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
Henry Lee
Co-founder & Writer
Henry holds a graduate degree from Korea University and has worked across tech startups and venture capital. His international experience and global network give him a broad perspective on Korea and its connections to the wider world.
His writing focuses on sharing practical, globally informed insights about Korea.
Beat: money & banking, living in Korea, phone & internet, health & safety Languages: English (native), Korean (fluent)
Guides by Henry Lee
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
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
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
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
Landing at Incheon: A Step-by-Step Arrival Guide
From the plane to your hotel: immigration, e-Arrival Card, SIM pickup, T-money and getting into Seoul — everything you do in your first two hours at ICN.
· 5 min read
Incheon Airport to Seoul: AREX, Bus or Taxi Compared
AREX train, airport limousine bus or taxi from ICN to Seoul? Real 2026 fares, times and the honest pick for your luggage, budget and hotel location.
· 4 min read
Using ATMs in Korea: Global ATMs, Fees and Limits
Not every Korean ATM takes foreign cards. Here's how to find Global ATMs, what withdrawals really cost, per-transaction limits, and how to avoid the DCC trap.
· 4 min read
Setting Up a Korean eSIM Before You Fly
Install a Korean eSIM at home in ten minutes so you land already online. Step-by-step setup, real costs, and the mistakes that leave people offline.
· 4 min read
Food Delivery in Korea: Can Foreigners Use Baemin?
Yes — Baemin, Coupang Eats, and Yogiyo all work for foreigners in 2025–2026. Here's which handles English and overseas cards best, plus fees and minimums.
· 4 min read
Receiving Mail and Packages in Korea
How mail and packages work in Korea: Korea Post vs 택배 couriers, writing your address, parcel lockers, convenience-store pickup, and customs on overseas orders.
· 4 min read
Getting a Real Korean Phone Plan as a Resident
Living in Korea long-term? Skip tourist SIMs and get a proper plan. How budget MVNOs (알뜰폰) work, what your ARC unlocks, and how to pay ₩11,000 a month.
· 3 min read
Buying a Prepaid SIM Card After You Land
How to buy a tourist SIM at Incheon Airport or in the city: real 2025–2026 prices, what to bring, and how to get a Korean number that actually works.
· 3 min read
Taxis in Korea: Kakao T, International Taxi and Street Hailing
How taxis really work in Korea in 2026: Kakao T vs k.ride vs UT, base fares, call fees, foreign-card payment, and why you never tip. A practical rider's guide.
· 4 min read
KakaoBank vs Toss vs Traditional Banks for Foreigners
Toss, KakaoBank, Shinhan SOL, Hana, Woori — which Korean banking app actually works for foreigners? Compared on English support, ARC eligibility, and fees.
· 4 min read
Korean Health Insurance (NHIS) for Foreigners, Explained
How Korea's National Health Insurance works for foreigners: who must enroll, what premiums cost, what's covered, how to use it, and what tourists should do instead.
· 4 min read
Booking KTX Trains: Routes, Prices and Seat Tips
How to book Korea's KTX high-speed train in 2026: the new KORAIL+ app, English booking, Seoul–Busan fares, seat choice, luggage and the SRT merger explained.
· 4 min read
How to Open a Korean Bank Account as a Foreigner
You'll need your ARC, passport, and a Korean phone number. Here's the step-by-step, which banks are most foreigner-friendly, and how to avoid the limited-account trap.
· 4 min read
Renting in Korea: Jeonse, Wolse and Key Money Explained
How renting works in Korea: jeonse vs wolse, the huge 보증금 deposit, agent fees, and how to protect your key money — a plain-English guide for foreigners.
· 4 min read
Seeing a Doctor in Korea Without Speaking Korean
How to see a doctor in Korea as a foreigner: clinics vs hospitals, walk-ins, English-speaking options, what a visit costs with and without insurance, step by step.
· 4 min read