel guide, which includes lots of really useful information about phones, Internet access, apps, and lots more.

Here are some of the apps I recommend for travelling in Korea and what each one does.

• Kakao Taxi – book taxis anywhere in Korea.
• Kakao Talk – Korea’s most popular messenger app.
• Naver Maps – most reliable map app for Korea.
• Coupang Eats – food delivery to your location.
• Korail Talk – official app for booking train tickets in Korea.
• Seoul Subway – plan routes and check subway times.
• Klook – manage tours and bookings from this great tour company.

Unlike Papago, several of these apps will require a Korean sim card to use as you need to register a Korean phone number before activating the apps. It’s possible to use Kakao Taxi without a Korean phone number, something I’ve helped many people with in my article about using Kakao Taxi.

FAQs About Using Papago Korean Translation App

Finally, here are a few FAQs about how to use the Papago Korean translation app when travelling in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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The EPIK application process is a beast. I’ve been through it myself. That’s why I want to give you loads of my best tips about how to improve your chances of successfully applying for EPIK. I’ll show you what to include in your personal essay, lesson plan, and what to focus on in the interview.

This guide also covers details about who is eligible for EPIK, when you can apply (twice per year), what the minimum requirements are to get onto EPIK, and some of my own personal insights into the application process, living in Korea, and whether the EPIK Program is right for you. There really are so many reasons why you should apply for EPIK and change your life forever.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

In This How To Apply For EPIK Guide

In this guide I’ll cover the essentials for applying to EPIK, including details about:

If you want to hear my own personal story about teaching with EPIK for 5 years, or what life is like as an EPIK teacher, check out my articles about My EPIK Life Teaching In Korea and my Review of the EPIK Teaching Experience.

What Is The EPIK Program?

Here’s a brief breakdown of the EPIK Program, including the history of EPIK, what EPIK employees do, and who is eligible to teach in Korea with EPIK.

The EPIK (English Program In Korea) Program was created in 1995 as a way to increase the English-speaking abilities of Korean students and teachers, as well as to develop cultural exchanges between Korea and the English-speaking world. Today, the EPIK Program has thousands of foreigners from seven native English-speaking countries teaching English in schools across Korea.

Teaching English in Korea with EPIK is a win-win situation for both the Korean students and for citizens from the eligible countries. The students get to listen to and interact with a native English speaker. The native English speaker gets to experience life in Korea, develop skills through working in Korea, and has the chance to save and travel lots.

Benefits of working on the EPIK Program

Here are some of the benefits you will receive as an EPIK teacher in Korea. These are open to everyone who works for EPIK, but how much you’ll get will depend on the region you teach in.

One of the biggest benefits to applying for EPIK over other jobs is the support you’ll receive and how you’re guided into living and working in Korea. You’ll be assigned a mentor who will help you adjust to life in Korea and other teachers at your school will help lots.

Read on to find out if you’re eligible to apply for EPIK.

Who Can Apply For EPIK Korea?

To maintain a high level of candidates and to provide the most authentic language learning experience for Korean students, entry to EPIK is quite restricted. This also applies to other English teaching jobs in Korea. Here’s some FAQs covering who can apply for EPIK.

What countries are eligible to apply for EPIK?

Citizens from the following countries can apply for EPIK.

*Under the CEPA agreement, citizens from India can also apply as long as they meet all other requirements and hold a teacher’s license in English. Contact epik@korea.kr for more information.

Do I Need A Degree To Apply For EPIK?

Yes, you need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from a university in one of the 7 countries listed above. The Bachelor’s degree must be from an accredited university and taught in English.

You’ll also need to have studied in English since 7th grade.

Is A Degree All I Need To Apply For EPIK?

You won’t need any other qualifications to apply for EPIK if your Bachelor’s degree is in Education with one of the following majors:

However, if your Bachelor’s degree is in any other subject, you’ll also need one of these to apply:

The TaLK Program was a teaching program by the Korean government aimed at current Bachelor’s students who want to experience life working and living in Korea. Sadly, the TaLK Program ended in August 2021 after 13 years.

When To Apply For EPIK Korea

There are two EPIK intakes each year in spring and fall. You’ll need to start your EPIK application up to 6 months before you want to start working on EPIK. For university graduates in countries such as the USA or UK, who finish in the summer, the fall intake is very convenient.

Here are some key dates for the two intakes. Remember, the earlier you start the application, the more likely you are to be accepted for the EPIK Program, especially if you apply directly to EPIK.

When To Apply For EPIK Spring 2025 Intake

These are the dates provided by EPIK for the spring intake. You can start your application from August onwards.

The actual start date is usually around the 26th of February each year. You may be required to arrive in Korea up to 1 week before that start date for an orientation. There are also late spring intake positions in March or April. The application for EPIK Spring 2025 will begin in August 2024.

Please note: The application period for the EPIK Spring 2025 intake will end in November. I recommend submitting your application form and preparing your documents as soon as possible to avoid delays and to ensure you’re successful.

When To Apply For EPIK Fall 2024 Intake

The dates for the fall intake are the same as the spring intake, but 6 months later. Here are the dates for the EPIK fall 2024 intake.

The actual start date is around the 26th of August each year. You may be required to arrive in Korea up to 1 week before that start date for an orientation. There are also late fall intake positions in September or October.

Applications for EPIK Fall 2024 intake will begin in mid-February, 2024.

If you’re worried about applying whilst still at university, EPIK understands that it takes longer to receive these documents and will accept a letter from your university with your expected graduation.

How Long Do EPIK Contracts Last?

EPIK contracts run for 12 months from around the 26th of February or August each year until the following year. During the 12 months, you’ll be given the opportunity to apply to re-contract for another 12 months. This way you can work with EPIK for multiple years. This is dependent on passing your evaluation and being accepted for re-contract.

How Long Can I Teach With EPIK?

There is no written limit to how many times you can re-contract with EPIK. I taught with EPIK for 5 years and therefore re-contracted 4 more times past my original 1 year contract. I know people who have worked on EPIK for longer than that.

Re-contracting is all dependent on the school’s desire to keep you and on your ability and effort to teach well. You’re never guaranteed to be re-contracted, but you have a better chance if you work hard and try to fit in.

Different Ways To Apply For EPIK

There are three different ways to apply for EPIK. These are:

The method you choose shouldn’t affect your chances of being accepted to EPIK, but will affect who handles your documents and contacts you about being placed with EPIK. Here’s a quick look at the 3 different methods and how they differ.

1: Applying Directly To EPIK

The direct method places all responsibility on you, but is also the fastest method of applying. I applied directly to EPIK and was placed much more quickly than others who went through an agency or organisation. That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a place, but you can find out one way or another more quickly.

Below is the process flow for applying directly to EPIK.

To apply for EPIK directly through their website, visit the EPIK website.

2: Applying Through A Recruiting Agency

The process of applying for EPIK through a recruiting agency is mostly the same as applying direct to EPIK. However, the benefit of using one of the official recruiting agencies is that they’ll help you complete your application, make sure you have the correct documents, and can provide lots of useful tips to make your EPIK application successful.

Furthermore, some of the big recruiting agencies, especially ones based in Korea such as Korvia, tend to have a community of EPIK teachers that are connected through the agency even after they arrive. If you’re looking for help, support, and a network of other teachers, then I would recommend you apply for EPIK through a recruiting agency. It’s also free!

Below is the process flow for applying for EPIK through a recruiting agency:

You can only apply for EPIK through a limited number of approved recruiting agencies in certain countries. Here’s the full list of recruiting agencies currently working with EPIK:

I haven’t had any experience with these agencies myself, but I’ve heard lots of good things about Korvia. Do your own research before choosing a recruiting agency to find one that will best fit your needs.

3: Applying Through MOU/MOA Organisation

The process of applying for EPIK through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) organisation is similar to applying through a recruiting agency. The MOU/MOA will check your documents before sending them to EPIK and help you with your application.

Below is the process flow for applying for EPIK through an MOU/MOA organisation:

Unlike the recruiting agencies, the MOU/MOA organisations are all based overseas in the USA, UK, or Canada. Here’s the list of approved MOU/MOA organisations currently working with EPIK:

If you’ve studied or worked with one of these organisations, you might find it more convenient to apply through one of these organisations.

Whichever method you choose, remember that deadlines are quite rigid and it’s best to be as organised as possible to avoid problems.

What Is The EPIK Application Process?

The entire EPIK application process is a 6-month long journey that has number of crucial steps, interviews, deadlines, and things to watch out for. Navigating the whole process doesn’t have to be a headache, though.

The deadlines have already been covered, so this section will give you some tips about the following parts of your EPIK application process:

I won’t cover details about the flights, orientation, and life in Korea once you’ve been accepted. If you want to know more about those, be sure to read my post about Teaching English with EPIK.

Read on to find out all you need to know about the EPIK application form.

How To Complete The EPIK Application Form

The first and most crucial step on the road to EPIK is the application form. If this isn’t completed correctly, you’ll never get to the other stages. Not to worry, though. The EPIK application form isn’t that hard. Here’s some advice from EPIK about completing the application form:

“Before starting your application, please read through the the Initial Application Preparation Guide. This will give you details on what you need to prepare before starting your application on the online system.”

Take some time to read through this thoroughly. Most of the requirements will be fairly standard, such as your personal information, education history, and employment history.

The tricky parts are:

Sample lesson plan

You’ll need to provide a sample lesson plan to show that you have some idea about what’s involved in teaching. This doesn’t need to be too detailed, but try to include a few activities, a grammar or vocabulary focus, and some details about what you’ll do in the lesson.

Here are some Example Lesson Plans And Tips.

Personal essay

This essay should include details about your working attitude and personal life, as well as why you want to be a teacher in Korea. It may be broken down into sections, or you may be asked to provide one long essay covering all of this (depending on whether you’re applying for EPIK or GEPIK).

Try to focus on positives, mentioning how excited you are to experience Korean culture and teach small children. Korea is a country that values workplace harmony very highly, so try to convey that you work well with others and that you are diplomatic when problems arise. Needless to say correct grammar and spelling are essential.

Here are some more Personal Essay Tips.

How To Pass The EPIK Skype Interview

If you successfully pass the first stage of the EPIK application, you’ll be required to have an online interview with the EPIK office in Korea.

This is usually done through Skype. The interview lasts about 20 – 30 minutes and is your small window to show how enthusiastic and excited you are about working in Korea with EPIK. Make sure you use that time as best you can.

I won’t go over the questions they might ask, as they can change frequently. However, here are some tips to help you ace the EPIK Skype interview (and other interviews):

If you’ve prepared all this before the interview, and stayed calm and professional during the interview, you’ll do fine. Your interviewer will have read your application form, so make sure you know what you wrote and try to include extra information that shows why you’re good for EPIK.

Some of the traits that make a good teacher are:

Try to demonstrate these traits during the interview and you’ll ace it.

Which Documents Do You Need To Apply For EPIK?

If your application to EPIK is successful, and you pass the Skype interview stage, you will need to submit your documents to the relevant organisation ASAP. I would recommend preparing some of these before the Skype interview to avoid lengthy delays.

Some of these documents can be hard to get (especially the criminal record check) and may take weeks to sort out. If you’re applying for EPIK through the EPIK office, they assign positions on a first come, first placed basis, so get. in there quickly.

Here are the Official Documents You Need to apply for EPIK:

There are also a list of other documents that are country specific, such as an apostilled birth certificate (UK / Australian citizens) or proof of English education (South African / Quebecois).

Getting these documents can be a struggle and expensive. Try to work out where you can get your documents apostilled when you are writing your application form. And be prepared to spend several hundred dollars for it.

How To Apply For Your Korean Visa

Once you’ve been accepted onto the EPIK Program, you’ll be issued with your notice of appointment and contract to confirm that you have a job waiting for you in Korea. Now it’s time to get your Korean working visa.

The visa you need for EPIK is an E-2 Visa.

You can apply for these at your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate Office. To apply for the E-2 visa you’ll need these documents:

The E-2 visa application form can be found on the Korean Embassy website. Download it and fill in your personal details, work and education history, and what you’ll be doing in Korea (working)

The visa approval process can take up to a week. Be sure to apply for the visa ASAP once you’ve received the documents from EPIK.

Once you’re all sorted with your application and accepted, be sure to check out these tips for moving to Korea to help you work out what to bring, how to make a good first impression, how to deal with culture shock, and also how to survive your first work party.

Final Thoughts: Is EPIK Right For You?

I really enjoyed teaching with EPIK. It was an incredible opportunity for me to develop my skills as a teacher, to save lots of money, to travel in and beyond Korea, and most of all develop a love and understanding of Korea and Korean culture.

But is EPIK and Korea right for you?

Getting out of your comfort zone can be incredibly hard. Moving to a new country and adapting to a different culture can be one of the hardest things you might experience in life, especially if you’re coming fresh from university.

Traits of people who are likely to succeed on EPIK include:

You don’t have to be extroverted to be a teacher. I’m certainly not. Nor do you have to know everything about Korea and be into K-pop (again, I’m not). The most important thing is being willing to try and try again if you fail first time.

10 Reasons To Apply For EPIK

Here’s a few insights into why I think you should apply for EPIK. These are things that drove me to renew my contract many times over and kept me in Korea to this day.

More about Teaching In Korea

If you want to know more about teaching English in Korea with EPIK, I’d recommend some of my other articles about EPIK, including my review of the EPIK Teaching Experience and My Epik Life – 5 Years Teaching In Korea With EPIK. You can also get lots of really useful information from The Official EPIK Website and Korvia – A Korean recruiting agency for EPIK.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you still need answers and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

How To Apply For EPIK Korea FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about teaching English in Korea with EPIK, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

Support In My Korea

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You might be surprised to know that there are actually quite a lot of foreigners in Korea and that foreigners in Korea now make up over 4.4% of the whole population. But how many foreigners in Korea are there exactly? Well, according to the latest figures, there are 2,258,248 foreigners in Korea, which is up 5.8% from last year’s total.

Whilst this seems high, it’s actually a surprisingly large drop from the December 2019 peak of 2,524,656. The number of foreigners living in Korea dropped during COVID, but has started to grow once more. Where are these foreigners in Korea from? Why do foreigners choose to live in Korea? And why is the number of foreigners in Korea declining? Find out all these answers, and more, below.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Where Are Foreigners In Korea From?

Korea is an attractive place that has drawn in immigrants from around the world. Some come to Korea to work, others to study, others to learn about the culture. Some foreigners in Korea have settled down and had a family in Korea and obtained Korean nationality or permanent visas.

Marriage is a major reason that foreigners choose to reside in Korea, with international couples (Korean & foreign) rising steadily over the last few decades. There are also many US soldiers stationed in South Korea, serving to help protect against threats from North Korea. The close ties between the two nations means that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

Which Country Is Most Represented In Korea’s Foreigner Population?

China. There are more Chinese immigrants in Korea than the other top 12 countries combined. As of 2023, there were over 731,000 Chinese immigrants in Korea, down from 1,100,000 in 2019. The reason for the large number of Chinese immigrants in Korea is the return of ethnic Koreans from China. There are 527,000 ethnic Korean immigrants from China, almost 72% of all Chinese immigrants in Korea.

Excluding ethnic Korean immigrants from China, Vietnamese immigrants are actually the largest foreigner group in Korea. There are large numbers of ethnic Koreans who have returned from the USA and former Soviet Union, too. Ethnic Korean returnees account for 878,000 of all foreigners in Korea. Can you guess the nationalities of the rest of the top 12 list? Some of the results might surprise you.

Top 10 Nationalities Of Foreigners In Korea

Here are the nationalities of the top 12 groups of foreigners living in Korea, as of 2023. As can be seen from the picture below, Asian countries take up nine of the 12 spots on the list and, apart from Canada (16th) and Australia (20th), Asian countries make up the rest of the top 20, too.

Japan used to be 5th on this list with 86,196 people in Korea in 2019 and Russia 6th with 48,511 in 2021. However, by 2023, Japan has dropped all the way down to 13th, with 28,631 Japanese people living in Korea. Russia has moved out of the top 12, likely due to sanctions from the conflict in Ukraine.

The fact that there are more Canadians and Australians living in Korea than British people certainly surprised me. I do know a lot of Canadians living in Korea, but I assumed more British people would want to live in Korea. Perhaps it’s the hot summer weather in Korea that puts off Brits.

In terms of how these foreigners in Korea are classified, there are 1,752,346 foreigners who reside in Korea with a foreign passport, 223,825 foreigners who have obtained Korean nationality, and 282,077 children of foreign residents born in Korea as of November 2022.

Besides returning ethnic Koreans, why are there so many foreigners in Korea these days? What motivates them to live and work in Korea? This next section will explain why foreigners live in Korea.

Why Do Foreigners Live In Korea?

Oscar-winning movies like Pandemic, record-breaking chart-toppers BTS, binge-worthy TV shows like Squid Game, and catchy YouTube sensations such as PSY and Baby Shark have all helped fuel the desire to experience life in Korea. As has Korea’s rapid economic growth, which has attracted people looking for work and opportunities from around the world.

The primary reason for foreigners moving to Korea is for ethnic Koreans to return to their homeland. After the Japanese occupation, Korean war, and life under cruel dictators that finally ended in the 1980s, Koreans have had many reasons to flee to more peaceful shores. And now they have many reasons to return to Korea.

There are many other reasons that foreigners want to live in Korea, including work, marriage, and study. Or a combination of these. Here’s a brief overview of the 3 main reasons why foreigners live in Korea and what they do here.

Foreigners Come To Work In Korea

These days, with Korea’s economy growing strongly (Korea is ranked top 15 in GDP), many foreigners move to Korea to look for work. Korea has transitioned from a ‘least developed’ nation to a ‘developed’ country, thanks to The Miracle on the Han River – a term given to Korea’s rapid development after the Korean War. There are 923,000 foreign workers in Korea in 2024, an increase of 80,000 vs. 2022.

These foreigners do a range of different jobs, including positions on farms, in factories, as teachers, or even as a K-pop celebrities for the lucky few. Teaching English in Korea is a popular option for foreigners, with many coming to work at a hagwon or school. Teaching English is how I started working in Korea and I worked as an EPIK teacher for 5 years before moving to teach at a Korean university.

Whilst teaching in Korea is popular among the foreigners in Korea that I know, it certainly isn’t the main occupation for most immigrants in Korea. The largest sector for foreigner workers in Korea are the mining and manufacturing sectors, which account for 44.6% of all foreigners working in Korea, much larger than wholesale and retail sales, hotel, and restaurant businesses (18.4% combined).

The most common industries for foreign workers in Korea are the following sectors:

• Agriculture
• Forestry and Fishing
• Construction
• Mining and Manufacturing
• Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply
• Transportation and Storage
• Information and Communications
• Financial and Insurance Activities

Korea is an exporting country, one that has a lot of manufacturing and production, as well as a growing services industry and high-tech companies. According to a survey by workers in Korea, ‘high wages’ (70.9%) was the main reason for moving to Korea, followed by a ‘good working environment’ (10.7%).

With a relatively low cost of living, many expats in Korea can work and save, as well as enjoy a comfortable life. Eating out is not expensive, accommodation costs are often less than in other developed economies, whilst taxes are also lower than in the other developed countries.

If you’d like to know more about working in Korea, check out my guide to How To Apply For EPIK and start a new life working in Korea as a teacher in Korea.

Foreigners Getting Married In Korea

Of all the foreigners living in Korea, over 175,756 are married to a Korean person as of November 2022. The majority of these are foreign women (over 80%) who have married Korean men, with the rest being foreign husbands (under 20%).

There have been a number of initiatives to encourage foreign women to marry Korean men, including financial incentives that started as early as the 1980s and still run today. These programmes help Korean men find wives, most of whom are middle-aged and live in rural areas where there is a significant gender imbalance.

The Korean government aims to bring foreign women to help repopulate Korea and halt Korea’s rapidly declining population. Many foreign brides come from China (60,000) or South East Asia, including Vietnam (44,000), the Philippines (12,000), and Thailand (5,000).

Of course, not all foreign spouses come through such arranged-marriage programmes, with many Koreans and foreigners meeting and falling in love in Korea or abroad. Despite the decline in foreign marriages during COVID, the number of international marriages started to increase in 2022.

International marriages made up 8.7% of all marriages in Korea in 2022 with a total of 16,700 international marriages recorded in 2022. Of that number, marriages with a Korean husband totalled 12,000 (up 33.6% from 2021) and marriages with a Korean wife totalled 4,700 (up 13.2% from 2021).

Foreign wives from other parts of Asia made up the majority of the international marriages to Korean men, with 27.6% from Vietnam, 19% from China, and 16.1% from Thailand. Foreign husbands were primarily from the USA (29.6%), China (16.1%), and Vietnam (12.6%).

I am glad there are more international marriages and hope these help reduce some of the prejudice against foreigners that exists in Korea, as it does in every country in the world. For a funny look at romance in Korea, check out my silly article about the dangers of dating in Korea.

Foreigners Come To Korea To Study

Korea has worked hard to bring high quality education to everyone, which is why Koreans have one of the highest IQs in the world. Korean universities have been rising up the global ranks, with Seoul University ranking 31st in 2021, bringing in an ever-growing number of students. Foreign students come to Korea to study in Korean and English in a range of modern subjects.

The number of foreign students in Korea in 2019, before the pandemic, was around 160,000. This number dropped to about 152,000 during 2020 and 2021, before climbing again to beat the pre-pandemic levels. The latest figures for foreigners studying in Korea, released in 2023, show there are over 188,000 foreign students attending higher education in Korea in 2022.

This is the highest level of foreign students that Korea has ever recorded and shows continued growth in student numbers, up 20.9% from the previous year. Student numbers in Korea have surpassed the number of foreigners living in Korea for marriage for the first time ever. Foreign students from Vietnam were the largest group (38.3%), followed by China (27.7%) and Uzbekistan (6.4%).

As a university teacher in Korea, I teach foreign students from many different countries, including a lot of Chinese, Uzbek, and Mongolian students. They have many reasons to study here, including getting a job in Korea, working for an international company in their home country, or simply because they want to experience life in Korea for a few years.

Korean language courses are a popular option for people who want to live and study in Korea short term, with many courses running from 3 months to a year. This allows people to learn the language and experience life in Korea at the same time.

Where Do Foreigners In Korea Live?

As with most of the native Korean population, most foreigners in Korea live in the greater Seoul area, which is made up of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon City. An interesting fact about Korea is that more than 50% of people live in this area, which takes up just 12% of the country’s land mass.

The largest foreigner population isn’t actually in Seoul itself. More foreigners in Korea live in Gyeonggi Province (360,000) than in Seoul (260,000) and the top 5 cities with a high proportion of foreigners are all in Gyeonggi Province (Ansan, Suwon, Siheung, Hwaseong, and Bucheon).

Incheon is unsurprisingly 3rd (66,000) and South Gyeongsang Province 4th (63,000). South Gyeongsang Province includes Busan, an area famous for its ports and international connections. There are foreigners all over Korea. From Korea’s other large cities, such as Ulsan, Gwangju, Daejeon, or Daegu, to the rural towns and villages tucked away between Korea’s many mountains.

Which is the best place to live in Korea as a foreigner? Well, that certainly depends on you. Some prefer the busy city life found in Seoul or Busan, whilst others (I know a few) want to settle down and enjoy a rural life, growing rice and keeping chickens.

Whatever your preference, there’s a range of places to live and settle down as an expat in Korea. Personally, I’d go for the scenic beaches of Jeju Island if I had to choose.

Is The Number Of Foreigners In Korea Declining?

After decades of growth in the number of foreigners living and visiting Korea, which peaked in December 2019 at 2.5 million residents, the number of foreigners declined for the next few years. The obvious reason for this is the coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in many societal changes and a greatly reduced ability to travel and work in Korea.

Korean universities attract over 175,000 foreign students each year, who move to Korea to study on campus and experience Korean life. During the first year and a half of the pandemic, many Korean universities offered only online courses. Due to this, many foreign students stayed in their home countries instead of travelling to Korea.

With the exception of August 2021, the number of foreigners living in Korea decreased every month between the start of the pandemic and 2022. Why was August an exception? This is most likely due to students moving or returning to Korea for the autumn semester, which begins on September 1st.

Due to the 14 day quarantine active in 2021, many foreign students had to arrive in Korea in mid-August in order to clear quarantine in time to begin classes from September 1st. After this short reprieve, the number of foreigners living in Korea continued to fall, dropping to under 2 million by the end of 2021.

Will There Be More Foreigners In Korea In The Future?

Will the number of foreigners living in Korea increase in the future? I definitely believe there will be many more expats in Korea in the future. Whilst the coronavirus pandemic has temporarily reversed the trend, I think it will climb again soon and probably already has increased since the latest figures were released.

There are undoubtedly many people waiting to move and travel to Korea as soon as the borders are open. I know, as I meet them in the Korea Travel Advice group on Facebook every day. The desire to experience life in Korea hasn’t gone away. If anything, it’s like to have increased as Korean culture spreads around the world more and more.

Recent studies and projections show that not only will the number of foreigners living in Korea increase in coming decades, they will account for a larger proportion of the total population, too. Currently, foreign residents make up about 4.4% of the total population of Korea. However, the foreign population in Korea is expected to increase by 2040.

More importantly for Korea’s ageing society, foreigners will make up a lower proportion of the population aged over 65, which is expected to be 35.3% of the population by 2040. This means that foreigners will benefit Korean society by increasing the pool of available workers that have not retired.

Looking further into the future, the proportion of people living in Korea aged 65 and above is expected to rise to 46.4% by 2070, putting a bigger strain on the Korean government’s finances. Korea’s declining birth rate is contributing to a shrinking population and it is predicted that Korea’s population will be 27% lower than it is now, totalling 37.6 million.

The expected fall in Korean population and the increase in the number of retired people in Korea in coming decades could have a positive effect on the number of foreigners living in Korea. There appears to be a move away from tight immigration controls to a looser border policy that will welcome more foreign workers and expats.

Lee Kyo Yong, a researcher at the Korea Labour Institute said in a report published in 2022 that, “South Korea’s fast transition into an aging society coupled with its low fertility rates have increased demand for a foreign workforce.”

He went on to add that, “Korea needs to strengthen its immigration policy to cater to the needs of immigrants in terms of education and to ease the conditions for staying in this country.”

What’s Expat Life In Korea Like?

Expat life in Korea is a really mixed bag. There are some incredible things, there are some terrible things. It’s the same in most countries. But there are certainly some uniquely Korean problems and opportunities you can experience as a foreigner in Korea. Overall, as an expat in Korea, I’m content with life, but there are some issues, such as the extreme weather in summer and winter.

If you’d like to know more about the highs and lows of expat life in Korea, check out this article all about my expat life in Korea. If you’ve found some of the facts in this article interesting, you’ll love these interesting facts about Korean culture. I’ve written several articles about life in Korea, you can find them in the ‘Expat Life’ section of this site, including whether you need to learn Korean to live In Korea.

Sources For This Article

Here are some of the sources used for this article:

• Korea Times Article: Dec 16, 2023
• Korea Times Article: Nov 08, 2023
• Korea Times Article: Jun 23, 2022
• Korea Times Article: Jan 26, 2022
• Korea Herald Article: Sep 26, 2021
• Wikipedia: Immigration to South Korea
• Statista: Foreign Students In Korea
• Business Standard: Korean Economic Ranking
• Statistics Korea: Foreign Workers In Korea

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some FAQs about the number of foreigners in Korea that should answer any other queries you may have.

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Fan death is responsible for many a sweaty night during hot Korean summers and has been blamed for more than a few cold-blooded murders over the years. This is a serious issue in Korea and some people straight up refuse to use an electric fan at night because of the dangers they believe the pose. The media has done its best to fan people’s fears each summer, too.

Why do Koreans believe their fan might kill them? I’ll cover all of that, and more, right here. I’ll also offer a few cultural (and maybe comic) insights into how this myth developed and hopefully give you the answers you need to sleep soundly at night. Or maybe give you a few nightmares of murderous home appliances?

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What Is The Korean Fan Death Myth?

I hope you have a cup of tea handy and maybe a blanket to hide behind. It’s time to learn the tale of one of Korea’s most notorious killers – the electric fan!

What is Korean fan death and how did it all get started? Is there any scientific evidence behind the myth of fan death and the apparent deaths of innocent Koreans looking to stay cool? How can you stay safe from Korean fan death? The Korean fan death myth is quite simple. When you sleep at night with an electric fan running, you might not wake up again in the morning. The fan will silently kill you!

Death by fan.

Mors certa, hora incerta, as the Latin speaking Koreans may quip – death is certain, its hour is uncertain. It would probably be about 4 a.m. on a hot summer’s night, though. Korean summers are horribly hot and many people use air conditioners or electric fans to keep their bedrooms cool.

They should probably read my guide to Surviving Korean Summer, to be honest.

The misconception that fans are lethal ne’er-do-wells has been around since the introduction of the first electric fans to Korea in the 1920’s. Since then, stories of asphyxiation, face paralysis, and nausea have been repeated by the media and by the general public ad nauseam until the myth has seemingly become fact.

The media, bless them and their love for the truth, keep the myth alive by placing a few stories each summer telling the sad tale of another lost soul who has succumbed to the terror of Korean fan death.

One such story (of many) is this one in The Korea Herald:

“A man reportedly died on Monday morning after sleeping with an electric fan running. The 59-year-old victim, only known by his surname Min, was found dead with the fan fixed directly at him.”

The Korea Herald, July 2011

No evidence, apart from the obvious culprit mentioned in the story. Stories like these only help exacerbate the fear of fans and keep this curious urban legend alive in Korea. Thanks to stories like this, fans in Korea are now sold with warnings on them and every one has a timer as a ‘life-saving feature’.

I was even cautioned about the risk of Korean fan death in the EPIK orientation when I started Teaching English in Korea. If it’s in the orientation, it must be serious!

Please note: this is a real myth, but I may use a bit of sarcasm and silliness in my writing. Whilst I may be poking fun at this aspect of Korean culture, I have a lot of love for Korea and Korean culture. You can see that in my other Korean culture articles.

A Bit About Korean Homes

In case you’re not familiar with Korean homes, let me introduce some of the basic features of modern Korean accommodation.

Many people live in quite cosy (small) apartments with not-that-great ventilation. Some are single-room apartments, others have a few rooms but are a far cry from the two-storey houses that I’m used to in England.

The tall tower blocks don’t ventilate that well due to the small windows that don’t open wide. Air-flow is a real issue. That’s one of the reasons I leave my doors and windows open during the day when I’m home. They also tend to get very cold in winter and hot in summer due to a lack of proper double glazing and insulation.

Korean summers are HOT! It’s often above 20 degrees at night and never really cools down. Korean houses need to somehow mitigate both the heat and the cold (and yet don’t really do either).

I know there are many tropical places that probably suffer from the heat, too. However, when you go from a sweaty Korean summer to a frigid Korean winter in just a couple of months, with winter nights as cold as -15 Celsius, it’s hard to adapt to either condition.

In modern Korea, most houses have air conditioning units to keep them cool. However, with few natural resources, Korean electricity is really expensive and running the air-con during summer can cost an arm and a leg. That’s why some prefer to run an electric fan instead.

But that comes with its own dangers…

How The Korean Fan Death Myth Started

I’ve talked to several Koreans and they’ve all repeated the same idea – fans can (will) kill you. Everyone seems to remember a story they heard of someone dying from a fan some time in the past, but no one can actually give any details, aside from the obvious cause of death.

The electric fan did it. Guilty as charged!

As mentioned, electric fans and fan death have been around in Korea since the 1920s. Korean people have endured a hundred years of murder and mayhem. This new technology, as with all things new and complicated, was received with skepticism and warnings of potential dangers. Just as 5G technology is apparently giving everyone a coronavirus, fans were suspected of causing nausea, asphyxiation, and even death.

The Korean government went so far as to issue this life-saving warning about electric fans in 2006:

“If bodies are exposed to electric fans or air conditioners for too long, it causes [the] bodies to lose water and [causes] hypothermia. If directly in contact with [air current from] a fan, this could lead to death from [an] increase of carbon dioxide saturation concentration [sic] and decrease of oxygen concentration. The risks are higher for the elderly and patients with respiratory problems. From 2003 [to] 2005, a total of 20 cases were reported through the CISS involving asphyxiations caused by leaving electric fans and air conditioners on while sleeping. To prevent asphyxiation, timers should be set, wind direction should be rotated, and doors should be left open.”

So what about the science behind the Korean fan death myth? Is there any evidence that these unfortunate fatalities were caused by the cooling breeze of a friendly fan? Here’s a few of the common theories about fan death and the science behind them.

The Science Behind Korean Fan Death

Here are the 4 main ‘scientific’ explanations for Korean fan death and why running an electric fan at night might be the last thing you do.

Please note: none of these have conclusively been proven with scientific evidence and any fan (sorry) of science will know that some of these are quite improbable.

1: Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below a safe level, usually caused by inadequate temperature control. Your body slows its natural metabolic rate while it sleeps at night, making people more sensitive to temperature, which explains why you might suddenly wake up if there’s a cold breeze in the night.

Fans are intended to cool your body down in the sweltering summer heat, a task that is praiseworthy in these highly humid summer days where it can get up to 25 degrees at night. People believe that fans operating in a closed room can cool your body so much that it causes hypothermia, thus helping you to shuffle off this mortal coil.

Sadly, scientists have pointed out that fans aren’t really capable of doing this and the reduction in body heat is negligible at best. It would require a drop of 10 degrees or so to cause hypothermia. Fans barely do enough to cool me down as it is! However, some sources believe that those with existing conditions, such as heart problems of alcoholism, may suffer more from a drop in temperature at night. This exacerbates their existing conditions and causes death.

2: Hyperthermia (Heat Stress)

Hyperthermia (heat stress) is quite the opposite of being chilled to death by a fan with hypothermia. This cause of death occurs as the electric fan causes you to warm up when air warmer than your body temperature is blown directly at you, placing additional stress on your body to cool down and causing heat exhaustion.

This is the most probable cause of fan death, as there’s a lot of warm air in the room at night in Korea. After all, the reason we risk using fans at night is they create cool air to keep us snug and not too hot. But with our bodies having an average temperature of 37 degrees, the air in the room would have to be higher than that.

The American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued warnings about sleeping with electric fans in closed rooms when there is no ventilation. However, the EPA also says that using a fan is fine as long as you open the window and it’s cooler outside than inside.

3: Asphyxiation

Asphyxiation basically occurs as you breathe over and over with the fan of death pointing at you. It’s suggested that the fan blows the oxygen (O2) away, resulting in more carbon dioxide (CO2) getting into your lungs. The fan is blowing oxygen away from your mouth and you find it harder and harder to breathe. This leads to eventual asphyxiation.

The problem with this idea is that fans actually help the gases in the air mix and the room would have to be completely sealed. Or you sleep in a coffin? In which case you probably have other things to worry about.

4: Asbestos

As you probably know, asbestos is not a good thing to inhale while you’re sleeping (or awake). Taking asbestos fibres into your body leads to diseases such as asbestosis and cancer. In Korea, as in many countries, asbestos was used in construction as it was flame retardant and readily available. Sadly this is still used in some buildings in Korea (including my former school).

Anyway, the dust and fibres produced from asbestos can get into the air and be conveniently blown around by our favourite spinning wheel of death – the electric fan.

This is a real issue and if you’re in a cramped Korean bedroom with a small fan blowing the dust and fibres around and into your face, they could end up in your lungs. However, this is a long term sickness and you’re not going to suddenly wake up (or not) dead the next day from asbestos.

It can take decades for asbestos related cancers to show themselves. If you’re worried about asbestos, you should probably think less about how you’re cooling your house and more about what’s in the walls!

So Is Fan Death Real?

Well, I’m eternally skeptical when it comes to things like this, and there may be a more obvious answer to the emergence of fan death as an urban legend in Korea.

After all, it’s only in Korea where fans can seemingly do you in. Why is that?

It’s no secret that Korea is an island with limited energy resources and in the 1970’s the world was dealing with volatile oil supplies and prices, resulting in high energy costs for Korea. It’s suggested that, as a means to save energy, the Korean government fanned (excuse the pun) the fears of fan death to help reduce energy consumption during summer.

If you spread the word that fans will kill you, fewer people are likely to use them and you’ll save the country a load of energy (and money). That does mean that people have to suffer through the cruel Korean summer heat, but what’s that in comparison to national energy issues?

News coverage like this extract from an article in 1997 hasn’t helped to dispel this noxious myth:

“On Friday in eastern Seoul, a 16-year-old girl died from suffocation after she fell asleep in her room with an electric fan in motion. The death toll from fan-related incidents reached 10 during the past week. Medical experts say that this type of death occurs when one is exposed to electric fan breezes for long hours in a sealed area.“

The Korea Herald, July 1997

However, it was long before this time that fan death became part of the Korean psyche. There are reports of stories of electric fans doing away their innocent users as far back as 1927 (link in Korean) in an article titled “Strange Harm from Electric Fans”.

My Fan Death Myth Conclusion

So, is Korean fan death real, or is it just an urban myth that’s been used to sell papers and save energy? Is it only prevalent in Korea because they’re the only ones wise enough to suspect the bladed beasts of death? Are we all living in ignorance about a mass murder that we look at so fondly, but is ready to kill us in our millions?

I don’t think so.

I’ve slept with a fan (and air conditioning) blowing at my face and I’m still alive. Sure, it’s uncomfortable and can dry your breathing holes, but that’s about as bad as it gets. Or maybe I just like living dangerously?

If you’re Korean, maybe you know more about this than I do and would be happy to share your insights into this phenomenon in the comments?

Read on to find out some of my essential tips to survive Korean fan death.

How To Protect Yourself From Fan Death

Here are a few tips to help you survive the summer heat in Korea and avoid being killed by the bladed master of death sitting in the corner of the room.

1: Sleep in the kitchen and leave your freezer and fridge doors open to create a naturally cool environment.

2: Sell your apartment and invest in a tent. You’ll always feel fresh and cool when surrounded by nature.

3: Learn Russian and move to Siberia where it’s not quite as hot during summer.

4: Adopt a cute penguin and train it to fan you with a large leaf or paper fan. This will be far more energy efficient and you won’t have to worry about it murdering you in the night. Maybe…

5: For tourists, visit in one of the other Amazing Seasons In Korea.

Should I Be Worried About Fan Death?

I’d never heard about fan death until I moved to Korea. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any signs in any of the countries I’ve visited warning me not to trust these deceptive machines.

Have you?

As far as I know, it’s only people in Korea who are susceptible to fan death. Therefore, if you live in another country other than Korea, you’re probably ok. However, we’ve all seen how terrors can spread from one country to another, pandemics spreading globally is so 2020s!

If you’re worried, then ditch the fan and learn to deal with the heat. Stay safe, stay cool…but not by an electric fan.

Learn More About Korean Culture

If you’ve enjoyed this article about the unusual myth of Korean fan death and want to know more about Korean culture, then check out some of my other articles. They cover the most interesting facts about South Korea, such as how Koreans have some of the world’s highest IQs, but sleep the least. There’s also a list of amazing Korean novels in English that will show you more about Korea.

Planning to travel to Korea and want to be ready for the culture shock and understand more about what you’ll experience in Korea? Then be sure to read my guide to Korean etiquette and manners. You’ll discover all the ways to avoid being rude and also make friends. And this list of unique Korean experiences will show you what to try, do, eat, experience, and more within Korea.

Thanks, and stay safe from fans!

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One of the joys of living in Korea is spotting the strange, unusual, and often confusing images and words that are meant to entice people in, but might actually put you off.

From sexy eels, to befuddling ‘Konglish’ phrases, these funny Korean pictures, signs, and images will show you a different side to Korea.

Take a look at the best of the Konglish and bad Korean translations that I’ve collected since 2015 and let me know which one you liked the most.

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About Konglish And These Funny Korean Signs

Before looking at these 70 funny Korean signs, I want to very quickly explain what Konglish is.

Konglish is a portmanteau of Korean and English. It describes English words with funny spelling mistakes, translations, or sometimes completely new words in English.

The picture above is a good example of Konglish. Narcotics are something we’d associate with drug use and wouldn’t be something you’d add to your hotdogs (I’d hope!).

In Korea, the expression is meant to suggest that it’s addictive, something you can’t resist. Therefore, narcotic hotdogs are irresistible, addictive hotdogs.

Skinship is another example. It’s a combination of skin (touching) and friendship that describes friendly, close physical contact between two people.

Konglish is also used to describe nonsense sentences that have been really badly translated. You’ll definitely find a lot of these funny Korean signs with this form of Konglish.

In fact, some of these pictures you probably won’t understand at all.

Warning: Some of these pictures might not be safe for work / children.

There are lots of different types of funny Korean signs, so I’ll break these down into different categories, such as warning signs, Korean shop signs, Korean translation mistakes, Konglish fashion, and suchlike.

Korean Safety Signs You Should Avoid

Korea is a very safe country, but there are times when emergencies happen and you need to know what to do. Unfortunately, these funny Korean signs show that you can’t always trust the advice you see.

Of course, some of the advice is very helpful, especially the one about how to use a toilet. I was struggling a lot before I saw that…

1: How To Use A Toilet In Korea

You can find these signs in many parts of East Asia where squat toilets were traditionally used instead of seated toilets. I wonder how many people were actually using them as you see in the picture above?

2: Clothes Cause COVID?

I’m not sure how being naked will stop the spread of COVID-19, but whatever you say, Korean sign. Got to follow the rules for public safety!

3: Panic At The Disco

This is a sign demonstrating safety measures during an earthquake. Something you definitely don’t want to do would be to calm down. It’s better to rush around and panic, right?

4: The Toilet Is Painful!

Toilets are a tricky issue in Korea, something that might confuse some and cause problems for all. And sometimes the toilet will hurt you if you don’t put the tissues and wet towels in the bin. You’ve been warned!

5: Hurry Up And Flush

There’s no time to waste in balli-balli (hurry, hurry) Korean society. You’ve got to rush that toilet paper as it is. Don’t waste your toilet time folding it up nicely.

6: Pregnancy Is Not Allowed!

No wonder the birth rate in Korea is so low with signs like this claiming that women aren’t allowed to be pregnant! Actually, this was a warning sign to forbid pregnant women from travelling on a certain train, but the English translation from Korean doesn’t quite work.

7: Only Leave Your Troubles In The Toilet

I’ll talk about the No! Smoking! sign soon, but more worrying than the extra punctuation is why (and how) you’d leave your troubles in the toilet. You’re meant to drown your sorrows… but I’m not sure a toilet is the right place for that!

8: Trouser Elephant?

Saw this in a men’s toilet at a hotel on Jeju Island. I’m not sure what they were asking or reminding me to do with this sign. Make sure I don’t leave the toilet naked? Don’t worry, there were no elephants (or snakes) on display that day.

9: Do Not Use Outsiders

Expats in Korea (like myself) don’t like to be used, and I’m glad to see someone has made a nice sign to tell others not to. If you want to use outsiders, you’ll have to go somewhere else.

10: God Won’t Let Me Poop!

This is a sign in Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan. I’m not sure what kind of culture this funny Korean sign is trying to introduce, but it looks like a sad story for whoever can’t poop.

11: No Smorking!

I’m sure you can guess what this Konglish sign is trying to tell you not to do, but the added ‘r’ makes it sound like there might be something else that you can ‘smork’. Maybe it’s the name of a Scandinavian rock group?

12: No! Do That!?

A common confusing Korean translation mistake that you’ll see a lot comes from using English punctuation. This Korean sign should be very clear, but the ! after no makes it sound like this is a smoking area…

13: No! Let’s Have A Drink!

The wild punctuation is back again in this anti-drinking Korean sign. Again, stop what you’re doing and start drinking! That’s an order.

14: Watch Out For The Headman!

One thing I love about Konglish signs is that they often have some very strange word choices. This is usually because they’ve used Google to translate their signs or they learnt English from classic English novels. Either way, be sure not to trifle on the bridge with the children or the headman will be after you!

15: Cable Car Safety Advice – Don’t Scream!

These two safety signs are from the N Seoul Tower Cable Cara nd are packed with unusual Korean translations and Konglish. I love the use of terms such as ‘befuddlers’, you don’t hear that word enough. Also, please refrain from screaming, singing, or ‘clamping’ in the cable car. How many times did this happen that they had to make a sign?

16: Watch Out For Cliff!

I don’t know if this Konglish sign is meant to be a warning or a challenge. Should you approach the cliff, slide over the edge, and then let go? Whatever you do, make sure you walk slowly (or fall slowly?).

17: Warning – Do This?

You can see this sign at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan. It’s surprising to see such Konglish at a popular tourist destination. I assume leaning is not recommended, but the double negative instructions seem to imply you should give it a go.

Funny Konglish Fashion Fails

One of the most common places to find random English words is in a clothes shop. Whether you’re in a department store, or browsing one of the many fun traditional markets in Korea, you’ll probably find one or two examples of Konglish.

There are a lot of other hilarious slogans and messages on Korean clothing that I wish I’d been able to take pictures of.

Sadly, it would have seemed very strange to walk up to random Koreans to ask for a picture of their Konglish clothing…

Still, I managed to get a few, and here they are.

Warning: Some of these are not safe for work / children. Korean fashion has no limits and there can be some rude words used.

18: Are You Feeling Thoughful?

Even though I use though a lot, can I really be said to be thoughful? Full of though? There are countless Konglish slogans like this on jumpers and t-shirts in Korea – some random word pairings, others made up words that were probably meant to be others.

19: Don’t Hide Your Feelings!

I wonder what goes on in the mind of Korean fashion designers. Was this intentional, or did they simply take some random words from English without considering their meaning (which often happens). Not the rudest Korean fashion fail I’ve seen, but one you might not want to wear to a family dinner.

20: What’s That Smell?

This isn’t so a Konglish mistake, but it’s certainly a very weird expression to have on a jumper. I don’t know if it’s a reference to the 2019 Brockhampton song, but fans might want to pick up one of these bright tops.

21: The Worst Kind Of Story

Having a bad spot day and don’t want to talk about it? Then wear this lovely jumper and it’ll explain it all. The word ‘story’ is used so much in Korean shop signs as a way to create some kind of persona to whatever it is they’re selling. I assume. In my apartment there’s a ‘tax and coffee story’… which doesn’t sound like a fun story!

22: Only For Maniacs!

Another word that’s misinterpreted a lot in Konglish is ‘maniac’ (as well as ‘holic’). I think Koreans translate it as someone who is enthusiastic about something, but in English we’d see it as someone who’s a bit too mad for something! No idea what the rest of this Konglish fashion fail means though…

23: Hats Off For These Korean Fashion Fails

It’s so easy to sell baseball caps in Korea. Make a hat, write something weird in English on it and people will snap it up. It doesn’t matter that Korean kids are going around with swearwords on top of their head at all…

24: Not A Child-Friendly Activity

This is the name of a clothing brand in Korea, not a suggestion for what to do with naughty children. I hope.

25: Only For Porkies?

I’ve no idea who chose the name for this large chain of children’s clothing and whether they thought about the meaning behind the word porky. Porky, as you’d imagine, usually suggests someone is a bit of a pig, or greedy. Is this their target market?

26: What a Knobskin!

I spotted this sign years ago in Hongdae in Seoul and I think it was a streetwear shop. Which doesn’t explain the name at all! Knobskin translates to ‘an annoying or frustrating person, somebody who is useless.’ on Urban Dictionary. However, the literal meaning is the skin of… something an eel might help you grow. Want to buy clothes there?

27: Man Chesta United?

This shop owner seems to be embracing foreign culture and decided to name their shop after the famous English city. Perhaps it was in tribute to Park Ji-Sung‘s time at Manchester United? Unfortunately, it looks like the owner didn’t actually own an official shirt with the correct spelling of Manchester on it.

28: A Story Of Youth

Another example of a Korean fashion store using ‘story’. This time, it’s for emos and goths? Yes! It’s a young emotional story that makes you feel the Konglish. Also, no idea why there’s a random apostrophe at the end.

29: Millenium Spirit From Hazzy’s

I don’t know if any other Brit’s have seen Hazzy’s clothes around before, but their signs don’t have the dignity and formality they think they do. This funny Konglish sign is what you’ll see when you enter their store.

30: Do You Need An Old People Stick?

Found this hiking in Seoraksan National Park. The mountains can be tough so be sure to take an old people stick with you! A walking stick, but only for old people, I assume?

31: Cream For The Ladies Only

Seen in Gunsan, this (I assume) is a ladies fashion store that doesn’t sell men’s clothing. It’s a story. A story of cream that’s for the ladies only. Unfortunately, my dirty mind finds this amusing for the wrong reasons.

Konglish Food Signs & Menus

The next selection of Konglish signs can be found on food packets, restaurant signs, and on descriptions which may put you off eating what it’s describing.

Literal translations of Korean dishes are often funny, and you’ll see them on menus all the time. Sometimes the mistake when choosing between certain letters (such as r/l) can leave you very confused, too.

These funny Korean pictures are from across Korea and will show you there’s some very strange translating going on.

32: Cold-Hearted Wife?

The first part of this Korean sign seems quite harmless for an ice cream shop. However, when you add in a bride, things get weird. I saw this in Gyeongju recently and no one seemed to think it strange. In fact, there’s a picture zone to have your photo taken next to their sign and the frozen wife-to-be.

33: Have A What Meal?

I’m glad to see that this restaurant is trying to use English in its menu, but they might want to check for Konglish mistakes. Enjoying your meal is better than having a nice meal. Perhaps they want to make your dining experience even more special.

34: Let’s Adverb Each Other!

This is a mess of English found on a cafe in Haeundae in Busan. How do you adverb someone? Why would you want to adverb each other? At least they want us to do it together. Our!

35: Embracing Konglish Fails

One common error when translating English to Korean is using the wrong vowels. The Korean word for hotdog sounds more like hatdog. And it looks like this shop in Cheongju has embraced this to make a great Konglish sign by putting hats on the hotdog sausages. I really appreciate this type of Konglish humour. If only they were dogs though…

36: All You Need To Do Is Stay Clam!

Embracing British style at this rock bar in Cheongju is great. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like they want you to stay calm. Instead, you should stay clam… which might not be a good thing for a bar as it would be difficult for you to have a drink.

37: I’m Pine Thank You!

This is actually a great pun and a good way to use Konglish to sell ice creams and practice English. The Korean at the top says ‘I’m pine’ instead of ‘I’m fine’. That’s because it’s a pineapple flavoured ice cream.

38: What Is Love?

Unlike the previous funny Korean sign, the writer of this sign doesn’t seem to have an inkling of how to write English. In Korean this sign would make sense, as L and R are represented by the same letter. The Korean spelling of burger is buh-guh, so you can see why they’d miss the first ‘r’. Still, no love for this sign.

39: Thank You Berry Nuts

Another great Konglish pun that actually works well as it’s for a box of nuts that you can gift to other people. Saw this before Chuseok, one of Korea’s biggest holidays where harvest goods, such as nuts, are often given.

40: Trust Me, I’m A Bartender

This must be a safe place to have a drink in Seoul for those who enjoy alcohol a bit too much. Trust your bartender, they’ll look after you and give you your favourite drinks.

41: What A Load Of Crap!

A classic example of Korean translation fails here where a single wrong letter completely changes the meaning of the word. The letters P and B are often confused in Korean as they’re very similar. Unfortunately, a crap salad sounds a lot less appetising than a crab salad!

42: Aggressive Cabbage

It looks like this supermarket used a translation app for this red cabbage and ended up with another funny Korean translation fail. I tried entering it into Google translate and it came up with ‘red sheep cabbage’. Be careful relying on translation apps…

43: Unappealing Combination

I can see what they’re trying to do here. It’s a waffle that’s awesome. Great! But mixing those words together is just… awful!

44: Deep Pain Pizza?

I’ve lived in Korea long enough to accept squid ink in doughy goods, but pain is something I’m not down with. Is this a Konglish translation from pain, the French word for bread?

45: No Time To Waste!

Can you imagine casual swearing on shop signs in English speaking countries? Maybe it’s something that should be embraced. It certainly attracts attention.

46: What’s A Soft Potato?

Located in Daejeon, this place seems to be a bar but is selling ‘soft potato’, too. Is this a way to introduce mashed potato into the Korean bar scene? Are they a new kind of potato? Who knows?

47: Are You A Spicy Taste Maniac?

Another example of maniac being used instead of an enthusiast. Although, these wasabi flavoured green peas were very spicy, so you would probably have to be a maniac to eat them!

48: How Are You, Sandwich?

This was actually a special sandwich offered in Starbucks, who appreciate the Korean love of English and Konglish. There seems to be no reason why this sandwich would be named like this except for the image of ‘foreignness’ that it brings. Weird.

49: Don’t Touch My Sack!

I’ve never seen anyone so possessive about their sack. Perhaps the snack food is there to tempt you away from their sack? Or perhaps they meant to write ‘saek’ (색) but didn’t translate it properly? Whatever happened, it’s probably best not to ask to borrow their sack.

50: I Really Lobe You!

Just one simple letter really changes the meaning of a sentence. This is a common mistake in Korean signs due to the fact that there is no ‘v’ in the Korean alphabet. Unfortunately, this means that you might end up putting beer in your ear lobes… which is a very wasteful way to enjoy beer! I found this funny Korean sign at a bar in Daejeon.

51: Eely Good For Something

This sign made me do a double take when I first saw it. I thought the eel was lifting weights with his hands… until I looked more closely. If you’re not aware, eating eel is meant to be good for boosting your ‘sexual energy‘ (like oysters). You can probably work out just how effective it is from the picture.

52: Doing It On The Table

I think this shop is trying to imply that they are making something lovely just for you, but instead we end up with a great Konglish fail where a very different meaning is presented. Or maybe it’s a very naughty cafe?

53: Good Job!

It’s nice to see an encouraging Korean sign in English for once. It was indeed a rough day and I did a good job. Thanks!

54: What Kind Of Chicken Is This?

I was surprised by this place when I first visited Korea in 2012. Ho Chicken (and Ho bar) are a popular chain of chicken shops that, for some dirty-minded westerners, seems to be rather suggestive. Maybe they want it to seem merry, like Christmas?

55: I Will Find You…

This Korean sign, from a food truck near Cheonggyecheon Stream, gets on the list because it made me giggle for a different reason. Liam Neeson fans will probably recognise the mis-TAKEN quote here. It makes me wonder, though. Who will be doing the finding and eating? That bull looks pretty angry!

56: Extra Ink, Hold The Cream Cheese

This is from California (my local bakery, not the state) and is one of many examples of very ‘creative’ English that they use to describe their baked goods. I’m really happy they’re trying to make it easier for foreigners to buy delicious foods, but this Konglish sign left me confused.

The ink in this bread is squid ink, which you can find in bread, pizza dough, and other places where you need to make something black. Squid ink is okay, but with cream cheese bread? Are they serious? I wonder what the other version without cream cheese bread is like?

Funny Korean Translations & Other Signs

Finally, this last collection of Konglish signs, pictures, and other images shows how confusing and humorous life in Korea can be as an English speaker.

From random Korean street signs, to Konglish textbooks, shop names, and badly designed adverts, there are so many great examples of Konglish fails to enjoy.

57: Only A Bitch For Summer

Even large corporations like Lotte can make massive Konglish fails when trying to spell English words. This advert for a summer ‘beach’ festival had a lot of foreigners laughing and hopefully taught Lotte about the problems of Korean translation mistakes!

58: What Are You Suggesting?

This innocent looking arcade machine with children’s toys has an interesting collection of English words that used together become quite suggestive…

59: Fun Time With Maths?

These next two Konglish fails come from Daiso, a discount store that offers so many hilarious Korean translation fails. This is a very unusual passage to include when trying to encourage your children to learn maths. And who thinks studying maths is a fun time? Haha.

60: The Struggles Of An English Teacher

I spent 5 years teaching English in Korea with EPIK and I’ve seen some inspiring and wonderful uses of the English language. Learning a language is an uphill struggle and seeing ‘English’ exercise books like this just makes me want to face palm. Hellow?

61: Opne Your Hearts & Make Korea Great Again

I actually bought the ‘Make Korea Great Again’ notepad for a laugh, but it’s the other common Korean misspelling that confuses me. ‘Open’ is a word you’ll find on every shop or cafe in Korea, and yet it’s sometimes written as ‘opne’ by mistake.

The designers managed to get so many other words right, but how come Korea struggles with open? Come on! Make Korea great again by fighting against these Konglish mistakes.

62: Just Give Up…

This massage shop in Myeongdong is probably not too worried about using English, but they could have asked one of the many foreigners in the area to check if this sign was right.

63: What’s That Smell?

What’s the worst image you want to give people when going to a hair stylist? People with hair on fire? Probably. I wouldn’t know as I shave my head. But choosing a name like this is a massive fail for this chain of hair stylists. They’re not on fire with this Konglish.

64: Football Club Korea It!

Firstly, I’m happy that Koreans are calling football by its proper name (not soccer, not sorry), but why choose this acronym to describe your team? I wonder how many fans have that tattooed on their arm? Maybe they should refer to themselves as the Korean Football Club.

Talking of dodgy TLA (three-letter acronym) choices, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) changed its name a few years ago. No idea why.

65: Your Days Are Numbered, English!

I find it deliciously ironic that this sign for an after school academy teaching English should provide an example of a Konglish fail. This is close to where I live in Daejeon and I’m always worried that someone is looking down as I pass, waiting to terminate me!

66: The Happy Zelkova

Zelkova trees are lovely and you can see them when you’re out hiking in Korea, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard them hum. I’ve certainly never seen one smiling at me, either. But that doesn’t matter. This is another example of random English words and expressions that get added to Korean signs for no apparent reason.

67: We Are Still Making Mistakes!

Ubuntu is a nice philosophy, one that’s usually translated as “I am, because you are”, and I can’t fault them too much for the capital letter, but I wish they’d checked with an English copywriter before writing it.

68: Push Or Pull?

These door signs at a shop at Deogyusan National Park in Muju are very confusing. I don’t know if I’m coming or going!

69: Let’s Get Bussy!

I don’t know if Koreans know what ‘BJ’ can also mean, but it’s probably not something that should be associated with business. Or Bussiness…

70: Faulty Goods?

You should probably nun-chuck this in the bin (sorry) as it’s damaged. Or so the Konglish sign on the package tells you. This has so much Konglish I was tempted to buy it and read it every day. I would use it carefully and not aggressively towards people. Unfortunately, I don’t have a shady and management to store it in. Too bad.

How To Avoid Making Language Mistakes

If you’re worried about making your own language mistakes when coming to Korea, then why not brush up on your Korean before you arrive by learning some useful Korean phrases before you travel.

These two articles will help you learn some basic phrases for travelling around Korea and when ordering food. First is my list of 60 Basic Korean Phrases – useful in all situations. Next I have a guide dedicated to eating out and features Korean Food Phrases. And if you’re worried about making Korean cultural faux pas, then be sure to learn these Korean etiquette secrets with my Korean Etiquette Guide.

Of course, the best way to avoid language mistakes is with a guided Korean course, such as the one I’m learning Korean with – 90 Day Korean Course.

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These tips will help whether you’re spending summer in Seoul as a tourist or you live there and want some ideas to help stay sane when the summer heat kicks in.

There’s a bunch of great places to check out, ways to stay cool, and other travel tips for surviving the most difficult of Korea’s seasons.

Embrace summer in Seoul and make the most of the blue skies, delicious desserts, and cool evenings experience Seoul like a local.

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10 Tips To Survive Summer In Seoul

Here’s my top 10 tips to survive summer in Seoul. These summer survival tips, built up from more than 6 summers of suffering, will help you make the most of this season, keep cool, and have an awesome time in Seoul.

If you want to know more about what summer in Seoul is like, such as the weather and what activities you can do, be sure to keep reading past these top 10 tips.

Thanks, and stay cool!

1: Dress Down

Whilst you may want to look your best for your holiday pics, you will enjoy summer in Seoul a lot more if you wear loose, thin clothing that allows your skin to breathe and aerate.

If you’re worried about sunburn or mosquito bites, then long sleeves or trousers will help. In Korea you can get portable sleeves for your arm to help protect you from the sun.

Tops: The lighter, the better. You’ll only need one layer and you can usually wear this whatever time of day it is as it stays warm even at night in July and August.

Legs: Shorts or skirts are best to keep your legs cool. I’d avoid trousers unless you plan to get off the beaten path and go into nature.

Shoes: Be a real Korean and wear sandals / crocs during the summer to keep your feet cool. No socks, of course. If you’re going to do a lot of walking, then bring a good pair of thin, breathable walking shoes and sweat-resistant walking socks.

Shopping: You can buy most of these clothes for low prices in the Korean fashion markets of Dongdaemun, Myeongdong, or Namdaemun, as well as in the street fashion district of Hongdae.

Korean culture point: There are mixed impressions about what is acceptable in Korea in terms of revealing clothing, especially for women. Korean society was traditionally quite conservative, but attitudes are changing these days.

In terms of clothing and what you can / can’t wear, there’s no real restrictions in Seoul as long as you’re not going around naked! If you’re a foreigner, you’ll get a pass for most things anyway.

However, you will get a few raised eyebrows for going topless (men) and for low cut tops (women). Hot pants and short skirts are completely acceptable, though.

If in doubt, look at pictures of K-pop singers online and see what they wear.

2: Pack A Light Jacket

Although you should dress down during summer in Seoul to keep cool, there’ll also be plenty of times when you might get too cold. Not because the temperature has dropped, but because you’ve gone inside a building.

If you walk down the streets of any shopping or dining area in Seoul, you’ll feel the cold air blowing at you. Even when you’re several feet away. Korean shops and restaurants love to crank the air conditioner to max.

If you plan to stay inside somewhere for more than 30 minutes, this can lead you to get rather chilly. Cinemas and cafes are the worst for this and it’s useful to have a light jacket stored in your bag that you can put on to keep cool. The same applies for long bus journeys.

3: Drink Lots Of Water

Hydration is really important. Not just because you’ll feel sick if you don’t get enough liquids, but surviving summer in Seoul is a lot easier when you’re cooling off with ice cold water.

Bring a reusable water bottle (or reuse one you’ve grabbed from your hotel) when you go out. You can fill them up in cafes and restaurants that have water filters and it’s a cheap and effective way to stay hydrated.

A nice alternative to iced coffee is popping into a hanok cafe and sampling some traditional Korean teas. Drinking hot tea during summer can actually help reduce your overall temperature as you sweat a bit more when you drink it, which cools you down.

4: Stay Cool In A Mall

As mentioned, Korean shops and malls love to blast the air conditioner at max power during the summer, which make these places the perfect spot to spend a busy day in Seoul without the sweat.

There are several large malls throughout Seoul that you could spend the whole day in and not get bored. From shopping and dining, to cinemas, aquariums, arcades, and lots more, Seoul’s malls are like a self-enclosed (and cool) city.

Some of the best malls to visit during summer in Seoul include:

• COEX Mall, Gangnam
• Lotte Dept Store, Myeongdong
• Times Square Mall, Yeongdeungpo
• Anyeong Insadong, Insadong
• Doota Mall, Dongdaemun
• I-Park Mall, Yongsan
• Migliore Mall, Dongdaemun
• Mecenatpolis Mall, Hongdae

And many others that you’ll want to escape into if you’re walking around Seoul during summer. Cool, free air conditioning!

5: Go Out At Night

The best time to be out and about during summer in Seoul is the evening and night time. When the sun goes down, the heat drops a bit to slightly less sweaty temperatures. That means mid-20s during July and August.

After checking out indoor places during the daytime, use your energy to explore Seoul by night. This is what a lot of locals do and there are so many awesome places to spend the warm summer evenings.

Use the cool nights to get out and hike the fortress walls (as pictured above), visit the night markets, relax at the Han River parks, or hike up to the N Seoul Tower and see the city lights.

For more ideas of things to do in Seoul at night, check out these 20 Summer Activities In Korea.

6: Keep Cool By The Water

If you’re determined to stay outside during the day, then the coolest places to be during summer in Seoul are by the water.

Seoul is blessed with several lovely waterways that not only provide an oasis amongst the heat of the concrete jungle, but also offer a range of fun activities and ways to stay cool.

There are many parks on the shores of the Han River, as well as the 11km long Cheonggyecheon Stream (pictured above), where you can cool off and find some shade.

These spots offer the chance to watch live performances, visit markets, and indulge in some cool Korean treats (or ice cold Korean beer).

7: Splash Away The Heat

If the idea of sitting by the water without jumping into it sounds too hard to resist, then why not spend a day at one of Seoul’s many water parks or water-based play areas instead.

These are locations where you can swim or splash around in the water. Some of these will be full water parks, others simple spots that offer some watery fun. Wherever you go, it’ll give you a chance to enjoy the heat and get wet.

• Sealala Water Park
• Seoul Children’s Grand Park
• Cheonggye Plaza Water Jets
• Lotte Water Park, Gimhae
• Onemount Water Park, Goyang
• Water Kingdom Water Park & ​​Spa

Outside of Seoul there’s also the fantastic Caribbean Bay, which is part of the Everland Resort. Definitely a day trip worth making during summer.

8: Eat All The Icy Treats

Devouring lots of sugary treats might not be the best idea, health-wise, but it feels so good and is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer’s day in Seoul.

The best of the bunch is a Korean dessert that you really must try – bingsu. This shaved ice dish is the perfect antidote the summer heat. You can find dozens of varieties of this dish that add fruit, ice cream, cakes, sauces, red bean, and lots more.

If you’re feeling adventurous, there are often some unique ice creams that come out each summer. I’ve seen everything from sweetcorn and sweet potato ice cream to super spicy chicken ice cream with red beans. Do you dare try them?

9: Buy A Mini Fan

Noisier than a swarm of mosquitos, the buzz of handheld fans can be heard wherever you are in Seoul during summertime.

These modern fans have replaced the traditional handheld fan as the go-to way to keep cool during summer. You don’t have to flap your arm as much, which definitely helps stop the sweat in itself.

They’re cheap, fit in your pocket, and can be bought at many markets, convenience stores, and many other shops. Pick one up and keep yourself cool.

10: Stay Safe From The Sun

When it’s sunny in Seoul, it’s not only hot, but very easy to get sunburn. You only need an hour or so to be exposed enough to burn. Better to wrap up like in the picture above if you’re sensitive to the sun.

Remember to pack sun cream, sunglasses, parasol, sun hat, and anything else that will protect you. Wear long sleeves if you expect to be outside a lot and to keep cool and shaded, buy a parasol that protects you from both sunshine and the summer rain.

You can buy all the essentials in Seoul in case you forget them. Head to cosmetic shops such as Olive Green or LaLa for a good range of sun protection goods. Daiso also has small sun protection goods at a low price.

What Is Summer In Seoul Like?

Summer in Seoul is hot, humid, and can be very wet. But it can also be magnificent, with clear blue skies and longer daytime sunshine.

It’s definitely the toughest season to travel to Korea and one that you should be prepared for so that you know what to pack, where to go, and how to survive summer in Seoul.

Don’t let the heat and rain put you off, though. There’s loads of awesome activities that you can enjoy, dishes best served during summer, and great places to visit.

Above you can see a chart showing the average temperature in Seoul for each month, as well as the amount of rainfall.

The summer months (June – September) are the wettest by a long way and also the hottest. Early summer is monsoon season and the weather is very unpredictable, switching from blue skies to heavy rain and back again in the space of a day.

There can also be whole weeks with nothing but rain. However, this is kind of nice as it means the weather is a lot cooler. Don’t worry, there are still loads of Things To Do In Seoul When It’s Raining.

As for the heat… well that’s the biggest issue for me, and if you’re from a country that doesn’t experience high summer heat and humidity, then it can be quite shocking.

The graph above shows average temperatures for the year, but this doesn’t really reflect how hot it can get during the day.

As I’m writing this, the temperature is around 35 degrees celsius and was down to 25-26 degrees at night (3am). It can be over 30 degrees at 10 or 11pm at night.

If it’s raining, however, the temperature can stay below 30 degrees and drop to 20 degrees at night. That’s why average temperature figures are very deceptive. Either way, it’ll usually be hot and, if it’s not, then wet.

That’s summer in Seoul, sadly. But it’s not all bad. Stay cool, go out at night, and make the most of it when you can. At least the air is less polluted than spring, there’s loads of cold drinks and desserts to indulge in, and nature as its most resplendent.

It’s also a great time to go cycling in Seoul, enjoying the green nature and sparkling waters on a sunny day. I recommend renting a bike during summer and taking a spin around Yeouido and along the Han River. It’s a very pleasant way to spend a day out.

Enjoy.

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Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. Living in Korea as an expat and not knowing the language is definitely possible, but there are times when you’ll be left speechless and struggling.

Find out how far a basic knowledge of Korean will take you, as I show with examples from my own personal experience of living in Korea since 2015. Did I quickly learn Korean to live in Korea more easily? Ahem… Read on to find out the answer. You might also pick up a few basic Korean phrases and realise you know more Korean than you thought!

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Should You Learn Korean To Live In Korea?

Do you need to learn Korean to live in Korea?

No.

That’s my conclusion after living in Korea for 6 years and seeing plenty of other expats getting by just fine but not being able to hold a conversation in the local language.

Learning Korean will make your social life richer, increase job opportunities, and help you in so many situations.

Should you learn Korean to live in Korea?

Absolutely.

Learning Korean when you live in Korea will open up so many doors for you and make your social life richer, increase your job opportunities, and help you in so many day-to-day situations.

There are many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you.

At the very least you should know hangul (the Korean alphabet) and some basic Korean phrases if you want to travel to Korea or live here.

Whilst there are many reasons that you don’t have to learn Korean to live in Korea, there are also many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you. I’ll list some of these later on in this article.

Before I talk about why and how you should learn Korean to live in Korea now or in the future, I want to share my own story and my experience learning Korean in Korea.

Have I Learnt Korean While Living In Korea?

I’ll be honest, after 7 years of living in Korea, I haven’t learnt that much Korean. I can get by, but I’m not exactly comfortable holding a deep conversation in Korean.

When I moved to Korea in 2015, I started learning Korean quite enthusiastically. I was studying during breaks at work and attended evening classes twice a week. I also used some apps, such as Memrise, to help me practice reading and memorising Korean.

I managed to learn hangul (the Korean alphabet) before moving to Korea, and that was a really helpful first step. If you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, definitely start with this and move on to vocabulary and grammar afterwards.

I’m not exactly comfortable holding a deep conversation in Korean.

Regrettably, a couple of situations arose that derailed my Korean learning. Firstly, I started an online MA TESOL course to become a better teacher. This ate up a lot of my free time for several years.

Secondly, I had a long commute and the bus schedule moved back so that I couldn’t get to my evening classes in time and I had to stop them.

Thirdly, and perhaps most consequential, I started dating a wonderful Korean woman and ended up becoming lazy with my Korean practice, depending too much on my partner to help me with serious language issues.

I started dating… and ended up becoming lazy with my Korean practice…

Dating in Korea, I believe, can either spur you on to greater learning, or it can lead you into complacency and harm your language development. I’ll talk more about dating later on.

Even though I stopped actively learning Korean, I have still developed my Korean skills passively. This has helped my range of vocabulary increase, but hasn’t done much for my grammar.

It’s hard to live in Korea and not learn some Korean as you move around day to day. From signposts to song-lyrics, slogans to menus, you’re constantly exposed to Korean and some of that seeps into your brain and stays there.

So, do you need to learn Korean to live in Korea? Yes, you really do. I’ve been lucky enough to survive this long, but now I’m determined to refocus my efforts on learning Korean.

…you’re constantly exposed to Korean and some of that seeps into your brain and stays there.

After a busy year adapting to a new job working at a Korean university, as well as finishing my master’s degree (finally!), I’m ready to master Korean at last. Fighting!

My plan is to sign up for online classes through 90 Day Korean – a company I’ve worked with for a while now and would recommend. I’ve learnt through their free programmes before, but now plan to sign up for their premium, guided course to help me learn Korean more quickly.

I’ll be sure to write about my learning experience later on, so be sure to check back for future updates on my (hopefully) successful studies.

The next couple of sections should help you understand how you can live in Korea without learning Korean fully, as well as other situations where you’ll definitely need a Korean speaker to help you live life.

5 Reasons You Don’t Need To Learn Korean To Live In Korea

If you’ve ever visited another country and managed to book hotels, buy food, visit attractions, and travel on public transport without learning the local language, then you’re probably able to live in Korea without learning Korean.

Living in another country, be it Korea or elsewhere, is mostly the same as living in your own country. You will buy groceries, go to work, meet friends, travel around, watch TV, and wonder where all your money has gone each month.

There are so many things that we already know how to do… that are easy to transfer to living in another country.

If you know the basic idea of how to do these things, you can often do them without needing to know the language everyone is speaking around you.

Want to buy fruit from a supermarket? Pick it up and put it in your basket. Want to drink coffee in a cafe? Point at what you want, pay, sit down, and enjoy it. Need to get a haircut? Well… shave your head like I do, it’s easier.

There are so many things that we already know how to do through our life in our homelands that are easy to transfer to living in another country.

In regards to life in Korea, here are 5 good reasons why you don’t need to learn Korean to live in Korea. This also applies to people who want to travel to Korea.

1: There Are Many English Speakers In Korea

You might not know it if you walked around Seoul, but a lot of people can actually speak English at quite a good level.

If you need help, you can often try asking in English and you’ll likely manage to communicate even if you don’t know much Korean.

English is a required subject at school, and many Korean students start learning it from elementary school or before.

As an English teacher, I certainly know that the level of English varies a lot, but most people under the age of 40 will have had several years of exposure to English education.

They’ll also have a whole lifetime of exposure to English words in their everyday life, as you’ll see in the next point.

2: English Translations Are Common

English is literally everywhere in Korea. Shop signs, signposts, adverts, packaging, clothing, menus, train announcements, and many other places. You’ll find English wherever you go.

You’ll actually find more English than Korean in some places. Look around a pharmacy or supermarket and there are so many English brand names and descriptions, it makes me wonder how Korean people know what they’re buying.

Unfortunately, the English used in some places isn’t always…accurate. This results in ‘Konglish‘, which makes for some very Funny Konglish Pictures as you explore Korea.

3: Many Korean Words Are ‘Borrowed’ From English

Not only can you see many signs in English, there are a lot of cognates – loan words – from English that make it easier to learn and speak Korean.

There are hundreds of words in Korean that are based on English. For example, you can already say these words in Korean:

• computer
  컴퓨터 (kom-pyu-ta)
• Ice cream
  아이스크림 (a-i-su-ku-rim)
• Taxi
  텍시 (tek-shi)
• McDonald’s
  맥도날드스 (Mek-do-nal-du-su)
• Coffee
  커피 (ko-pi)

That’s why learning hangul (Korean alphabet) is really, really helpful if you want to visit or live in Korea.

It’ll help you decipher all of these loan words and you’ll be ordering 피자 (pi-ja) and 콜라 (ko-ra) for dinner with ease.

4: You Can Use Translation Apps In Most Situations

When I visited Beijing in 2017, I didn’t speak a word Mandarin, yet managed to book tours, eat out, and give directions to a taxi driver. Thanks to apps like Kakao Taxi, you can order taxis in Korea without a Korean phone number and without speaking English.

Translation apps such as Google Translate and Papago, whilst still far from perfect, are getting better at bridging the language gap. I would recommend using Papago for Korean translation as it is better suited to translating Korean and I’ve found it’s the best Korean translation app.

Translation apps… are probably the reason my Korean isn’t good.

Not sure what the word for plastic bag is while you’re shopping? Tap it into the translation app. Want to explain that you have a headache at the clinic? Type it in English and show it to the receptionist so they can read it in Korean.

Translation apps have helped me countless times and are probably the main reason my Korean isn’t as good as my Japanese (which I learnt whilst living in Japan for 3 years) – they weren’t as common when I lived there.

As a tourist or expat, make sure you have access to one wherever you go.

5: You Can Get By With Only Basic Korean Phrases

Once you’ve mastered the basics of a language, it’s amazing how much you can do. As an English teacher, I always remind my students that. And as an expat in Korea who has survived on the basics for so long, I can definitely confirm it.

Phrases such as these can be used in countless situations:

• How much is this?
• Where is ~?
• I’m sorry, I don’t know.
• Do you speak English?

Sign language and gesturing is also an important part of communication and can take the place of grammar or vocabulary that you’ve not got around to learning.

For example, if you enter a shop and want to know how much something is, you can point to it and ask 얼마예요? (ol-ma-yeh-yo) – how much is it? You don’t need to know the word of the thing you’re asking about.

Always mind your P’s and Q’s first when learning a language, as I was taught as a kid. For those that don’t know that expression, it means to mind your manners.

Basically, learn to say please and thank you – something you’ll need to live in Korea happily.

Check out my guide to Basic Korean Phrases that’ll help you shop, eat out, travel, and be polite when visiting Korea. An essential list of the most useful phrases.

5 Times When You’ll Need Help With Korean

Although you can live in Korea with basic Korean, there are certainly times when you’ll need a marvellous person to help you navigate the pitfalls of linguistic ignorance.

These are 5 situations that I’ve experienced while living in Korea where I needed help. There are definitely more instances than this, but these should give you a good enough idea of why you should learn Korean to live in Korea.

1: When Filling In Documents

Reading and writing are two very different skills, just as listening and speaking are. This is the difference between receptive (taking in) and productive (putting out) language skills and most people find it easier to take in than put out.

So when it comes to having to fill in a document at a bank, hospital, immigration office, or similar place, a knowledge of Korean is invaluable.

Hangul isn’t hard to learn to read and write, but knowing what to write and how to write are also very different and when faced with a block of Korean text with many instructions. It’s easy to panic.

2: When Doing Your Tax Returns

Taxes aren’t a lot of fun in any country. Try doing them in another country and in another language!

I’ve got to say, the Korean tax system is incredibly convenient thanks to a centralised system that links your bank account, phone number, and tax records into one so you can download all your relevant tax information with the push of a button.

You really don’t want to mess up something as important as a tax return…

Claiming exemptions, filling in forms, knowing where to sign, working out if your tax is correct, and many other aspects of the process, however, are not as fun.

You really don’t want to mess up something as important as a tax return, especially if it costs you money in the end.

So either learn Korean or pay for an accountant who can do it for you. Or, beg the lovely people you work with to help you out, as I do.

3: If You Start Dating A Korean Person

As mentioned before, one of the reasons I didn’t get around to continuing my Korean studies was because I was lucky enough to start dating my amazing Korean girlfriend.

If your partner speaks both your native language and Korean, dating can take away the urgent need to learn Korean. Especially if your partner is kind enough to help you do those tricky language-dependent things you can’t yet do.

Of course, the opposite is also true – it’ll increase your need to learn Korean. Romance without true communication can lead to many problems and miscommunication is a big issue for couples who speak different native languages.

And then there’s the family in law. You’d best learn some super-polite Korean expressions when speaking to your parents-in-law or you’ll never be invited to the family celebrations!

For more (not so serious) issues you might find dating in Korea, check out my article about the Dangers Of Dating In Korea.

4: When You Have A Serious Medical Need

There’s nothing worse than being sick in a foreign country and not knowing how to ask for help. You either need to rely on the kindness of strangers or friends, or you need to be able to explain what’s wrong by yourself.

Booking medical appointments and checkups can also be difficult without a good level of Korean, as I rediscovered when I was vaccinated in Korea.

For most minor trips to see a doctor, however, you can often get away with basic Korean skills and a translation app.

Doctors and nurses have to study English as part of their studies at medical school and should be able to communicate with you about basic medical problems. That doesn’t mean they can speak English, however.

5: If You Get In Trouble

I really hope this doesn’t happen to you, but can you imagine getting arrested in another country and not being able to speak the language.

This hasn’t happened to me in Korea (yet), but I’ve had run-ins with the police in other countries (in Japan for riding with earphones in). Not being able to understand what’s happening can be frightening and, worse yet, can lead you into more trouble.

I don’t recommend breaking the law any time soon. Why not learn Korean instead? It’s probably going to be better in the long run.

The next section will give you a few ideas about how to do that.

How Can I Learn Korean While Living In Korea

There are countless ways to learn Korean. I’d recommend trying a few different ones and see what works best for you. Different people learn in different ways, but the truth about language development is that you have to be consistent and work hard.

To learn Korean, I would recommend these methods:

Korean Language Apps

Learning Korean doesn’t need to take up hours each day. If want to learn Korean living in Korea, or in other countries, you can do it while you ride the bus, sit on the toilet, or have a snack. Apps such as Memrise, Duolingo, KORLINK, and many others can help you learn at your own pace. These are great for learning to read hangul, too.

Online Courses

Courses, such as the one by 90-Day Korean, can guide you through the language learning experience. Start with the basics and progress through the levels until you are ready for real-life conversation. Of course, you should try to get a mix of online and offline learning for the best results. Another online courses that I’d recommend is Talk To Me In Korean.

Language Classes

If you live in a big city in Korea, there’s probably a community-based language course where you can learn Korean for a low price (or free). Check out your local government’s website to find one.

You can also sign up for Korean classes at universities in Korea and study for a month or more. This’ll help you learn Korean quickly. If you’re not sure if you need to learn Korean to live in Korea, then a language exchange like this can help you know for sure.

Language Exchanges

There are plenty of language exchange groups on Facebook. Chat in Korean and then chat in English. Mix with locals and some of the 2,000,000+ Foreigners Living In Korea and develop your own skills as you help others learn your own language. These aren’t just for English-Korean exchanges, they often include other languages, too.

Private Tuition

If you can afford it, find someone to give you one-to-one lessons at least once or twice a week. This will help people with low confidence to speak in public, people who need a tailored course, and people who like to ask lots of questions as they learn.

Practice Speaking When Possible

Talk. Talk to friends, talk to co-workers, chat with the ajumma at the market, practice using Korean in any situation you can. If you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, then using it in your daily life is the most useful way to practice.

What’s It Like Living In Korea As An Expat?

Expat Life In Korea Guide: If you’re thinking about moving to Korea, or want to know what life is like as an expat in Korea, then you should check out my guide to expat life in Korea.

It talks about what’s good (and not so easy) about living in Korea, as well as how to survive and thrive in the Land of the Morning Calm.

My EPIK Life In Korea: If you’d like to know more about my life in Korea as an English teacher, then you might enjoy this article.

FAQ About Learning Korean In Korea

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about whether you should learn Korean to live in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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This guide provides a season-by-season guide to the kind of weather you can expect, as well as the potential problems (and benefits) the seasonal changes bring. Find out when to watch out for typhoons, when to wrap up warm, and when to bring waterproofs for rainy season.

Hiking in Korea is more than just watching the weather. There are so many incredible sights to see. From cherry blossom-lined streets to the stunning views of autumn leaves, silvery reeds, and snow-capped mountain tops, I’ll show you the best places to see them all. Never miss out on the best mountains at the best time with this essential guide to hiking in Korea’s magnificent mountains.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

When To Go Hiking In Korea For The best Sights

The best seasons to go hiking in Korea are definitely spring and autumn, which both feature warm, sunny days and clears skies while you hike. Summer and winter are tougher, but you can definitely enjoy a day out hiking during these seasons.

Each season in Korea has its own charms – from winter snow to autumn leaves and a lot else in between. There’s not really a bad time to go hiking in Korea, but there are definitely better places to go during each season, and places to avoid.

This Korean seasonal hiking guide will give you a quick overview of the weather in each season, some of the best mountains to hike in each season, what you can expect to see, and how to prepare for hiking at that time of year.

Don’t forget to check out my top 21 Korean hiking tips to get even more advice about how to have a fun day out hiking in Korea’s national parks. Also, be sure to check my other seasonal articles to know what to experience in each month. This covers a month-by-month guide to weather, events, activities, and festivals to enjoy throughout the year in Korea.

Spring Hiking In Korea

One of the best seasons to go hiking in Korea. Full of nature, new beginnings, bright flowers, and warm weather. After a long winter, spring brings positivity for the year ahead. The arrival of the cherry blossoms brings a lot of people out into the mountains.

Spring Weather

Still cold from winter in early March, quickly warming and quite hot by the end of May. There can be seasonal fine dust during early spring, but the weather is quite nice apart from that. There can be some showers in early April, but they’re not too strong and you can hike with waterproof clothing.

Best Mountains To Hike

Head to Jirisan or Hallasan (Jeju) for incredible views of Cherry blossoms. Hwangmaesan Mountain in Hapcheon (near Busan) has fields of pink flowers on the mountainside, old fortress walls, and even sheep wondering the hills – a nice secret spot away from the crowds.

Near Seoul, Bukhansan National Park is always good, and you can get views of the greenery returning to parks and palaces across the capital.

Chiaksan National Park near Wonju is packed with more trees and there is also the Wonju Rail-bike Park that offers a fun rail-bike experience along an abandoned train line, passing by lakes, cliffs, and lots of pretty sights.

What You Can See

An abundance of flowers, blossoms, and blue skies. The first blossoms of the season are the plum blossoms (maehwa) in early March, followed up by the Cherry Blossoms in mid to late March and early April. There are also magnolias, azaleas, forsythia, and lots more.

There are many Korean festivals celebrating spring and Buddha’s Birthday that are held in the national parks and mountains. The most popular festivals are the cherry blossom festivals, including the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, which attracts millions of visitors each year.

What To Watch Out For

Fine dust is the biggest issue in spring. Check the air pollution levels before hiking and bring a mask if you expect it. It won’t stop you hiking, but will often spoil the view.

Crowds can also be an issue, especially during cherry blossom season (late March to early April). If you can hike during the week, it’ll be much quieter than the weekends.

Summer Hiking In Korea

Definitely the toughest season to go hiking in Korea, but one where you can still enjoy getting out and seeing the sights. There are more than just mountains to see and the warm summer nights offer the opportunity for night hiking, particularly in Seoul.

Summer Weather

Hot! It doesn’t get cold during summer unless it rains, which it does a lot during July. This is rainy season, so definitely check the weather forecast and pack appropriately if you’re hiking in summer. Night time is cooler and good for special night hikes.

Best Mountains To Hike

I love Odaesan and Gyeryongsan for summer hiking. They have thick forests that provide shelter from the sun’s heat and aren’t too exposed at the top, protecting you from the sun. 

Geumosan Mountain in Gumi (near Daegu) is a nice hidden gem that has a large waterfall you can walk under and a pool to stay cool. You can ride a cable car up to the mountain top and hike back down.

If you’re in Seoul, hike Namsan Mountain at night or along the Seoul City Fortress Walls.

What You Can See

Greenery. After rainy season, plants and trees have a growth explosion and cover everything. Thick leaves, bushes, and plants are everywhere, along with more wildlife and flowers than in any other season.

What To Watch Out For

The heat. Stock up on water and be prepared to sweat. Also be prepared for mosquitoes. They are out in force during summer and you should wear long sleeves to protect against bites. Summer In Korea is tough, but there are many great places to check out, too.

Autumn Hiking In Korea

My favourite season to go hiking in Korea. Long, warm days. Blue skies. And the many colourful autumn leaves that are on display at this time of year. They all add up to one of the best times to be out in nature and hiking. It’s also the most popular time to go hiking in Korea.

Autumn Weather

Lower air pollution than other seasons, more blue skies, and warm (but not hot). The best weather of the year. There are the occasional typhoons, which can be an issue if you’re hiking on Jeju or along the south coast. However, there aren’t as many as in other countries in East Asia.

Best Mountains To Hike

Seoraksan is the most popular destination during autumn, as well as Jirisan, which has loads of maple trees. Naejangsan is considered one of the most beautiful spots for autumn leaves. 

Daedunsan Mountain near Daejeon also has incredible views, as well as a suspension bridge and stairway between peaks (with a scary view below).

If you want to find oceans of silver grass reeds, head to Mindungsan in Gangwon-do.

Check out this article for details about How To Get To Naejangsan. If you want to know more about the best time to travel in Korea, check out my Guide To October In Korea, which is packed with info about festivals, sights, must-do activities, and lots more.

What You Can See

Korea’s Autumn Leaves. These start in late September and run through to early November. There are also various cultural festivals celebrating the harvest and different locally produced products are on sale, such as chestnuts, persimmons, and jujube.

What To Watch Out For

Typhoons. Although they aren’t common, the strong winds and heavy rains make it very dangerous to go hiking. Also keep an eye out for snakes hiding in the fallen leaves.

Winter Hiking In Korea

The coldest season in Korea is actually still a good one to go hiking. Be prepared, wrap up warm, and you can see some incredible sights, including snow-capped mountain tops, snow flowers, and lots more.

Winter Weather

Cold! From mid-November the temperature plummets and is often below 0 degrees Celsius in January and February. This can bring snowy weather, but not all the time.

Hiking in the mountains gives you the best chance to see snow. It’ll also be a lot colder as you start climbing higher. The weather is generally dry during winter, which is good for hiking. Watch out for ice though.

Best Mountains To Hike

Deogyusan is my favourite mountain for winter hiking. There’s often snow and the connected ski-resort gives you an easy way down the mountain after hiking to the top. Jirisan also has great winter views.

If you want to experience snowy mountain views, head to Taebaeksan, it’s famous for its winter festival and snowy scenes. You can get a shuttle bus from Seoul during festival time.

Visiting Jeju Island in winter? Then be sure to try winter hiking on Hallasan for incredible snowy sights.

What You Can See

Snow! In the highest mountains (Seoraksan, Jirisan, Deogyusan, Hallasan), there’s a much better chance of seeing snow than in the cities. A lot of the big ski resorts are in Gyeonggi Province or Gangwon Province in the northern part of Korea, close to Seoul.

What To Watch Out For

Ice. If you’re hiking, make sure you pack some spikes (crampons) and hiking sticks. Wrap up warm because winter is cold and the mountains are freezing. You’ll warm up as you hike though. It gets dark quickly, too. Be prepared to end your hike around 5pm.

The Best Places To Go Hiking In Korea

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of mountains to choose from if you want to go hiking in Korea. The country is 70% mountainous and knowing which ones are the best ones you should visit can feel a bit overwhelming.

The list below are for the best mountains you can visit from Seoul and then the best mountains you can visit across Korea in case you’re starting from other locations.

Best Mountains To Hike In Seoul

These mountains are all inside Seoul and accessible by public transport

• Bukhansan National Park
• Namsan Mountain (N Seoul Tower)
• Inwangsan Mountain
• Gwanaksan Mountain
• Cheonggyesan Mountain
• Ansan Mountain
• Achasan Mountain

Best Mountains To Hike In Korea

For other parts of Korea, here are some of the best national parks that are typically suitable for all levels.

• Chiaksan National Park
• Seoraksan National Park
• Odaesan National Park
• Jirisan National Park
• Hallasan National Park (Jeju)
• Gyeryongsan National Park
• Songnisan National Park
• Naejangsan National Park

These mountains are some of the Best Mountains To Hike In Korea.

How To Get To The Mountains In Korea

Here are a few tips about how to get to the mountains to start your hiking journey.

By Car

If you have car, then you won’t have many problems getting to the mountains. Look for the national park entrances, there are usually car parks right outside.

Be careful during the busiest times (cherry blossom & autumn leaves season) as traffic can be backed up. Arrive early and leave early to avoid the worst traffic.

By Public Transport

Korea has an amazing bus and train network that goes to the most remote national parks. I don’t own a car and have had to rely on public transport to get to most places.

You’ll need to do some research, and check the routes with Naver / Kakao map apps, as well as Korean bus apps, but it’s certainly possible.

A lot of the major hiking destinations have online guides and you can find out the best way to get there with a quick search. It’s often cheap but be prepared for long journeys. That’s not so bad as you can sleep on the way.

One word of warning: bus drivers in Korea love to turn the heating up to maximum during winter. It’s really, really hot on the bus (way too hot) and you should be prepared to take off most of your winter hiking clothes. The opposite is true in summer when it’s freezing cold with the aircon.

By Taxi

If you travel to nearby towns, getting a taxi is a reasonably priced and convenient option to get to the hiking routes.

For example, if you want to hike Daedunsan near Daejeon or Odaesan near Jinbu, you can get a taxi from these places and be there in 20 – 30 minutes. It’s a lot more convenient as the buses aren’t that frequent.

By Tour Operator

There are a number of great tour operators that provide tours for locals living in Korea or tourists visiting Korea. These can be more expensive than taking public transport, but also get your straight to where you want to go without detours and long waits between connections.

Furthermore, tour operators also provide insights from local guides, extra stops along the way with additional activities you might never get the chance to experience, as well as visiting several famous locations in the same area.

Online tour operators I recommend:

• Klook.com
• Trazy.com

Facebook-based tour companies operating in Korea:

• Seoul Hiking & Nature Group
• Tour 08 Foreigner Tours
• Korea Travel Easy
• WINK Travel

There’s also the option to hire a private driver to take you to various places and guide you around.

I hope these few sections of this guide to hiking in Korea have helped you to figure out when, where, and how to go hiking.

Why Should I Go Hiking In Korea?

Did you know that one translation of ‘Korea’ is ‘land of high mountains and sparkling streams‘? Whenever you go into the Korean countryside, you’re surrounded by mountains and awe-inspiring views. You’ll easily understand why it has that name.

I hope this guide to hiking in Korea has inspired you to get your boots on and go out and experience the incredible scenes you can find all across Korea. In case you’re not convinced about why hiking is a must-do activity in Korea, here are a few more reasons why you should try it:

• It’s great exercise – A day hiking in the mountains can burn hundreds or even thousands of calories and work many different muscles.
• To make friends – There are many social clubs where people go hiking together. It’s a great way to meet new people and find people who like to get out and enjoy nature.
• You’ll see incredible sights – There are incredible scenes waiting to be discovered out there. Waterfalls, friendly squirrels, forested valleys, frozen lakes, snowy peaks, autumn leaves, cherry blossoms, and so much more.
• It’s a cheap day out – Unlike a day at a theme park or visiting expensive attractions, hiking is really cheap. Park entrance fees are a few thousand won and food and snacks don’t cost much at all.
• Chance to see snow – if you’re looking for snowy sights, the mountains during winter are the best places to find them.
• The best Buddhist temples – whilst Seoul has some nice temples, the best ones are all hiding in the national parks. You can even do a temple stay and enjoy hiking in the mountains at the same time

For those living in Korea, I’d recommend joining a hiking Facebook group such as the Seoul Nature & Hiking Group or Hiking In Korea.

Hiking In Korea FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about how to go hiking in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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The metal tongs are snatched from my hand as I gingerly, yet knowledgeably, poked at the sizzling samgyeopsal (pork belly) slowly cooking in front of me, taken by the aggressively kind ajumma (middle-aged lady) who doesn’t trust me to cook for myself in her restaurant. She mutters to me in Korean several times whilst she turns, cuts, and tends to the meat, shaking her head every time I have thoughts of serving myself dinner.

When it’s ready, she shoves the deliciously juicy smouldering meat in my direction, indicating that I’ve been given permission to eat a meal I’ve enjoyed (and cooked) dozens of times. She doesn’t believe this, of course. I’m a foreigner in Korea away from the main tourist areas and so I can’t possibly know what I’m doing. I don’t mind really, I’m happy for her to show her skills and prepare this mouth-watering meal perfectly for me. I probably would have burned it anyway.

Before she leaves, she remembers to instruct me on the finer points of Korean dining, by stabbing at the various other ingredients I should wrap together in the crispy lettuce leaf with her tongs, which she begrudgingly leaves behind. I’m free to indulge in one of my favourite traditional Korean meals, one that puts a big smile on my face (and a few more inches on my waistline).

I mix some soju into my beer, shove the lettuce-wrapped meat into my mouth, and smile as contentedly as you might do when enjoying a hearty home-cooked meal in the middle of winter.

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What’s Expat Life In Korea Like?

After more than a decade of living as an expat, with more than five of those years in Korea, I’ve built up a library of experiences – good, bad, and often strange. I want to share these with you, as well as my own insights into expat life in Korea (and in general) to give you an idea of what expat life can be like.

Of course, everyone’s opinions and observations are different. My simple stream of experiences leads into the grander ocean of collective encounters, disasters, joys, memories, confusion, and wonder that makes up life living overseas.

If you want to know more about Korea, and what to expect from expat life in Korea, you should definitely check out this article about some fun Korean facts. Before I get into more personal stories, here’s a brief overview of expat life in Korea.

A Few Facts About Expat Life In Korea

If you’re considering becoming an expat in Korea, you’re certainly not alone. There are a lot of us over here from many different countries, doing a wide range of jobs, or studying in some of Korea’s innovative and welcoming universities. Despite Korea being an extremely homogenous country, about 3.4% of the Korean population are foreigners.

From US soldiers keeping Korea safe in army bases across the country, to migrant workers, english teachers, and other nationals with a love or connection to Korea, there is an eclectic mix of people living in Korea as expats.

As you can see from the charts above and below, the number of foreign residents living in Korea surpassed 2 million a few years ago and is now over 2,500,000, according to the latest statistics. The vast majority of these expats in Korea are from Asia, with more then 1 million of them being from China originally. There are nearly a 1/4 of a million people from the US here, too. The majority of people living in Korea as an expat live in or around Seoul, almost 60% in total.

2022 Update: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of expats in Korea has dropped dramatically and now stands at only 1,960,000 as of January 2022. Find out more about how many foreigner live in Korea.

For Western expats from native English speaking countries, including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, and Canada, there are lots of jobs teaching English in Korea. There are approximately 24,000 expats teaching English in Korea now, with many arriving or departing each year.

If you’re from one of those countries, find out how to start teaching English in Korea.

The final fact is that expat life in Korea is awesome and there definitely aren’t any problems at all.

Fact…

Okay, that’s a lie, but life is as good as you make it and there are certainly lots of chances to have an incredible expat life if you want to (although life is not always rosy).

Here’s how I ended up in Korea and a little bit about my life as an expat.

My Situation Living In Korea As An Expat

It was a sweltering afternoon in August, with temperatures approaching apocalyptically hot when I arrived through the gates of Incheon Airport and started my journey in Korea. If you’re not aware, summer in Korea is a monster and the temperature felt close to 40 degrees Celsius, with high humidity and sweat forming in seconds.

Why was I stepping into this inferno after a year of enduring the abuse of near-endless summer in Hong Kong? Many reasons, not least the sense of adventure that I always feel when I move somewhere new, and the challenge of learning and embracing a new culture and country.

I was also maybe running away from Hong Kong, a country I never really felt settled in, but that’s another story. Anyway, I was ready for expat life in Korea and eager to explore and learn more.

So what have I been doing here?

I’ve been teaching English to some incredible students for the last 5 years and now answer to the name Joel Teacher more than anything. Well, since moving to a university, that’s now Professor Joel, which sounds a bit better.

It’s been a great experience that has allowed me to save a lot of money (got to pay for all this travelling somehow!), make some awesome friends, and indelible memories.

If you’re interested in knowing more about life teaching in Korea, I have some articles about my expat life teaching English in Korea and how to apply for EPIK Korea.

Although I’d only planned to stay for a year, 6 years later and I’m still here and, like many expats in Korea, I seem to have decided to settle down a bit. Living in Korea as an expat has given me the chance to travel within the country and experience some great festivals, eat lots of delicious food, and improve my Korean skills.

However, expat life in Korea is a lot more than just having fun and seeing new things. There are real life issues to deal with and the ride is not always smooth, especially when you don’t understand the local language, things don’t make sense, or the weather gets you down.

My point is living the expat life, in Korea or elsewhere, has good days and bad days. It’s a life I’ve chosen and one I have few regrets embarking on, but it’s not always easy. Would I give it up and go back to England? Probably not any time soon.

If you want a different perspective into expat life in Korea as an expat, then be sure to read more about living abroad in Jeonju.

If you want to know what I find so great about living in Korea as an expat, then keep on reading.

What’s Great About Expat Life In Korea

As I walked the streets of Seoul people waved and cheered my every step. Locals gasped and complimented me on my handsome good looks and everyone wanted to be my friend. Every meal was incredible, days were sunny and peaceful, and I was never in want of company or entertainment. Within a few months I’d become something akin to a local celebrity, with people requesting my ‘sign‘ (Konglish for signature), and life had never been better.

You can probably tell that I’m being a tad silly, but these exaggerations hide half-truths and honest interpretations of how life feels when you start living life as an expat. Even more so if you’re a teacher and have dozens of wonderfully adorable kids all rushing up to you with their excited puppy-dog eyes, telling you how unique and interesting you are (which you are).

I’m going to go ahead and say it, Korea is one of the best places to live in the world. Of course, there are plenty of other great places to live in the world that I might not have experienced yet, but of the places I have, Korea is one of the best.

An amazing thing about starting life as an expat in Korea, or other countries (I had the same in Japan), is that you see everything through new eyes and the whole world seems incredible. Standing out from the locals and experiencing new sights, sounds, smells, and tastes every day is simply euphoric. Perhaps this is more pronounced when you travel far away, to a new continent with new people and a new type of language.

Honestly, I could rant on for ages about those first few months and all the amazing experiences I’ve had, but they don’t last. The honeymoon phase is awesome, but it’s temporary. The things that make expat life in Korea so meaningful and worthwhile for me are often the little things in life.

The things that bring you small doses of joy from time to time, wash away the fatigue from misunderstanding some cultural faux pas, or make you remember why you got on that plane and left your old life behind.

Therefore, here are my top 5 things that are great about expat life in Korea after the honeymoon is over. There are more, sure, but these 5 should give you an idea of why you might want to consider jetting to Korea to begin your own expat life:

1: Always Something Great To Eat

If you’ve been to Korea before then you’ll know there is so much great food to enjoy, from modern street food to classic Korean dishes. Korea’s unique fare has developed from a love of spicy peppers, rice cakes, and other local ingredients, as well as embracing tastes from around the world. Walk around the traditional markets in Seoul and you’ll see irresistible street food that’ll make your mouth water.

Stay longer as an expat in Korea and you’ll see beyond these simple treats, however. You’ll find dishes that most tourists never bother or know to try, such as gamja-tang, kimchi-jeon, memil-guksu, galbi-tang, and many other amazing dishes I’d wholly recommend.

No matter where you are in Korea, you’ll be able to find some fantastic meals at great prices, even as low as $5 for a full meal. If you’re in Daejeon, let me know and I’ll tell you where to get all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ for $10!

Get away from the main touristy areas and check out the small Korean restaurants that look intimidatingly local and basic – they’ll have the best food. These are also the places where a friendly ajumma might try to feed you dinner and give you a VIP service. If you’re worried about being able to order food, check out my guide to Korean phrases that’ll save your bacon.

2: Really Easy To Travel In Korea & Beyond

I’m a traveller at heart and I love to explore as much as possible. Living in Korea hasn’t stopped this, it’s only made it easier. Korea is connected by a high speed train network known as the KTX, has thousands of buses that go to the most remote places, and the big cities have great public transport options. This allows me to get to the mountains, beaches, and far away islands without a car.

Not only that, travelling in Korea is really cheap. I can travel to Seoul and back from Daejeon (140km one way) for about $10 each way. I used to pay that travelling within London! Prices are incredibly low for public transport, with the average ticket price for a ride on a bus or subway being 1,250 won if you have a T-Money Card (which you should definitely have). Even taxis are cheap in Korea, much cheaper than Japan or England.

Living in Korea is not just convenient for travelling internally. Incheon Airport provides a gateway to the rest of Asia and further abroad. There are a lot of budget airlines that fly within Korea and beyond. During normal, non-pandemic times, you can travel far and wide without paying much. For example, you can fly to Japan, China, Thailand, or even the Philippines for less than $100 each way.

For some ideas about travelling in Korea, check out these 50 Unique Korean Experiences.

3: Life Is Safe & Free From Harm

Korea is generally recognised as a very safe country and when living in Korea as an expat I’ve rarely felt threatened or in danger. I’ve only ever felt this safe in Japan, which has a similar culture and sense of civil peace that stems from Confucian ideals of harmony and community. Yes, I just summed up a lot of Korean culture in one sentence there.

It’s perhaps easiest to say that people in Korea don’t like to publicly cause offence or embarrassment for others. This means people aren’t typically confrontational, teens don’t go around in gangs looking to antagonise anyone, and people aren’t throwing abusive comments at you while you walk down the street.

The risk of violent crime in public is extremely low, too. If you’ve ever been mugged, you’ll know how important that is. That’s not to say there aren’t crimes in Korea (cyber crimes & corruption are big issues), but for the average expat in Korea you won’t feel physically threatened. That being said, be sensible when you’re out, especially if you’re going clubbing or drinking lots.

Yes, the issue of being excluded and mistreated as you’re a foreigner is significant, which I’ll discuss later.

If you’re interested in knowing a bit more about Korean Culture And Etiquette rules, then please read my guide to Korean etiquette. I cover some of the basic ideals of Korean culture and you might understand a bit more about why Korea is such a safe country.

4: Your Money Goes A Long Way

Expat life in Korea is relatively cheap and I feel like I have a lot more disposable income after tax and bills than I have in other countries. I’m not saying this as one of those rich expats working for a Global 500 company who are earning twice their normal salaries because they’re working overseas, but as a humble foreigner teaching English in Korea.

The cost of living is low for many things, including rent, food, transport, and clothing. This is relative to the country you’re from, so maybe a few figures will help you see what I mean. My costs per month are:

• Rent – $400
• Bills (gas, electric, internet) – $150 – $250 (depending on the season)
• Transport costs – under $3 per day for two journeys
• Food – $400 – $600 (depending on how often I cook at home)

I won’t say what my income is, but the average entry-level salary for English teachers in Korea starts at $2,000 per month. Clothing, drinking, travel, and entertainment can be cheap or expensive, it all depends on your tastes.

Expat life in Korea can get very expensive if you don’t adapt to the local culture and foods. I see plenty of expats in Korea who refuse to eat Korean food or cook for themselves and spend a fortune on foreign foods. You really don’t need to. As I mentioned, Korean food is amazing (fact) and a lot cheaper than imported goods.

These lower costs of living means that you can save a lot of money, which helps you travel to all the other awesome countries nearby, which is why you’ll see a lot of expats in Korea head over to Thailand for winter, Japan for spring, and backpacking for months after they leave Korea.

5: You Get To Be Part Of Things All Year Round

Longing to experience days splashing through snow in Seoul, seeing cherry blossoms bloom, joining some awesome summer activities, or watching beautiful autumn leaves fall? As an expat in Korea you can.

Most people only get to see a small part of a country when they travel, hoping they can time their trip with a festival or special event. Expat life in Korea allows you the freedom to travel and make plans for loads of amazing activities throughout the year (global pandemics notwithstanding). You can experience firsthand all the different seasons, events, foods, activities, and more that only happen at certain times each year.

This is one of the reasons that I prefer being an expat to a tourist. You can develop an appreciation of the changes that occur and see people and places changing with the weather. Sampling dishes that are only available in winter, or hitting Korea’s beaches when it’s warmer, is part of the reward of expat life in Korea.

Furthermore, you get to be part of the community in Korea. You can join clubs, learn new skills & hobbies, make friends, go to private parties, stalk your favourite celebrity with other like-minded people, or simply sit by and watch what’s going on around you. These things are unavailable to tourists. To really get to know a country, you have to live there for a while.

Are These The Only Benefits To Expat Life?

I’ve tried to limit this list to things that are unique about expat life in Korea, instead of general expat life. Typical benefits of expat life include challenging yourself more, developing as a person, learning a new language, finding new things to enjoy, and changing your outlook on life.

Another unexpected benefit of expat life is the appreciation of things that you’ve left behind. You’ll suffer from culture shock sooner or later and pine away for those things you miss back home.

Later, that develops into an understanding of what you don’t have in life and the good sides of the country you left behind. Not everyone develops this, but if you look at your life from time to time, you might find you miss things you didn’t realise were important to you.

And with that in mind, it’s on to the challenges of living in Korea as an expat…

Challenges Of Expat Life In Korea

Ever the optimist, these are challenge, not problems. Hopefully you can overcome them, but they take a positive attitude and some time and effort. For example, if you don’t bother learning the language, you can’t blame anyone but yourself if you’ve no idea what’s going on.

I don’t want to get bogged down in focusing on the negative side of expat life in Korea, so I’ll try to keep these points short. Again, they are often not as bad as they seem and you can work around them.

Without further ado, here are my 5 biggest challenges of living in Korea as an expat:

1: Understanding (And Tolerating) Cultural Differences

This is a massive issue when living in Korea as an expat. One I could probably write a book about. Korean culture is wildly different from Western culture, and many cultures around the world.

You can learn about culture, study it in a book, and experience it when you travel, but you probably still won’t understand it. Culture flows so deeply through the hearts and minds of the citizens of a country that you’d need to spend a lifetime doing autopsies of every interaction here to really comprehend it. Even then you’d find things you don’t get.

This can be very frustrating at times when you accidentally (or intentionally) go against what is expected culturally, or people behave in a way that seems to make no sense to you. I’m not saying one culture is wrong or right, but the clash between beliefs and ideals can lead to problems for expats living in Korea.

Again, I don’t want to go into this issue too deeply in this article. I’ll try to paint a clearer picture in future posts about Korean culture. Just know that cultural differences are probably the hardest thing you have to overcome as an expat in Korea. But they can be overcome, as long as you’re willing to make an effort to understand them.

For those who are looking for love in Korea, you should consider some of the Dangers Of Dating In Korea, too. If you want to learn more about the subtle, often hidden aspects of Korean culture that are coming to the fore through modern Korean literature, check out these excelled Korean novels in English.

2: The Language Barrier Can Be Hard To Overcome

This is definitely a challenge and one you can overcome with a bit (okay, a lot) of effort and determination. I’ll admit, I’m far from fluent in Korean, but the more I learn, the less this is an issue. Learning the local language isn’t always necessary as a tourist, but when you plan to be an expat, it’s kind of essential.

In Seoul you can get away with a low level of Korean as there are a lot more tourist-friendly areas and people will be exposed to English and other languages a lot more. However, if you plan to live outside of the capital, then the language barrier can have a big impact on your life.

Fortunately, modern technology makes living in Korea as an expat a lot easier for those who don’t know Korean. You can hide in your apartment and order food to be delivered, translate things you want to say, and use English apps to get around.

But you’re never going to enjoy the 5 great things about expat life in Korea that I mentioned before without some language skills. You can make local friends, but wouldn’t it be better to be able to share jokes in both languages?

Don’t you want to know what all those strange items are on the menu besides the few that you’ve already heard of? Isn’t it fun to visit non-touristy areas and ask for recommendations from the locals? How can you explain why to the angry ajumma on the subway why you don’t have your mask with you?

The answer is to learn some Korean. Not sure if you should Learn Korean To Live In Korea? Find out the answer in the linked article.

3: Locals Can Be (Often Unknowingly) Rude

“How much do you weigh?”

This is a question I’ve had many times in Korea. How would you feel in this situation? Embarrassed? Slightly annoyed? Overweight (that’s my usual feeling)? Questions like this are seemingly innocuous to Koreans but can be considered rude to expats in Korea. Other examples include asking about age, income, relationship status, and even blood type.

Perhaps worse than these questions are the looks, stares, and silent actions that illustrate a fear or unease around foreigners, one that Koreans may not even realise they’re demonstrating.

Two common examples of this are as follows:

1: Children will stop dead in their tracks when they see you, mouth agape, shaking hand pointing in my direction as if they’ve seen an alien beam down in front of them.

2: Adults jump back in shock when I spring out at them coming out of the lift.

This isn’t exclusive to Korea, I experienced the same as an expat in Japan. Worse, in fact, as I lived in the countryside. I know this stems from being an extremely homogenous country and me being tall, bald, and shockingly exotic looking.

To be honest, I’ve been living in Korea as an expat for long enough that this sort of thing doesn’t really bother me any more. It’s a little frustrating at times, but nothing more than that. I know that Korean people usually don’t mean anything by it and it’s often unintentional, especially from the kids. I only hope that with more expats in Korea each year, things will gradually change for the better.

4: Career Prospects Can Be Limited

Teaching English in Korea is a great job for those straight out of uni, those who want a change from their normal job, or devout Korea-fanatics who want to live their K-dreams out in the real Korea. As I mentioned, the cost of living in Korea is low and you can live a comfortable life on your salary, as well as save a lot. However, as an expat in Korea, you’re not likely to get rich.

I know that I’ll never be up for promotion where I work and salary increases aren’t going to happen. I can’t apply to be a manager and I’ll never end up as a principal at a school – not that I really want to be. There are opportunities in my field, and in other industries, but the chances are slim.

A lot of people who make it big in Korea tend to be independent – celebrities, YouTubers, professionals in some way that made it without rising up the Korean corporate ladder. There are people who have made it into large international corporations like Samsung, but for the majority of expats in Korea, like me, that’s not really an option.

The challenge here is to find out where you can develop your career if you plan to be here for a long time. School teachers often move into university positions (as I did), or else set up their own private education businesses. If you learn Korean, there are definitely a lot more opportunities for you.

5: You’re Not Korean (And Never Will Be)

I know this can be hard to accept for some people, but if you’re not already Korean, you never will be. Even with all that expensive plastic surgery. This ties in with my other points about cultural and language barriers, as well as the strange looks you get as a foreigner. Expat life in Korea can be challenging because you’re an expat.

This point would be included in any post about expats in any country. This isn’t a Korea-exclusive issue, but it is one you have to consider if you want to live the expat life in Korea. It’s not necessarily bad, but you can feel excluded at times and when you’re the only foreigner surrounded by locals you can feel overwhelmed.

There are some good sides to not being Korean in Korea. You’re not always expected to follow the cultural rules and people are less strict with you than they may be with fellow Koreans. There are also plenty of Koreans who want to talk and make friends with you because you’re not Korean, so it’s a good chance to meet new people.

One last time, problems are often an issue of perspective. Play on your uniqueness and accept that you’re different and you’ll be happier as an expat in Korea. It’s a strength you have to choose to use.

Things I’ve Learned As An Expat In Korea

I’ve had a passion for travelling since my first overseas trip without my family when I was 16, and that grew and grew as I later travelled the world backpacking when I was 18, before I eventually made the move to expat life. Part of this passion comes from the ability to learn new things as I explore more of this world.

Here are a few pearls of wisdom I’ve learned from living in Korea as an expat (as well as from other countries). I hope these help you if you’re considering making the move to expat life in the future.

• You need to be patient and willing to adapt to the local culture.
• Sometimes people don’t understand what you’re saying, be sure to speak slowly and clearly
• A small effort to learn Korean culture and language goes a long way.
• Group harmony is important – try not to be selfish.
• When things get you down, indulge in your own culture
• You will suffer from culture shock – it’s inevitable.
• Culture shock passes through different phases and things will get better.
• You may be right in your country, but you can be wrong in Korea.
• Expat life in Korea is rewarding if you make the most of it.
• If you don’t try something new, you’ll never discover how rich life is.
• Emergency savings are a must – you never know when you might have to travel suddenly.
• People are friendlier than you think. Silence masks shyness more often than intolerance.
• There are more than four seasons and you’ll never adapt to them all.
• There’s nothing better than a home-cooked meal in your home country.
• If you don’t get out of your comfort zone, you’ll never grow in life.
• Invest in good bedding, such as an Emma mattress, as sleeping can be tough.

That last one is probably the most important thing about starting a life as an expat in Korea or elsewhere. It’s not easy, but if you don’t take a risk, you’ll never find the rich rewards that expat life can bring. So, would I recommend expat life in Korea? You can probably guess already.

Would I Recommend Living In Korea As An Expat?

Yes. I would definitely recommend expat life in Korea.

There’s a universe of possible adventures to dip into as an expat in Korea. You have the chance to learn about a new culture, language, people, and devour all the awesome food Korea produces. You can experience local traditions, festivals, celebrations, and customs. Maybe you’ll see snow for the first time.

Lifelong friendships can be made among the smoky fires of a Korean BBQ restaurant. Or perhaps love will bloom for you in the heat of a humid summer evening as you walk along the shores of the Han River hand in hand with someone special. It’s no exaggeration to say that anything can happen.

However, there’s a huge caveat with all this that I can’t emphasise enough. 

You have to be willing to make an effort to understand the local culture and tolerate differences with your own culture.

No, you don’t have to embrace Korean culture fully and act and do as Koreans do (I certainly don’t), but you do need to be aware of it and tolerant of it when it gets you down or you don’t understand it. If you don’t, you’ll be flying out with your bags hastily packed, grumbling about everything. I’ve seen my fair share of people like that and you’ll never end up a happy expat if you do.

As with everything in life, the more effort you put into making your situation better, the more you’ll get out of it.

I hope this has given you lots to think about. If you’re thinking about moving to Korea to live as an expat, perhaps it’s helped to convince you that it’s a worthy risk opportunity to take.

There’s only one way to find out of it’s right for you.

Learn More About Life In Korea

Are you interested in learning more about life in Korea? Then why not check out some of these other articles about life in the Land of the Morning Calm and other fascinating cultural insights into all things Korean.

Korean Fan Death Myth: Learn about the dangers of cooling electric fans and why Koreans believe that they can kill you.

Konglish Fails: A funny look at the world of Konglish and 60+ Korean signs that showcase the best and worst of Korean English.

Weird Korean Foods: Explore the good and bad of Korea’s unusual culinary creations with these 20 strange dishes. Would you dare try any?

Pepero Day: Korea and Japan have a long rivalry in many areas. Did you know that also extends to thin chocolate biscuits?

Expat Life In Korea FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about living in Korea as an expat, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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