Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Katie26]

Hi everyone

So it's been 5 months now since I've been to Korea and I kind of wanted to set the record straight about what you actually need to bring with you NOW (as in Jun 2009).

In case anyone wondered I live in a small city and all the other small cities I've visited have the same stuff available...

You don't need to bring-
Deodorant (more expensive tho, think $6)
Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
Tampons/ Towels (this seems to be a major one on these boards but they are literally at every corner store i pass)
English books (not as common so if you have a favorite bring it, BUT there is 1 if not more English bookstore in most small cities now. Also whatthebook.com)
Don't bring sheets (I made this error and they don't even fit my bed! Queen size here is different from Queen size at home. Again they're more expensive here but do you really want to use 1/4 of your baggage on bedding?)
Too many high heels, unless you're in a classy area of Seoul. (The expat seen here will mainly see you in flip flops or boots in winter. I brought 4 pairs of nice heels..they haven't left my suitcase)

Do bring
Fake tan (very difficult to get)
Bras and Bikinis if you are anything bigger than a C (Koreans do wear bikinis but you will be lucky to get a decent size one)
English magazines if you read them. (They don't sell these here You don't know what I'd give for a copy of cosmo.)
Stuffing mix (excellent for when you're making a 'homestyle' dinner with your friends)
A sense of humor (the happiest people I know here take it all with a pich of salt

Kat




Bring

[kiwiduncan]

You can find a pretty good range of English language magazines in the big bookshops in Seoul (and Busan and Daegu I assume). Even Cosmo and stuff I think.

[Chet Wautlands]

Hey there!

You can get cosmo at What the Book. I realize you don't live in Seoul, but next time you're in Seoul, it's there. I also found English magazines at a few bigger Korean book stores. Keep an eye out!

What you can't find in Korea... at least not easily.. Crest White Strips. You can find it on Gmarket though.

[Gaber]

Yeah, I was going to mention What The Book as well. Anyway, I think they also deliver : http://www.whatthebook.com/browse/?section=mag;cat=Women

[fermentation]

I would also suggest:
Boxes of Mac N Cheese.
Supplements if you take them.
Lysol Spray or wipes. I find it very hard to find similar products here.

[cubanlord]

[harlowethrombey]

I've seen many supplements at the corner pharms.
They also have a big selection in touristy places like Myeong Dong and Dongdaemun.

Even though you can find books here, the mark-up is a killer.

For presents, I sometimes have my family send me a box full of books they bought at the half-price store. Even all the way overseas its still cheaper than buying them here for 10,000-13,000 KRW a piece. Ditto for magazines.

Anyway, that's some good advice for girls.


For guys:
get your shoes before you leave. if you above a size 11 you will have trouble finding it here. yes, you can go to Itaewon, but the selection isnt outstanding (just ask my bright silver gym shoes).

Also, get if you're a boxer brief man get it before you come. They dont quit fit right here.

[crossmr]

I got some white runners in hongdae for 10,000W near the subway station.. fine for the gym, try looking around a little more
They're a size 10, but I know he had bigger, its a 270 and he was almost out of those, he had a bunch of 275s and 280s 290s and even a pair of 300s.. but general shoes in the store are expensive.

one thing Korea is missing is that wal-mart price point. They've got the really cheap stuff selling off a rack near the subway station and emart, but the cheap reasonable quality, not necessarily the height of fashion stuff you might get at walmart seems to be missing from Korea.

[Snowflake]

I agree on the fake tan - almost impossible to get hold of here (at the moment...I noticed Sisley have started to sell it but it's over 90k) so I buy mine from here: www.hqhair.com or here: www.beautyexpert.co.uk
They ship to Korea quickly and fairly cheaply.

Also this place is worth keeping an eye on: www.feelunique.com
They don't ship to Korea yet but will be doing soon apparently and they do free worldwide shipping - as well as really discounted stuff.

Magazines are a problem - I can't find many UK magazines and they're usually far too expensive if I do. There's a great little magazine shop in Apkujong with a good range - if you head across the street from Galleria and walk straight down the alley with the hotdog place on the corner then you can't miss it. Still, not exactly cheap but not bad.
Now if anyone has found Lanza hair products anywhere then my life is sorted....

[Misera]

[madoka]

[gojulie]

I would also recommend extra bras. If you are anything but a small cup then it is almost impossible to buy here and even if you can find some, expensive and poor quality.

[Illysook]

I've been here for 10 months and when someone wants to send me a care package full of things that I need, I can't really think of anything.

However, vitamins that cost five or six dollars back home are more like twenty dollars here, and deodorant is marked up in a similar way.

Books are too heavy to bother with...but stick a bible in your carry on. Expat life is tough and you never know when you might want the thing...even if you are a hardened atheist...after all I've heard that the tissue thin pages can be used for, well...I don't want to say.

I personally am glad that I brought sheets. Mine are too large for my bed, but I make 2 hospital corners and I'm good to go.

I also brought some vacuum packed food items...not many, but enough to last until I could get to a grocery store.

[AgDragon01]

Namdaeumun has a lot of western supplies. Go to gate 1 - there are several buildings around there with two basements filled with cheap western goods.

[Bryan]

I should have bought an external hard drive and put all my CD's and DVD's on it, instead of bringing my CD's and DVD's (not that many though mind you). I should NOT have brought books.

I should have brought more shoes, since shoes are unavailable in large sizes for men here. And I should have brought my thick winter overcoat--I didn't know it was going to get really cold here.

I shouldn't have brought any toiletries. I'm glad I bought a large towel, because although they are around, they took me a while to find.

I wish I brought some exercise/health supplements that are outrageously expensive here or hard to get. It's very hard to get coconut oil here online or anywhere I've searched, but it's super cheap back in Canada. Fish oil is way cheaper back home too.