If you're going to look at any of my blogs, this is the one to check out! It might be helpful to keep these things in mind before and during your semester in Korea!
Learn how to read Hangul
Korea’s alphabet is relatively easy to learn in comparison to other East Asian alphabets. I would highly recommend learning how to read Korean in advance, as this will make getting around the country much easier. There are many helpful YouTube videos on how to read Hangul, which is how I learned many years ago. However, if you ever have trouble reading Hangul, I recommend the Google Translate or Papago app, which can both scan and translate words in real-time.
Learn basic Korean phrases
In general, a lot of Koreans (especially younger people) know how to speak a basic level of English, so you'll likely be able to get by without knowing a ton of complex words and phrases. Master some useful phrases and you should be fine.
Some useful phrases (there are also a lot of YouTube videos on this!):
Hello - Annyeonghaseyo
Thank you - Gamsahabnida
Yes - Ne
No - Aniyo
It’s okay/I’m okay - Gwaenchanayo
(By any chance,) Can you speak English? - (Hokshi) Yeongeo Hal Su Isseoyo?
If you forget the sentence, just saying “Yeongeo?” (English?) should also get the message across.
Take-out/To-go - Pojang
Reservation - Yeyak
The romanization can be a little tricky, so it’s important to also know how these phrases actually sound like. Learning numbers will also help you.
This is a good video on how to order coffee in Korean. Many of the phrases in this video can be used not just for ordering coffee, but for other things as well.
Download these essential apps: Naver Maps, KakaoTalk, Kakao T, Papago, and Bucacheck
Google Maps doesn’t work as well as Naver Maps in Korea, so this is a must-have app. I used this app so often in Korea that after returning to Hawaii, I became a bit unfamiliar with using Google Maps.
KakaoTalk is the number one messaging app in Korea, so you will likely be using this a lot to connect with people.
Kakao T will be useful for hailing a taxi. The app accepts foreign cards as well.
Papago is similar to Google Translate, but I feel that the translations are a little more accurate.
Bucacheck will allow you to check your T-Money card (transportation card) balance.
Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
Foreign transactions fees build up, so I opted for the Charles Schwab Debit Card, which was also recommended by previous Freeman Scholars. This card has no foreign transaction fees, and they reimburse ATM withdrawal fees. This card saved me money, considering how often I withdrew cash.
Try to avoid riding the subway during rush hour
They say rush hour is around 9-10am and 5-6pm. During these hours, people tend to run and push, so remember to stay alert and to know where you’re going. You can get lost or disoriented when there’s a herd of people coming from different directions.
In Korea, it’s “Cars first,” not “Pedestrians first”
I soon noticed how infrequently cars stop for pedestrians, which I had to get used to. Even when you know you have the right of way, there is no guarantee that the car will stop for you, so only cross when you know for sure it’s safe. Also, watch out for motorcycles/mopeds as there are a lot in Korea (mostly delivery drivers).
Bring a travel plug adaptor (Type C and F)
Korea only uses Type C and F outlets, so be sure to bring an adapter. The Unidapter brand worked well for me (sold on Amazon).
Always carry tissues, wet tissues, and a small plastic bag
You might encounter a restroom without toilet paper at least once in Korea (sometimes the dispensers are also placed outside the restroom). It will be handy to have tissue on you. Trash cans can also be difficult to find, so keep a small plastic bag with you to carry your trash.
Use Trazy and Klook
Trazy and Klook are two Korean travel websites for activity and tour bookings. These websites often offer good deals for foreigners and it's convenient to buy tickets from them ahead of time rather than buying on-site.
I also used Trazy to buy my physical sim card. They also have many e-sim options on their website. I picked up my sim card straight from the airport.
Search for your housing accommodations as soon as you can
It definitely depends on the university, but for on-campus housing, it can be quite competitive, so research ahead of time. The same goes for off-campus housing. It’s important to have a good idea of what options are available so that you can make the best decision for yourself.
If it’s within your budget and available, I do encourage on-campus housing. You can really meet a lot of people when you are living on campus. If that’s not an option, at least try to get a place near your school. My apartment was far from school, so I always had to leave hang-outs a bit earlier so that I wouldn’t miss the last train. Commutes were sometimes exhausting after long days.