Learn some Korean

• If you don’t already know the Korean language, familiarizing yourself with everyday words and phrases before you arrive is extremely helpful. There are many videos online with phrases that you should know when ordering and buying things in Korea. It is also helpful to learn how to count in Korean and how to read the language. The Korean alphabet can be learned quickly, and I was able to learn it by myself by making flashcards. However, Korea is a pretty English-friendly country so don’t be too discouraged if you don’t know how to say something in Korean. 

• Further, as someone with a minor food allergy, I have found that it is very uncommon for restaurants in Korea and other countries to list ingredients and allergens on menus. This has unfortunately led me to accidentally eat things that I was allergic to many times in foreign countries. Thus, it is important to learn how to talk about your allergy in Korean.

Have credit cards, cash, and an ATM card prepared 

• Since Korea is a foreign country, it is important to have a credit card and ATM card that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees. You should also have enough cash prepared as cash is needed to pay for transportation cards and to do your laundry. 

Get a Climate Card

• As you will probably be using public transportation frequently during your time in Korea, a Climate Card is useful in reducing your monthly transportation expenses. For 62,000 won a month you can take unlimited trips on most buses and trains in Seoul. I found that this was cheaper than using T-Money. 

Live in the dorms

• While there are many housing options in Korea such as staying at a goshiwon or share house, I would definitely recommend living in the dorms. Yonsei and a lot of other schools have dorms specifically for international students, which I found to be the most comfortable environment to be around. Since a lot of other exchange students stay in the dorms, it is a lot easier to meet up with friends and even make new friends since you all live in the same place. As these dorms are created for international students, the main language that is used is English, making things more convenient. 

Get an ESIM/ USIM

• Having reliable internet connection is a necessity for getting around in Korea. I got an ESIM through Chingu Mobile but wouldn’t necessarily recommend purchasing from them specifically. I never had issues with my connection, but their longest ESIM plan is only 3 months long, couldn’t be extended, and couldn’t be connected to my ARC as the plan didn’t come with outgoing phone calls or texts. These ESIMs often come with a Korean phone number which is quite useful when ordering and making reservations.  

Get your ARC as soon as possible and be prepared for it

• If you plan on traveling outside of Korea during your time abroad, you need to work on getting your Alien Registration Card (ARC) as soon as possible. You can either complete this process on your own or through your school’s group system. Make sure to have the correct forms prepared! 

Use Naver Maps

• Instead of using Apple or Google Maps, Naver Maps will provide you with the most accurate directions in Korea. The buses and trains have pretty precise wait times on Naver Maps, making navigating public transportation easier. Making use of the bookmark feature on Naver Maps will be extremely helpful when it comes to ensuring that you go to all the places you want to in Korea. By bookmarking places on Naver Maps before you get to Korea, it will be easier to see all the places that you want to visit in specific areas. 

Prepare for the mosquitoes

• Something that I was not aware of before going to Korea was how brutal the mosquitoes are. Make sure to be prepared with ways to treat mosquito bites. 

Know what concerts you want to see

• During my time in Korea, I was able to go to 12 concerts (including school festivals). Something that helped me to go to so many concerts was making a categorized list of the artists that I wanted to see before going to Korea. By doing this, I was able to keep track of the concerts that I wanted to see and ensured that I was able to see all the artists that I wanted to. 

Be safe

• While Korea is generally a safe country, it is always good to take measures to ensure your safety. As FindMy doesn’t work in Korea, using a location app like Life360 is a good tool for your close friends to have your location. It is also very common for random people to come up to you in Korea, so beware of the cults and do your best to keep walking when they approach you.