You know that sinking feeling when you’re scrolling through an app, staring at a rental listing in Gangnam, and the numbers look like a phone number? I remember my first time: a deposit of 100 million won for a tiny one-room. I almost closed the app and gave up. But after a decade here, I’ve … Read more
I remember my first trip to a massive mart on Jeju Island. I walked in for a simple box of rice crackers and walked out with a cart full of kimchi, a 12-pack of soju, and a bewildered look on my face because the price tags looked like they were in a secret code. The … Read more
You’d think after 10 years in Korea, I’d be a pro at the immigration office. But last month, when I had to renew my 외국인 등록증 발급 (Alien Registration Card) at the Incheon Songdo branch, I still showed up with the wrong documents and a headache. Don’t be me. Let me save you from the … Read more
I remember my first month in Sinchon: sitting alone in a cafe near Yonsei University, watching groups of Korean students laugh over iced americanos. I spoke decent Korean, but every time I approached a group, they’d switch to English, smile politely, and then slowly edge away. I felt like a ghost in a vibrant city. … Read more
I’ll never forget my first week in Songdo. I was feeling pretty good about myself—I’d figured out the subway, ordered food in broken Korean, and even bought a kimchi fridge. Then came trash day. I stood in my sleek apartment hallway, holding a bag of takeout containers, wondering why my neighbor was staring at me … Read more
I remember my first winter in Jeju. I was smug, thinking, “It’s an island. It’ll be mild.” Then the *wind* hit. Not a breeze, but a horizontal, bone-chilling gale that made -5°C feel like -20°C. I spent a month shivering in my apartment, convinced the ondol (floor heating) was broken. It wasn’t. I just didn’t … Read more
I remember standing in the Gangnam Driver’s License Agency, clutching a stack of papers I couldn’t read, wondering why I ever thought driving in Seoul was a good idea. If you’re living in Itaewon, Yongsan, and you’re sick of relying on taxis or the subway for every little errand, getting a Korean driver’s license is … Read more
I remember my first month in Incheon Songdo—the sleek, futuristic skyline felt like a movie set, but my bank account was a horror show. Tuition was due, rent was looming, and my Korean was still at the “hello, thank you, kimchi” level. I needed cash, fast. But finding a part-time job as an international student … Read more
I remember my first month in Bundang, staring at the sleek, high-rise apartments and feeling completely lost. My student visa allowed for part-time work, but every “아르바이트 구인” (part-time job posting) I found seemed to require native-level Korean and a car. I was broke, hungry, and convinced I’d have to survive on instant ramen for … Read more
I remember my first week in Gangnam, fresh off the plane, jet-lagged, and desperately needing to call my landlord about a broken boiler. I walked into a mobile shop, smiled, and was met with a wall of Korean that made my head spin. Three hours, a photocopy of my passport, and a promise to “come … Read more