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- One of the first things you¡¯ll likely need in
Korea is a mobile phone. Phones are fairly cheap
(from $0 ~ 200) and can be obtained
by simply providing a valid alien registration card.
If you decide not to go the cell phone
route, you can find public pay phones everywhere.
And remember, whether you¡¯re calling
from a cell phone or pay phone, the emergency number
in
Korea is 119. |
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- Korea¡¯s government-run health insurance is both
reliable and extremely affordable.
Your school will pay for 50% of your
monthly insurance, and you will cover the other
half.
Hospitals are easy to find, and in most
cases, an English-speaking doctor will quickly see
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- Korea is one of the most wired countries on
earth. As such, obtaining a high-speed Internet
connection is only a phone call away.
The average cost for the fastest connection is around
thirty dollars a month. |
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- Need to send something home? You can find a
post office in almost every neighborhood, and
sending/receiving is done just like it is in your
home country. |
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- Getting around in Korea is no problem at all.
Seoul has one of the world¡¯s best public
transportation systems, featuring ¡®hubs¡¯ where you
can take express buses to any major city
within Korea, and a subway system that is fast and
easy to use. Most foreigners master the
transportation system within about a month of use,
made easier by the fact that all signs are
in English. Also, you can use an electronic rechargeable
transportation pass so that you¡¯ll never
have to worry about using cash. Beyond simple convenience,
this will allow to you to benefit from
discounted rates, as well. |
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- If you¡¯re wondering how to use your vacation
time, consider taking advantage of Korea¡¯s close
proximity to exotic locales such as Thailand, Japan,
China, The Philippines, or Vietnam.
Buses to Incheon International can be found in every
neighborhood in Seoul and other cities,
ensuring you¡¯ll get to the airport quickly and comfortably.
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- Feel like exploring all corners of Korea? The
excellent train system will take you anywhere you
want to go quickly and at minimal cost. When in
a hurry, just jump in a taxi and the friendly
driver will drop you off at the doorstep of your
destination in no time. |
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With all the money you¡¯ll save while working
in Korea, you¡¯ll most likely want to send or invest
some of it back home. Doing this is easy. you can set
up a Korean bank account,
and then your bank can help you to electronically transfer
money to your home bank account.
This can all be done in a matter of minutes - all it takes
is a quick walk to the local bank.
Or, if you¡¯re more comfortable with wiring your money
via companies such as Western Union,
you also have that option. Current conversion rates can
be found at http://www.xe.com. |
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Korea has a truly diverse culture. You¡¯ll
find that it¡¯s a mix of the ancient and the modern.
As advanced as Korea has become, it still retains a history
that stretches back thousands of years.
Exquisite ancient palaces, monuments, and temples remain
preserved, and you¡¯ll find that these
are right around the corner from your favorite shopping
centers.
In addition, holidays and festivals hold a very special
place in the hearts and minds of Korean
citizens, and they will no doubt be fun-filled occasions
for you as well! |
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One of the reasons you likely chose Korea
was because you¡¯re interested in its language and
culture. If that¡¯s the case, why not use your time here
to learn Korean?
Almost every major university offers Korean language classes
for foreigners. Are you interested in
furthering your studies by obtaining a Masters, Doctorate,
or PhD? Your stay in Korea could provide
a perfect chance to pursue these goals, especially with
the extra time and money you¡¯ll have. |
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Korea and its people are all about having
fun, and as such, there are endless ways to spend your
free time. If you¡¯re the nature-loving type, Korea abounds
with hills and forests that you can lose yourself in.
If you¡¯re a night owl, then you¡¯ll feel right at home
here - most bustling city centers really come to life
after 1 AM, and the excitement lasts until morning. Koreans play as hard as
they work! Sing your heart out at a karaoke room, enjoy
midnight shopping and dining, spend a quiet evening at
a bookstore, or check out the latest movie at the local
multiplex - your choices are truly endless. |
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When you arrive in Korea, you¡¯ll find yourself
pleasantly surprised at how economical things are.
Food is cheaper than what you¡¯re used to: a full, well-prepared
meal will usually cost you under
5,000 KRW, which is around 5 USD. Hair salons that offer
high quality styling are also affordably
priced, with men¡¯s cuts in the vicinity of 10,000 KRW,
which equates to 10 USD. Best of all, public
transportation is cheap, reliable, and accessible everywhere.
Beyond that, groceries and other everyday goods can be
obtained at around the same prices that
you¡¯re used to. In short, working in Korea will definitely
help you to cut costs and save money.
Current currency conversions can be found at http://www.xe.com. |
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The climate of Korea is characterized by
four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Spring and fall feature extremely comfortable weather,
and are generally the most favored
seasons. Summer can be quite warm with a fair amount of
precipitation, and winter is generally
cold with some mild, infrequent snowfall. |
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