Data-driven insights on living, working, and navigating Korea.
Schooling is often the deciding factor in where expat families choose to live in Korea — and in Seoul specifically, the school question can add ₩5–20 million per year to your budget. The choice isn’t just international school vs. Korean school: there are options at every price point and commitment level, and the right answer … Read more
Korea has one of the most detailed and strictly enforced recycling systems in the world — and one of the most confusing for new arrivals. The fines for non-compliance are real (₩100,000 and up), and buildings in Korea have specific rules that vary by district and building type. This covers exactly how the system works, … Read more
Seoul has two subsidized transit cards aimed at frequent riders — K-Pass (케이패스) and the Climate Card (기후동행카드) — and the better choice depends entirely on where you live and how much you use transit. Getting this wrong costs real money monthly. On This Page Toggle What Each Card Is K-Pass (케이패스) Climate Card (기후동행카드) … Read more
Bringing vitamins and supplements into Korea from abroad runs into customs rules that aren’t clearly posted anywhere obvious — and the “6-bottle rule” you’ll see mentioned in expat forums is a simplification of the actual regulation. Here’s what the rules actually say, what gets flagged, and what the practical experience looks like. On This Page … Read more
회식 (hoesik) is the Korean workplace team dinner — and it’s one of the aspects of Korean work culture that confuses, frustrates, or surprises foreign employees the most. It’s not quite a party, not quite a business meeting, and not quite optional. Understanding what it actually is (and isn’t) makes navigating it much easier. What … Read more
The PASS app (패스) is South Korea’s primary mobile digital ID service — and for foreign residents, it solves a specific headache: proving your identity digitally without needing your physical ARC card every time. It’s also the gateway to mobile driver’s licenses, age verification, and a growing number of government service logins. What PASS Is … Read more
Losing a rental deposit in Korea is more common than most people expect when they first arrive. The country’s unique rental systems — particularly jeonse (전세), where deposits can reach hundreds of millions of won — carry specific risks that don’t exist in most other countries. Understanding how the protection mechanisms work, and how to … Read more
Your offer letter arrived three weeks ago. You’ve told your family, given notice, and started a spreadsheet of Seoul neighborhoods. Now comes the part nobody on LinkedIn talks about: the actual logistics of making it happen. Moving to Korea for work in 2026 is entirely doable — thousands of foreigners do it every year. But … Read more
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up for Wise through our link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your first Korean payslip (급여명세서) is likely to look different from what you’ve seen before. Several mandatory deductions appear before any optional items, and the amounts can be … Read more
Capital gains tax in Korea is one of the more complex areas for foreign residents — the rules differ based on whether you’re selling Korean assets, foreign-held stocks, Korean real estate, or global ETFs. This guide explains what’s taxable, at what rate, and how to file. 1. Types of Capital Gains and Who Pays Disclosure: … Read more