Data-driven insights on living, working, and navigating Korea.
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The E-2 visa — officially called 회화지도 (Language Instruction) — is one of the most common work visas held by foreign nationals in Korea. If you hold citizenship in one of seven eligible English-speaking countries and have a four-year degree, you can teach conversational English at a registered Korean institution under this visa category. This … Read more
If you’re planning to stay in Korea for more than 90 days, getting your Alien Registration Card (ARC) isn’t optional — it’s a legal requirement. The ARC is your primary ID as a foreigner in Korea, and without it, you’ll run into walls trying to open a bank account, sign a phone contract, or do … Read more
Food delivery in Korea is genuinely world-class. Apps work smoothly, delivery times are short (often 20–35 minutes), and you can order from 6 AM to well past midnight in most neighborhoods. For newly arrived expats, the initial setup can be a bit of a hurdle — Korean phone number requirements, address entry in Korean, and … Read more
Managing food allergies in Korea is genuinely challenging, and it’s better to know that upfront. Korean cuisine heavily features soy, sesame, fish products, and shellfish — not as occasional ingredients, but as foundational ones. The good news is that Korea has a structured allergen labeling system for packaged foods, and with the right Korean phrases … Read more
The E-7 visa is Korea’s primary work visa for foreign professionals in specialized occupations. It covers the broadest range of professional roles — from engineers and researchers to chefs, athletes, and financial analysts — and is the visa most working expats in professional roles either hold or are targeting. This guide explains eligibility, the application … Read more
Korea’s public holiday calendar includes 16 official holidays in 2026, with substitute holidays (대체공휴일) expanding the actual number of non-working days further. For expats, the key practical issues aren’t the holiday dates themselves — it’s knowing what actually closes, how the Chuseok and Seollal migration periods affect daily life, and how to navigate the country … Read more
Getting a Korean driver’s license as a foreigner involves one of two paths: exchanging your home country license (no test required in many cases), or going through the full Korean licensing process from scratch. Which path applies depends entirely on your country of origin. This guide explains both routes, the exemption list, and what to … Read more
New arrivals in Korea — especially those on tighter budgets or short-term assignments — often end up choosing between two housing types that don’t exist in most other countries: goshiwons (고시원) and officetels (오피스텔). They sound similar, serve some of the same needs, and are frequently confused. The difference in living quality, cost, and suitability … Read more
Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) provides free preventive health checkups to all enrolled adults on a biennial schedule. For expats, these checkups are genuinely useful — comprehensive screenings that would cost hundreds of dollars in many countries are provided at no cost. This guide explains who’s eligible, what’s included, and how to actually book … Read more
Dating in Korea as a foreigner ranges from unexpectedly easy to genuinely frustrating depending on your circumstances, Korean language ability, and which app or social context you’re approaching it from. The culture around dating has specific norms that differ significantly from Western expectations — understanding them up front saves a lot of confusion. 1. The … Read more