Korean Job Discussion Forums

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

So many people are recommending that I bring some food over in my suitcases. Spices, cookies, etc. Is that actually allowed, or do you have to sneak it in?

UberJRI · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Location: Not where I want to be...yet

I'm curious about this, too. This is going to sound stupid, but does anyone know if you can bring potted plants over, too? I would hate to leave my favorite plant here...

ryouga013 · Joined: 14 Sep 2007

check with customs before but it should be alright as long as they are sealed and are not fertile seeds I would think. I brought over curry spices and some other small things, and had no problem.

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

Make sure you don't bring over any beef which is American in origin, they will have your guts for garters.

BS.Dos. · Joined: 29 Mar 2007

Brush up on dave's on things that you can't buy over here first as it'll help inform you on what to bring. Personally, I'd bring a few tins of corned beef with me. South American of course.

Don't bother with plants. You'll be asking for trouble at customs and there are loads of florists/plant shops over here.

Quack Addict · Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul

sojourner1 · Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

I use one of two check on bags for food when leaving home. I brought several jars of natural peanut butter, canned yams, cinnamon, oatmeal, honey, black tea bags, coffee, and Taco Bell sauce packets. You can bring yourself a care package to tie you over in your first few weeks. While laundry detergent and dish soap are available in Korea, it's smart to bring small bottles of these sorts of things so you are started up as soon as you land as you may not have time or know how to shop for the first week.

It's the small things that make all the difference.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

My Mom actually brought me a pizza from my old hometown pizza place. After 17 hours in the cargo hold it was a bit ragged but still damn good.

ds_fan · Joined: 07 Apr 2008

how can you bring plants, food etc over here, it would cost you a fortune. Maybe some decent chocolate would be a good idea though

driftingfocus · Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA

Crockpot2001 · Joined: 01 Jul 2007

I have had poor luck finding Cilantro (corriander), cipotle peppe, and Vasa style crackers or any unsweetened wheat cracker for that matter. Many other products I have made due with. I was happy to finally find tortillas. Limes are also something I have yet to find. Lazy Limes plain ol' suck.

Tarkaan · Joined: 09 Mar 2008

If you have a spice rack, then by all means, BRING IT. Unless you're using just salt, pepper, and garlic powder, a decent spice rack is going to have at least three dozen bottles, at $4 a bottle for McCormick (the good kind). This isn't just hard to replace, it's spendy as hell, and you know the potency and behaviour of your own spice rack. Bring it or ship it. It's cheaper than re-buying everything once you get here.

OnTheOtherSide · Joined: 29 Feb 2008

I had about 10 protein bars, a bag of trail mix, lots of coffee and tea and spices and they let it all go right through no questions asked.

The only one of these items I can't find in Korea is good coffee. Well, i found it but the prices are ridiculous. Besides that they've got it all, cheap. In my neighborhood at least.

Kimchi Cowboy · Joined: 17 Sep 2006