Living in Korea

What to bring and what to buy here

Plugs

Korea runs on 220 volts at 60 Hz, and sockets take two round pins. Check your chargers before you fly and pack an adapter if your plugs are different.visitkorea.or.kr ↗

Buy it here

Daiso, Olive Young, convenience stores and Coupang cover most of what a dorm room needs, from bedding and hangers to toiletries. Buying them after you land leaves room in your suitcase.

Bring from home

Clothes and shoes in larger sizes are harder to find, and so is skincare from home. Bring enough of your regular medicine in its original packaging, with a copy of the prescription in English.

Medicine at customs

Some everyday medicines count as controlled drugs in Korea, such as cough syrup with codeine and ADHD medicine. You need approval from MFDS before you bring them, and medicine posted to you is checked the same way. Check the ingredients at nedrug.mfds.go.kr first.customs.go.kr ↗nedrug.mfds.go.kr ↗

Cash at customs

If you bring more than US$10,000 in cash, declare it at customs when you arrive.customs.go.kr ↗

Weather by semester

Seoul averages from the Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991 to 2020.

Spring semester

The start of the spring term is still cold. Some spring days are hazy with yellow dust and fine dust, so keep a mask and check an air quality app.

Rainy season

In central Korea the rainy season usually runs from 25 June to 26 July. Summer brings about 63% of Seoul's yearly rain, and August is the hottest month at 26.1°C on average.data.kma.go.kr ↗weather.go.kr ↗

Typhoons

On average 3.4 typhoons a year affect Korea, mostly from July to September.weather.go.kr ↗

Autumn semester

The autumn term starts hot and turns cool and clear. It gets cold quickly near the end, so bring a warm coat or plan to buy one here.

Winter

January is the coldest month in Seoul at −1.9°C on average, and the first snow usually falls around 20 November.weather.go.kr ↗

Parcels and post

Sending home

Korea Post puts EMS at 3 to 4 days to North America and 3 to 5 days to Europe. Ordinary airmail takes 7 to 14 days to Europe and 9 to 14 days to North America. Sea mail takes 50 to 120 days depending on the country, and customs can add time to any of them.koreapost.go.kr ↗

Boxes at the end

If you can wait for your things, sea mail is the budget way to send boxes home.

Receiving parcels

Parcels for personal use worth US$150 or less, or US$200 from the US, come in free of duty and tax.customs.go.kr ↗customs.go.kr ↗

Customs code

Korean shopping sites ask for a personal customs clearance code. With a residence card and a Korean phone number in your name you can get one online, or you can give your residence card number instead.customs.go.kr ↗

Phone, bank and transport

Before your card

Roaming centers at the main airports sell prepaid SIM cards. If your phone supports eSIM you can buy one online and set it up with a QR code.visitkorea.or.kr ↗

Phone plan

A contract needs your passport, residence card and bankbook and usually runs two years. Prepaid plans are possible too. SKT asks for at least 90 days left on your stay.seoul.go.kr ↗

Bank

Bring your passport and residence card to the bank. A bank may ask for papers that show the reason when you exchange more than US$5,000 at once. Pay from a Korean job can go home at up to US$50,000 a year without proof of where it came from.seoul.go.kr ↗easylaw.go.kr ↗

Transport card

A T-money card starts at ₩3,000 at convenience stores and subway stations. You can top it up in either place.t-money.co.kr ↗

Unlimited pass

Seoul's Climate Card became Climate Card Plus on 1 September 2026. Its discounts are for Seoul residents, and the short-term pass for 1 to 7 days stays the same.seoul.go.kr ↗

Your residence card

Carry it

Carry your passport or residence card with you. Officials can ask to see it, and not carrying one can lead to a fine.law.go.kr ↗

Trips abroad

Wait until your card is out before you travel to other countries, because a single-entry visa works only once. Once you have the card, you can leave for a trip and come back without a re-entry permit if you return within a year and before your stay ends.law.go.kr ↗law.go.kr ↗

After your last semester

You have to leave by the end date on your card. If you need more time, ask immigration for up to 30 more days. It's free. Bring your passport and a plane ticket out.gov.kr ↗

Leaving for good

When you leave Korea for good, hand your residence card to the immigration officer at departure.law.go.kr ↗

Work, trash and emergencies

Part-time work

You need a permit from immigration before you start, and your international office confirms you're eligible first. Weekly hour limits depend on your Korean level and your school, so ask your international office which one applies to you. Working without a permit can get you deported.seoul.go.kr ↗easylaw.go.kr ↗

Trash

General and food waste go in the standard bags your district sells at supermarkets and convenience stores. Sort recycling by material and put it out on your district's day, between sunset and midnight. Clear plastic bottles go out separately.seoul.go.kr ↗

Emergencies

Call 119 for an ambulance or the fire service, and ask for an interpreter if you need one. Call 112 for the police. 1345 answers immigration questions in many languages.seoul.go.kr ↗easylaw.go.kr ↗