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No matter what country you are in, houses are important and you need one so you can live comfortably. Therefore, most expats living in Korea have to find an apartment to live in, and sometimes they have to do it quite often because the contracts here are only for one year (most of the time). Therefore, a lot of applications are available to help you out. In the past, finding a house was quite difficult and tiring because you had to go back and forth from real estate offices (부동산) many times and go to see the house by yourself to find a suitable one, but now is very easy. Just download one of the applications listed below and find your dream home! Through them you can see which houses are affordable to you, see the pictures of the house and the amenities before you want to contact the real estate office directly from the application. Besides that, you can choose your own options so you can filter better between them. Below you have the list of the most important applications and well-known ones. 1. Dabang 다방 Website | Android | iOS 2. Zigbang 직방 Website | Android | iOS 3. Peter Pan 피터팬 Website | Android | iOS 4. Han Bang 한방 Website | Android | iOS 5. Naver Real Estate 네이버 부동산 Website | Android | iOS Download them on Google Play and App Store from the links above, or use their websites directly. Most of them require to have an account and also the apps are not in English, but if you have help from your friends, you can easily use them to check for your favorite home. Check their websites and ask us questions if you want to know more! Have fun searching!

Nowadays almost all countries have made a way to have your transportation fee electronically, so the transportation money card – or T-money card, is the Korean way to travel! Buy a card from any convenience store (GS, 7/11, or CU) or subway station for between 3,000 to 5,000 KRW. You can buy a personalized one with a K-pop idol or a simple one, or you can use the personalization app in Daiso to make one with your own face or favorite picture. Don't forget to charge it at the subway station, or convenience stores with cash, ONLY, to use it everywhere you go! Just touch the card reader on the bus or subway with your T-money and you are good to go! TIPS: you need to check your card when you enter and when you exit the transportation (bus or subway) every time!

Visiting Korea on a budget or being a student here with a lot of free time, then try to go to one of these amazing free museums in Korea! Below you have a list of TOP best free museums that will make you enjoy traditions and have amazing experiences. National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) Over 12,044 exhibits are always exposed as part of six permanent expositions, where the visitors can admire a multitude of national treasures of Korea, such as the Thinking Statue of Buddha (Pensive Bodhisattva), the Goryeo Celadon Openwork Burner, the Gold Crown from the Silla period, etc. The expos are divided into several floors of the building. On the first floor can be seen two historical expos, one about, prehistory and antique history’ which presents artifacts representing the oldest proofs of the existence of the Korean culture and Korean civilization, and another one about, medieval history and the beginnings of modern history’ which exposes the artifacts from the Goryeo ( 918- 1932), Joseon ( 1392 – 1897) dynasties, and the Korean empire (1897 – 1910), describing events, conflicts, and accomplishments which marked the most important periods from the development of Korea. On the second floor can be found expos about‚ Calligraphy and pictures’ where are displayed exhibits like Korean traditional paintings, Buddhist paintings, and calligraphy, as well as expos such as‚ Donated masterpieces’ from various collectors. On the third floor you can enjoy expos about‚ sculptures and handcrafted works’ that include exhibits from one of the best Buddhist sculptures, works made of metal ceramics on a global scale, and the expo about the Worldwide arts exposing works that introduce universal aspects of the Asian culture while is also illustrating simultaneously the unique characteristics of each country. More details about the museum, and how to get there as well as the functioning schedule can be found on the official website of the museum. National Museum of Korea | https://www.museum.go.kr/site/eng/home Address: 137 Seobingg-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 am to 6 pm Wednesday and Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm Sunday & national holidays, 9 am to 7 pm Closed Mondays and January 1 Entrance fee: free National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관) Following the ancient history and pre-Korean War lessons at the National Museum, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is the perfect follow-up. It is split into four halls with details about the politics, economy, society, and culture: Prelude to the Republic of Korea from 1876 to 1945, Foundation of the Republic of Korea from 1945 to 1960, Development of the Republic of Korea from 1961 to 1987, Modernization and Korea’s vision of the future from 1988 onwards. National Museum of Korean Contemporary History | https://www.much.go.kr/en/mainen.do Address: 198 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, 9 am to 6 pm Wednesday and Saturday, 9 am to 9 pm Closed Mondays Entrance fee: free National Folk Museum (한국민속박물관) Behind the Gyeongbokgung Palace is the National Folk Museum. If you want to just visit the National Folk Museum, there is free entrance. Three main halls illustrate the history of traditional life with over 98,000 artifacts. There is the history of the Korean people through their materials of everyday life from prehistoric times to the end of the Joseon Dynasty in 1910, the Korean way of life through the villagers in ancient times, and the life cycle of Koreans highlighting the influence of Confucianism. National Folk Museum of Korea | https://nfm.go.kr/kids/nfmkid/viewPage.do?screenId=SCREEN_ID_ENG_MAIN Address: 37 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Hours: Open everyday November to February, 9 am to 5 pm March to May, 9 am to 6 pm June to August, 9 am to 6:30 pm September to October, 9 am to 6 pm Weekends & national holidays from May to August, 9 am to 7 pm Entrance fee: free Agricultural Museum (농업박물관) Opened in 1987, the Agricultural Museum details artifacts and dioramas of paddy fields, traditional homes, and the marketplaces of agricultural societies. Three exhibition halls cover the agricultural history of the past, present, and future plans: Agricultural History Hall – agricultural communities from prehistory times to the modern era, Life of Farmers Hall – models recreating the life of farm families from the olden days and Agricultural Cooperatives Promotion Hall – information on farming and agricultural cooperatives. Agricultural Museum | http://www.agrimuseum.or.kr/ Address: 16 Saemunan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 am to 5 pm Closed Mondays & national holidays Entrance fee: free War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관) One of my well-known museums in Korea is the War Memorial of Korea. It’s full of interesting displays, providing a detailed overview of the Korean War, and also has a load of old military hardware you can look at outside. You can learn about Korea’s long history of conflict and see as well as dozens of real military vehicles and planes, this will both educate and entertain you for several hours. War Memorial of Korea | https://www.warmemo.or.kr/LNG/main.do?lan=en Address: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul Hours: Admission Hours9:30 ~ 18:00 Closed every Monday If a Monday is a holiday, then they are closed the day after the holiday is over. Entrance fee: free Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관) Featuring relics from the past few centuries, as well as modern online cyber-displays, you can really have a wonderful time. There’s also an outdoor exhibition where you can see old tram cars, statues, and other parts of Seoul’s long history. Visit Gyeonghuigung Palace right outside the museum for another great free attraction. Seoul Museum of History | https://museum.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.do Address: 55 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Hours: 10:00-18:00 Closed Mondays, January 1, mayor-designated holidays Entrance fee: free National Palace Museum of Korea (국립고궁박물관) Discover ancient Chinese imperial artifacts at the National Palace Museum. The National Palace Museum displays records, state rites, architecture, clothing, royal life, education, culture, paintings, and music of the dynasty's ruling era. The museum contains more than 40,000 pieces of royal treasures and artifacts. National Palace Museum of Korea | http://www.gogung.go.kr/main.do Address: 12, Hyojaro, Jongno-gu Hours: 10:00-18:00 * Last admission is 1 hour before closing. Closed January 1, the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) Entrance fee: free Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (리움) The Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, run by the Samsung Foundation of Culture, is dedicated to preserving and displaying two distinctly different types of art. It houses a collection of traditional Korean art, 36 pieces of which have been designated national treasures. Time travels back to the 14th century where you will encounter ancient daggers, crowns, earrings, and ornaments. Buddhist art, sculptures, paintings, and manuscripts are also showcased. It also features modern and contemporary art from both Korean and foreign artists. These displays of paintings, sculptures, photography, and video are in stark contrast to their traditional counterparts, representing today's new mediums and the ever-adapting and ambiguous styles to which contemporary art is growing. Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art | http://leeum.samsungfoundation.org/html_eng/global/main.asp Address: 747-18, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu Hours: 10:30-18:00 *Last admission is 30 min before closing Closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) & Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays * Closed temporarily until further notice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Entrance fee: free Buddhism Central Museum of South Korea (불교중앙박물관) The Buddhist Central Museum was established by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and opened in 2007. The Buddhist Central Museum is a museum at the center of Korean Buddhism. By providing education, we are striving to become a space where the public can easily understand and communicate Buddhist culture. Buddhism Central Museum of South Korea | http://museum.buddhism.or.kr/?c=1/44 Address: Buddhist Central Museum, 55 Ujeongguk-ro (Gyeonji-dong), Jongno-gu, Seoul Hours: March ~ October AM 10:00 ~ PM 18:00 November ~ February AM 10:00 ~ PM 17:00 ※ Regular closed days: Every Monday, January 1 of every year, public holidays ※ Admission and viewing times may change depending on circumstances. Entrance fee: free ※ In the case of special exhibitions, a separate admission fee may be charged, so please check before viewing. Korean Film Museum (한국영화박물관) A museum dedicated to everything related to Korean films. Not only does the museum strives to collect, preserve, and screen Korean films, but it is also Korea's largest archive of international and independent films. Visitors can watch and make films, and participate in special programs such as the filmmaking process experience and the Children's Film Academy Awards. Korean Film Museum | koreafilm.or.kr Address: 400, World Cup buk-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul Hours: Weekdays: March-October 10:00-19:00 / November-February 10:00-18:00 / Weekends: 10:00-18:00 Closed: Mondays, New Year's Day, Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day), and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) holidays Entrance fee: free Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대) The Jeongdong Observatory is a little bit hidden, which makes it an even better free thing to do in Seoul. It is located in the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Seosomun Building 1 (13th floor), you can get great views over the heart of Seoul. You can see the nearby Deoksugung Palace and the City Hall area, which often hosts a lot of festivals and parades throughout the year. Jeongdong Observatory | No website Address:15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul Hours: Open on weekdays, weekends, and public holidays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. * Closed temporarily from February 7, 2020, until further notice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 Entrance fee: free A peaceful retreat in the heart of Myeongdong’s bustling market area, the Myeongdong Cathedral is a nice contrast and free to enter. Standing in Seoul for over 100 years, this imposing building is actually very tranquil inside. Walk around the inside of the cathedral, see the stained-glass windows, and learn a bit about Korea’s other major religion. Myeongdong Cathedral | http://www.mdsd.or.kr/bbs/content.php?co_id=7010 Address: 74, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul Hours: Daily: 9:00-21:00 Saturday Vigil Mass: 18:00, 19:00 Sunday Masses: 7:00, 9:00 (English), 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 21:00 Weekday Masses: (except Monday): 6:30, 18:00, 19:00 Entrance fee: free Did you enjoy visiting these places? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below and suggest other new places to write about!

In Korea, there are several ways to send packages, one of the easiest and of course closest to your home is to go to the convenience store. CU and GS25 have partnerships with other delivery services and you can send your packages from there very easily. Just go there, and use their machines to send. Some of them ask you to make an account, some don’t. Choose the correct options and go for it. The advantages are that these stores are everywhere and they work 24h per day, you just have to check the ones close to your home. The delivery will be made every day in the morning and evening around 8 o’clock. 1. CU Convenience Store Nowadays you don't need to have a membership, you can make one and make a reservation in advance, or use it to check the parcel, however it is not mandatory. Not all CU has a delivery service, so you must find the branches that have Postbox in advance by entering the residence address on the search page. You must pack the goods before bringing them to CU. The service of s ending items from CU to CU (끼리택배) is used in case you do not want to publish your home address. However, if the receiver does not pick it up within 7 days, the item will be returned to the shipping address. This service is cheaper but takes more time. 2. GS Convenience Store The shipping method at the GS store is similar to that of CU. You just need to register online on GS Postbox and bring your items to a GS branch that provides this service. The GS25-to-GS25 service is called (반값택재), works the same, cheaper but a little bit longer and the person needs to pick it up from the GS25 that you choose when you send the package. Most of the above services have a price starting with 4,000 KRW/kg (besides if the person goes and picks it up himself/herself from CU or GS - that may start from 1,500 KRW/kg). * Convenience Stores don’t have boxes, tape, or scissors, so make sure you go with them together or prepare your package in advance at home. This is the easiest method to send your packages in Korea, from close to home and cheap. The only disadvantage is preparing your package and also using the service only in Korean.

You can quickly and easily check and print the status of your visa application on the HiKorea website, by clicking on the „Check Visa Application Result” and it will redirect you to another website. Remember that after the application for a visa, depending on the type of visa applied for, it could take some time to be approved by the immigration office. The status of the online visa application will depend on updates of the Korean Immigration Bureau and the status may not be updated as often as you might expect. You can quickly and easily check and print the status of your visa application on the HiKorea website, by clicking on the „Check Visa Application Result” and it will redirect you to another website. Visit the Korea Visa Portal website. This webpage will allow you to enter your information. registered at the Korean Immigration Bureau to verify and print various records of the application. Here you can check the status of the application for diplomatic offices, e-visa (individual or group), confirmation visa issuance, visa application center, and visa-free procedure. Depending on the option you choose, you will need to enter your application number, number receipt, or passport number with your name completely as it appears in the passport and date of birth. Click on the search and you will be given the results. *After you print the application status, you can go to the immigration office with your passport or ID card to update it on it as well. Sometimes it may be done without a reservation.

HiKorea is a website where you can apply for a visa and make an online reservation for the immigration office. Basically, here you can find everything you want to know about your legal status in Korea. But to access most of their services you need an account and below we give you the steps on how to make one by yourself. 1. Go to: https://www.hikorea.go.kr/ 2. Click on the section: "Create your account" 3. Accept all conditions and press the "Register" button 4. Press the foreign national button 5. Fill in your personal number 6. Fill in the name exactly as it appears on the ARC 7. Fill in the code exactly as shown above 8. Press confirmation 9. Enter your desired ID and password and press login 10. After creating the account, if you want to log in again, press login The process is not that hard and with this, you can access all the information and also change your address, add a new passport or apply online for the visa. Hope we helped you and for any other information let us know.

After booking an appointment with the Korean Immigration Service, cancelling the appointment on the same day is not allowed. However, if you wish to cancel before the booking date, please follow the steps to cancel or edit the meeting. 1. Log in to the HiKorea website and click the "My Page" button at the top right of the web page. 2. Click the "Book Visit Status" button on the left side of the page and you will be redirected to a page with your booking list reserved. 3. Click the date of the meeting to be redirected to a page that displays information details about your meeting. You can choose to change your booking information if you want to change your details or cancel your reservation if you no longer need it. 4. To cancel your meeting, click the "Cancel" button at the bottom of the page. Note, again, you can do this only 24 hours before your appointment. And make sure you don’t cancel your reservation by mistake.

In Korea, there are various ways of searching for a job and we know that like in any other country this can be extremely difficult to find. So, we wanted to give you some idea of where you can look. Below we made a list based on each location. 1. Sites with an English navigation system (but most ads are in Korean) PeoplenJob: International companies usually post on this site Indeed Linkedin Glassdoor Robert Walters Craigslist: mainly teaching English jobs or waiter/waitress jobs 2. Sites with Korean navigation only (usually these are the sites used by Koreans) JobKorea (Website | Android | iOS) Saramin (Website | Android | iOS) Designerjob (Website | Android | iOS | AppAdvice) Mediajob (Website | Android | iOS | AppAdvice) 3. Part-time Craigslist 알바몬: Korean only (Website | Android | iOS) 알바천국: Korean only (Website | Android | iOS) *For all the websites above, you have to SING UP, make an account and write your resume or update one. So before applying don’t forget to SING UP. 4. Posts on social media sites for foreign communities in Korea Facebook groups: You need to make sure that these ads are trustworthy Meetups in Korea Internships 5. Job Fairs Korea holds an annual job fair for foreigners in Korea. All companies that come to this job fair are willing to hire foreigners, so keep in mind these fairs. You can search for keywords such as 외국인취업박람회 which means “Job Fair for foreign residents” or 외국인유학생채용박람회 which means “Job Fair for international students” to find out more about when and where these fairs are held. There will be many corporations that offer jobs and internships for foreigners. Make sure you are informed in advance which companies are present and which would interest you. Print your resume and cover letter before participating in such fairs. Some companies conduct on-site interviews, which is why it's important to prepare in advance. 1. DDP Job Fair 2. KOTRA 3. KOTRA foreign investment companies 4. ACE Fair 6. Apply directly to the website of the company you want to work for You can apply directly to the company you want to work for. Many companies have a section on the company's website called "Career" that lists all open positions. Therefore, if you're considering certain companies, try visiting their websites and submitting your request 7. Apply offline If you want to find a part-time job, such as a waitress/waitress or cashier, you can also apply offline. In such cases, direct application to the site is the best and fastest way to find a job. To do this, pay attention to words like 스태프모집, 일할사람구함, 사람구함, or 직원구함 on the door of shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. You have to have a resume prepared when you apply offline. For larger corporations, offline applications are very rare. We recommend applications directly on the company's website or through recruiters. We hope we have helped you with some of the websites of where to search for a job in Korea. For more questions feel free to contact us.

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.