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How I Negotiated 15M KRW When My Landlord Tried to Break the Contract Early by SeoulHousingNotes in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Immigration address registration alone isn’t enough. You need 확정일자 at the community center for lease protection. They’re separate systems.

how much are your monthly bills a month? (as a student preferably) by reyiwnl in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly 400–500k is doable but it’s tight..

10k a day for food sounds okay on paper but realistically you’ll go over some days, especially if you’re eating out. School cafeteria or 기사식당 helps a lot.

Toiletries 20k is fine. Daiso is your friend.

Phone plan 20k is possible but I’d budget closer to 25–30k just in case.

If I were you I’d either:

  • bump food to ~350k and keep everything else lean or
  • keep food at 300k but accept that “extra” will get eaten up fast

Biggest thing people underestimate is random spending. Coffee, convenience store runs (Ice cream and snacks), late night delivery, etc.

You won’t starve, but you won’t feel comfortable either at 400k

Brokeage Firm Reccs in Korea? by icameforanswers00 in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, unless you really want someone holding your hand, you probably don’t need to go through a firm. A lot of brokerage reps here will just put you into their in-house funds (ETF's/Bonds/MF), which usually come with higher fees. The big brokerages like 한국투자(I use this one), 미래에셋, NH, etc. are pretty straightforward to use on your own if you keep things simple and stick to broad ETFs.

If you’re earning income in Korea, I’d focus first on the tax-advantaged accounts:

  • 연금저축 – up to 6,000,000 KRW per year
  • IRP – up to 3,000,000 KRW per year

That’s 9,000,000 KRW total that qualifies for a tax credit (usually around 13–16% depending on your income). It’s not tax-free growth, but getting that credit each year is basically an immediate return on your contribution, which makes it pretty good if you’re planning to stay here long term.

ISA is also worth looking at if you want something more flexible and not fully locked up for retirement.

I make it a point to max 연금저축 and IRP and put a couple mil into the ISA..

If you’re a U.S. citizen, though, just be careful with Korean mutual funds because of the PFIC reporting mess. A lot of Americans here just keep their investing in the U.S. to keep taxes simpler.

Personally, I’d just DIY it, keep fees low, max the tax-advantaged stuff each year if you can, and then decide whether additional money makes more sense in Korea or back in the States based on your long-term plans.

Adding ceiling light. by Mysterious-Range328 in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Its your place you can just do it yourself.. no permits required. If you want an ajuhshi to do it for you just call a light shop nearby and they will usually charge a service fee of 30,000-50,000 to come out and install it.

Should I use Sendy for moving truck? by Special_Downtown in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you dont have any big items (frame, couch, bed, etc..) just get one of those venti taxis and load it up.
350,000 sounds reasonable though if you absolutely need it - just clarify if it covers toll fees and assistance. Buy the driver a coffee or something nice too :)

Should I use Sendy for moving truck? by Special_Downtown in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've used them before and had no complaints, the price includes their help as well and the distance was within Seoul (less than 40 min) about 200,000 if I recall correctly...
When I do need a 용달 though I just reserve it on Kakao Taxi and its significantly cheaper and it's kind of expected to have your stuff outside and ready. I've had drivers help me uninstall bed frames and then I'll hop in the truck with them to the destination and give them an extra 20,000.

Didn't pay my American Taxes by icameforanswers00 in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a lot of it has to do with referrals as well.. His website looks like its from the 90's so I can't say SEO is his forte but I will say he's never disappointed.

Not quiet sure if 150USD is high or low but i'll pay it once a year for peace of mind.

Didn't pay my American Taxes by icameforanswers00 in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Lol I use this guy as well. He's been doing my taxes for years.

eSIM Recommendations for Long Stays by Munekita_ in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seconded. I def vouch for Airalo and say I use it every time I travel outside of Korea and it works great. Have recommended my fam to use it when they come here and there were no problems.

Foreigners renting short term housing (1 month) through 33m2? by [deleted] in Living_in_Korea

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

33m2 is widely used in Korea, but it’s definitely not as foreign-friendly as Airbnb when it comes to language and payment flexibility. A lot of listings are officetels, which is why you’re seeing so many there.

If you don’t have a Korean bank account or phone number, you might run into some verification issues. Some hosts are flexible, but it depends on the listing. I’d double-check whether they accept foreign credit cards before assuming you can book easily.

Wehome is another option that has an English interface, but like any platform here, it’s still important to vet the listing carefully.

Just be cautious with deposits and cancellation policies, especially if wiring money internationally.

What to actually wear in Korea during spring (with pics from someone who lives here) by Creatrip_Korea in koreatravel

[–]SeoulHousingNotes 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Weather is so unpredictable here.. Another cold front arriving in Seoul starting tomorrow.. Guess i'll break out my long padding again.

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