Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vesce]

Hi! I leave for Jeonju Dec. 9th. I've lived abroad before but it's been a while.

Everyone usually forgets something or realizes that they should have purchased something in their home country.

electronics, power adapters, clothes, snacks, books....

What have been your experiences in Korea?


Thanks all!

[eamo]

Virtually the same thing is being discussed just a few threads below.

[vesce]

That's great, thanks. I'm working off of my cell phone as I have already disconnected my internet so I didn't really take to time to read through the other threads. Cheers.

[vesce]

http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/2007/07/ultimate-packing-list-what-to-bring-to.html

this is THE list!

[AsiaESLbound]

You can go to a public library or WiFi hot spot in your hometown to use internet.

German Schuko type F plug is what you need. Be careful to avoid cheap generic Euro travel plug adapters unless it's specifically for Germany. The cheapos I got back home have thinner round pins making it difficult to make metal to metal contact in the Korean outlets. It's easy to get an adapter on eBay or a Macy's, but seemingly difficult in Korea though they are out there. It's just hard to find when you first get here or lack experience shopping for a particular item over here.

If you are a man who wears business casual to work, bring plenty of pants and button down shirts as well as about 20 under briefs as these are not available or extremely hard to find. There are clothes, but not what you want nor fits and looks right. It is super annoying to be unhappily uncomfortable with your clothing situation when you go to dress in the mornings and spend fruitless hours searching and thinking what you are to do about fixing what is a no brainer problem back home. You will need more than just the warm coat. In fact, a warm coat is easy to find so it's not absolutely necessary though you can carry it on the plane without packing. If you like business suits most days, that's super easy to get over here so no need to pack more than 1. Suit pants are available to improvise business casual wear, but no inseam sizes; just extra long legs so you take to a dry cleaning shop lady who will always take it up too short as they all do it exactly the same. We have a men's pants conundrum in this market. If you like the super casual urban wear hip style like funky jeans made to look wrinkled and faded, that's very available too. It's the business casual golf style I struggle with due to it's absence over here. They tend either dress very casual, sporty gear, or wear business suits with nothing in between like we do. Golfing attire is widely available, but not the kind we wear to work. It's more actual professional golfing attire just as Speedo is for sport swimming. The Nike's I found here are made for actually playing professional tennis; not everyday walking so the soles are very different where the shoe sits at a slight angle and wider on the outer sides. Bring walking shoes other than hiking shoes as good hiking shoes are widely available.

I'm not sure what the clothes situation is for the women, but it's probably much easier to improvise than for us guys as you see enormous amounts of women stuff all over the place in the markets.

You will actually save money, time, and embarrassment if you bring a few bottles of Advil and maybe 4 packs of 30 little red Psuedophed pills to avoid going to a doctor for a cold. For the Advil, 100 tablets of 200mg will run you $20 worth of Korean money in Seoul which is a super cheap item back home. $20 will get you like 2 to 3 huge bottles of 500 tablets back home.

If you like Lindt candy bars or Reeses peanut butter cups, bring a cache. If someone in your life is nice enough to send things to you, you can ask them to send you things throughout your time in Korea. Need new pants? Just want a piece of home? They could be a huge godsend.

[vesce]

Nice, thanks. Yeah, I am a guy and your info is greatly appreciated. Most of the info/lists I've found are geared towards the ladies. Cheers!

[NM14456]

I strongly second the clothing suggestion. I'm 5'11 and a slightly husky build and buying clothes is a drag here - underwear, shirts and pants are the worst.

I had a hard time finding alka seltzer which for some reason always seems better than other stomach acid stuff for me.

The last suggestion may seem over the top but I would not come to Korea again w/o it - a mosquito net and 4-6 of those sticky type hooks you could put up anywhere to keep the net up. My building in the city is horrendously constructed and I doubt the situation is any better in the country. It may seem too dramatic but don't count on there not being mosquitos inside of your apt. and the season here for that could go 7-10 months. After your third or 4th night of not sleeping you'll start losing your mind.

[hallazgo]

everytime I go home I buy a big-ass bottle of Ibuprofen or Tylenol. You can only get that at the drugstores here and in small quantities. I hate not having any on a Sunday morning with a hangover and the drug stores are all closed.

I also have a big schnozola and I pack a few boxes of nasal strips to keep the snoring down - otherwise I put a stress test on the windows at night

[Died By Bear]

Aleive-D for colds, there is no substitute.

[RMNC]

[northway]