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If you’re considering moving to Korea, there are a few things I wish I had known before arriving. From learning Hangul to making friends and adjusting to daily life, this guide will help you prepare for a smoother transition. Moving to Korea is exciting, but knowing these tips ahead of time can make your experience much more enjoyable!

Learn Hangul — The Korean Alphabet 

I cannot stress this enough: learn Hangul. If you don’t know, Hangul is the Korean alphabet. It doesn’t take long to learn, and it will help you a lot. For example, when you need to read a menu, you can spot words like chicken, cheese, and coffee. Or if you need to find your way, you can read the signs. When you first arrive, everything is exciting and new, so you’ll likely be motivated to learn Korean. Take advantage of that motivation! Soon, you’ll get acclimated and start navigating mostly in English, so don’t wait—at least learn Hangul.

It’s hard to make friends

I wish someone had told me this from the start. Like in many places, not all foreigners get along, and many already have their own friend groups. This can make it harder to meet people with similar interests, which feels lonely, especially if you don’t know anyone. I recommend attending meetups, if you like art, try a drawing meetup; if you like reading, join a book club. That way, you’re doing something you enjoy while meeting like-minded people. Put yourself out there and step out of your comfort zone. If you can’t find a meetup that fits your interests, try posting in Facebook groups. I guarantee you’re not the only person who watches anime or plays Dungeons & Dragons.

Check out the South Korea Meetup Page!

Exhibitions that Come to Korea 

Having lived here for over two years, I never realized how many exhibitions came to Korea. I’ve been to a Disney, Van Gogh, René Magritte, and Minion’s exhibition. These are a lot of fun and they usually provide info about the artist or movie and include interactive media like videos, touchable paintings, and photo spots.

I also went to Seoul Comic Con. It was my first convention ever, and although I didn’t know what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised. They had panels, VIP guests, booths, and more. It wasn’t very big, but it was still really enjoyable. One of my favorite movies is The Lord of the Rings, and during Comic Con, I got to meet Billy Boyd (“Pippin”). Honestly, I was so happy and nervous that I lost my words. He probably thought I was a complete moron! Okay, embarrassing rant over. The moral: don’t be like me—have fun and talk to people!

Check out my experience going to a Minions Exhibition!

Its humid in the summer

It. Is. Humid. I can’t say this enough. Before Korea, I lived in Florida, and it’s humid there. But Korea’s humidity is on another level. What makes it worse is that there’s rarely a place to cool down. In Florida, if it’s humid, I can retreat to my car’s air conditioning. At Disney World or Universal, I expect to be sweaty because I’m at an amusement park. But I don’t expect to be sweaty and uncomfortable when shopping for clothes. So be prepared or better yet get one of those portable fans! You won’t regret it.  

Eating by Yourself Is Different

Everything in Korea is communal. People shop together, eat together, go to the movies together—everything is done in groups, whether with friends or loved ones. Therefore, if you are by yourself, you could feel a little out of place. Some restaurants also don’t allow people to eat alone because they want customers to buy double servings.

Banking Can Be Tricky

Banking varies depending on your bank, but in my experience, it’s quite difficult. When you arrive and set up a bank account, make sure you get online banking. Online banking allows you to pay for things online. I recommend asking the teller to set everything up for you or at least give you step-by-step instructions. I had to go back to the bank several times because of this. Also, when buying things online, sometimes you can use your card, but other times stores require a bank transfer. Here’s how it works: they give you a number and the name of the bank, and you transfer money to that bank and account number. When I buy tickets from Interpark, I use this method.

Random people will think you’re cool 

Sometimes I’ll be walking down the street, and random people will come up to me saying things like “You’re so cool” or “Swag.”

Air Pollution Can Be Bad

Sometimes the pollution is very bad, so I recommend downloading an app like AirVisual. You can check your city’s air quality and get pollution alerts. The app uses faces and colors to show levels: yellow means moderate, green is good, orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and red is unhealthy overall. When the air quality is bad, people should wear masks. You can buy masks at most stores, but check the packaging—some masks are just fashion statements and don’t actually protect against pollution.

Everyone dresses to the nines

Everyone dresses really nicely in Korea, but many styles are similar because Korea is big on trends. For example, if brown jackets are in, you’ll see many people wearing brown jackets. Even street style, although different from everyday wear, often looks quite similar among those who follow fashion.

Recycling is Strict

The recyling system in Korea almost makes me want to cry just thinking about it. While great for the environment, it takes some getting used to. You have to separate everything: plastics, food waste, cans, metal, and trash. Before you throw things away, you need to put them in the right containers. There are plenty of online guides to help you sort your trash properly.

Have you moved to Korea or planning to? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below—I’d love to hear from you!