1. Get a Charles Schwab card.
While Korea is card payment-based for the most part, you will need cash for things such as transportation card purchases and refills, street food vendors, and other miscellaneous things. Charles Schwab has a debit card that allows you to withdraw cash freely while refunding ATM fees. It also does not have a foreign transaction fee so you can use it as your primary debit card if needed.
2. Plan dates for outside travel as far in advance as possible.
I knew I wanted to go to specific countries and places but I planned my trips quite last minute, which conflicted with exams or important assignments. If I had planned better in advance, I would have been able to avoid these conflicts and even lengthen my stays in some places.
3. Don’t be afraid reach out.
As an exchange student, there are so many opportunities out there waiting for you and it’s sometimes crucial to take initiative in order to have the best experience. I made some amazing friends who I wouldn’t have gotten as close with as I did if I hadn’t been the one to take the first steps. Studying abroad is all about stepping out of your comfort zone, into a new and unfamiliar country. So why not step out of your comfort zone socially too?
4. Spend wisely.
Countries like Korea make it very easy to spend (waste) money on questionably useful items and trinkets, especially for someone like me. Just be careful not to fall into a trap of overconsumerism and purchasing cheaply made, low quality items that won’t last. Korea may seem cheap at first, especially compared to Hawaii, but things have a funny way of adding up.
5. Purchase an esim in advance.
Esim cards are extremely convenient compared to traditional sim cards and allow you to simply switch them on and off in settings at a moment’s notice. However, be aware that some carriers in Korea do not allow you to leave the country or switch off the esim without deactivating the remainder of your data plan. I used Chingu Mobile and was able to turn the esim on and off when traveling outside of Korea with no issues. They also have several locations that provide assistance in English and can also help extend the duration of your plan when necessary.
6. Dorming!
As someone who did not dorm, I recommend dorming if you are looking to make friends more easily. I lived in a goshiwon, which is a small single apartment off campus, and while that had its benefits, it was difficult to meet and connect with people. Yonsei’s dorms for exchange students (SK Global House) provided a variety of opportunities and events to meet other students. As with everything, the dorm experience can greatly vary from school to school, year by year. However, this is overall one of my bigger regrets from the semester, as I felt that my opportunities to meet people were quite limited compared to those who lived in the dorms.
7. Learn the language.
I cannot emphasize this enough. People will often tell you that Korea is easy to navigate as a foreigner, and while that may be true, you will be living there for an extended period of time and will likely face some struggle if you know absolutely zero Korean. Also, it’s a bit humbling when you need to sheepishly ask them every single time if they can speak English when they say something in Korean. I highly recommend coming in knowing at least basic phrases (hello, goodbye, thank you), how to order things (numbers, some foods), and how to read the Korean alphabet. It is one of the easiest alphabets to learn, and it can be done in a day (with much practice needed after that of course). This is most helpful for reading menus and signs, especially if the word is in Konglish you’ll be able to understand it.
8. Apply for your Alien Resident Card (ARC) ASAP!
Especially if one of your priorities is traveling outside of Korea, you will need this document to leave and come back without invalidating your student visa. You can make appointments online before you are even in Korea, but timeslots fill up quickly. I made my appointment for the same day I arrived in Korea (I don’t recommend this, I was STRESSED trying to figure out the bus system and gather all my documents). However, I was able to receive my ARC within about a month. Also, if you select the mail option for a small fee, it will arrive faster than if you select the self-pickup option. An alternative is doing it through your school’s group system, where you won’t need to make an appointment or go down to the immigration office yourself. This will take longer since they don’t start doing it until about a month in and you probably won’t receive your ARC until you’ve already been in Korea for two months or so.
9. Be on top of concert dates and ticketing procedures.
If you’re interesting in attending kpop concerts like I was, make sure to be diligent about ticketing dates for presale and general admission, along with the platforms that each event’s tickets will be sold on. Also, it’s crucial to understand every step of the ticketing process, which can get complicated if you’re attempting to get fan club early presale. Basically, read all the instructions very carefully to make sure nothing trips you up along the way and you get to see your favorite groups! Also, I highly recommend going to a PC café to try for tickets, as they tend to have the best internet connection and a big screen for viewing ease.
10. Safety in Korea.
Compared to the U.S., Korea is relatively safer in a lot of ways, such as being able to leave your stuff in public without worrying about it being stolen, or being able to walk home alone late at night without fear. However, Korea is far from a perfect country. It’s important to watch out for other dangers like hidden CCTV cameras, spiked drinks, and cult recruitment. Definitely make sure to do your own research about what other things to be wary of.
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