Korea Decoded
Researched, dated guides to living in and traveling to South Korea.
Latest guides
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Travel & Itineraries
Busan in Two Days: Is It Worth the KTX Ticket?
Busan is two and a half hours from Seoul and feels like a different country. What to see in two days, and when the trip isn't worth making.
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Food & Dining
Korean Convenience Store Food: What to Buy
Korean convenience stores are a genuine food option, not a last resort. What's actually good, what the hot-water machine is for, and how the deals work.
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Money & Costs
The Real Cost of Living in Seoul, Month by Month
Rent, food, transport, and the deposit nobody warns you about. A realistic monthly budget for living in Seoul, with the one-off costs separated out.
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Travel & Itineraries
Seoul in 4 Days: A First-Timer's Itinerary
Most Seoul itineraries pack in six neighbourhoods a day and ignore how far apart they are. Here's a four-day plan built around actual travel times.
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Travel & Itineraries
Jeju Island: What to Know Before You Book
Jeju is a volcanic island an hour's flight from Seoul, and almost impossible to see properly without a car. What that means for planning a trip.
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Travel & Itineraries
When to Visit Korea: Month by Month, Honestly
Spring and autumn are the honest answer, but the interesting question is what the other eight months are actually like. A month-by-month breakdown.
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Money & Costs
Korean Health Insurance for Foreigners: What You Pay
National Health Insurance is mandatory for foreign residents in Korea, and it is the best financial deal in the country. What it costs and what it covers.
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Living in Korea
Going to a Hospital in Korea as a Foreigner
Korean healthcare is fast and cheap, and the system expects you to start at a small clinic. How to choose where to go, what to bring, and what it costs.
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Money & Costs
Income Tax in Korea for Foreign Workers
Korean income tax is withheld monthly and reconciled every February. What gets deducted, what the flat-rate option is, and what year-end settlement means.
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Shopping & Beauty
Tax Refunds in Korea: How to Actually Get Yours
Korea's VAT refund for tourists is generous and easy to lose. The two refund routes, the paperwork, and the Incheon queue that costs people their money.
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Working & Studying
Korean Work Visas: Which One You Actually Need
E-2, E-7, D-10, F-2, F-6 — the codes matter more than the names. What each Korean work visa allows, who qualifies, and which ones tie you to one employer.
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Culture & Etiquette
Korean Age and Titles: Why Birth Year Matters
Koreans ask your birth year within minutes of meeting you. Here's what they're working out, what the titles mean, and why the age system recently changed.