American moving to seoul reddit. From my experience, the important thing is attitude. Korea is great, I hope you have a good experience! 9. Can I just move to South Korea? Legally*. I lived in Medellin, Colombia for 5 months and I rented a place for as low as $9/day and as high as $45/day. They should also be able to find a place that accepts cats. The 500mbs plan would cost $30. Meals at a galbi restaurant run about 7-10 bucks per head, more if you get beer. We live in Korea, I've been here 10 years and speak Korean rather fluently. Cost of living per person to live comfortably without splurging is around 1. Download our Moving to Seoul Guide (PDF) As with any city, Seoul has advantages and disadvantages, but expats who try to learn about and assimilate to the Korean culture will start to feel at home in the city. -No one talks about this but the social stigma of not living in Seoul is pretty harsh in Korea. it's not much. Obviously I'm a bit nervous about not speaking the language. ADMIN MOD. It’s a fun vibe meeting all different people while enjoying Korean food and culture! 2. Im currently living in the Oakland/SF bay area and working in tech. Short version I will be moving to Seoul before end of year most likely, and am trying to figure out what to start selling off now. I. I wouldn't recommend anyone moving to SF, it's one of the most expensive cities to live in the US, dirty, and unsafe. As with moving to any new place, reestablishing your social network is really tough. Took a 7 day trip to Seoul, South Korea. I recently came back from a 3 week trip to my motherland (i speak korean) and absolutely fell in love with Seoul. I’m considering moving to Seoul short term (a couple of years max) and would like to bring my dog. We ate at a 3 Michelin star place, and it was good, but no where near worth what they were charging. -General opportunity for everything is much higher in Seoul. I live south of Seoul in Gyeonggi and you'd be looking at 30mil for anything like a 2-3 room small apartment (not a one room studio) and 100mil for actual apartments in complexes Download the Apps Dabang (다방) and ZigBang (직방) to scope out prices. Being able to speak Korean only helps. Whereas life in Korea acts as a buffer to Hi everyone, I am an American considering a move to Seoul from Germany and wanted to get some thoughts on life out there in general. Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 1 vote and 18 comments Mar 16, 2024 · Some foreign nationals residing in South Korea can choose between the flat rate of 20. YOLO is the mantra of people in their 20s and 30s. People aren’t moving a whole lot right now due to covid, but if you have a reasonable budget you can probably find a good place quickly. But now its impossible to enter to the country now due the pandemic. But although the entire government in the US is a mess, I do firmly believe what was built for 250ish years can't be brought down in 4. •. Dec 15, 2023 · There are nearly a 1/4 of a million people from the US here, too. I am thinking about moving to Seoul in October for 10 weeks. There is a part of Seoul where a lot of foreigners visit, though. 1. There's some fantastic spots in the Moving to Bundang. (Before you start and form a bias: I am not a "white american". . I've been here for the last 6 years, and it all depends on the people. Since i won't have that much time in Seoul, I really want to experience the culture and take advantage of the time I have. , if there's 3 people at work, one of them generally understands enough English for you to do the things you're in that store to do, but not much more. 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. If they're moving you half way across the world, you should be getting more than just a studio. Of course, I’d have preferred to go to Seoul, but the company’s HQ are in Incheon. So, with that being said, does anyone have any experience in moving to Seoul without any job leads? Obviously crime is a big difference between the cities. I plan on living in a serviced apartment; cheaper than a hotel but more luxurious than a regular apartment. Mapo - quite central. Easy. Itaewon is a part of Seoul with a huge foreign community and foreign foods. Here are some things you can expect while living in Korea: Activities. I was there several times for vacation and I absolutely adore the city. 0hthatstay. It was also a huge plane so it also helped the time go by. At this stage of my life, the reasons the young people are citing as to why they leave sound wonderful to me. ). I think for a lot of those who stay Korean life is simpler with less worries. You can pay for a friend when you get on the bus. The majority of people living in Korea as an expat live in or around Seoul, almost 60% in total. Bus - when you get on a bus, tap your card. The problem is that at the top echelons, there's no more scarcity in the Korean market to exploit. We first stayed in Myeongdong, and explored the tourist areas including the palaces, and shrines. It's good place to live as Korean. 강서구 could be your budget plan. Once you weigh that, then move into the next step if you decide to move forward, figuring out if you can 1. Pros: cheap/fast/reliable transportation, more options of non-Korean food, running at han river or 양재천, visiting museums and art exhibits. after a couple of dates, you are a 'couple' and now have to spend lots of time together. Sometimes Seoul (the only place I have experience) feels culturally bland. It's sooooooo much easier to meet people there than in say Daejeon. There’s always something going on. carryin a couple grand is fine. You're probably in for a real challenge. 태조감자국. Does anyone know if they are any good, if they fit well with your This is a sub to ask about and discuss anything and everything related to life here in Korea. 3 months is only like $45 and a better deal than the likes of Trazy and other prepay sims at the airport While there, I'd love to check out some of the Buddhist temples, Christian churches, some of the nightlife (restaurants, bars, etc. I will be moving to Korea at the end of November, and I am looking for some advice. 9/ Seoul: I followed all the recommendations in this sub, and split my 8-day stay in 2. This is the first time I am getting a place on my own since before I was in the uni dorm. I'm really looking forward to living there, and if you could help me with one or a few of these questions I would highly appreceate it! Having moved to seoul with the goal of finding a career kind of job, without speaking korean (at the time). I get that Freddie's meant to be a distant character (why else would they give her the least I'm already stoked to move to Seoul, I loved it as a tourist but that was back in 2016. Moving there as a foreigner has its ups and downs, and you either adapt or are quickly regurgitated out. I’ll be close to the airport, and Seoul is only 40 minutes away, and my best friend lives there -I know I’ll end up going there every time I can. S. All your friends will have Korean numbers and you will need Korean numbers to do certain thing with your phone, like banking. I studied abroad in Korea in 2016/2017 and took some Korean classes, but now I will be attending Yonsei University's language school for 10 weeks upon arrival to really Seoul is a crazy hubbub of lights, skyscrapers, temples, gigantic malls, cute cafes—it’s a wild blend of tradition and globalization. just keep it in your pocket or wallet). The only drawback is there's some censorship but it doesn't interfere with everyday life. For a purely local Korean family of 3 local 2020 stats show around ~$2k in expenses per month (2,500,000 KRW). I also enjoy a bit of nature and love being able to sit at a park or do a fun hike to clear my head. then, you can go to myeong-dong here in Seoul and exchange for won. When it comes to moving countries try to be overly critical and prepare for every single worst case scenario, even if it seems unlikely. We were too poor to visit korea often, so aside from a very short emergency family trip in 1992, and one 3 day stay in 2014, I have not yet really spent time in Seoul. Vote. To echo what others have said it’s a very safe country so if you need to spend an extra time translating/checking maps you do not need to worry about it. A huge chunk of that 130k is going to be taken by the Korean government so take that into account. ago. I heard some crime news too (harrassments, etc). I wish I had known that I was going to run into so many toxic, dismal expats who were going to try to alleviate their own misery by trying to drag me into it. 12,000,001 – 46,000,000 KRW: 15%. But if you don't care about saving money and go all out solo, then yeah, 4mil budget per month is more than enough to live a comfortable and partying life in Korea. With Airbnb, you should be able to find some affordable housing solutions - small room, studio, or find roommates, etc. Then move to Hongdae to party like a Korean university student. Just tell the bus driver for 2 people and they will adjust the cost on their computer. Coming from a 300 year old crime infested city that’s literally sinking in a swamp to 동탄2 is like moving to paradise. My IT salary in the USA was well over 80,000 usd with over time and a base of 73,000. Visit Myeongdong and Itaewon. Yes, the country allows the entry of tourists of any nationality, including south koreans but i think only if they dont live there, because its illegal by the South Korean laws (Law of National Security). Currently in the USA i have a bunch of computers at home (IT professional for 10 years, pc gaming enthusiast much longer than that) but am not sure what will be feasible to bring to Korea. Repeat steps one and two until you have one paper or “card” for each Korean letter. Just smile and nod - don't try to reason with them (especially your co-workers or boss) because they will think it's rude and might judge you even more harshly. , - not really a party guy, but it would be cool to maybe go to a club one night and feel it out, just for fun), and networking events for business expansion (Seoul is a global city so networking and getting out Yes. The biggest draws to Seoul to me were that 1. Factor in inflation, and if you're in Seoul you probably need to up that quite a bit as a baseline to probably around ~$3. Usually when I move countries I love getting a software engineering job there with visa sponsorship since it makes living there quite smooth but moving a pain. What a frustrating watch. Yes, expats would have a hard time if they dont speak the local lingo, and when expat numbers are in decline. I've noticed this to be especially difficult in Seoul (I've "started over" in roughly 3 other places). Posted by u/SinaloaPaisa - 1 vote and 3 comments I lived there for two years, both in seoul and further south, and my experience with language barriers is that places where you'll typically find sub 30 people working, bars, coffee shops, 7-11, clothing stores etc. Their are also Chinatowns in major cities. Was wondering if… I'm moving to Seoul for a few months in just a couple of weeks. Well, seoul is too crowded so we actually, can't "afford" an inner-city slums or any similar sort. 6% and 44% after deduction. The teachers are great and don't treat our child differently than other kids. you'll get the best rate that way I am going to be moving to Seoul (from Daejeon) and living with a friend for a week or so till I find my own place. Between Koreans this is not true, it's usually one person asking the other person to be their boyfriend/girlfriend explicitly and if the other person says yes you're dating. I'll be studying at HUFS, and will be staying 5 or 6 months. Ranch dressing is hard to come by. As someone who had a job in Seoul, but then had to move to a rural city about 300 km south because of government mandate about relocating public companies to other cities, this became so painfully evident. Return to Seoul: One of the Year’s Most Striking Arthouse Films. South Korea is one of the countries whose culture I want to experience. $50k USD in Seoul might get you the same standard of living as $75k USD in Tokyo, but if you have a student loan payment in the US of $400/month, that would be 9. Most likely you will be excited to be in a new Country/City, so you might not be home much. Seochogu. You can always get a student visa at a language institute or university. Just because you are Korean American and may be familiar with the culture/ language doesn't mean it will be any easier. Seoul had a lot of modern architecture, and the women's university is underground. First part in Hongdae and second part in Myeongdong. 4% of your monthly income in Japan. Seoul life is lived outside, with cafes and restaurants proving popular throughout the day and night both during the week It will help a lot if you spoke some Korean though. I have been all over Asia, and the Americas. Because of reasons I listed above, I am still stuck here. They have an city bikes you can rent, that is the best way to get around Seoul. Reply. lawfulkitten1. Gonna go bit further to do some thrilling urban experience. Jan 1, 2023 · What to Know Before Moving to South Korea. When you leave the bus, tap your card again. It's good to keep some on hand. Survey finds Seoul 'worst City in Asia' for expats. My original plan way to sell all my stuff in May and live with my family in June and move to the US in July. I lived in America until I was 12, then I moved to Seoul. e. For Korean residents and citizens, the tax schedule varies as follows: 0 – 12,000,000 KRW: 6%. Some districts in Seoul are indeed considered 'shady' but not. Korean google translate offline to translate menus, 2. Also, humidity is a lot higher than the mainland, be prepared to invest in a dehumidifier to avoid mold and mildew during the damper months. First thing, Dont panic. I've decided I want to move and live there before I'm 30. When Koreans move to America they create a Koreatown, all moving to one area and opening business to feel like they are at home. Rule 1: Never hold korean money outside Korea. In U. Quality of life hands down: Seoul > San Francisco A community for people who are currently living in South Korea. I’m still happy anyways. Then again, it's sometimes nice to get Western food for a change. What are the absolute best reasons why it's awesome to live in Seoul as a foreigner!? For small context, I'm in my early, nearly mid 30's, male, tan with dark features (not a white blonde guy who I think may have a slightly different social/dating experience Seoul is night and day cleaner and safer than San Francisco even though it's 5× larger than SF(you should know SF is tiny). 33/month. Get a job to help support you both and then a safety net in the worst case scenario. In SK, this would typically be a minimum of double that per month, triple that in Seoul or Busan. Get a visa, and 2. Um. In saying that, Chicago is a great city. even close to global standard of 'place you should worry about'. It moves a lot quicker, i. ErwinFurwinPurrwin. I was hoping to sign up for some Korean language classes to assist me in my learning of Korean. I hope you have done your research because making such a big move from the US to Korea without much prior knowledge usually goes badly for people. -Night life and access to entertainment. Oct 26, 2022 · Thinking of moving to South Korea? Get a head start with our list of the 21 things to know before moving to South Korea. Is moving to Russia an obtainable possibility? Travel. jpark170. I would be getting a very lucrative job for 2-3 years in Seoul (not english teaching) and have visited once for a few days. When I was in Seoul a couple weeks ago, my favorite places were (1) Gwangjang market - must have kimchi dumplings beer and other treats at one of the popular stands; (2) bukchon hanok village - very pretty, nice shopping, nice restaurants on side streets; (3) Kyoga - michelin star dumpling restaurant, very cheap in Myeongdong I'm American my spouse is Korean and we have a two year old. So, bring your dollars with you (yes, a couple grand. In our home countries, there are a lot of small things that add up way more and take more of attention. Again though, this has too many factors. Moved from New Orleans to a new ‘planned’ city in Seoul. Several other Korean-Americans chime in during the ensuing discussion. What are the absolute best reasons why it's awesome to live in Seoul as a foreigner!? For small context, I'm in my early, nearly mid 30's, male, tan with dark features (not a white blonde guy who I think may have a slightly different social/dating experience Hi Redditors, I am moving to Seoul on a ~2 year contract and was looking for some recommendations on some critical things. or COEX mall, Starfield mall. Jeju is a lot less of a tropical paradise than the promos would have you believe, and the wind is famous for a reason. Posted by u/[Deleted Account] - 7 votes and 101 comments In Seoul, stay around Insa Dong to see the tourist sites, and experience shopping like no other place in the world. I'm a 23 year old student from Brussels, Belgium and I'm moving to Seoul in beginning september. juicius. PIA is a recommendation if you pay for the year straight out it's 3. 2m, and can go up above 2m in certain parts. 20million deposit, 1. I enjoy nice restaurants and medium-to-high-end night clubs. San Francisco was once a great city, no longer the case. 9% without any deduction or a graduated rate between 6. You could probably find it there. It was well shot and all, but that means nothing if I can't connect with the protagonist. Prepare yourself for some difficult weather. Your American tourist visa would allow you to stay there for 3 months, and you could simply take a short trip to Japan near the end of that 3 months and return to Seoul to reset the clock. Like 노원구. Anywho. And yeah, some smaller shops only take cash. kakao taxi and 3. Btw Korean taxes/nhis/pension combined are less than Cali/nyc but not by that much. “Glamping”, weightlifting and tattoos Lived in Korea 5+ years headed back to the US for a month going back to Korea and then moving to my best destination. not for me, but maybe a good tip for others ☺️ if you’re looking for brands, I’d stick with Lotte or Hyundai malls. My husband and I are moving to Korea in about two weeks. If you move to a big city like Seoul, most people there are used to seeing foreigners of all kinds, particularly Korean-Americans. The subway system is so amazing, and easy to get anywhere quickly and 2. I’m jumping in here to ask another phone related question. Seoul is a city that never sleeps - you will find activities to entertain you at any time of the day or night, whether during Leisure October 07, 2019. Seoul Express terminal had an underground shopping ‘mall’ which extends preeetttty far and a lot of ‘one sized’ clothes. So many people move to Seoul and live in a lil' shit shack and get to make more money than they would in their hometown. About me, mid 30s single American guy, speak a couple of languages but no Korean (yet). Step one:Take a bit of paper or “card” and write the Korean letter on one side. Everything Seoul has to offer, I've seen it and done that. Wicker Park is also nice, and along Hi all, as stated in the title, I’ll be relocating to Seoul in two months time. Seoul is expensive, get out of Seoul. I am an American accepting a position to teach English in Bundang. I've just studied English. r/AskARussian. As a gyopo considering moving back part time after retirement, this is actually a strong argument in favor of such a move. Whilst the administration are not to my liking (my opinion doesn't matter cz I'm not American though), I don't think the entire government, public servants (including congress) are just going to sit there and watch a nuclear war happen. Also I wanted to learn dancing from 1Million Dance studios. People who indulge in bitchathons at every gathering and go through their laundry list of complaints about Korea. I’m looking for some general advice as far as cost of living, daily… General taxi advice is just pay attention to what's going on, where you are headed, that the meter is running, etc. My salary would not be able to cover that cost. In a nutshell, this Korean-American dude says Korea hasn't been an easy place to get laid in the past few years and its only gotten much harder in the past year. Also Mexican neighborhoods. 3million KRW + Management Every time I visit Seoul, I end up wishing that I lived there, and never wanted to go back to Daejeon after the weekend was over. Have a family of 3 lived in Seoul and Ilsan, worked as a 대리 in a Korean company, made higher than average Korean because I'm a foreigner. I'm not a student, but I pay about 100 a month for food at home, more if I'm trying to cook particularly American. other place could be northern Seoul. Reply reply. A community for people who are currently living in South Korea. nobodies gonna jack you here. Jeonse (giant deposits) doesn’t make a lot of sense for short term rent, and also doesn’t make sense financially with the markets the way they are now, but it’s legitimate, there are a lot of Areed. For context, I am someone who likes to go out occasionally to restaurants and bars, go dancing or go to a concert. Legally* : r/korea. Hi all, Just some quick context! I was born in 1979, but in 1984 my family moved over the USA for business reasons, and I have been raised as a Korean American ever since. This will be a lot of fun. . You can enjoy things like camping, hiking, snowboarding/skiing, wakeboarding, golf, surfing and pretty much anything you did back home. Step two: Write the corresponding sound for the Korean letter in another language (preferably your own) on the other side of the paper or “card”. I have an H-1 (working holiday) Visa, which lets me study and work part-time for 1 year. hangry-bear. South Korea is a good place to live but only if it fits your lifestyle. “Seoul, however, fared even worse than Hong Kong, with expats finding it hard to make friends and fit in with the local culture”. 15. People there are used to seeing foreigners and would be willing to be friendly. I looked up as best as I could on how to move to Russia (immigration laws, passport, jobs available in RU, etc. I’m an American and have lived here my whole life. Internet costs me roughly $20 per month with no data caps. thebusankid. Hi all. I've dropped over 100,000 in Seoul through indiscriminate drinking. Call them and book that seat! For reference, a decent apartment in Seoul probably costs around 1. 6% of your monthly income in Korea, versus only 6. we paid $750/mo for a low interest mortgage for a 5 bedroom, 3 bath single family home. So with a PhD I would sincerely hope you would do better. Cons: poor air quality, long working hours, I hate how cold winter is, loneliness, no one speaking up if someone is being harassed in public. I would stick to Lincoln Park initially, move here, and then when you are more familiar with the city, explore other areas. 5k. First one was a young (17-30 yo) party and shopping area, 2nd one was very commercial and touristic but really close to lots of interesting areas north of Seoul. Personally I recommend 마포역 it has good transportation, safe, not to crowded lile 홍대 신촌 이태원. It really blows my mind how beautiful our neighborhood is. Press the stop button when your stop is approaching. Just remember to think about debts and savings outside the country. I'm already stoked to move to Seoul, I loved it as a tourist but that was back in 2016. poopdeck. Most cultures are competent enough to realize they will miss home and need to interact with like minded people. She’s a 25lb miniature poodle. It’s a vibrant, fashionable city of advanced technology and some of the tastiest and spiciest food to For years I’ve thought about an international move but the last 4-5 years have pushed me to start seriously considering it. If you're living in Seoul, you'll probably never talk to your neighbors. Things to do in Seoul alone, with your partner or with your family. Things have been ok so far with our child's experience in daycare here. Just download 1. I understand moving to some countries is easier than others in terms of residency, visas, etc. Free language classes at Seoul Global Center? Hi Guys! I'm moving to Seoul to teach English next week. T-Money card from any convenience store and top up Sim card: Woori Mobile, just DM them , they can send it to your place in Seoul quickly or goto their stores, they all speak English. We're moving to the US in a few months for a few reasons. Our friends live in Seoul and pay $1700 per month for a 3/1 apartment, not including utilities. • 6 yr. I lived in Seoul for 2 years. Living in Seoul as an expat can also make you only hang out with other expats of your peers (English teachers, corporate salaryman, C-level executives, and people associated with the US Military and other diplomat circles). But in Korea you probably need to be at 3,500,000 - 4,500,000 won to live comfortably with a spouse in most areas of true Seoul. It is my favorite city in the world, hands down. That’s with a simple BS in CS. Protip: The A380 has a seat in economy class with no seat in front of it due to the design of the plane. ) Basically, I just want to pack up, board a plane, and move to South Korea and live there like a local: rent a studio, get a job and go through the struggles of life in a place I actually want The flight attendants are so nice and literally ran around for 13 straight hours. But I don't live in Seoul. I wanted to know what people thought of Bundang. Censorship is easily gotten around with a VPN. Hi everyone! I'm an American student and I just got accepted to study at Yonsei University this fall! I speak English, Japanese, and Chinese, but very little Korean. Naver maps and you will be able to go anywhere and do anything you want. Since I was young I’ve always been fascinated by Russia and it’s culture. I'm looking for any tips and recommendations for moving to Seoul, especially things like housing. and I guess I’m seeking out your experiences, good and bad, with various countries so I can take that into consideration along with everything else. I really want to move to Seoul. 5 to 2 mil for one and 3-4 mil for a family of 4. It's definitely worth a watch, though I felt it peaked a little early. Seoul’s city motto is 'the Soul of Asia' and, once moving here, or even visiting, it's easy to see why people fall in love with it. Just make sure you know the import requirements for pets. I have a budget of about USD$3000 per month for the apartment. From leisurely topics like hobbies and events, to more serious ones such as finance and healthcare, this is a place to ask about and discuss things that affect our daily lives. I have read online that Seoul Global Center provides korean languages classes. The most dangerous part of Seoul is not nearly as rough as the safest part of Chicago. I've lived here for 5 years and have NEVER seen it. And some people older than their 40s are afraid of contacting foreigners, because Korea wasn't open-minded to foreigners in their generation. ed jy dp sj kg lf uh wo fi jt