4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea

4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea

There are many things you need to know before moving to South Korea. Whether you’re a long-term expat, a traveler relocating here, or just thinking about visiting, it’s important to learn the rules and regulations of the country you have chosen as your new home. Here are some helpful tips for those looking to move to South Korea, whether temporarily or permanently.

• 4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea 
• What are some basic rules of etiquette in Korea? 
• What are the important holidays in South Korea? 
• What is the climate like in South Korea? 

4 Things You Need to Know About Korean Culture if You’re Moving to South Korea

South Korea is the fourth largest country in Asia, but it is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. With over 50 million people, South Korea has a wealth of culture and history to explore. There are a few things you should know if you plan to move to South Korea. 

 

It’s important that you add “Republic of Korea” or “Republic of Korea–Note” (also written as 젤저 구) to all mentions of your home country in your public documents. This makes it easy to identify documents, such as passports and visas.

In particular, tourist visas will usually state “혔보호띈 (meaning “characterized by” or “characterized as”) your cultural background; visa requirements for long-term stays in South Korea will also vary by the type of visa you’re applying for. In other words, some visas are easier to get while others will likely require you to speak English a lot to get them. Additionally, it’s worth noting that South Koreans tend to conduct most business in English, so you may want to prepare English-language documents in advance to make your transition from your home country easier, especially if South Korea is your top choice.

If you’re a national of another country having a South Korean parent or grandparent can automatically give you a South Korean passport automatically, so a few of the first documents you’ll need to get will be ones that list your parent nation or place of birth. This won’t always be the case, but the documents you’ll need will almost certainly reflect your parent or grandparent’s nationality.

You can try to get these documents from your previous country, but if you don’t have any, I would suggest using a government website that will help you select the right ones for you.

What are some basic rules of etiquette in Korea?

If you are planning to visit Korea, here are some basic rules of etiquette that you should follow: Always put your chopsticks down if you are not eating. Otherwise, it is considered rude. Don’t slurp your noodles. It is considered rude and is reminiscent of eating noodles in Japan. It is also a sign of poor hygiene.

 

It’s common for North Americans to tip wait staff in South Korea, but if you do in the U.S. it would be in the form of pocket money, not cash. In Korea, you’ll often see people giving small change to the staff for showing up on time or not taking too long to serve someone.

There have been reports of people spitting on taxi drivers and on other people while boarding and removing their shoes, but that is considered very rude in the U.S. in general. I would avoid doing it in general in most parts of the world.

Koreans put salt on their rice and ask for more the next time — it’s considered good manners. That is just a real waste of a good ingredient in your meals if you’re not aware of the rule. The other thing is people get a little salty during their daily lives so salt content in rice is not something to be overly concerned about.

 

Most foreigners won’t see people wearing masks in most of North America, but it’s frowned upon to not wear one in developed countries like South Korea. This is true because someone could catch Covid from touching your face.

If you don’t travel socially, it is best to visit a museum or display something of cultural significance. Currently, playing ping pong is the most common cultural activity people engage in, but you can also go sightseeing or take a class.

This is another tip depending on where you are coming from. For example, Americans favor museums; if you are from a developing country like Ethiopia, cultural significance in South Korea will be more in Ancient Ruins.

What are the important holidays in South Korea?

Some of the most important holidays in South Korea include Memorial Day on July 27, Liberation Day on August 15, Constitution Day on October 17, Hangul Day on October 9, and National Foundation Day on October 3. During these holidays, the nation salutes its military heroes and freedom fighters as well as lays to rest the fallen.

Concerns over safety are not just for the military, however. While visitors to South Korea generally do not encounter significant levels of risk for their personal safety outside of the national security and defense concerns, be aware that individual citizens and even organizations may have political agendas. As such, you may be subject to manipulation or influence by individuals and business sectors. If this is something that is concerning to you, please do a thorough check of any business website or even social media posts regarding local political matters. Regardless, even if your personal safety is not at risk, you should be cautious about visiting any individual or organization without thorough research and consideration of the individual or organization’s true motives.

“Gift" is Korean slang for spending large sums of money quickly. While this practice is so engrained in Korean culture that we often don’t realize how much we are actually spending, it can actually bring about negative consequences. In South Korea, the use of the word “gift” to refer to money and describe large purchases is not something you would typically find in western cultures. However, there are some exceptions. Something as simple as a chocolatery purchase used as a symbol of affection or a birthday gift would likely be referred to in the same way in North America.

While non-essential goods can be purchased at markets and convenience stores, many items of value must be acquired from a pre-paid store delivery service. Most pre-paid stores offer “Credit equivalency” allowing purchases with a credit card equal to or lesser than the daily cost of the items being purchased (depends on the store).

What is the climate like in South Korea?

The climate in South Korea is warm and humid. The country experiences a four-season climate, but spring and summer are the most pleasant seasons. 

First and foremost, there are strict requirements for any foreign national wishing to legally reside in South Korea.