Living in Korea

Sending mail can be a difficult task when living in a foreign country. Fortunately, the Korean postal service made a great webpage where you can easily find any postal code in Korea. Just select the province or 'metropolitan', then the city/town, and finally, select the dong.

Here is the URL:

As Korea's capital and largest city, Seoul (서울) has a vibrant nightlife with something to offer for everyone. The city pulsates and thrives in a variety of nighttime activities and many who visit remark that it is amply named; there is plenty of soul in Seoul.

Mixing and mingling in Itaewon or Hongdae offers a plethora of opportunities to experience nightlife in Korea. These two areas serve up a lively dose of tourists and are good options for people looking for a taste of home. 

Itaewon

Itaewon (이태원동;梨泰原洞) is known for its Western style pubs and nightclubs, and has a number of 'juice bars' where men go to buy scantily clad waitresses over-priced and watered-down drinks. This section of town is also home to the infamous area known as 'Hooker Hill'.

제주외국어고등학교 기숙사

South Korea is renowned for it's great shopping centers. From small traditional markets to large department stores, the wide array of shops in Seoul offer something for everyone. You can find everything from handmade crafts, beautiful fabrics and apparel to the latest electronic gadgets. People come from all over the world to shop in Korea's many markets.

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun shijang (남대문 시장;南大門市場) is the largest of the jaerae shijang (재래 시장;) or traditional markets in Seoul. This market has been a source of merchant activity for some 600 years and gets its name from the nearby and famous Seoul landmark Namdaemun (남대문;南大門), or Great South Gate. At the market you will find all manner of merchandise, including daily necessities, food, apparel, electronics and a plethora of imported goods. Shoppers will delight in finding prices on merchandise discounted up to 20%. Department stores, or baekhwajeom (백화점;百貨店), may have set prices but bargaining with smaller storekeepers is an acceptable and regular practice so make sure to brush up on your 'I like it but it's too expensive' expression. Shopping hours are determined by each store but the Namdaemun Market stays active 24 hours a day.

Those looking to rent in Korea will find no shortage of apartments as they are the preferred form of housing in the country. Large high rise communities called apateu (아파크) line the Korean landscape. The majority of Koreans prefer apartment living because of the convenience it affords. Most complexes are near shops, schools, and entertainment, and provide building maintenance for tenants. Smaller apartment complexes, called yeollip jutaik (연립주택), are also available with comparable layouts inside.

Finding an Apartment

A good way to begin your search for an apartment in Korea is by calling an area real estate agent. Agents, or budongsan (부동산;不動産), will have local listings and will walk you through the process of selecting a place and negotiating the terms of your contract. Real estate agents charge a fee to both renters and owners for these services. It is advisable to use a real estate agent in order to negotiate the best apartment and contract possible. Real estate agents can also find out if there are any outstanding liens on the property that may prevent the return of your deposit.

People looking for a homestead in South Korea will have a variety of housing available. Depending on your budget and desired living arrangement, you can chose to buy or rent a home, high rise apartment, villa, offitel, or one-room. In general, the cost of living is reasonable and you should be able to live very comfortable on your salary. Korean economic development is brisk and the economy is growing at a steady pace; however, recent government regulations and lending restrictions have put a damper on home buying.

Types of Housing in South Korea

Houses

Land space in South Korea is very limited, making single-family homes an expensive investment. One option when looking for homes is a traditional Korean house, or hanok (한옥;韓屋). These wood constructed, tile or straw-roofed homes are generally older buildings and are found mainly in the countryside. The ondol (온돌;溫突) heating system, used for centuries, is still in use today though the flat stones used to store hear under the flooring have been replaced by water pipes or electrical cable.

How to send money from a Korean account to another Korean account:

With Nonghyup bank there is a 2,000 won fee to tranfer money from one account to another account.

You will need:

• Name of bank to send money to
• The account number
• Name of account bearer

Process:

This is a very eclectic list of some things purchased at Emart and local grocery shops around the neighborhood. For reference, I live in Jejudo.. prices may vary according to region. Hopefully it'll give you an idea of prices...

Laundry Detergent 1.7kg

4,500

Milk 1L

1,200-1,980

Corduroy Pants (on sale)

13,000

3 Pack of Pens

1,200

Binder with 20 page protectors

If you can't make a purchase online with your check card, you might have the same problem I did.

If your purchase requires your ARN, Alien Registration Number, your purchase might be denied if you did not use or have your own ARN at the time you opened your bank account.