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Health benefits (1) – Subscribing to national insurance
Health is one of the most important aspects in life, and can be a particularly crucial issue when you are living in a foreign country. South Korea has one of the most advanced medical systems in the world. The state-run insurance program also means medical services are often more affordable compared with other advanced countries. Many health benefits here are accessible not only to Korean nationals or those with naturalized citizenship, but also to foreign nationals who meet certain criteria. In
March 3, 2026 -
Korean skin care slaps — literally
There is one unwritten rule for anyone hoping to debut as a beauty influencer in Korea: Slap your face — rhythmically and with flair. A quick scroll through YouTube, TikTok and other social media channels showcasing Korean cosmetics reveals a familiar scene of creators vigorously patting toner, lotion or foundation onto their faces in a slapping motion, using their hands or makeup puffs. The same exaggerated tapping ritual is also a staple of TV home shopping channels, where hosts repeatedly sla
March 1, 2026 -
In Seoul, the city runs playgrounds — and parents love them
In Seoul, indoor playgrounds for toddlers are not just private businesses — they are a public infrastructure. Across the capital, 137 publicly operated “Seoul Kids Cafes” offer slides, ball pits, trampolines, costume play areas and climbing gyms for as little as 3,000 to 5,000 won ($2–$4) per two-hour session, roughly half the price of private venues. The fee is waived for families with two or more children. For Park Jeong-eon, 38, who is raising two sons aged 5 and 6, the branch near Daebang St
March 1, 2026 -
From sweet potato to mala, food metaphors flavor everyday Korean
The combination of steamed sweet potatoes and soda has long been a favorite among Koreans, rivaling the iconic duo of fried chicken and cold beer, known as "chimaek." But the two are matched more in taste than in talk. One can easily hear or read expressions such as “It feels like I’ve eaten a million sweet potatoes” in conversations with friends or across social media here. It describes the emotional state one experiences when things do not go as planned, or communication with others feels bloc
March 1, 2026 -
True Crime (10) Killing in the name of love
There are countless murders in this world. Some are driven by rage, others by revenge -- or by money. But what if someone kills without hatred, without greed, claiming instead that they did it out of love? What if the victims were not strangers, but one’s own parents, one’s wife, one’s children? Today’s story is about a man who killed his entire family, believing he was protecting them from future hardship. This story begins with a single text message a woman received from her younger brother, s
Feb. 19, 2026 -
From outfits to gifts, Seollal puts newlyweds to the ultimate in-law test
When major traditional holidays approach in Korea, online forums begin filling with practical, and often anxious, questions from newlyweds: What should we wear? What should we bring? One quirky Korean-English term that occasionally surfaces is the “sidaek look,” referring to what one wears when visiting the in-laws on occasions like traditional holidays or parents’ birthdays. A search for the hashtag "sidaek look” on Instagram yields more than 5,000 related posts, ranging from photos of women sh
Feb. 15, 2026 -
Banking in Korea (2) – Overseas transfers
Foreign nationals in Korea can send funds of up to $50,000 per year via overseas remittance, without submitting documents proving the source of funds. Amounts that exceed this limit, however, must be reported to authorities along with the relevant documents. For specific information on the remittance requiring such documents, head to this page of the Easy Law website, and refer to the section titled "Overseas Remittance Requiring Supporting Documents." For overseas transfers, foreigners must des
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Banking in Korea (1) – Opening an account
South Korea's economy is quickly moving away from cash, which has all but disappeared from everyday transactions. From cashless buses to stores and coffeehouses that only accept card or mobile payments, the shift is becoming hard to miss. A Bank of Korea report in December showed that Koreans used cash for only 17.4 percent of their monthly expenditures last year, down from 21.6 percent in 2021. For foreign nationals staying in the country long-term, opening an account at a local bank can signif
Feb. 9, 2026 -
Son caring for bedridden mom began sharing his journey. Then other carers responded
Cho Bum-hee was 23, preparing to return to college after completing his military service, when his mother suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2015. With his father and older sister both working full-time, the responsibility of caring for his mother, whose arms and legs were paralyzed, fell to him. "My mother gave me more love than words can express. I felt it was finally my turn to give back," Cho, now 34, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Before he could fully grasp what was happening, Cho
Feb. 4, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (4) - Application process and official information
Foreign nationals staying in South Korea on a student visa must receive authorization from the Justice Ministry to engage in employment. This must be done before starting work, or it could be considered illegal employment, resulting in significant penalties for both the employer and the student. It should be noted that students may change workplaces, but they must report the change in advance. To obtain authorization, students must prepare identification and visa documents, proof of enrollment,
Jan. 31, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (3) - Jobs that are prohibited
Jobs requiring professional qualifications, typically those associated with E-1 through E-7 working visas, are off limits for students. This includes teaching minors, private tutoring, language instruction programs such as Kumon and other roles that require specialized credentials. Work that normally requires an E-9 visa for nonprofessional employment is also barred, although students with TOPIK level four or above may qualify for limited exceptions. Driving and sales-related work are not permit
Jan. 29, 2026