My journey with Arirang Radio started a long time ago. I have a long and happy history with them and I am thankful for all the memories I made. To show my gratitude to them I will be going to promote them here. This Korean radio station called Arirang Radio is the first one to be airing internationally and has gained more and more love and appreciation from foreign listeners. They have so many amazing and fun programs such as Hot Beat, #dailyK, Cine Factory, Good morning, Seoul, K Poppin’, Music Access, Super K-Pop, Korea Now, Sound K, Wonders of Jeju, and last but not least, K pop Mix and Just Dance. Most of them are two hours of fun and informative programs while others are only one hour but just as amazing as the others. Some corners are educative while the others are entertaining and enable us to see the amazingly talented artists as we get to know more about them. You can also interact with the hosts and guests via the respective show’s message board, via Instagram DM, Twitter posts, YouTube chat, Kakaotalk, or even Vlive chat. For a better experience, you can always watch the visual section of the shows on YouTube. You just need to follow the Arirang Radio K-Pop channel. The hosts are extremely friendly and welcoming so that could make you get addicted to their soothing voices and sweet and fun personalities. Arirang Radio is like a second family to so many as they work together really hard to create a relaxing atmosphere so that anyone, no matter where you are, or who you are, can feel like part of the family. You can listen through the android Arirang Radio application, via the official homepage of Arirang Radio, via the official Arirang Radio YouTube channel Arirang Radio K-Pop. If you are in Korea, you can turn your radio to 88,7 Mhz in Jeju, 88.1 Mhz in Sogwipo city, 101.9 Mhz in Daejeong area. You can also find them On DMB (T-MDB: Arirang Radio). I strongly recommend this radio station because you are going to really enjoy the quality time there. Tune into Arirang Radio! Download application form

HiKorea website is a portal for immigration services in South Korea. HiKorea is a government website set up by the Korean Ministry of Justice, the Minister of Economy, and the Ministry of Labor to provide online services and important information for foreigners living in Korea. On the HiKorea website, you will find relevant information and services related to immigration, residence, naturalization, investment, employment, social integration programs, and the latest news about visas and visa adjustments. If you plan to come to South Korea or if you are here and plan to stay longer than the period required for the tourist visa, you cannot stay without a visit to the immigration office. You will need to apply for an ID card to notify the Korean government of an extended stay in Korea and the purpose of your stay. The ID card serves as an identification card government in Korea and gives you access to important services, such as setting up a bank account, applying for medical insurance, obtaining a driver's license, etc. To validate your stay and obtain an ARC, you will need to make an online reservation through the HiKorea website portal followed by a personal visit to the immigration office. Korean offices for immigration do not offer services without a reservation, except for certain emergencies. The HiKorea site can be a bit difficult to navigate, as only three language options are available (Korean, Chinese, and English), and most of the links on the site will take you to an available page only in Korean (including the guide to using the online application portal). For the best experience using the HiKorea site, it is recommended that you use Internet Explorer to access the website. Google Chrome is NOT compatible with any HiKorea site or most browsers are not and they may give you some errors. There is also a mobile version of the website, but it works mostly only for reservations since the navigation is pretty rough.

Below you have a list of the job-seeking or working visa types. For more information click on each of them for a detailed article. D-10-1 Job Seeker E-2-1 Instructor of foreign languages E-6 Artist E-7-91 Work Visa D-10-1 Job Seeker A person who intends to work in an institution of training or finding a job in a qualified field for teacher visa (E-1), language instructor (E-2), research (E-3), technical instructor/technician (E -4), professional (E-5), artist/athlete (E-6) and foreign national with special abilities (E-7). This person should have graduated from a form of education in Korea (undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D.) to qualify. It is valid for a maximum of 2 years. E-2-1 Instructor of foreign languages A person who meets the qualifications set by the Minister of justice and intends to teach conversational language to a language institute, an affiliated language research institute a high school educational institute, an institute language training affiliated with a company or company broadcasting, or other equivalent organization. To teach English in Korea legally with this visa you should be from a native English-speaking country. E-6 Artist A person who intends to engage in profitable activities such as music, fine arts, literature, professional acting, or professional entertainment activities. Currently this visa can be granted for 6 months or 1 year at a time. E-7-91 Work Visa A person who intends to engage in a field appointed by the ROK Minister of Justice for improving national competitiveness by adopting foreign workers with professional knowledge/technology under a contract with a public or private institute in ROK To obtain a professional visa (excluding the D-10 visa) you need a sponsor represented by usually by the Institution that hired you. That's why the search process has a job becomes more complicated and difficult; many Korean companies are more reluctant to sponsor an employee foreigner. In the case of a D-10 visa, an account statement is needed to prove the financial situation you have. One solution to avoid the need to be sponsored by the company is the F-2-7 visa, a long-term resident visa duration. This visa is obtained on the basis of a points system provided by the Korean Immigration Bureau and gives the applicant the opportunity to work in Korea without being sponsored by the employer. People who hold a D-2 or D-10 visa and wish to apply for an F-2-7 visa need to have a master's degree from a Korean university and be also eligible for one of the E1 - E7 work visas. For more information on business visas and resident visas check out the visa section on the HIKorea website.

Koreans are obsessed with beauty products and for them buying online is also a very convenient way of shopping. Therefore, below you have a list of Korean online shopping places, where you can enjoy discounts, promotions and so much more with just a click. Olive Young is one of the largest franchises in Korea that mainly distributes cosmetics; the franchise is owned by the CJ conglomerate; the application is valid in Korean as well as in English and other languages; logging only by the membership; membership can be used at all CJ partner stores. Website | Android | iOS Lalavla -Similar to Olive Young, the franchise is owned by the same company that owns the GS retail -membership can be used at all partner stores - shopping only by membership Website | Android | iOS Korean cosmetic stores All these Korean cosmetic stores are very common and well known; Valid online and offline; Members, depending on the level, receive various offers and coupons. WEBSITE | ANDROID | iOS WEBSITE | ANDROID | iOS WEBSITE | ANDROID | iOS WEBSITE | ANDROID | iOS WEBSITE | ANDROID | iOS Nunc Similar to Olive young and Lalavla, has different brands Also, a lot of discounts and gifts for purchases Website | Android | iOS YES Style Korean brand that also has clothes and makeup Korean and Japanese beauty items Worldwide FREE shipping, daily FREE gifts, daily flash deals at 80% OFF, and new shoppers get an extra 10% OFF their first purchase Website | Android | iOS Most of these shops also have offline ones where you can go and try the products before buying them. All of them require membership for purchase so make sure to SING UP. They also have memberships and coupons available for discounts.

As a lot of you know, Koreans eat specific food during some events, or even during some seasons or special days of the year. But did you know there are also superstitions about what not to eat before exams? One of the most popular superstitions that Koreans believe even nowadays is not eating slippery food, such as seaweed soup (miyeokgug) before taking an exam. The reason behind this superstition is that through eating slippery food, your good luck may also slide away and fail the exam. Instead, you should eat sticky food, such as yeot (Korean sweet sticky and hard candy) and chapssalddeok (Korean rice cake with sweet bean paste). By eating this kind of sticky food, your good luck will stick with you during exams,

Pet cafés in Seoul, South Korea's capital, are unique and fun, with several of them allowing guests to snuggle up with all sorts of exotic animals. Pet cafés are now becoming increasingly popular, so you can go out, cuddle with fuzzy pals, and enjoy a nice beverage all at once. Below we have made a list just for you, where you can enjoy meeting cute animals! Table A Located in Hongdae, Table A has diverse animals, including cute raccoons and loving meerkats. It is frequently visited by Korean teenagers and adults who are passionate about animals. It's a pet café in the heart of the city in which you can interact with animals, feed them and take lovely photos. Address: B1, 146 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 12:00-22:00 2. Thanks Nature Café You will have the opportunity to interact with a friendly sheep. A nice, tranquil ambiance is created by a couple of gentle, fluffy pals. Only with the purchase of an item on the menu, admission is free. Coffee, tea, toast, bingsu, and waffles with fruit and ice cream are on the menu. Address: 486 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 11:00 - 22:00 3. Meerkat Friends Meerkat Companions is a unique café where you can interact with a few meerkats, an arctic fox, a genet, and a raccoon, among other furry friends. The cost of admission is included with the cost of their coffee and tea selections. Address: 19-12 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 12:00 - 21:45 4. Blind Alley You'll get to meet a few raccoons, piglets, and a corgi when you visit Blind Alley. If you order something from the menu, you get free admission to the raccoon room. The dining room is separated from the animals, as it is in many other animal cafes. Address: 63-20 Cheongpa-dong 2-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 10:30 - 22:00 5. Bunny Café As you snuggle up with fluffy rabbits in this Alice in Wonderland-themed Bunny Café, the mood is bright and happy. The entrance fee is 6,000 KRW for 30 minutes or 9,000 KRW for one hour. You can buy goodies for the bunnies for 2,000 KRW if you want to offer them to them. Address: 347-3 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 1:00 - 22:00 6. The Galápagos A tortoise, bearded dragons, and sugar gliders can be found inside the modern but earthy café. It is permissible to feed, touch, and play with these creatures, but the cafe's environment encourages you to genuinely enjoy their company as they walk around the open space. The cost of entrance is included in the cost of drinks. Address: 316-12 Sangsu-Dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00 - 23:00 7. Wanggwan House Wanggwan House is a café where you can get up close and personal with parrots, finches, and cockatoos. The entrance fee is 5,000 KRW, however it includes a beverage of your choice. For 1,000 KRW, you may even buy some goodies to feed the birds. Address: 101-5 Daehyeon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 11:00 - 19:00 8. Bau House Bau House is among the most popular dog cafes in the city, making it a favorite destination for dog owners. When you buy a drink, admission is free. Despite the fact that most of the dogs at Bau House are permanent residents, they have always been looking for new furry friends to play with and socialize with, as long as they fit a set of criteria. Address: 394-44 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 11:30 - 22:30 9. Koopet Koopet (reptile café) in Gangnam is the spot to go if you prefer reptiles. This traditional pet cafe was turned into a store offering reptile adoption services, including iguanas, chameleons, snakes, and lizards, due to the stress the animals had been experiencing. If you're looking for a new family member and want to interact with reptiles, this is the place to go. Address: Bongeunsa-ro 84-gil, Samseong 1(il)-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul Hours: 11:00 - 20:00 10. Gio Cat More than ten breeds of cats walk freely in the Hongdae cat café, including Russian Blue, Persian, and Scottish Fold. Adult entrance costs $8,000 and includes a drink of your choice as well as much feline cuddling time as you like (and the cats allow you to). Address: 12-6 Wausan-ro 21-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: 12:00 - 23:00 11. Akdong Animal Healing Cafe Only a few animals live at the Hongdae Raccoon Café, including raccoons, a few dogs, and other animals like meerkats, snakes, and cats. For many animals, however, Akdong Healing Café is simply a temporary home because they are only there to be cared for. For healing, it's similar to a rescue center or an animal hospital. You do not need to buy anything from the café to gain access to the entire café if you pay the admission price. Furthermore, the admission fee does not provide any drinks. The entry fee is 10,000 KRW, and beverages are usually between 2,000 and 2,500 KRW. Address: 3rd floor, 358-25 Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea Hours: 12:00-22:00 *Check if they are closed or not 12. Godabang Cat Cafe Godabang Cat Café is another cat-themed café. You must remove your shoes and put on the provided indoor slippers before meeting the super adorable cats. You'll have to buy the necessary drink as well to be able to enter. Address: 51-14 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours: 13:00 - 22:00 Making stops at these cafes, such as the various pet cafés in Seoul listed above, while on vacation is strongly advised for a truly memorable holiday in South Korea. And if you reside here, what's stopping you from going for a lovely adventure every weekend?

We made a list with the emergency numbers that any foreigner should know when they live in Korea. We hope this list will help you and make your life more comfortable. Emergency Assistance and Support phone numbers in South Korea Police - 112 Fire and Ambulance - 119 Medical Emergencies - 129 Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) - 1339 Report-A-Spy - 113 FOCUS (Foreigner Community Service) - 02 798 7529 Medical Referral Service - 010 4769 8212 Legal Counseling Service - 02 508 1745 Legal Service Helpline - 02 3482 0132 Alcoholics Anonymous Seoul - 02 319 5861 Alcoholics Anonymous Daegu - 053 768 6732 Women's Helpline - 1366 International Operator - 00799 Local Directory Assistance - 114 Korea Travel Hotline - 1330 National Intelligence Service - 111 Coast Guard - 122 International Emergency Rescue - 02 02 790 7561 Government Call Center - 110 Seoul Dasan Call Center: Information related to services provided by the City of Seoul 120 (press 9 for English) Human Rights Helpline - 1331 Consumer Service Center - 1365 Missing Person - 182 Volunteer Service for Translation - 1588 5644 Migrant Workers Counselling Center -1577 0071 (exterior 5) Bus information (Seoul) - 02 418 5000 Gimpo Airport flight information - 02 660 2456 Tourist Complaint Center - 02 735 0101 Weather Report - 131 Time - 116 Lost and found - 02 2299 782 or +82-2-182 Primary Immigration Offices phone numbers in South Korea (for the full list see our article) Seoul Immigration Office: (02) 650-6239 Incheon Immigration Office: (032) 882-0544 Busan Immigration Office: (051) 463-7161 Gimpo Immigration Office: (02) 664-7614 Gimhae Immigration Office: (051) 972-1610 Jeju Immigration Office: (064) 22-3494

Andong Mask and Dance Festival (안동 국제 탈춤 페스티벌) Mungyeong Chasabal Traditional Pottery Festival (문경 찻사발 축제) Korean Royal Palace Cultural Festival (궁중 문화 축전) Buddha's Day (부처님 오신 날) and Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회) We all love to see some cultural aspects when visiting or living in another country, and what is the best way of doing this if not attending a different festival? Below you have a list of some of the most famous of all of them! Andong Mask and Dance Festival (안동 국제 탈춤 페스티벌) The Andong Mask and Dance Festival dates back to 1997 and is held annually in late September, early October in Andong. The festival period is 10 days, during which visitors can participate in various workshops, concerts, mask exhibitions, and plays in Korean folklore. Where is Andong? Andong is the capital of northern Gyeongsang Province and is the largest city in the province. Andong is the UNESCO-protected city of Andong Hanoe. How to get there: Train: take the train from Seoul Station and then at Dongdaegu Station transfer to the local train to Andong. For the schedules, reservation, or Korail Pass you can check their website. Bus: Express bus from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (East Express Bus Terminal) until Andong Station. If you want to check the schedule and reserve the tickets you can do it at their website. What are traditional Korean masks and what do they mean? Traditional Korean masks were used in the past for various activities such as traditional plays, for those who went to war, and for certain shamanistic rituals. These masks are now often found in museums. As a significant part of Korean culture, these masks can be purchased at the festival as well as at various souvenir shops in the country. Festival activities and fees Admission to the festival is free but some plays have an entrance ticket, also some workshops have a participation fee. Workshops include mask making where participants can make their own masks. During the festival, participants can also watch various dances combined with traditional music as well as certain exhibitions of masks, bonsai, and other objects from Korean folklore. Mungyeong Chasabal Traditional Pottery Festival (문경 찻사발 축제) The traditional Chasabal Pottery Festival is held annually at the Mungyeongsaejae Open Studio in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. How to get there: Bus: Take a bus from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal to Jeomchon Bus Terminal in Mungyeong. From there, go to the bus across Homeplus supermarket for Mungyeongsaejae. If you don’t want to take the bus from the terminal you can also take a taxi. For the schedules and reservations check their website. The significance of the festival The festival has various themes related to pottery and clay workers, and during the festival, pottery workers use Mangdaegi which is the oldest type of Korean ceramic kiln to bring the most traditional air. Activities and fees Admission is 5,000 won, and the festival's activities include: packaging of various clay vessels, QR scan of Chasabal statue, finding pearls in the mud, tea ceremony, writing wishes in clay, etc. Korean Royal Palace Cultural Festival (궁중 문화 축전) It is held annually for an entire month each spring in Seoul. The festival includes various activities and events taking place at the five royal palaces in Seoul. The significance of the festival and the fare The festival aims to explore the royal palaces including various festivities and traditions. Most of the events and activities have their own inside the five palaces and the Jogmyo altar. Activities and rates Most of the activities during the festival are free. Activities include traditional medicine tea ceremony, the funeral ritual at the Jogmyo altar, traditional concerts, etc. Buddha's Day (부처님 오신 날) and Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회) Buddhism is one of the two major religions of Korea along with Christianity, and given this fact, every spring, the day of the Buddha is celebrated in Korea, considered a national day. Each country celebrates this day on different occasions. In Korea, Buddha's Day is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth Monday in the lunar calendar (around May of each year). Meaning and activities Buddha Day in Korea runs for an entire week and focuses on celebrating the Buddha's birthday. The most important event around this holiday in Korea is the lotus lantern festival which takes place one weekend before that day. The parade starts at Dongguk University, one of Korea's leading Buddhist universities, and runs to the Jognro area and ends at the Jogyesa Temple in the Insadong area. Spectators can watch this parade for free or visit the temples.

If you are a fan of South Korea, seen some k-drams or like some K-pop bands, I suspect you already know that Koreans have this tradition of eating seaweed soup (miyeokguk) on their birthday. But do you know why? Where does this tradition come from and how it started? If you don’t know, it’s ok, we will let you know. So, it seems that according to a historical record from the Tang Dynasty of China, in Goryeo times people have noticed that the whales were eating seaweed to recover after they gave birth. Therefore, following this behavior people started serving seaweed to women during postnatal care and realized it’s detoxifying benefits, ideal for recovery. Traditionally, the seaweed soup was dedicated to Samsin Halmoni, or Grandmother Samsin, who is the triple goddess of childbirth and destiny in Korean mythology. People in ancient times used to place seaweed soup next to the pregnant women’s pillow during the week before birth. Hence, miyeokguk is a Korean cuisine symbolizing birth. Therefore, the tradition of eating seaweed soup on birthdays, it comes as a result of the whole history with women who give birth, it is a way of honoring the mothers who brought us into the world with love and sacrifice. With this, the Koreans thank one more year of life, honor their mothers and start another year "with luck."

Living in Korea may be very challenging when you don’t know the language, or you find it difficult to get the proper information, so a lot of expats got very huge fines because they don’t know how to report important things on time. This is also related to your address in Korea. You have to report your address within 14 days, or else a 100,000 KRW fee (or more) can be received. You can go to your local district office (주민센터) near your home, or the Gu-office (구청) - no reservation needed or to the immigration office (reservation will be required in advance on the HiKorea website), or just change your address online at https://www.hikorea.go.kr/Main.pt. To change it online you have to log in, or first sign up if you don’t have an account, press on e-application then choose the notification of change of residence from the list, complete with the new address and personal information, then upload the Application form, ID card, Passport, new house contract copies and you are good to go. In case you go in person, you have to present the following: your ID card in Korea, passport, house contract copies, and original and application form (available there). The procedure will take around 10-20 minutes. *The contract can differ by what type of residence you have, dormitory contract will usually be provided by the university, if you live in a Gosiwon, the people there will sign a contract with you when you move in, so just present that together with a copy of their business registration. In case your contract is made for a shared house, it may be necessary to have a written paper or a phone call to the owner together with a copy of the contract so they know you are really living in that house. One room, apartment, or any other house where your contract is official from the agency doesn’t require any other additional documents. If you live with your boyfriend and the apartment is in another person’s name then that person should give you their ID card copy and a written note regarding you staying there to present together with the contract they have. *If you stay in that house even after the contract expires, the continuation is usually automatically done, so you don’t have to re-make the contract nor report it again. Don’t forget this important step if you want to be sure you don’t pay any fees. This is very important when you live in this country.

Korea is the country of food delivery heaven! If you come to this country you have to buy at least one-time delivery at your door. Not only is it convenient but it is also fast. From individual delivery options to apps that have various restaurants this list will make your struggle easier. Coupang Eats Food delivery application owned by Coupang the application can be linked to the official Coupang application Valid English options Website | Android | iOS BaetMin (Baetal Minjok) (배달의민족) One of the most popular food delivery services Korean service Website | Android | iOS Yogiyo (배달요기요) The app offers coupons for customers who order more Korean service Website | Android | iOS FAST FOOD franchises Mc Donald’s Android | iOS Burger King Android | iOS KFC Android | iOS Lotteria 롯데잇츠 Lotteeatz Android | iOS Mom’s touch Android | iOS No brand burger Android | iOS So, if you are hungry in the middle of the night remember that most of these apps work 24/7 and you can find various foods to order. Even if they have a delivery service fee, you may be lucky to order over a certain price limit and receive them without paying for the delivery. And you can always use your phone to contact the store in advance if you have questions. Don’t forget to make an account, write your address correctly and have a nice meal!

I love concerts, ballet, and theater and I always want to attend something in my own free time, so I try to find the cheapest way of doing so. In Korea, there are a lot of places where you can buy tickets for your favorite performance cheap and fast. Ticket.Melon Service offered in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean; Festival and concert tickets. Website | Android | iOS Interpark Service offered in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean; Concerts, festivals, CDs, DVDs, books, and general shopping. Website | Android | iOS | Tickets: Website | Android | iOS Yanolja Plane tickets, festivals, etc. Service offered only in Korean. Website | Android | iOS Yes24 Books, festival tickets, concerts, movies, and second-hand shops, CDs, DVDs; Service offered in Korean. Website | Android | iOS Tickets: Website What do you wait for? Go and buy the tickets now! However, you may need a Korean friend if you don’t speak the language well or a Korean card, since some of them don’t accept international ones. But definitely, here is the place where you can buy tickets for everything.

Food - Supermarket Emart Mall Website | Android | iOS * SSG cardholders will receive an extra discount upon payment Homeplus Website | Android | iOS Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Website | Android | iOS *Nonghyup, Kookmin, etc. partner cardholders, etc. will receive an extra discount. Franchise stores - GS25, 7eleven, CU, Ministop, Emart24 are some of the most common franchise kiosks that are open 24/7 all year round *Each store has a membership application that offers points for purchase and offers *GS25 and CU also offer a lower price for delivery products than others *All of them have also applications to use for discounts HomeMart type stores - stores that are usually owned by families - these stores generally have slightly lower prices for various foods than supermarket stores Bakeries and pastry shops Paris Baguette, one of the most popular bakeries in Korea (Android | iOS) *Offers HappyPoint (Android | iOS) membership that can be used in partner and adjacent stores Paris Croissant, store that sells pastries, bread, and other ready-made food Tous les Jours, similar to Paris Baguette, is a franchise that sells pastries and bread *Those who have a membership will receive points that they can use for the following purchases Stores selling foreign products Foreign Food mart, located in Itaewon, locals can find a variety of food from abroad at a reasonable price Mono mart, is a store that sells Japanese products. Traditional Korean markets Namdaemun Market, you will be able to find various products from clothes, electronics to food; Tongin Market, located in the area of ​​palaces, offers a variety of traditional shops and restaurants. The specificity of this market is that the currency used is not won but yeopjeon (old Korean coins) that can be purchased at the entry of the market; Mangwon Market, various foods are sold in this market and you can also find restaurants owned by locals at very low prices; Gwangjang Market, this market specializes in clothing materials and accessories as well as street food; Noryanjing Fish Market, located in the area of ​​the station with the same name, Noryangjin Market is the largest fish market in Korea, fish lovers will find here a wide variety of fish and seafood; Gyeongdong Market, we recommend this market for those who are interested in purchasing Korean medicinal herbs. Cosmetics Olive Young, is one of the largest franchises in Korea that mainly distributes cosmetics. The franchise is owned by the CJ conglomerate. Membership can be used at all CJ partner stores such as Dunkin Donuts, CGV, etc. Lalavla, similar to Olive Young, the franchise is owned by the same company that owns the GS25 stores' membership can be used at all partner stores Pacific Love (Aritaum, Innisfree, etc.) - is one of the largest Korean cosmetics companies with a number of brands such as Innisfree and Aritaum. Valid online and offline. Members, depending on the level, receive various offers and coupons * Most Korean cosmetics stores also have an online shopping site, and most new registered members will receive welcoming coupons. Also, you can find them on all the streets since they are very popular. Bookstores Alladin, new and old books, CDs, DVDs. Service offered in Korean Kyobo, books, stationery, movies, CDs, DVDs Also, there are a lot of old books stores in Korea, just search for the 골동품서점 or 중고서점 which means used books bookstore or antique bookstore.

Do you want to shop for new items, for a gift, or just for your daily necessities but you don’t know where? In Korea, there are a lot of websites that can provide also English services or global delivery, so just browse the ones below to learn more about them. Gmarket Provides service in English, Chinese, Japanese Valid international delivery Foreign Master card and Visa cards accepted Website | Android | iOS Coupang Valid only in Korean Local delivery only Fast and secure delivery Only valid Korean cards Website | Android | iOS *Rocket delivery members do not pay for delivery 11street Service valid in English Visa and Master card cards accepted abroad Delivery abroad Website | Android | iOS Market B Similar to the ones above you can buy almost everything from there A little bit more expensive Valid in Korea only Website | Android | iOS Daiso Mall/ #Daiso (샵다이소) Daiso franchise app and website Available in Korea and in Korean only Local delivery only There are 2 apps, the Daiso Mall normal has other products also, while #Daiso has every day delivery from the nearest Daiso shop and only their products Website | Android Mall Android #Daiso | iOS Mall iOS #Daiso Naver shopping Shopping on the Naver browser Only in Korean Has multiple stores and searches Website | Android | iOS As always most of these apps require to SING UP with an account and some of them have a Korean bank account, however, two of them have 100% global delivery and accept all types of cards as long they are VISA or MASTERCARD.

Korean Brands: YES Style Website: https://www.yesstyle.com/en/home.html Musinsa Website: https://www.musinsa.com/app/ Ultra Fashion Website: https://www.ultrafashion.net J Style Website: http://www.jstyleshop.net ABLY Website: https://a-bly.com W Concept Website: https://www.wconcept.co.kr International Brands: H&M Website: https://www2.hm.com/ko_kr/index.html SPAO Website: https://spao.com SHEIN Website: https://asia.shein.com UNIQLO Website: https://store-kr.uniqlo.com

Korea is amazing for its touristic places, and festivals make it way better. Every season Korea has lots of great festivals that you can visit. If you live in Korea this is an opportunity to learn more about the culture, and if you just visit then this is perfect to enjoy food and traditions all along. Spring (March - June) Cherry blossom festivals (most of the time in April) This is a festival that announces the arrival of spring, flowers make the whole of Korea look just astonishing, this is a sign for Koreans to lay down blankets at parks or riverbanks, barbeque some meat, and throwback the soju. A lot of ex-pats enjoy this time as well with picnics, strolls, and nice pictures all over. If you come here in April don't hesitate to visit places with cherry blossoms. Jeonju International Film Festival (end of April) Website: wwww.jiff.or.kr This is smaller and more underground than the one that is usually held in Busan, JIFF focuses on the arty, independent side of the movie industry. Buddha’s Birthday (end of May) Website: http://www.llf.or.kr/eng/ A public free holiday during which temples across Korea are decorated with colorful paper lanterns; there’s an even more vibrant night parade in Seoul on Cheongchyecheon Stream (청계천). International Mime Festival (during May) Website: wwww.mimefestival.com It is held in the Gangwonese capital of Chuncheon, this event is a showcase of soundless talent, so try to give it a chance if you want something unique. Dano (In June) Website: https://www.gn.go.kr/eng/contents.do?key=1349 A shamanist festival is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. It features circus acts, ssireum wrestling, mask dramas, and a whole lot more. The city of Gangneung has the biggest displays. Summer (July–August) Boryeong Mud Festival (end of July) Website: wwww.mudfestival.or.kr This is the annual expat favorite festival at Daecheon Beach for all kinds of mud-related fun. International Puppet Festival (In August) Website: http://www.cocobau.com/ Puppets and their masters come from around the world to flaunt their skills in Chuncheon, if you really enjoy this and it reminds you of your childhood trying to go and have fun. Firefly Festival (In August) Website: http://english.firefly.or.kr/ This is a small event with cute glowing insects that make the evening magical, a night-time event, which takes place over a weekend near Muju. Winter (September–November) Gwangju Biennale (September-November) Website: https://www.gwangjubiennale.org/gb/index.do A two-month-long festival of contemporary art, the biennale usually takes place in alternate autumns, though it has also been held in spring. If you love art, this is the place you should go to, check their website for updates. Andong Mask Dance Festival (September-October) Website: wwww.maskdance.com Legend has it that if a person fails to attend a mask festival in their lifetime, they cannot get into heaven, so try to go to a week of anonymous dancing, performed by the best troupes in the land. This is a great place to just take your head away from work or study. Busan International Film Festival (October) Website: wwww.biff.kr One of Asia’s biggest events, BIFF, makes it for a week of cinematic fun. This is a very well-known film festival so don't hesitate to check it out. Baekje Festival (October) Website: wwww.baekje.org This annual event commemorates the Baekje dynasty and is held each year in the old Baekje capitals of Gongju and Buyeo. Full of history and remembrance, this festival is loved by everyone. World Martial Arts Festival (October) Website: http://www.martialarts.or.kr/index_eng.php A week-long series of international actions are held each year in Chungju. It is full of sport and tradition! Go and have fun while learning more fighting positions. Kimchi Festival (End of October) Website: https://kimchi.gwangju.go.kr/ It is held in Gwangju. You’ll be able to see, smell and taste dozens of varieties of the spicy stuff, and there’s even a Kimchi-making contest for foreigners. Kimchi is the most popular food in Korea, this is a must-go event for anyone. Peppero Day (11th November) Peppero are thin sticks chocolate-coated, and on the date, millions of Koreans say “I love you” by giving a box to their sweethearts, friends, parents, or pets. This is not a real festival, but everywhere you go you will see cute stuff reminding you about friendship and love. How do you find the Korean seasonal festivals and celebrations? We think that anyone should try at least one of them to be able to feel the whole Korean experience. Let us know in the comments which ones did you go to. Was it fun?

COVID-19 is still a thing and people still need to get tested before doing certain stuff, like boarding a plane, or going to certain festivals, sometimes even before going to work. Below we tried to explain in detail what to do if you have symptoms, tested positive, or if you had contact with anyone. Where to go to get tested, or what to do. Also, we tried to include some hospitals that test for travel as well. * The information and lists are taken from the official website of Korea: https://www.kdca.go.kr/ for more information you can access it. What is a positive person? Major clinical symptoms: fever (above 37.5℃), cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, loss of smell and taste or pneumonia ○ confirmed patient A person who has been confirmed to be infected according to the test standards for the diagnosis of COVID-19 A person who has symptoms of COVID-19 and is diagnosed by a doctor after the rapid antigen test (for experts) or emergency screening test (for emergency use approved product) is a positive Person. Accordingly, if a positive antigen test is confirmed by a professional rapid antigen test at a local hospital, treatment, consultation, and prescription are provided immediately without having to visit a public health center and perform additional PCR tests. From April 11th 2022 (Monday), the Quick antigen testing is suspended screening clinics and laboratories. From the 11th, the "fast antigen test" will be suspended at the health center's screening clinic and temporary screening test center (including the city's direct inspection center). If you wish to have a "fast antigen test", please visit a local hospital or clinic. ※ However, those subject to priority inspection can conduct PCR tests as before A person who has tested positive for a rapid antigen test for a professional will be immediately informed of precautions and quarantine obligations at the tested hospital and immediately begin isolation and home treatment. On the other hand, in the case of those in their 60s or older, when the results of the rapid antigen test for experts are positive, You can receive a prescription for a treatment that is taken right away (Paxrovid). After testing positive. Go home, and refrain from getting in contact with anyone. Stay in quarantine for 5 days (you should receive a message from the government with the proper measures). After 5 days you can clean your house using the special toxic waste garbage bags to throw your garbage out (in case the message tells you so). Self-quarantine is suggested, since the huge number of cases, you can quarantine with others in the same home, however, they would also have to quarantine as well (unless they were infected prior to six months). Where can you get tested? From April 11th 2022 (Monday), the Quick antigen testing is suspended screening clinics and laboratories. From the 11th, the "fast antigen test" will be suspended at the health center's screening clinic and temporary screening test center (including the city's direct inspection center). If you wish to have a "fast antigen test", please visit a local hospital or clinic. ※ However, those subject to priority inspection can conduct PCR tests as before Hospitals or clinics, which perform RAT testing. International Clinic Location: 501 Hannam building, 211, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Tel. 02-790-0857~9 Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri: 9 AM - 6 PM / Sat: 9 AM - 2 PM / Closed on all Thursdays E-mail. ksyclinic1@gmail.com Website: https://www.internationalclinic.co.kr:450/index.asp Price: 40,000 (for traveling) Raep Otolaryngology Location: 서울 마포구 양화로 61 1,2층 Website: https://labent.modoo.at/?link=cyw6j8nb Hours: Weekdays 09:00AM - 6:30PM Saturday 09:00AM - 1:30PM, Lunch break: 1PM - 3PM (no lunch break during treatments) Tel: 02-6015-5075 Price: 4,000 KRW for antigen test (the result will come in approx. 3-4h) Naver map: http://naver.me/F4eC93Se How to get relief funds? Check our article for more in-depth information on how to get money if you have corona. We hope this article helped you and now you have more knowledge about what to do in case you test positive! Stay safe out there guys!

If you started a business in Korea you are supposed to pay the taxes, as well as if you work in Korea, there are income taxes you have to pay, and if you live in this country, you should pay the resident tax, car tax and so on. A lot of foreigners have questions about how to pay all of those, we have made an article regarding the tax payment before, but this one is more in-depth on how to use the Home Tax application and website and other types that you can pay using it. *Information taken from the official website and pdf; you can download it below. The E-Tax Filing Service allows taxpayers to prepare and file their tax returns and any attached documents along with them on Hometax. E-Tax filing methods include ①Return preparation and transmission method whereby taxpayers prepare and transmit tax returns themselves on Hometax; and ② Return file conversion and transmission method whereby taxpayers themselves or have a tax agent prepare a tax return file using popular tax accounting software and then convert the file using National Tax Service’s conversion program to transmit the return to Hometax. The service is available from 6:00 to 24:00 during the tax filing period and after this period is over, after-due-date filing and amended filing services are available. On Hometax, taxpayers can e-file all the tax items except for inheritance tax. For some main tax items, including income tax and corporate income tax, services for after-due date filing, amended filing, and requests for correction are available as well. In addition, taxpayers can e-file in PDF format any documents to be attached to their tax returns without the need to visit a tax office. Corporate taxpayers are liable for the minimum tax, which is defined as the greater of 10% (if the tax base is KRW 10 billion or less, 12% on the tax base exceeding KRW 10 billion but not more than KRW 100 billion, 17% on the tax base exceeding KRW 100 billion) of the taxable income before certain tax deductions and credits pursuant to the STTCL or the actual CIT liability after various deductions and credits. For SMEs, the minimum tax is greater than 7% of taxable income before certain tax deductions and credits or actual CIT liability after the deductions and credits. For middle-market companies that exceed the size of SMEs (so-called ‘medium-scale companies’), an 8% minimum tax rate is applicable for the first three years, starting from the year when the size exceeds an SME for the first time, and a 9% rate is applicable for the next two years. Moreover, the e-filing page has been made to look similar to the legally required paper tax return form for taxpayers’ convenience and better understanding. The Pre-Filled service is provided to automatically fill out part of a tax return based on the taxation data retained by NTS, while for taxpayers who are subject to simple expense rates (for composite income tax, etc.), the Full-Filled service is provided so all they need to do is simply transmit their tax returns. If a taxpayer filed both an electronic return and a paper return at the same time or filed by mistake a tax that was not subject to filing, he or she can request Hometax to delete it within two days after the legal filing period. On Hometax, the E-Payment Service allows taxpayers to conveniently pay national taxes by bank transfer or credit card. Taxpayers can use the service all year round (07:00-23:30). After payment, they can immediately confirm their tax clearance details and have a tax clearance certificate issued or check any taxes in arrears. E-Payment was first applied to the predetermined advance payment of value-added tax in April 2002, and it was applied to all the tax items starting from June 2002. Taxpayers who e-file their tax returns or receive an e-notice can immediately check and pay their tax amount due. Those who file paper tax returns can pay their taxes by personally entering the required payment information such as the tax item involved. Users can also pay taxes in place of other taxpayers and pay their composite income tax and the local income tax imposed in connection with it at the same time The Cash Receipt Service enables the NTS to collect cash receipt details from cash receipt business operators and allows consumers and business owners to benefit from a tax credit or deduction based on the details of their cash receipt transactions. If consumers present their debit card, cellphone number, or resident registration number upon a cash transaction, the Cash-Receipt System member business (seller) issues a cash receipt. Then the cash-receipt business operator automatically reports the collected cash receipt details to the NTS. The system was established in 2005 for the first time in the world. The objective of the Cash Receipt System was to complement the tax invoice and credit card systems with the purpose of legalizing the tax bases of self-employed taxpayers. On the website, you can find more about the dates and places you can go in person to fill in the taxes and returns. For more taxation and other services check the pdf below. Home Tax application Android app Home Tax application iOS app National Tax website National Tax website ENG Home Tax website

These days a lot of people prefer the comfort of their own home when they want to send money to others. Wise transfer and GME Remittance and two of the most well-known applications to send money to Korea! GME Remittance GME is a company established in 2016 in Korea and is the first one of this type in this country. Right now, they have Their services: They have various services that you can use, you just have to download their app or go on their website and make an account. They also have consultants on Kakaotalk and 1:1 chat on the website. You can just contact them and ask them about your problems. How to send money? First, you have to log into the application or website, then choose to send money. Check which country you want to send money to. Right now, they have more than 200 countries available but check in advance. Then choose what type or form you want to send money, cash payment, or bank deposit, we suggest you choose a bank deposit. Select the bank you want to send to and complete all the details of the person you send the money to. After you make a new recipient, that will be saved for future transfers as well. Choose the recipient, choose the bank that you linked with the GME account, or your GME money if you have enough. Write the amount you want to send and press continue. Check the details and press agree and send. The money will be sent. GME official website. GME Facebook page. GME google play app GME IOS app WISE Transfer Join over 12 million people who choose Wise for fast and secure online money transfers. They are on average 8x cheaper than leading UK high street banks. Unfortunately, they can't be used to send money FROM Korea to other countries, but you can receive money easily from your home bank account in your Korean one. How to send money? Sign up online or in the app for free. All you need is an email address, or a Google or Facebook account. Tell them how much you want to send. You can see the fees upfront and know when your money should arrive. Fill in the details of your recipient’s bank account. For some currencies, or for large transfers, they may need a photo of your ID. This helps them to keep your money safe. Send your money with a bank transfer, or a debit or credit card. They will handle the rest. You can track your transfer in your account, and they will tell your recipient when the money is coming. Transfer Wise website Transfer Wise google play app Transfer Wise IOS app Both applications are extremely good to be used to send money in Korea, also very easy to use! From now on you can choose the best one that suits you! And don't forget you can always check their website and services and use the call center to be able to get more information.

The International Academy of Cosmetics Procedure & SVF is an academy that held practical seminars for both Korean as well as foreign plastic surgery doctors as well as any professional interested in SVF and the stem cell field. The seminars usually have two parts, the theoretical part where experts are speaking about SVF extraction and usage, and the practical part where the actual extraction and application take part. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seminars were also conducted online for those who live abroad and cannot attend the offline seminar. The seminar is open to experts who are interested in stem cell and SVF usage and extraction both Koreans and foreigners. Details: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IACS-SVF-741897279522112 Seminar fee: approx. 100$ Date: to be announced on the official Facebook