Free interpretation among legal rights to be mindful of So following a lapse of your better judgement, you find yourself inside a police station in a foreign land. Your first instinct may be to use whatever Korean you know to explain yourself. But maybe don't be so quick to trust those same instincts that landed you there in the first place. As in many other countries, everyone on Korean soil has the right to a fair investigation and trial. For anyone who does not speak Korean, this includes req

A guide to navigating Korea’s immunization program and checking your eligibility for subsidized vaccinations As the summer heat gives way to the crisp autumn air, it‘s time to start thinking about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the flu. If you’re a foreign national resident in South Ko

A reader asked: which city is the safest in S. Korea? Our attempt to answer this seemingly straightforward question met unexpected challenges Safety ranks high on the list of priorities for South Korean and foreign residents alike when choosing where to live in the country. But despite extensive onl

Community centers in Seoul and other major cities offer tool rentals Did you just move to Seoul and need tools for furniture assembly? Or perhaps you need items like an electric drill, hammer or wrench for your latest DIY project? Instead of buying and keeping these tools at home for the few times y

Deadly flash flooding in Seoul in 2022 summer behind the development of a new mobile alert system Living in South Korea involves learning to differentiate between various mobile phone alerts and announcements, and deciding which ones to heed and which ones to disregard. These alerts, sent by differe

Discover Korea‘s secret to perfect hair If you thought perfect hair was only possible in Korean dramas or on K-pop stages, you might be surprised to see so many Koreans on the street with voluminous, perfectly styled hair. The secret may lie in Korean hair salons, or rather, in their abundance. Acco

In neighborhood public spaces such as subway stations, it‘s not uncommon to witness individuals engaging in suspicious exchanges like in a spy film, often starting their exchange with a question that includes the Korean term, “danggeun.” “Hoksi danggeun?” one might inquire to initiate the exchange,

South Korea in recent years has seen a significant rise in both the number of days with midday temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius and above, and the number of “tropical nights,” where temperatures remain at or above 25 C throughout the night. To avoid any confusion, the climate of the Korean Peninsu

Korea is known for its harsh summers, with high humidity and daily temperatures often exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. This year‘s summer, however, may be among the hottest so far, with preliminary data for July showing record high temperatures. As locals scatter in search of the best spots to survive

Local community service centers are easy to spot, but many overlook the services they provide for their communities. Taking the time to become acquainted with these centers can lead to various benefits, from saving money to accessing a wide range of cost-effective or even free programs and informati