living in korea

international calls
to make international calls, remember this number: 1600-0030.

1) dial the number (no area code)
2) once you’re connected, press (country code) (area code) (number) then press #

if you use this method, the call would be considered a local call because you called a local number. there are no extra charges on top of the standard charge for a local call. it’s cheap because apparently the call is made through the internet, and the downside is that the quality may sometimes be not very clear.

classifieds (where i found my accommodation)
4 OKs
craig’s list seoul
and other daum “cafes” (similar to online communities).

and also real estate agents that can be found everywhere–but if you do go through an agent, the deposit (or key money) usually ranges from 2 million ~ 5 million won (about USD2000-5000). the higher the key money, the lower the rent and vice versa.

or you can look around on walls where they paste phone numbers for homestay houses or hasukjibs (하숙집). depending on the area, hasukjibs usually require no deposit and provide breakfast and dinner. cost is about 400,000won to 550,000won.

my first 2 apartments i found through craig’s list, and my deposit was 350,000won and 100,000won respectively. my last apartment i found through 4OKs, and the deposit was 500,000won. rental was 450,000won at noksapyeong 녹사평 (excluding utilities) for a rather spacious room, 250,000won (excluding utilities) at imun-dong 이문동 for a small room and 350,000won (including utilities) at mia-dong 미아동 for a small room.

for jobs
jobkorea 잡 코리아
saramin 사람인
incruit 인크루트
careerjet 커리어젯
Teach English in Korea with Travel and Teach Recruiting Inc.
Travel and Teach is a Canadian based company that has been recruiting teachers to South Korea since 2001

for air tickets / travel packages
interpark 인터파크 항공권
onlinetour 온라인 투어
yellow balloon tour 노랑풍선

for everything else, there is google (or naver).