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From outfits to gifts, Seollal puts newlyweds to the ultimate in-law test
When major traditional holidays approach in Korea, online forums begin filling with practical, and often anxious, questions from newlyweds: What should we wear? What should we bring? One quirky Korean-English term that occasionally surfaces is the “sidaek look,” referring to what one wears when visiting the in-laws on occasions like traditional holidays or parents’ birthdays. A search for the hashtag "sidaek look” on Instagram yields more than 5,000 related posts, ranging from photos of women sh
Feb. 15, 2026 -
Banking in Korea (2) – Overseas transfers
Foreign nationals in Korea can send funds of up to $50,000 per year via overseas remittance, without submitting documents proving the source of funds. Amounts that exceed this limit, however, must be reported to authorities along with the relevant documents. For specific information on the remittance requiring such documents, head to this page of the Easy Law website, and refer to the section titled "Overseas Remittance Requiring Supporting Documents." For overseas transfers, foreigners must des
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Banking in Korea (1) – Opening an account
South Korea's economy is quickly moving away from cash, which has all but disappeared from everyday transactions. From cashless buses to stores and coffeehouses that only accept card or mobile payments, the shift is becoming hard to miss. A Bank of Korea report in December showed that Koreans used cash for only 17.4 percent of their monthly expenditures last year, down from 21.6 percent in 2021. For foreign nationals staying in the country long-term, opening an account at a local bank can signif
Feb. 9, 2026 -
Son caring for bedridden mom began sharing his journey. Then other carers responded
Cho Bum-hee was 23, preparing to return to college after completing his military service, when his mother suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2015. With his father and older sister both working full-time, the responsibility of caring for his mother, whose arms and legs were paralyzed, fell to him. "My mother gave me more love than words can express. I felt it was finally my turn to give back," Cho, now 34, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. Before he could fully grasp what was happening, Cho
Feb. 4, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (4) - Application process and official information
Foreign nationals staying in South Korea on a student visa must receive authorization from the Justice Ministry to engage in employment. This must be done before starting work, or it could be considered illegal employment, resulting in significant penalties for both the employer and the student. It should be noted that students may change workplaces, but they must report the change in advance. To obtain authorization, students must prepare identification and visa documents, proof of enrollment,
Jan. 31, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (3) - Jobs that are prohibited
Jobs requiring professional qualifications, typically those associated with E-1 through E-7 working visas, are off limits for students. This includes teaching minors, private tutoring, language instruction programs such as Kumon and other roles that require specialized credentials. Work that normally requires an E-9 visa for nonprofessional employment is also barred, although students with TOPIK level four or above may qualify for limited exceptions. Driving and sales-related work are not permit
Jan. 29, 2026 -
True Crime (9) His parents killed his spirit. Then he killed them
"I understand why he did it." The words came from Lee Gi-seok, the older brother of a man accused of killing his parents, during a police interrogation. The statement stunned investigators. The victims — Lee’s mother and father — had been discovered on May 24, 2000, dismembered and stuffed into garbage bags. The suspect in custody was their younger son, Lee Eun-seok. From the outside, the Lee brothers appeared to be well brought up, from an unremarkable, even enviable, family. Both of their pare
Jan. 29, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (2) - Korean language criteria and work hour limits
Even if they get a work permit, the total hours foreign students are allowed to work varies according to the level of their Korean language skills. To be considered proficient in Korean, freshmen and sophomores must have TOPIK level 3, completion of KIIP level 3 or KIIP pre-evaluation of at least 61 points, or completion of intermediate 1 in at the King Sejong Institute Foundation. For juniors and seniors, the criteria are at least level 4 in TOPIK or KIIP, a KIIP pre-evaluation test score of 81
Jan. 27, 2026 -
Should babies cry it out to learn to sleep independently? Parents, experts divided
A baby sleeping alone in a separate room from as young as 100 days old is an often idealized, yet unrealistic, thought for many families in South Korea, where children commonly share their parents' bedroom well into their toddler years. But these days, a growing number of young Korean parents have begun sharing their infant sleep-training journeys on social media, posting videos of their babies' nighttime routines — being left to cry until they fall asleep, waking and settling back to sleep on t
Jan. 26, 2026 -
How to work in Korea with student visa (1) - Basic rules and eligibility
With about a quarter million foreign students enrolled in Korea as of 2025 and more than 56,000 holding part-time jobs, questions over what international students can legally do to earn a living continue to grow. Korean law permits limited employment for holders of study visas but only under strict conditions aimed at preventing illegal work and ensuring that academic commitments remain the primary purpose of their stay. Study visas in Korea largely cover the D-2 category for university programs
Jan. 24, 2026 -
Tips on moving (4) - Custom clearance for those moving to Korea
Foreign nationals moving from another country to South Korea can get a tax exemption for some household items that they have used for at least three months prior. Different standards are applied to persons moving to Korea (defined as those seeking to reside in South Korea for at least a year, or at least six months with family) and short-term residents (those staying here for between three months and under a year, or between three months and under six months with family). But some items are subj
Jan. 17, 2026