Welcome to Korea
The capital city of Korea is Seoul. Korea has a population of 49 million, and land area of 98,000 square kilometres.
After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950 to 1953), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the Peninsula along a demilitarised zone. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 20 times the level of North Korea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratise its political processes. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South Korea's President KIM Dae-jung and North Korea's leader KIM Chong-il.
Korea's climate allows you to not have to wear a jacket from about April to the end of November. As soon as the last week in November arrives, be prepared for a dramatic drop of temperatures in a short period of time. You will be wearing only light clothing in the months from June to August as it can be extremely hot and humid. When winter hits from December to February you will need a supply of very warm clothing for outside wearing as it can get to -15 degrees Celsius.
Everyday Living in Korea
NEWSPAPERS
Once you arrive in Korea it is a good idea to subscribe to an English language newspaper. Their websites can be found by clicking below:
The above newspapers are published daily except Mondays. Both are available in Seoul at some street newsstands, but outside of Seoul are generally only available through subscription.
YELLOW PAGES
You can find valuable business resources and travel info on Korea through this service. A valuable search engine that gives you quick access to Korean firms with a map searching facility. Link found below:
Food
Korea has all kinds of eating establishments, ranging from street vendors (pojangmachas) and hole-in-the-wall small restaurants (shikdangs) to highly priced formal restaurants. In between you can find many types of medium-sized places offering a wide range of food, from traditional Korean to western dishes.
The most popular dishes among tourists are pulgogi (broiled beef ribs), sollongtang (beef soup with rice), kalbitang (beef rib soup), naengmyon (chilled noodles in broth), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), pibimpap (rice with vegatables) and of course, kimchi.
Though there are some upscale and expensive places, most Chinese restaurants in Korea are a good place to have a meal at a reasonable price. The smaller the restaurant, the more likely it is to be cheap.
Sample prices are:
- Beer in a bar - 4,000 won
- Hamburger - 2,300 won
- Jajangmyeon (Chinese noodles in black sauce) - 3,000 won
- Coca Cola - 430 won per can
- Steak in a top class restaurant - 30,000 won
See our home page for a link to a foreign currency exchange calculator. Listed under RESOURCES.
Water
Tap water is safe to drink, however many people drink bottled water or teas. Various filtering systems are available in all department stores, and these can be connected to your tap.
Transportation
Buses continue to provide the bulk of public transportation in Korea. This is because of the infrastructure requirements and expenses related to airplane and train travel.
Although bus travel is generally safe, bus drivers want to get where they are going in a hurry. Most drivers drive within reasonable limits, but some tend to ignore most traffic laws. Fortunately, the accident rate is lower than it could be. The weak of heart may want to close their eyes for the duration of the trip. When seat belts are available, use them!
Taxis in Korea come in 2 flavours - regular or deluxe (mobeom). Generally only larger cities have mobeom taxis. The flag fall for a regular taxi is around 1,600 won and a deluxe is 4,400 won. Between midnight and 4am, regular taxis apply a 20% surcharge.
Subways can be the best option for quickly getting around the city and avoiding the increasingly heavy road traffic. Subways are the fastest and most convenient mode of transportation from the suburbs into the city. As such, they become extremely crowded during the morning and evening rush hours. Even when not crowded, Koreans madly scramble for available seats as soon as the car doors open, often pushing back those people trying to exit the train!
With regards to licensing and registration: To drive in Korea, you need a valid Korean Driver's License or an International Driver's license. An International License is valid only if the driver is in the country on a tourist visa, is not a resident or will not be here for more than 90 days.
Garbage and Recycling
Starting in 1995, the government imposed a strict procedure for separating garbage. All wastes must be separated into recyclable and non-recyclable groups.
To encourage people to adhere to the new system, a new pay-by-volume system was introduced where people must buy special garbage bags (usually available in 5, 10, and 25 litre sizes to be used when disposing garbage. The bags can only be used in the area where you bought them.
To dispose of large items, such as chairs or refrigerators, you must pay for a special disposal ticket to put on the item before it will be taken away. Hefty fines can be imposed on anyone not adhering to the new system. Although the system works well, it also results in many people dumping large items in remote areas after dark to avoid paying for removal.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Korea is generally reasonable. It is certainly a lot less than if you were living in Japan! General costs such as transport are low. The big costs for Koreans are housing and education. The cost of living varies from cities to country sides. Your monthly expenses will largely depend on how you choose to spend your money. Korean food is a lot cheaper than eating at western restaurants such as 'Tony Romas', 'T.G.I.F.', 'The Outback' or 'Skylarks'. There are plenty of McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and pizza outlets all around Korea.
Money Matters
Currency used in Korea is the South Korean Won. Coin denominations are 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 and notes come in 1000, 5000 and 10,000 won. The 1 and 5 won coins are not used in general circulation. Some ATM's will handle foreign ATM cards. Look for machines that advertise Cirrus, Plus, Star, Interlink, Accel, etc. Most International credit cards are accepted everywhere.
Opening a Bank Account
No restrictions are placed on foreigners to open local savings accounts. Some banks have English forms. Many types of accounts exist, with longer-term accounts offering higher interest. Many banks allow foreigners to open accounts in some non-Korean currencies as well. Regular and foreign currency accounts generally do not require minimum balances or maintenance fees.
A passport or your Certificate of Alien registration is required to open an account.
As a foreigner, you can sign your name instead of using a 'chop' as the locals do. After a couple of weeks you'll be issued an ATM Card.
Suggested Reputable Banks
Tipping
There is no need for tipping in restaurants or for taxis and other services.
Shopping
Make sure to bring ample deodorant, as it's not readily available and is really expensive.
Contrary to what you would expect from a country that exports many famous electrical brands worldwide, the prices of goods such as CD players and computers can be a lot higher than back home. Consider taking your own electronic items such as CD players and buying adapters! CD's and tapes are freely available and not too expensive.
Generally, all clothing items available are of good quality and reasonably priced. However, if you are tall or bigger than a size 10-12 female size, or a 6 foot something muscular build, you may struggle to get anything to fit you! The big worry is footwear. If your feet are wide, you will have difficulty with fitting them comfortably. You can get larger sizes and tailor made clothes and shoes in the Iteawon shopping district (centre of Seoul), but don't expect a good supply.
Health Insurance
Foreign English teachers are entitled to Korean National Health Insurance through their employer. This should be clarified at the time of acceptance of employment. Employers often buy the minimum policy required, which provides about 400,000 won of coverage. Those desiring more coverage should negotiate with their employers or buy their own.
Those who have correctly completed their alien registration as a foreign worker at the Korean Immigration Bureau can make an application for the enrolment of National Health Insurance.
National Health Insurance does not entitle you to receive health care at any private clinic or hospital. Only government operated clinics and hospitals offer subsidised treatment for holders of National Health Insurance.
The following fees apply when enroled in National Health Insurance:
- Medical treatment - 20% to 50% of the total charges.
- Prescription drugs - 30% of the total charges.
Health Care
The quality of health care in Korea is up to western standards. A local clinic or hospital is indicated by a large green cross on the building. There are a few private clinics and hospitals in Itaewon (foreigner area), that have English speaking doctors and hospitals. A visit to Samsung Medical Center will set you back 35,000 won with medication and testing extra. This should be recoverable by your medical insurance. This hospital is recommended by the USA Embassy for its diplomats and American citizens.
If you have a toothache or lost all your teeth in a nightclub brawl, the dentist is the place you will be headed. Dentists in Korea are expensive, so get you teeth checked before you leave home, and get as many fillings as you can. Fillings cost about 100,000 won for one, and that hurts more than the toothache.
Health Examination
There is no need to undergo a health examination prior to working in Korea.
