Korea Teach to Learn #4: Need to Know's Before Departure

You've landed the job, booked your flight, and are ready to get things going. Whoo! Here are some things that I've learned and experienced in the past month. I've included small tidbits of what you should and shouldn't do before coming to Korea.

Before Departure

Below is a timeline of things that I highly recommend you do leading up to the anticipated departure date.

2 MONTHS BEFORE
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• Consider flying out 1 week earlier and see if your school can accommodate for that. Most likely, your school will have you arrive on a weekday and require that you start shadowing a teacher or begin training the day after. If you're lucky, you might arrive on a Friday, which will give you a day or two to let everything sink in, but that's not enough.
  Tip: Ask your recruiter or hiring manager to see if they can book your flight a week before your contract's start date. Then, find a cheap airBnB nearby. This would be out-of-pocket expenses that the school does not pay for. However, I've seen deals for $11 a night in Incheon for minimal accommodations. Explore the neighborhood, adjust to the time difference, find the nearest convenience stores and department stores, start shopping for homely items, figure out the subway system, try some Korean food, visit other nearby cities, and so on.
  
  
• Open up a Citibank Checking Account if you plan on coming back to your home country. Most likely, you will have money left over after your year(s) teaching in Korea and you'll want an easy way to transfer your savings back to a USA/Canadian account. Perhaps you want to send money back to family. Maybe you still have bills back at home that you'll need to pay while staying in Korea. Citibank thankfully allows free transfers between their international branches, which includes Korea.*
  It will take roughly 3-4 weeks for your card to be approved if you apply online (or instantly if done in person).
  ​*NOTE: You MUST sign up for the "Basic Banking" Plan, which requires a minimum of $1,500 to avoid a $12 monthly fee. The "Access Account" does not include the free transfers.
  
  
• Get a travel credit card with no international transaction fees. Even if you plan on using mainly cash, having a travel card will make your life easier when you adjust for the first month or so. Plus, you rack up rewards that you can use later! I've personally only spent about $30 (30,000 won) in cash in the past 5 weeks. Everything else has been paid with via card.
  *NerdWallet recommends Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards or Bank of America Travel Rewards (what I have) or Deserve Edu Mastercard (students only). None of them have an annual fee and the student card has extra benefits like Amazon Prime.
  
  When you use your travel card, sometimes vendors will ask you to choose to pay in "local currency" or "home currency." Be sure to choose to pay in "local currency" (KRW) rather than your "home currency" (i.e. USD, CAD). Otherwise, extra currency exchange fees will be tacked onto your purchase.
  Basically, you are already converting your home currency to KRW when you use your card, but choosing to pay in "home currency" will change the currency once more (double the exchange fee!).
  
  
• Start saying your goodbyes. You may think 2 months is a long time, but it really isn't. Host a party or board game night, check a few things off your bucket list, catch up with old friends, and do whatever else comes to mind with the people you like.
  
  
• Save up some money. This is always a toss up. Most people recommend bringing at least $1,000 USD while others say you can get by with $500 until your first paycheck. It depends on where you'll be teaching (living costs) and whether your school will pay for certain things you'll need during the first month. I am a big supporter of bringing as much as you can (as close to $1,000 USD as possible, if not more). More on this subject below.​
  
  
• Sell your things, including your car if you don't plan on coming back in the next 3 years or if it's old. Every month you don't maintain your car, it'll begin to depreciate and will lose its worth by the time you return. Donate things you don't need but are too old to sell. 
  
  
• Find someone to take over any leases, bills, or housing situation if you have them. A close relative may be interested in adopting your phone plan or a friend may want to sub-lease your apartment if your contract isn't over by the time you leave. 
  ​
• Learn Korean. ​It will make your life a whole lot easier to adjust. At the bare minimum, learn the Korean alphabet. When you see Korean words all over your apartment (e.g. washing machine, heater, remote controls, stove top, garbage - which is a whole other monster of a topic that I delve into below) or restaurants or convenience stores, knowing at least the alphabet will help you use Google Translate to get by.
  
  ​Here is a good list of resources to get started:

Free websites & classes:

• Talk To Me In Korean
• Cyber University of Korea - Extremely structured program
• Korean From Zero
• My Korean
• How to Study Korean

Mobile Apps:

• Duolingo
• Memrise - Similar to Duolingo but prettier UI
• TenguGo
• Bravo Language - Good for learning phrases
• Mango Languages - More phrase learning

YouTube:

• KoreanClass101
• Seemile
• Go Billy Korean
• Korean Unnie - Includes cultural & daily life tips

​Writing worksheets to practice writing Korean letters: OSU Korean
I recommend Ewha Women's university book Ewha Korean if you're seeking a textbook.

4 WEEKS BEFORE
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• Figure out airline regulations, such as the number of suitcases allowed, weight and dimension restrictions of suitcases, accommodations, liquid and battery laws, etc. Your ticket will often outline how many carry-on and check-in bags you may have, but you may need to look up additional restrictions based on airlines.
  
  *​America requires any carry-on liquids to be in at most 3.4 oz. or 100 ml containers, all of which need to be stuffed in a clear plastic resealable bag like Zip Lock. Any liquids (i.e. contact solution, sprays, oils makeup remover, nail polish), gels (i.e. hair gel, lotions, creams), pastes (i.e. toothpaste) and foams (e.g. shaving foam)  fall under this category.
  You may only carry 1 plastic bag of 3.4 oz. liquids.
  
  *Rules on spare batteries that are not installed in devices are dependent on airlines. Usually, they are only allowed in carry-on baggage. Some may not allow alkaline batteries, and most have a limit to the number of spare batteries you can carry.

 

• Get your mail re-routed to a family member's house. You can change your mailing address online or in person at a local USPS.
  

• Make a list of things you'll need to bring to Korea. I suggest bringing enough clothes to last you for 3 to 4 weeks. Also, there are certain hygiene products that are not very reliable (not as well made) or are difficult to find if you don't live in Seoul.  The next section outlines a list of items that I recommend bringing with you.

 

• Buy some of them now. Use all of your giftcards, coupons, rewards, and whatever else you have.

 

• Submit your 2 weeks' notice if you're still working. Don't let the day before your flight be the last day of work because - trust me - it'll be way too hectic for you otherwise. Give yourself some buffer time to let it sink in that you're moving to a completely different country!

 

• Speak with your tax service agency if you use one. You won't really need to worry about this until about March of the following tax year, but it's good to give a heads up to whoever helps you file taxes in your country. If you work at a public school, you don't need to pay any taxes, but you will still need to fill out forms. Hagwon teachers will need to pay taxes if they make over a certain threshold. 

 

• Check out your neighborhood on Naver or Google Maps and find things you'd like to do. The Internet is amazing. With satellite images readily available, you can see what the streets will look like before you even step foot in Korea. If your Korean is decent or you know your address in Korean (not romanized), Naver Maps is probably more accurate (Korea's primary search engine). Otherwise, Google Maps is a great alternative. Familiarize yourself with all the cool shops, landmarks, department stores, gyms, restaurants, hair salons, and other places worth noting.

 

• Learn about Korea, its culture, and things you want to do! The bottom of my post has a list of small tidbits of cultural intricacies I've noticed during my stay thus far. My next post is all about things you should know about Korea before flying over.

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• Figure out an extracurricular that you'd like to pursue while staying here. For me, that's art school. For you, that could be learning an instrument, attending dance studio classes, taking online courses, discovering Korean's best cooking recipes or starting your own blog. Your options are endless, and be sure not to waste your time just teaching your day away. Do proper research ahead of time to seek out any schools or locations that could assist you in your activity.

​​

• Join social groups near your city using Facebook, KakaoTalk (popular chatting app in Korea), and Meetup. You will get lonely, no matter how mentally prepared you are. I say this with absolute certainty, even if you come with a significant other or friend. You're in a brand new place, where you know absolutely no one. Think about activities you'd like to try and search for them on Facebook or Meetup. Do you play a certain video game? Do you enjoy hiking or fishing? Do you want to join a language exchange program? Are you taking online classes and can you start a study group in Korea? Mingle with a group early and see if you think you'll mesh well with them!

Facebook Groups:
Just search "Expats in [Your City Name]" and you'll find a group

• League of Legends in Korea - I'm in this one. Come say hi!
• Expat Grocery Gurus in Korea
• Every Expat in Korea
• Expats Who Love South Korea
• Expat Women in Korea
• Expat Women in Korea Friends

​KakaoTalk Open Chatrooms:
Search up keywords of your hobby and "Korea"

• Gyopo Group
• ​League of Legends in Korea 18+ - I'm in this one too!
• ​Foreigners in Korea
• Foreigners Speaking English

Meetup Groups:
Look for whichever activity interests you and in your city. Meetups are not restricted to groups in Seoul.

• The Seoul Expat Global Group
• Climbing in Korea
• Goh Travel Korea
• Seoul Outdoor International Meetup
• Foreigners in Seoul

Here is a List of Korean Learning Classes and Groups. Not sure how accurate it is as this post was made in 2016, but it doesn't hurt to reach out to points of contact.

2 WEEKS BEFORE

• Get an international driving permit (IDP). There are only 2 companies that are authorized by the U.S. government to grant you an IDP: American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Check the laws of your country to see which organizations can give you an IDP. You must have your original driver's license in-hand for the permit to be valid. It works in several countries, including Korea. It's only about $25 and is processed within 10 minutes at an AAA location. You can also adjust the start date of the permit. If you know you won't need the permit until later, request the valid permit date for the future. It lasts for 1 year.
  
  Driving in Korea is horrendous and I pray there never comes a day when you will need to, but if you plan on traveling to far away places, this may come in handy. This (in conjunction with your home country's driver's license) will allow you to drive a car in Korea without taking any extra tests or training.

• Have one final check-up with your dentist, optometrist, and family doctor to ensure everything is smooth sailing. Get a cleaning and routine check-up. Let them know of your exciting adventure and see if you can nab extra copies of all your health records to take with you. Heck, if you can afford it, go see a dermatologist and gynecologist (ladies), too! Although doctor visits are cheaper in Korea with health insurance, dentist visits aren't as financially comforting. They can rack up to be just as expensive, if not more.

 

• Put vacation notices on all your things like credit cards, bank accounts, bills, etc.  For many banks, the limit for vacation notices are usually 3 to 6 months. Some institutions will allow you to set a vacation notice for up to 12 months if you call their customer support directly. This will enable your accounts to stay open and not be frozen when you make purchases overseas.

 

• ​Figure out what accounts you own that require access to your phone and contact their support team about your move, or have a back-up. Some websites like Facebook, Twitch.tv, YouTube, Gmail will all require access to your current phone if your IP address suddenly changes. Anything that requires a two-step verification or authentication service will most likely rely on texting your phone a code for access to your account.
  
  If you use Gmail, be sure to save your back-up codes! Since your phone will no longer work to verify ownership of your e-mail, the back-up codes will serve as a different method to verify your identification. Instructions to find your back-up codes can be found here.
  ​
• ​Buy things that you can only buy or download in your country, such as certain Steam games, movies or software. You'll be surprised at what may not be available to download in Korea and vice versa. Or perhaps something may be cheaper in your country, such as Microsoft Suite. Things like VPN's may be best bought in your country since the Korean government tracks your internet history.

 

• Look into an international phone plan that will last you for 3-4 weeks. It will take roughly 3 weeks for your ARC card to arrive in Korea, at which point you can then be put on a new phone plan. It's best to have a working phone during that time period because finding accessible Wi-Fi if you're not in Seoul is extremely troublesome. Figure out if your carrier and/or phone has a compatible SIM card that can work in Korea. If that's too expensive, look into getting an international Skype phone plan.
  * T-Mobile has a free service that will unlock your phone to be used internationally, so you wouldn't need to buy a new phone in Korea.
  * Verizon Wireless' phones are already unlocked and don't require a separate process to be used internationally; however, they do not have SIM cards.

 

• Shop for clothes, especially if you're extremely tall (over 5'7") or somewhat bigger than an average Korean (over 150 pounds) or have big feet. Size 260 seems to be the biggest size stores seem to carry regularly, which is about an 8.5 or 9 in US woman sizes. Bring lots of comfortable walking shoes. You'll be doing LOTS of walking. All the big-name brand shoes will be overpriced in Korea, such as Nike and Adidas. Be sure to buy them in America or Canada while you still can.

 

• Put together a "Nice-to-Haves Package Box" with additional items that aren't the most necessary for your trip but could be nice to have. Maybe there are outfits that you'd like to bring, but can't fit in your luggage. Do you have certain mementos that you might miss, but don't have enough room? Put everything in a box, package it well, and have it ready to go. After you arrive in Korea and you think you'll need the items in your "Nice-To-Haves" package box, ask a friend or family member to ship it over.
  
  DHL Express is hands-down the best international shipping option with its low prices and high reliability.
  FedEx is a highly recognized shipping company, but their prices can be pretty high; however, they do ship with care.
  A couple of other options include Bolt Express, TNT Express (though they were just bought by FedEx), and UPS.

 

• Buy traveler's insurance if you want to be extra, extra prepared. ​Honestly, you shouldn't really need this because your school will give you health insurance. However, there may be a buffer period until the health insurance becomes valid (when your ARC card comes in), which can be about 20 days.
  
  ​If you're afraid that something will happen during the flight or the 3 weeks following that, I've read some great reviews about World Nomads. They seem to have moderate prices: about $120 for 3 weeks.

​

1 WEEK BEFORE
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• Finalize as much of your packing as possible and ensure that it fits within the weight limit.

 

• Close out any accounts or recurring subscriptions you won't be using. Amazon Prime, Netflix, Spotify, Crunchyroll, etc. are examples of services that you may no longer want when in Korea due to country restrictions. If you have any gym memberships or club memberships, close those right away. Cancel or change your car insurance plan. Your agency should have a "storage insurance" plan that can be under $100 for a year.
  I had a recurring subscription from a mobile app that I forgot to cancel. It was a headache to figure out how to change my country to USA (while in Korea) to access the app and cancel the subscription.

 

• Exchange your currency at the bank. Your bank will give you the best rates because there is a legal limit to how much a bank can charge for currency exchange, and it tends to be about 1.75% - 3%. If you have a travel rewards card, you won't need too much cash in hand. $300 is a good estimate for pre-caution.

 

• Try to start adjusting to the time difference if possible. Sleep a bit later or wake up a little earlier than you might normally to offset as much jetlag as possible. The week before I left, I somehow managed to change my sleeping schedule so I would sleep at 5am PST (10pm KST), which helped a lot. The day after I arrived in Incheon, I slept at 11pm and woke up at 6am.

 

• Double-check your transportation details. Who's giving you a ride? Make sure that they can still commit to your schedule. Be prepared to arrive at the airport 3-4 hours before your flight time. If your city has Uber or Lyft, look into using that service.

 

• ​​Make copies and scan all your important documents and print your airline ticket. Bring 2-3 copies of every legal document imaginable. If you were adopted, definitely bring all your adoption papers. If you're on an F-4 Visa (Gyopo), then your parents' Korean registry information and renunciations would be good to have. This was the only thing I forgot to bring, and alas, the Immigration Office in Korea requested them. I had to ask my parents to take photos of these papers and send them via email.

​I brought 2 copies of the following: ​

• My passport
• Mother's passport
• Father's passport
• Birth Certificate
• Parents' US Citizenship Certificates
• Mother's Official Name Change Certificate
• My Social Security Card
• F-4 Visa Sticker from passport

• Transcripts (3 hard copies)
• Recommendation Letters
• Notarized Diplomas
• TEFL Certificate
• School contract (with original copy)
• Completed Fingerprint Cards (valid for 6 months)
• Passport Photos (4 copies)
• Dental & Health records​

**Gyopos (F-4 Visa): Bring parents' Korean registry information and renunciations

1 DAY BEFORE

• Check-in with your airline so you can save time checking in at the airport.

• Pack any remaining items that you couldn't pack before, such as toothbrushes, contact lenses, electronics, etc.

• Put your suitcases in the trunk of your (or family's or friend's) car. Save yourself the trouble of moving them the next morning if you can. 

• Download apps on your phone to prepare for what's to come. The 2 must-haves are Subway Korea and AirVisual. Explore both apps if you have time. Study the subway system in Korea. Know what the air quality is like this time of year in your city. You might need to wear a mask as soon as you land if you're flying in during the summer.
• Order things to be delivered to your apartment by the time you arrive and settle in. You can't use G-Market (Korean Amazon) or Coupang (no English website) without a Korean phone number, but you can use The Arrival Store for the most basic essential items you'll need when you land: kitchen set, plug adapters, comforter, blankets, pillow, long bath towels (these are impossible to find), and curling iron.

​

DAY OF DEPARTURE

• Make 1 final check to ensure you've gotten everything you need. 
• Have a hearty meal before you leave. If your flight provides food, it'll be at least a few hours until then, so be sure to stay well hydrated and fed before then. 
• Arrive 3-4 hours early to prepare for any hiccups or surprises that may come your way.​

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Things to Bring

Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what I think you should bring. Some items may not make sense, but know that Korea may not have the same quality of items that America has (such as toothpaste, floss, and deodorant). I've also included links to items that I bought before my flight, but I may have gone a little trigger-happy. If an item has a quantity beside it, that's the amount I brought with me.
​

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

• Tax information
• Visa information and documents (​see all "important documents" listed above)
• Original school contract
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Immunization records
• Medical records
• Dental records
• Travel insurance paperwork (if applicable)

MEDICINE
Finding strong medication for migraines and aches is actually somewhat difficult in Korea. Ibuprofen or Tylenol can be hard to find in certain cities.

• Ibuprofen
• Tylenol
• Dramamine (for motion sickness)
• Mosquito Spray
• Allergy medication
• Pepto Bismo
• Band-aids
• Charcoal tablets (for food poisoning)
• First Aid Kit

ELECTRONICS

• Flashlights (be sure to check airline regulations on batteries)
• External hard drive
• Travel adapters (Type C or Type SE)
  I got a Surge Protector + Power Strip adapter for under $30 on Amazon
  *Check that any electronics you bring can convert to 220 volts at 60 Hertz. Laptops are usually okay, but contact the company's customer support to double-check.
• Phone (with international plan) & SIM card (if applicable)
• Headphones and/or earbuds
• Bluetooth speaker
• Kindle reader
• Laptop
• Tablet
• Camera
• Wireless keyboard
• Wireless mouse
• Mousepad
• Spare batteries
• USB cables

CLOTHES
I highly recommend bringing enough clothing to last you for a month. I personally packed for the winter with about 10 tops, t-shirts, tees; 5 pairs of pants; 3 skirts; 2 dresses; 4 cardigans; 2 PJs; 4 sweatpants; 2 sweaters/hoodies; 6 pairs of shoes; 3 winter jackets; 2 spring jackets; 1 rain jacket; 2 leggings; 1 scarf; underwear & socks; stockings; gloves.

• Outfits appropriate for the season
• Ladies: stockings, pantyhose, leggings, tights

• Thermal clothing & gloves (especially if coming in winter)

• Underwear and socks
• Belts
• Cardigans
• Scarves
• Rain jacket
• Jewelry
• Business casual outfits (for work)
• Watch (useful during school)
• Tennis shoes (2 pairs)
• Dress shoes (3 pairs)
• Rain boots
• Sunglasses

TOILETRIES
Absolutely DO NOT bring a blow dryer, hair straightener/iron, or curler. These will almost always not convert to the voltage required in Korea (220 volts) even with an adapter or converter. You won't be able to find blow dryers at convenience stores, but bigger department stores like Home Plus or Lotte Department will have them.

• Hand lotion (4)
• Hand sanitizer (6)
• Contacts (1 month's supply)
• Contact solution (1)
• Eye drops (3)
• Razors (2)
• Shaving cream or gel (2)
• Sunscreen (2)
• Travel-size Shampoo
• Travel-size Body wash
• Hairbrush
• Bobby pins
• Scrunchies and hair ties
• Toothbrushes (4)
• Ladies: Makeup, skincare, sanitary pads, tampons
• Deodorant (3)
  Korea does have deodorant, but it isn't very strong and efficient. If you have a preferred brand, definitely bring it!
• Toothpaste (3)
  It is difficult to find minty toothpaste like Colgate and Crest that uses fluoride in Korea.
• Floss (4)
  I've seen floss in convenience stores in Korea, but I've heard that the quality isn't that good. I brought some from home, so I haven't had the chance to try floss in Korea.
• Long, durable towels* (5)
  I brought about 8 of these because I knew that they're hard/impossible to find in Korea, and it's true.​

MISCELLANEOUS

Higher Priority List

• Cash (see below for a break-down of living costs)
• Glasses

• Hand Luggage Scale (to ensure your luggage isn't over the limit)
• Purses, backpacks, shoulder bags
• A couple books
• Small Tool Kit
• Water pitcher with filter *
  ​Finding a water filter system in Korea is a little inconvenient and requires a monthly rental fee, so it may be easier to purchase a water pitcher with a filtering system from home with some extra filters if you can fit them (or perhaps ship it!). You can also purchase them from The Arrival Store and have them arrive at your apartment in Korea.
  ​
  ​Usually, people in Korea have access to clean drinking water in 3 ways: 1) water filter, 2) bottled water, and 3) boiling water. If you're in an older city, it may be unsafe to drink tap water. 

Lower Priority List

• Vacuum sealed bags
  If you're having trouble fitting everything into your suitcase, but can add more weight, this will help out a lot!
• Packing Cubes (for organization)​ ​​
• Notebooks & pencils
• Umbrella
• English-Korean dictionary
• Duct tape
• Kleenex
• Blankets or comforter
• Pillow
• Snacks

How Much Money 

• Standard Recommendation: $1,000
• Frugal Living: $600
• Precautionary Budget: $1,500
• Extracurricular Plans: $2,000

​
The standard recommendation is $1,000 USD, and I concur. ​This will give you enough room to pay for initial living expenses, and any required documents and procedures for the immigration. You may need more or less depending on what your school provides and average cost of living in your city. Usually, schools will provide your first paycheck after 30 to 45 days. You'll need enough money to get you through 5 weeks.

​Below is a list of expenses to account for.
​

RECOMMENDATION
Budget: $1,000 ~ $2,000

​Immigration Documents

• Mandatory Health Check-Up (Immigration): $100~$150
• Korean Passport Photos: $10
• ARC Card Fee: $30

Transportation

• Bus/Subway Card (T-Money Card): $3
• Fare Money: $50

Basic Household Goods
*These expenses are based on 2018 Incheon prices. If you live in a major city like Seoul or Busan, they may be higher. A more rural area will probably be cheaper. Check your cost of living expenses to get a more accurate idea.
​ 
Kitchen

• Kitchen essentials (e.g. pots, pans, spatula, knives, kettle, cutting board): $50 ~ $80
• Dishes (e.g. plates, bowls, cups): $30
• Utensils (e.g. forks, spoons, chopsticks): $20
• Bottled Water: $1 per 2L bottle
• Dish soap, sponge, paper towels, rubber gloves: $15
• Microwave: $35 ~ $50
• Plastic wrap/aluminum foil: $5
• (Optional) Rice Cooker: $30
  Buying pre-cooked rice at convenience stores is usually easier and cheaper (~$1). If you don't cook a lot or don't eat too much rice, this is a better alternative.

Bathroom
Remember to bring those nice big, fluffy towels from home! You won't find them here.

• Hair dryer: $25
• Curling iron or straightener: $50 
• Hairbrush: $6
• Shampoo, body wash, loofa: $15
• Hand soap: $3
• Shower Slippers: $5
• Bath mat: $15
• Hand towels: $15
• Plunger & toilet scrubber: $25
• Toilet cleaner/mold remover: $10
• Toilet Paper: $15 ~ $25
• Hair strainer: $8

​
Bedroom
Hopefully, your school will be nice and give you decent bedding, but I often hear that the blankets, comforters, and sheets here are nothing like at home (soft, fluffy, warm). Mine were way too thin. I ended up sleeping on the floors for the first 2 weeks because apartment floors are heated and I came at the end of winter. It's spring now, and the temperature permits me to sleep on my bed with the thin blankets. My pillow was exactly like the ones given on international airplane flights, economy class.

• Tissue boxes: $10
• Cotton Sheets: $50
• Comforter: $60
• Blanket: $40
• Pillow: $35
• Mattress: $50 ~ $100
  Depending on how nice your school is and whether they cut corners, your mattress may be subpar. My colleague ended up buying her own mattress because the school-provided one was much too stiff and hurt her back.
• Storage boxes, plastic boxes, closet organizers, hangers: $30 ~ $100
  I have yet to find ones that I love, but you'll definitely need something to organize your clothes!
• Air filter: $60
  I won't sugarcoat it. The air quality here is bad, especially during the summer when dust and pollen consume the air. If you've downloaded the AirVisual app, it will often suggest to turn on your air filter and wear masks outside.
• Humidifier or dehumidifer: $35 ~ $50
  If you come in the winter, the air will be so cold and dry that your skin will start flaking off. It happened to me. In the summer, it'll be a lot more moist and you'll probably need dehumidifers.

Miscellaneous

• (Optional) Weight scale: $25
• Band-aids: $2
• Vacuum: $30
• Swiffer & cloth refills: $35
• All-purpose cleaner: $8
• Lint roller: $5
• Trash bin: $8
• Indoor slippers: $10
• Air freshener: $7
• Laundry detergent: $10
• Softener: $10
• Drying rack: $20
  ​Apartments usually don't have a drier; if they do, it's extremely inefficient and expensive (sometimes even dangerous).
• Clorox/baby wipes: $5
  Koreans often use baby wipes like Americans use Clorox wipes.
• Reusable shopping bags: $5
  It costs money to purchase a grocery bag in Korea (which is actually a trash bag you can use at home).
• *Router: $50
  You'll probably take over an old teacher's apartment lease, in which they should already have an internet plan that comes with Wi-Fi. If you're like me, and the school contracts with a new apartment, you'll need to buy your own router.
• Recycling organizers: $10
  I'll go over the garbage system in Korea in my next post, but as a forewarning: it is complicated and having bins to organize through your trash will save you a lot of time and headaches.
• Trash bags, food waste bags: $4 ~ $5 for ten 10L bags
  Each district in every city will require different trash and food disposable bags. Your nearest grocery or convenience stores will have them. If you buy trash bags from another district, your apartment managers will get very upset and you will also get hefty fines.
• Plastic Cooking Gloves: $5
  When you organize through your trash, it'll be a lot easier and less messy if you use disposable gloves.
• Disposable Yellow Dust Masks: $1 ~ $2 per mask
  Dust is a bad problem. Constantly check your AirVisual app to see which days you'll need to wear a mask. These masks usually last for one use. You should get at minimum a KF80 level filter (filters out 80% of particle matter). KF90 (90%), KF94 (94%), KF99 (99%), N90 (90%), N99 (99%) are safer, but usually cost more.

Groceries
I just list a few items that I've come across that can help you get by for the first 5 weeks in Korea, and to give you an idea of costs. Again, check your cost of living expenses to get a more accurate idea.

• Bottled Water: $1 per 2L bottle
• Snacks: $1 ~ $3 per bag of chips
• Fruit: $3 bananas, $9 bulk strawberries, etc.
• Nuts: $3 small can
• Milk: $3 three small cartons (1 carton = 1 bowl of cereal)
• Pre-cooked rice: $2
• Ramen: Under $1
• Vitamins & supplements: $10 ~ $50

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Groceries can be anywhere from $50 ~ $300 before your first paycheck, depending on how much cooking you do at home, if your school provides free meals, whether you enjoy milk and juices or can get by with just water, etc. Personally, I haven't cooked since I got here because 1) eating out can often be cheaper than cooking, 2) you have less trash, and 3) it's so much easier. 

One app I use (yo-gi-yo) lets me order food and there's 1 restaurant that offers meals with a minimum order of 5,000 won (~$5) with no extra fee for delivery. I've seen so many restaurants that offer decent, fulfilling meals for as little as $4, too. It's literally heaven.

Extracurriculars

• Gym memberships: $70 ~ $90 per month
  These are so expensive in Korea, and their facilities are often not that great. My local gym is $70/month (monthly), $50/month (3-months), $40/month (6-months).
• Hair salons: $15 per cut; $50 for color
• Dance classes: $10 per class
• Martial arts (Boxing, Muay Thai, Aikido, Taekwondo, etc.): $150 ~ $300 per month
• Yoga: $100 ~ $150 per month
• Art classes: $400 ~ $700 per month
• Movie Theater (CGV): $10
• Bowling: $10
• Screen golf: $20
• PC Cafe: $1 per hour
• Lotte World: $30
• VR Theme Park: $9 per "experience"/ride
• Camping: $10
• Pubs (with darts & pool): Overpriced food
• College Korean classes: $1,500 ~ $2,000 per quarter

Bills
Apartments charge utilities in 2 bills: gas, everything else (called "Maintenance Fees")

• Gas: $40 ~ $60 (winter); $15 (summer)
• Maintenance Fees (water, electricity, sewer, TV, maintenance, etc.): $30 ~ $100
  My co-worker's bill this month was $100, but mine was $30. More about utilities and charges next post.​
• Housing Deposit: $50 ~ $100 per month
  If your school sucks, they will probably charge you a monthly refundable housing deposit in case of damages or violations of their contract. This should only be for the first 3 to 6 months of your stay, and should be refundable by the end of your contract.
• Phone: $47 per month
  This is a 1-year plan with LG U+ which includes a 2.5 GB data, 100 min. talk & text plan. This also includes the price of my phone (Galaxy On7 Prime) split into monthly payments. LG U+ and SKT both offer a $5 "overage data" service. If you are over your data limit, you will continue to receive throttled data at a lower speed.
• Internet: $9 ~ $30 per month
  ​Depending on your apartment's internet provider and what kind of deal they have set up, the bill can range tremendously. My co-worker is charged $9 a month for internet due to the fact that my school made a 3-year contract with the internet service provider. My plan is about $18 a month for a 2-year plan. I had to buy my own router because I'm living in a brand new officetel (it's still undergoing construction as I type!), but the teacher that will replace me will get to keep the router I bought.
• Taxes: 3% ~ 6% per month
  Your contract will have stated how much of your income will be withheld to pay for estimated taxes. This should be taken from your paycheck directly. Taxes are never certain until taxes are filed. If the hagwon took too much, you will get a tax return. There is also a separate "inhabitant" tax for foreigners that won't be refunded at the end of your contract. This can be around $5 ~ $10.
• Insurance: 3% ​per month
  Your school should provide health insurance from the government healthcare plan: National Health Insurance (NHIC / NHI), also known as KMIU (Korean Medical Insurance Union). Your school will pay half (3%) and you will pay half (3%).
• Pension: 4.5%
  Just like insurance, this is taken directly from your paycheck. The school will also provide an additional 4.5% into your pension plan. This is all refunded to you by the end of your contract.​

Random Cultural Facts

My next post will go over more cultural tidbits in-depth that will be helpful to know before stepping foot onto Korean soil. Just to give you a teaser, here are some of the more apparent things I've noticed.
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• There is no public garbage anywhere on the streets. Sometimes stores, clothing shops, groceries, etc. don't have them either (at least not for the public).
• Your skin and hair will wreak havoc when you first move here. Korean's humidity and temperature is pretty harsh for those who live on the opposite ends of the world. Winters are super cold and dry, while summers are extremely humid and hot. For the dry seasons, your skin will most likely be very flaky and scaly. Bring tons of moisturizer and lotions to combat the condition. Humidifiers definitely help big time!
• The garbage system is a lot of work. If you were like me, you did the bare minimum at home when sorting through trash and recycling. Korea takes it to a whole new level. Depending on your apartment, you'll need to separate paper, glass, metal (aluminum), plastic, food, vinyl, and more. If you don't, you will get a fine, guaranteed. This can be up to $200 (discussed next post).
• Apartment floors are heated. For newer buildings, heated water runs through the pipes directly beneath your floors.
• No flushing toilet paper in old buildings. Instead, you must dispose of your toilet paper in a trash bin right next to the toilet. For old apartments, the same rule applies. If you don't, you'll be stuck unclogging your bathroom every month or so, and your apartment manager may get mad.
• Masks aren't a fashion statement in Korea. I've mentioned it several times, but air quality here is bad. Use AirVisual to keep track of the air and wear masks on days when the numbers go above 100.
• There are tons of street and underground vendors in the subway. I often get distracted by all the amazing shops that are open or foods you can buy on the street. Talk about an impulsive buyer's worst nightmare. Be careful of street food vendors serving fish, kimbap, and odeng; some of them may lead to food poisoning.
• Mold is red. I witnessed it for the first time a couple days ago in my toilet. It's not green. Because ventilation is poor in Korean bathrooms, and the entire bathroom is prone to getting wet, mold is a common occurrence. Black mold is the worst and very hazardous to your health. Contact your school or manager if you see black mold.
• You need bathroom slippers. Showers here are different from showers at home. Shower stalls have no covering at the bottom, so water leaks throughout the entire bathroom floor tiles.
• Coffee is expensive and comes in 1 or 2 sizes. It's usually just a "normal" or "large." Normal is probably equivalent to a Starbucks grande size. Iced coffee is also more expensive ($0.50 ~ $1), which boggles my mind.
• There are a bunch of flavors. If you visit any ice cream, bubble tea, dessert, or pastry shop, you will have to take more than a few minutes to sort through all your options.
• Tap water might not be safe. Koreans often drink water in 3 ways: they 1) buy a water filter system, which can be expensive, 2) buy bottled water, or 3) boil the tap water. I opted into option #2.
• The T-Money card is used for buses and the subway. You don't need a separate card for both systems!
• Elevators are super nice. The button that you push to close the doors immediately actually work! Doors close as soon as you push that button. If you accidentally push the wrong floor, push it again and it de-selects the floor. The kicker: there are mirrors in elevators, so you can make sure you always look your best.
• There is no tipping. Don't do it. It's considered insulting in Korean culture.
• Many places offer complimentary gifts, which they call "service." People will often give you samples or small gifts if you buy skincare (more skincare), get a haircut (free coffee and snacks), or even buy vitamins (extra vitamins). I love it!
• Restaurants use a bell when you're ready to order. Long gone are the days you wave your hands to get a waiter's attention or obtrusive workers who ask "how's your meal?" Just push the button any time you need their service.
• You need an I-PIN from your bank to register for certain accounts. If you like to game, the Korean government requires that you have an I-PIN number to register for an account. You can ask your bank to assist you in getting one. It takes about 1-2 hours.
• Your bank information is on a USB drive. Weird, isn't it? If you want to access your bank account information and balance, you'll need it on a flash drive. They call this a "digital certificate." It allows you to login to your bank's website and approve wire transfers.
• Korean government is more hands-on in the cyber world. They are a lot more strict on your browsing history and internet usage. Pirating and illegal streaming is definitely something they take note of and can fine you for participating in illegal behavior.
• Doorbells allow you to see who's outside your door. They have nifty devices allowing you to see who's at your door when they ring it.
• G-Market and Coupang are the equivalent to Amazon Prime in America.
• You need your phone number for anything and everything.

These are just a few of the many different cultural intricacies that I've noticed while staying in Korea. My next post will go more in detail about a few confusing topics that will be helpful to know, such as the washing machine, garbage system, the subway system, and best mobile apps.