Living in Korea
Your Residence Card (ARC): Booking, Documents, Pickup
How to get your Korean Residence Card (the old ARC): book on HiKorea, gather documents, visit immigration, and pick up your card — fees and timing included.
· 4 min read
안녕! Welcome to Korea
Korea, explained like a friend would.
No fluff, no outdated tips. Practical English guides for visiting and living in Korea — from your first T-money card to opening a bank account.
Browse by topic
First 72 Hours
Airport to city, SIM to subway card — everything to sort out in your first three days in Korea, in the right order.
Money & Banking
Cards, cash, ATMs, exchange and — if you're staying — how to open a real Korean bank account as a foreigner.
Getting Around
T-money, subways, taxis, KTX and buses — how to move around Seoul and cross the country cheaply and confidently.
Phone & Internet
eSIMs, prepaid SIMs, pocket WiFi and real phone plans — how to get (and stay) connected in Korea.
Food & Dining
How to order, what to try first, convenience-store dinners and delivery apps — eating well in Korea, stress-free.
Living in Korea
Residence cards, renting, recycling rules and daily-life logistics for people staying longer than a holiday.
Health & Safety
Insurance, pharmacies, seeing a doctor in English and the emergency numbers to save before you need them.
Culture & Etiquette
The customs that actually matter, the myths that don't, and the phrases that make Koreans light up.
Latest guides
Money & Banking
Cash or Card in Korea? What Actually Works Where
Korea runs on cards and phone taps, but a little cash still saves you at markets, street food, and T-money machines. Here's exactly where.
· 4 min read
Money & Banking
Where to Exchange Money in Korea (and Where Not To)
Airport counters cost you 5–8% more than downtown. Here's where to actually change money in Korea, plus when a Wise or Revolut card beats cash entirely.
· 4 min read
Phone & Internet
eSIM vs SIM Card vs Pocket WiFi in Korea
eSIM, physical SIM, or pocket WiFi in Korea? A no-nonsense breakdown of cost, setup, and who each one is really for in 2025–2026.
· 4 min read
First 72 Hours
The 9 Apps You Actually Need in Korea
Google Maps barely works in Korea. Here are the nine apps that replace it — maps, taxis, translation, chat and trains — and what each one is for.
· 2 min read
Living in Korea
Setting Up Your First Korean Apartment on a Budget
A move-in checklist for your first Korean apartment: utilities, internet, trash bags, a Daiso run, cheap furniture and the paperwork — with real 2026 prices.
· 4 min read