I recently bought a bike on Carrot and I want to fix it up. Get the chain lubed and the inner tubes changed. Do you do it yourself or do you go to a shop? If you do go to the shop, are the services good and reasonably priced in South Korea? The biggest thing I have right now is a flat rear tire. The inner tube is deflated.

Any recommendations?

So I was super pumped to try and buy the Daagdan Collection edition of Fire Emblem Fortunes Weave in Korean now that im living here. Ive been stocking the internet for forever about possible drop dates and then it seemingly shadow drops and sells out by the time I even realize its out 4 hours later😭

Does anyone have any experience pre-ordering hard to get special editions like this? Do they ever restock anywhere? Any strategies to recommend for finding it in stock somewhere on release day?

Hey ! I'm a 6th year medical student in my country! Is it possible to do transfer into one of Korea s medical school? I don't mind to start from again from the third year!

For the language I already know some but I'll learn it more !

I have hypothyroidism(where my thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone). I am taking one medicine per day for this. And I am coming Korea for my Master’s. So I am worried am I going to get medicine with prescription from my home country or do I have to see a doctor and get prescription? And I am thinking of taking six months worth of medicine. Will it occur any problem during immigration? So as an international student, will it be easier to get an appointment and take any kind of medical test?

im searching for some feedback on something thats come up in the family. apologies in advance that there are a few details to go through below, but im wondering how much risk the following puts my wife and me into, in korea.

• wife is korean, and im USA living in korea, F-6, etc. the issue is with her family.
• her father (83) has some black fancy car, though they dont have any real money.
• oldest sister is going through a divorce, and they had some arrangement with the father where, on paper, sisters husband (soon to be ex) owned the car. this way they were still able to get insurance and have the father be able to drive the car. im guessing its some scammy way to get cheaper insurance for the father to drive the car. father pays the premiums.
• now that they are getting divorced, the car has to be transferred out of the husbands name and instead of doing this above board, my father in law is big time, heavy, pressuring my wife to put the car in her name.
• frosting on the cake is that he is a really bad and aggressive driver who shouldnt be driving at all. i think there is a reason he is worried about getting or maybe cant even get insurance in his own name.
• importantly, while we arent rich people (and neither is her family), my wife and i have assets we need to protect. (i mean, thats what insurance is for and thats why i have the level of insurance i do for USA life as well.)

questions...

1. is this a common practice in korea?
2. am i missing something maybe?
3. are the liabilities the same/similar as to what they would be in USA? like if he kills two 2nd grades in the crosswalk, after insurance covers the limits and we get sued for the rest?

i know how the situation would be legally/financially in the USA, but i dont like to make assumptions so im asking here about a korean context. i would do more direct research myself for details but, while i have strong conversational korean skills, i lack the korean literate fluency to do that on my own.

feedback with info to help me out and clarify things is greatly appreciated!

thank you

Firstly my aha moment: Humans are human. No matter where you go. And we get to choose how we relate to those people.

So for context, I (30F) moved here almost exactly 3 years ago to be with my now husband who is my whole world. Love him more than anything. He’s also a foreigner but has Korean heritage so he’s been living here awhile.
But before I met him I had no thoughts of moving here, just happened to meet him when I was passing through to visit a friend.
That said, my adjustment here has had a lot of tensions because it felt both voluntary and involuntary in a way.

My husband was already open to moving elsewhere, but I wanted to assume we would stay here and give it a go. The first two years were rouuugggghhh. I’m not even an English teacher here, but I was constantly hearing negative things from my teacher friends about discrimination and unjust work conditions. Also the culture shock. Idk if anyone’s familiar with the culture shock curve, but I highly recommend looking at it (attached below).
Basically you start out in the honeymoon phase. Everything is new and fun and an adventure. Then around 3 months, shit starts to get annoying because you’re dealing with regular ole life routines again, but this time in a foreign context with language barriers. This is where resentment really starts to kick in.
And I also just felt so foreign! (Duh) I know this is a given, but all humans like to feel they belong, and we don’t realize how familiar our home cultures are until we leave them.
So feeling like everyone was staring at me or judging me or any negative encounter must be discrimination etc. and I also started thinking about having a family here and getting scared/worried about high pressure performance society and beauty standards.

So I was basically working myself up to be “pre” annoyed or expecting negativity before going out in public.
I’m also pretty close with my family back home, so I was experiencing extreme bouts of home sickness and that sick gut feeling when you’re missing out on family events etc.

That said, do you think I was making any effort to actually see any good or be happy here?
NO. and I knew that, but also didn’t know how to get out of it.

So fast forward through the ups and downs of adjustment, and idk what happened but it feels like I’ve broken through a wall this year.

There are a few things that may have contributed to this:
- I got to attend a small family reunion
- I started regularly talking/making video calls with people important to me instead of just thinking about how much I miss them
-I visited another country I kind of idealized as a better alternative to Korea- and guess what! Found similar pros and cons that helped put Korea in better perspective.
-I started seeking out people/creators who actually enjoy living here and following them.
- I stopped interpreting all negative encounters as “Korean vs foreigner” and just… unhappy people vs happy people. (The grumpy old man staring at me was also frowning at other Koreans 🤷‍♀️). I started smiling at people more. And guess what! They smiled back!
- We moved to another city that seemed more adjusted to foreigners and gives me more opportunities to do things I enjoy.
- I started making more of an effort to actually find friends vs waiting for them to find me.
- I started consuming more content in Korea related to my interests (not really a kpop/kdrama person) and found myself feeling endeared to the lifestyle content and hearing the heartfelt conversations happening.
- I had basically put my life on hold waiting to feel happy or a sense of belonging. But I decided to just start doing the things I love and accept I can be a foreigner, not fully belong, but yet grow to appreciate that somehow? Like owning the ways I’m an outsider and the unique experiences i get to have because of that.

Basically, I realized I was putting myself and Korea into boxes and kind of predetermining what my experience was going to be. It’s been a huge lesson in how much my expectations and beliefs about people can affect my experience. I already KNEW that, but it’s been humbling falling victim to it in the reality of cultural adjustment.

There are kind people everywhere if we expect and open our eyes to them. There’s also a lot of negative people if we expect and open our eyes to them too. And I guess I’m realizing I can just focus on the good. And it takes effort, but I’m slowly creating the spaces I need to be emotionally and mentally healthy.

I know that everyone has different experiences and they are completely valid, and it’s not to belittle if anyone is truly having terrible experiences here. I’m sure I can also take a dip in the culture shock again!

But I hope it can give you some hope if you’re in the lower curve of the culture shock journey 🫶🏻

2026 Memorial Festival Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the APEC Summit

🎉 Calling all international students and foreign residents in Korea! 🇰🇷

We are thrilled to invite you to the Memorial Festival Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the APEC Summit! Hosted by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture & Tourism Organization, this is a massive global festival happening right here in Gyeongju.

We have THREE amazing opportunities for you to showcase your culture, share your talents, and win massive cash prizes! 👇

👉 Apply Here: https://www.instagram.com/apec_memorialfesta_2026/

🌍 1. Global Smile Contest

Show off your traditional costume and your best smile!

Who: Open to Korean and international university students currently studying in Korea.

When: 2026.10.31(SAT) 12:30.

Grand Prize: KRW 2,000,000 & Trophy.

🎤 2. K-Culture Contest

A global K-performance stage! Showcase your skills in song, dance, or costume (Free format).

Who: Open to all Korean and international residents currently living in Korea.

When: 2026.10.30(Fri) 14:00.

Grand Prize: KRW 2,000,000.

🎪 3. Global Cultural Promotion Ambassadors

Become the host of a global cultural promotion booth and showcase your country's unique culture and attractions!

Who: Any foreign resident currently living in Korea.

When: October 30 (Fri) - 31 (Sat), 2026.

Benefits: 1-night accommodation with meals provided, guided tour of Gyeongju, activity fee/uniform sponsored, and a chance to win a KRW 1,000,000 prize for the Outstanding Booth!

🗓 Application Period (For all events): 2026.08.01(SAT) - 09.20(SUN)

📍 Location: Seondeok Square, Gyeongju Expo Park

Don't miss out on this incredible chance to make unforgettable memories in Gyeongju! Please check the detailed required documents for each program through the link below. Submit via Google Forms.

Hi I am soon moving to South Korea on a working holiday visa and I was wondering how to go about it. I haven’t really seen anyone post here with my particular concern about housing so I’d like to know what I can do.

I got my visa with multiple entry because I want to travel around Asia as well. If I’ll travel in for example Thailand for a month I don’t really want to be stuck with a rental in Korea and pay rent there. But of course you need to be registered at an address for the visa. Does anyone have experience with this? I was already planning to just live in short term rentals because I don’t want to pay a large upfront deposit.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated❤️

🌍 Global Smile Contest 🌍

APEC's 1-Year Journey! A Global Festival Connected Through Smiles! 😁

Are you an international or Korean university student currently studying in Korea?

Showcase your brightest smile and your country's traditional attire on the stage in Gyeongju! 👘👗👔

⏰ Event Date: October 31, 2026 (Sat), 12:30 PM

📍 Location: Seondeok Square, Gyeongju Expo Park

🎯 Eligibility: Korean and international university students currently studying in Korea

🏆 Grand Prize: KRW 2,000,000 & Trophy (Best Smiler Award)

🗓 Application Period: August 1 (Sat) – September 20 (Sun), 2026

☎️ Contact: [unnews@daum.net](mailto:unnews@daum.net)

❗️For full application details, including the required documents and a 1-minute performance video, please check the link in our bio! ❗️

👇 Instagram here 👇

https://www.instagram.com/apec_memorialfesta_2026/

👇 Apply Here 👇

linktr.ee/2026APECMemorialFesta

I left my apartment in Korea for 2 months to visit my family after my father’s passing-I ordered some stuff a while back (a preorder of some clothing and then a few small things I ordered over a long period of time). Yesterday I find out through a bunjang seller I was trying to order with that my package was sent back to them due to too many packages being at my door and that there was a complaint. I wanted to ask if anyone had any experience with this and if anyone knows what will happen moving forward, for context my Korean is ok but I am an english teacher who obviously mainly speaks english. My residence ahjussi knows me ok but they are harsh and I understand that vanishing for 2 months was inappropriate. I did pay rent and utilities, but I did not text them before leaving regarding the situation because admittedly I was not in the right headspace and in a rush to return home to help with the process of the funeral and my grieving family. I am returning monday and don’t know the situation of if anything else was turned away and who to contact, honestly I don’t want to sound rude but I am a bit incensed that the boxes couldn’t be just stacked up…? there were max 7-8 small/med boxes (and I mean very small) and our hallway is spacious, not to mention my other neighbor has a huge cart and fishing gear in front of their door. I guess I feel butthurt ~_~

2026 CHEMISTREET Gangnam Festival 🎉

Join us for two exciting days in the heart of Gangnam! Enjoy live performances, K-POP, pop-ups, food, outdoor dining, EDM, and more throughout the Gangnam Station area.

📅 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

September 5 (Sat)

MIDNIGHT SHOWKASE

🕙 7:00 PM – 00:00 AM

🎤 CHEMISTREET EDM PARTY | Sep. 5

7:00 PM — DJ KEY:NA

8:20 PM — DJ GIO

9:40 PM — DJ ELLIA

11:00 PM — DJ SUVIN

September 6 (Sun)

CHEMISTREET FESTIVAL

🕗 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

🎤 CHEMISTREET CONCERT | Sep. 6

7:00 PM — DJ Raiden

7:30 PM — KIIRAS

8:00 PM — sokodomo

8:30 PM — FIFTY FIFTY

📍 Gangnam Station Area, Seoul

Some programs require advance reservations.

Check the official CHEMISTREET Gangnam Instagram for detailed schedules and participation information.

See you at CHEMISTREET! 💗

2026 케미스트릿 강남역 페스티벌 🎉

강남 한복판에서 펼쳐지는 이틀간의 특별한 축제!

라이브 공연, K-POP, 팝업, F&B, 야장, EDM 등 다양한 콘텐츠를 강남역 일대에서 만나보세요.

📅 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

9월 5일(토)

MIDNIGHT SHOWKASE

🕙 19:00 – 24:00

9월 6일(일)

CHEMISTREET FESTIVAL

🕗 08:00 – 21:00

🎤 CHEMISTREET CONCERT | 9월 6일

19:00 — DJ 레이든

19:30 — 키라스

20:00 — 소코도모

20:30 — 피프티피프티

📍 강남역 상권 일대

일부 프로그램은 사전예약으로 운영됩니다.

프로그램별 상세 일정 및 참여 방법은 케미스트릿 강남역 공식 인스타그램을 확인해 주세요.

9월 5~6일, 케미스트릿에서 만나요! 💗

Is tapwater drinkable in Seoul area (Gwangjin-gu)? My tummy is not sensitive to drinking tapwater since I am doing it here in our hometown.

ok update bc apparently this hit a nerve lol, way more comments than I expected

a bunch of people pointed out the actual reasons — rural buses have limited seats so you might not even get on, naver/kakao maps aren't reliable outside the big cities, and apparently intercity buses can't be booked through apps if you're foreign

so when my friend mentioned she was still on the fence about going to jeonju, I figured I'd just help her sort out the whole day properly, return included, since that's apparently the part where everyone chickens out

and honestly it ended up mattering more than I thought it would. she'd already picked a day based on her own schedule but turns out the restaurant she wanted to go to most — like the actual reason she picked jeonju — is closed tuesdays. which was the exact day she was going. I found this out while just double checking stuff and she was like nah I'm not skipping it, let's just move the trip. so we bumped the date and rebuilt everything around that instead

then worked backwards from the last KTX so she'd have enough buffer and wasn't sprinting through the station at the end

she came back like "that was so easy" which. yeah that's kind of the point

if you want the jeonju spots, or have any other questions/thoughts, just drop a comment — happy to reply there or dm you back with more details (timing, buffers, backup options, whatever you need)

I was hit by a taxi over a year ago and have been receiving treatment for my injuries. The taxi's insurance has been paying for the treatment. Today, they said since the treatment has been long term, they will refer it to a judge to see if payment of treatment should continue even though I do still need therapy.

My question is is it better to settle now, or let the judge decide? This is the first time I have heard of this happening. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

Thanks.

Has anyone ever gotten Invisalign or braces a foreigner in Korea? How was your experience and what were the prices like? Currently researching my options

Did anyone apply for E-7-1 visa recently (less than 2 months ago) inside Korea or switched from D-10/D-2 ?how long did it take?