Guides
Clear, first-hand guides to travelling, studying, and living in Korea — written for foreigners who want the real details, not brochure fluff.
Korea Weather by Month: Temperatures, Rain and Fine Dust
Seoul's monthly averages from Korea's official 30-year normals, why 63% of the year's rain falls in three months, and when fine dust is actually worst — which is not spring.
August 12, 2026TravelKorean Public Holidays 2026–2027: Dates and Substitute Days
Korea gained two new public holidays in May 2026, and its substitute-day rule treats Seollal and Chuseok differently from every other holiday. Full dates for the rest of 2026 and all of 2027.
August 11, 2026TravelKorea Tax Refund: The Order You Have to Do It In
How much you get back is the easy part. The sequence at the airport — customs before check-in, which desk, which terminal — is where refunds actually get lost.
August 1, 2026LanguageHow to Pronounce K-pop Idol Names
The romanised spelling of a Korean name is not a pronunciation guide. Here is what the letters hide, and how the names you already know are actually said.
August 1, 2026LifeKorean Clothing Size Chart: What 44, 55, 66 and 95, 100 Mean
Korean clothing sizes are two unrelated systems. 44/55/66 encodes height and bust from a 1981 standard that no longer exists; 90/95/100 is just your chest in centimetres.
July 27, 2026LanguageHow to Write Your Name in Korean
Hangul writes sound, not spelling. A Korean explains how to spell your name in the Korean alphabet by ear — syllables, vowels, 받침, and where it's used.
July 27, 2026TravelKorea Power Outlets: Voltage and Adapters by Country
Korea runs 220V, Type C/F plugs. What adapter to pack from the US, UK, Europe, or Australia — and where to buy one cheap if you forget.
July 23, 2026TravelTipping in Korea: Do You Tip, and What to Do Instead
No, Korea has no tipping culture — the price is the price. Here's where money still changes hands, why tipping backfires, and what Koreans do instead.
July 23, 2026LanguageKorean Age Explained: Why You're Older in Korea
Korea switched to international age in 2023, yet people still ask your birth year. A Seoul resident on where the system came from and how age works.
July 22, 2026LifeKorean Food Delivery: A Foreigner's Order Guide
How to order from Baemin, Coupang Eats, and Shuttle in Korea with a foreign card — real 2026 fees, address entry, and the Korean words on every screen.
July 22, 2026LanguageKorean Shows on Netflix That Actually Teach Korean
A Seoul local on which Netflix shows teach usable Korean, why they work, and the 3-pass subtitle method that turns binge-watching into study.
July 22, 2026TravelGoogle Maps Doesn't Work in Korea: What to Use
Google Maps has no walking or driving directions in Korea. A Seoul resident compares Naver Map and KakaoMap by task, plus the search trick you need.
July 22, 2026LanguageRead Hangul in a Day: Learn the Korean Alphabet
Hangul was engineered to be learnable in hours. A Seoul resident teaches the whole 24-letter system so you can sound out real signs by tonight.
July 22, 2026TravelT-money Card in Korea: How to Buy, Load, and Refund It
Exact 2026 fares, where to buy and reload, how refunds actually work, and when a foreign card or WOWPASS beats T-money — from someone who taps in daily.
July 22, 2026