Things to know before moving to Korea from the UK

Some links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you purchase something through my links I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you. See my disclaimer.

There are plenty of things you should know before moving to Korea. For starters, Korea is mainly known around the world for a few things that they have practically perfected: amazing skincare routines, K-POP, K-Dramas, and highly popular food.

But no matter how much you think you know about a country through the media, you’ll never get the complete picture until you actually head there and see it for yourself. You’ll also have a completely different experience as a tourist compared to actively living there.

And I’ll be honest, there were a lot of things that took me by surprise when I moved to Korea as an expat that I wish I had known before arriving. Some were great. Some were frustrating. And some I genuinely wish I’d been better prepared for before arriving.

That’s exactly why I am writing this post. To share with you my personal experiences of moving to Korea from the UK, and highlight many of the things you should likely be aware of if you’re also planning a move to Korea.

If you’re planning a Korean Working Holiday visa, or even just considering a long-term life here, this guide will walk you through the real differences between South Korea and the Western world, so your transition is smoother and not too overwhelming.

If you’re still in the planning stage, Start here: How to apply for a Korean working holiday visa.

Country:	South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Currency:	South Korean Won / KRW
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

---

Things to know before moving to Korea: Food

A lot of food is spicy – More Than You Expect

One thing to know about Korea is that spicy food is very common here. Having not experienced much Korean food before arriving in Korea, I was surprised to see that it was significantly spicier than Thai food. I actually thought I had a decent spice tolerance, turns out I didn’t.

I find Korean to be much spicier than Thai food, which at times can be a struggle if you grew up never eating spicy cuisine at home. Korean food often goes beyond “spicy” into a deeper, lingering spice level that builds over time. If you’re not used to it, it can be a genuine adjustment, especially when many of the everyday dishes include chilli paste, flakes or sauces by default.

Pro Tip: If you are spice sensitive, start introducing spicy food into your routine before you head to Korea. It sounds silly, but it will make your daily life here much easier when eating out is unavoidable.

They also love sweet food

I love sugar as much as the next person (just take a look at the amazing cafes I visited in Busan), but Koreans love to add sugar to foods we wouldn’t have at home.

Sweet garlic bread. Honey-drizzled and sugar fries. Sugary sauces on otherwise savoury dishes. The first time a dish like this arrived at my table in a bar with friends, I was genuinely surprised.

For a nation that is known for its high spice levels, they sure like to balance out their palette with the sweet stuff. If you’re expecting your breads and potato dishes to taste remotely similar to how they do at home, think again. You’ll often get the complete opposite instead.

Most Meals Are Designed To Be shared

In most Western countries, you go to a restaurant, and everyone orders their own individual dish. In Korea, most restaurants will allow you to order one dish for the table that everyone shares.

Many restaurants are designed around shared meals, where one or two large plates or dishes are split amongst an entire table – something that isn’t very common back home. Korean BBQ is one example of this, with a grill in the middle of the table, and shared meats and vegetables cooked in front of you. Hot pots, stews and soups work the same way, and even Korea’s famous fried chicken dishes are rarely sold in one-person portions.

This can feel awkward if you’re used to ordering individually, but it is a core part of social dining with friends and acquaintances here. This can be a great way to build friendships and really integrate into the local lifestyle.

The flat, metal chopsticks Will Humble You

If you grew up in the Western world without chopsticks, then I’d highly advise practising now. Even if you do know how to use them, Korea decided to use the most difficult variation of them: flat, metal chopsticks that are unforgiving with rice or noodles.

My family never ate food that required chopsticks growing up, and I didn’t learn to use them until visiting Thailand in 2015 at 22 years old. By the time I travelled the world and moved to Korea, I thought I was confident with chopsticks, that is, until I tried to use the Korean variation for the first time. To say it took me a while to complete most meals is an understatement.

When compared to other Asian countries that use chopsticks, you’ll find that the flat metal ones used in Korea take some practice. The food slides off due to the metal having absolutely no grip, and they’re more uncomfortable to hold due to being flat instead of rounded.

You will adapt eventually, but you’ll likely find them harder to use than rounded or wooden variations used elsewhere around the world.

---

Things to Know Before Moving To Korea: Cultural Differences & Xenophobia

Housing Discrimination Against Foreigners is Common

It’s not unusual for landlords and property managers to advertise a property, agree it’s available, and then change their mind as soon as they realise the potential tenant is foreign. In many cases, listings will explicitly say “Korean’s only” even if everything else about you, income, visa, and references is suitable.

This isn’t personal, and it isn’t illegal in the same way it would be in the UK. It is usually driven by the fear of language barriers, perceived cultural differences, or concerns about foreigners leaving the country suddenly and not being able to continue paying for a lease.

Still, it can be frustrating and demoralising if you’re not prepared for it. This is one of the most important things to know before moving to South Korea, especially if you’re expecting the same anti-discrimination norms you’d find in the UK.

Public Reactions Can Feel Uncomfortable

Something that shocked me, that might surprise you too – the behaviour of people on public transport.

It’s not uncommon for locals to move to a new seat if a foreigner sits next to them, to leave an empty seat next to a foreigner, even if it’s the only seat remaining and for locals to avoid eye contact with foreigners completely. When you’re unfamiliar with behaviour like this, it can feel personal, even when it isn’t. In reality, it is driven by discomfort, unfamiliarity, or fear of communication rather than hatred or direct hostility.

That said, it can still affect you, and pretending like it doesn’t doesn’t help anyone. Understanding this before arriving in Korea can help lessen these effects and help you understand it really isn’t about you in particular, and helps to redirect the issue as cultural rather than self blame.

You Will Always Be Seen As A Foreigner

No matter how long you live in Korea, how well you speak the local Korean language, or how well integrated into the local culture you become, many locals will only ever view you as an outsider. This may not seem obvious at first, but it shows up in multiple ways, such as being stared at in public, being avoided or ignored, and being treated like a temporary presence.

For some people, this is easy to brush off and ignore, but it’s not as easy for others. It can build slowly over time, and feeling like a constant outsider can take its toll and make you feel unwelcome. Neither reaction is wrong, but it is worth mentally preparing for before arrival.

---

Things to know before moving to Korea: Clothing

Clothing Sizes Run Small, and Availability Is Limited

Now, this one I had heard about before arriving, but I still didn’t realise how hard it would be to find clothes here. Generally speaking, Koreans are on average smaller in comparison to people in Western countries. In the UK, I am a size 8/S (6 in US/CAN).

In some stores in Korea, I am deemed “large and XL” in clothing sizes. That’s not to say I can’t find any clothes here, but those sizes are less readily available than small or medium. Many foreigners who don’t fit the Korean sizing standard order their clothes online rather than find them in the local stores while living here.

Clothing lengths Are Shorter Too

Not only are the general sizes smaller when it comes to clothing, but the length of them is affected, too. I’m a tall girl between 5ft 8 and 5ft 9, so I’ve often felt tall compared to the average woman in the UK, so it was no surprise that I would feel like a giant compared to the average Korean woman.

Coming to Korea, where much of the population is shorter than the UK average, finding full-length trousers or shirts feels impossible unless you go to specialist stores. Sleeves, tops, dresses and shorts tend to be shorter than the western equivalents.

If you are tall, prepare for compromises during your stay here, or plan to shop online to find things that fit correctly.

Fashion Rules Are Inverted

One huge fashion difference included in things I wish I knew before moving to Korea is how modesty works here compared to back home. Many foreigners use the phrase “breasts are out, butts are in”.

What I mean by this is that you will rarely find a woman wearing a low-cut top or showing much cleavage. Breasts seem to be deemed too sexualised to be put on show; however, there is never too much butt on show here. And believe me, that is not an exaggeration. It’s common to see high-neck tops paired with skirts so short, they’d be unthinkable in most Western countries.

To walk down the street and be able to see Korean women’s entire butt cheeks in the middle of the day poking out from under their skirts was certainly not what I had expected. It’s not right or wrong, just different. But if you don’t know this before arriving, it can feel confusing and contradictory.

The only fashion rule of a similar nature I have heard people use in any of the western countries I’ve lived in (UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) is “either show cleavage or legs but never both”, but this isn’t a rule that is strictly followed, more of a suggestion.

---

Things to know before moving to Korea: Housing

Upfront rental deposits are shockingly High

Having rented a home in multiple countries, I have seen the big differences in renting in each place. One of the biggest differences in Korea is its deposit system. When you rent a room or property, you need to pay a large deposit (similar to a security deposit), translated to “key money”.

Although that doesn’t seem too different from home, the deposit amount is the most surprising. In Korea, it is normal to put down a £5000 or £10,000 deposit before starting a lease. This is almost on the same level as a low-end down payment for a mortgage back home!

The system works like this:

• Higher deposit = lower monthly rent
• Lower deposit = higher monthly rent

Whatever option you choose, you’re supposed to get your deposit back when you move out, but you need serious savings to access better housing options.

You can’t prepare too far ahead

Koreans don’t tend to advertise rentals very far in advance. This means that you should only start looking at the market when you are ready to actually move in. Unlike in the UK or Australia, where rentals start advertising a few months before the proposed move-in date, everything is much more last-minute in Korea. This can feel very stressful when you are not used to it.

On the plus side, this means there is less competition as each ad is only available for a short time and is only seen by a small group of people. However, on the downside, it means you need to be ready to move in ASAP when you find a place you like. This alone can be hard to navigate around work hours.

This is a fine system for people who are quick to make decisions on the spot, but horrible for indecisive people and those who need time to mentally and physically prepare for big steps.

Studio apartments are everywhere

If you’re moving here on a budget, then you might consider staying in cheap and affordable accommodation until you have a job lined up. Goshiwans are a popular choice for newcomers and students to the country, and they’re known as student accommodations off-campus. Even if you are not a student, you can often arrange short or long-term rentals in a goshiwan after arrival.

They are essentially small studio apartments with everything you would need to live in long term, you just shouldn’t expect a large space when moving into a goshiwan. They’re small, affordable studio-style rooms which are practical rather than glamorous. These accommodations don’t need large deposits, so they’re a good place to start.

You’ll probably need a water filter

The water in Korea is very hard and full of minerals. Technically, it is safe to drink and won’t make you sick; however, because of the minerals, most people drink bottled or filtered water instead. The minerals also affect you in the shower and can cause your hair to get thin and fall out.

If you stay in a hotel, for example, most showers already have built-in filters for you to take advantage of. However, if you plan on getting your own accommodation on a lease, you will likely need to buy your own shower head filter, which helps soften the water flow. This will help to protect your hair in the long term during your stay here.

---

Things to Know Before Moving To Korea: Safety & Crime

CCTV is Everywhere

South Korea is one of the most heavily monitored countries in the world. CCTV cameras are present in the streets, apartment buildings, lifts, convenience stores, transport hubs, and residential areas. This constant surveillance plays a major role in discouraging theft and low-level crime.

As a result, many people report rarely worrying about stolen bags, phones, or unattended belongings. Lost items are often recovered, and it’s common to see people leaving laptops or wallets on cafe tables without concern. For everyday personal property, Korea feels very safe, which is a stark contrast to the UK, where theft is a common concern.

A High-Trust Society With Important Blind Spots

Public safety in Korea is built on a social expectation and monitoring rather than confrontation. Violent street crime is uncommon, and many newcomers feel safe walking alone at night, even in the major cities.

However, this sense of safety can be misleading. While theft and assault are rare, certain crimes, including sexual and privacy-based offences, are significantly underreported and structurally different from what many foreigners expect.

Sexually-Based Crimes: A Real & Documented Issue

Sexual crimes in Korea often take the form of non-violent but invasive acts, including drink spiking, illegal photography, and the use of hidden cameras in public and private spaces. These issues are widely acknowledged domestically, which is why warnings and prevention posters appear in public bathrooms, subways, universities, and workplaces.

Illegal filming is common enough that many public restrooms display instructions on how to check for hidden cameras. Police have also distributed personal camera-detection cards to residents and visitors as a preventative measure. These cards are small enough to fit in a standard wallet or purse and can be used with your phone for peace of mind.

This will definitely be rated as one of the most important things to know before moving to South Korea, having experienced much of this first-hand, and wanting my readers to be better equipped than I was.

---

Things to know before moving to Korea: Communication

You should learn some basic phrases

Although many Koreans do understand English, it is definitely helpful for you to learn some basic phrases at the bare minimum. Being able to greet people, apologise, thank them and ask for directions in Korean, you’ll be able to get by easily.

If you want to go a step further and learn to read the language, there are a few apps that can help you. I used Duolingo to start with until I found I had hit a plateau. Then I found Preply and found that it was much more useful being matched with a native speaker who could teach me useful phrases, sentences and general mannerisms to successfully communicate with the locals.

I have personally used this site for help in multiple countries (including getting to a conversational level with Japanese). To help my readers, with my link you can get 30% off your first trial lesson with a Preply tutor.

Koreans are often shy About Speaking English

Many older generations didn’t start learning English as a second language until they were much older. The younger generations, however, start learning as young as 3 and 4, but still lack confidence.

When I worked in a language exchange, I would meet people with almost fluent English language skills, but they’d always disagree with me if I said their English proficiency was great. This is humility, and due to their fear of making mistakes.

When it comes to speaking English, many locals can understand foreign travellers communicating in English easily, but due to being humble and sometimes too shy to speak it back, it can inadvertently come across as rude and unwilling to reply.

Google Translate Isn’t Your Best Option

If you can’t read or speak Korean, I would highly advise downloading some Korean apps before you arrive. Google Translate doesn’t always give the most accurate translation, so I would recommend using Naver Papago instead.

Since there are no direct or exact translations between English and Korean, it can be tricky to understand menus and directions if you have to rely solely on the apps. Sometimes the apps will give you sentences and phrases that make no sense in the context you’re expecting. If you have the time to learn some languages before

The entire Country Runs on Naver & KakaoTalk

Naver can be comparable to Google with maps, business reviews, and internet searches. This means if you want to find things online while in Korea, Naver is your best bet to find accurate listings and information. Although Google can get you by, it often misses thousands of businesses that simply never uploaded their information to the platform.

KakaoTalk, on the other hand, is the primary messaging app in South Korea. Connected to people’s payment apps, it is similar to WhatsApp with a lot of extra features. It’s not enough to just have a phone number while living in Korea; you’d be expected to connect to KakaoTalk for all your communication needs with local friends, landlords, businesses, your boss and even delivery drivers.

I had to download the Korean keyboard to my phone and use the translation app Naver Papago to get by, even when explaining to people that I was unable to read or speak the language fluently.

Your Name Will Make It Hard To Make Purchases Online

This is one of the most convenient things to know before moving to Korea, but there isn’t much you can do to change it. Unless you have a Korean name in hangul characters, your name will be rejected on many Korean websites and banking apps.

Latin names are longer, don’t fit on local bank cards, so most purchases I needed to make online, I had to go into the bank in person to get them to complete transactions on my behalf – all because my legal name was longer than the characters allowed on a bank card, which meant my name on the card didn;t match the name on the bank account itself.

---

Things to Know Before Moving To Korea: Work Culture

Hierarchy Matters More Than In The UK

One thing to be aware of before moving is how hierarchical workplaces are in Korea. It really matters what somebody’s age, job title, and seniority level are when it comes to influencing communication and decision-making.

In the UK, many people have no problem questioning authority openly; however, in Korea, that can be viewed extremely negatively. This can be a difficult transition if you are used to being able to have conversations or offer opinions on workplace matters and policies at home, as it can bite you in the butt if you even consider it in a Korean workplace.

Overtime is Often Expected

In many Korean workplaces, staying late is seen as a sign of commitment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to do overtime when my team and company require it, but coming from the UK, where overtime is optional and not mandatory, it was hard to adjust to being expected to work longer than my scheduled hours on an almost daily basis.

Even when work is finished, employees may feel pressure to remain until their manager leaves. This can be a shock to those who are used to clearer work-life boundaries. What’s also interesting about overtime in Korea is that, depending on the company, and depending on how many hours outside of the standard working hours you work, you may not get the benefits of “overtime pay” since it is expected.

Socialising is Part of the Job

In the UK, it is common for businesses to take their teams out for food and drinks for celebrations once or twice per year. In Korea, this happens more frequently. After work, meals and drinking sessions are often treated as work-related obligations.

Although not mandatory, the difference here is that repeatedly declining can affect workplace relationships and give the impression that you do not care about your position. Understanding this ahead of time helps you navigate the expectations without causing unnecessary conflict, by unknowingly leading your boss to believe you don’t like working with them.

---

Things To Know Before Moving To Korea: Dating

Dating culture is slower and more traditional

Having dated in the UK, Canada, USA & Australia, I noticed that those 4 countries are all similar in their dating culture. In Korea, dating is a completely different world. It is much less common for people to indulge in “hook-up” culture and instead take it much slower than those in the West. For example, many locals have said that it’s normal not to hold hands until after weeks of dating, let alone anything any more intimate than that.

It is completely normal for two people to date for a year or more before their partner ever meets their family or friends here. Whereas in the West, friends are normally introduced to your partner much sooner after you’ve established a relationship. Typically, Korean people will only introduce a partner to their family if they intend to marry that person.

There is no “getting to know one another” phase

Considering the differences in dating we have already spoken about, one thing I found very different to dating in the West is that in Korea, a couple will start a relationship from the 1st date. In the West however, people usually go on a few dates, spend a few weeks or months getting to know a person before deciding if a relationship is something they want together.

Koreans don’t treat relationships the same way. Culturally, they are more likely to hop from one relationship to another, because they use the time INSIDE the relationship to decide if they want to be together.

This can take some getting used to if, like me, you don’t want it to be assumed you’re in a committed relationship from the first meeting with a person. This is where clear communication and compromise is important between individuals.

Dating apps are used differently

In the West, Tinder, Bumble & Hinge are all used regularly when people dive into the dating scene. In Korea, however, they are mostly used by locals just for hook-ups instead of active dating. If you’re wondering how locals find potential partners, though, it’s often through their friends setting them up with potential interests instead of using online apps.

So, if you happen to be a foreigner who’d like to experience actual dating with a Korean, you’d be best trying to make some friends with the locals in the first instance, so they can introduce you to eligible bachelors or bachelorettes. If you’re not looking for anything serious, then you can certainly continue to use the dating apps you know from home.

The “Hollywood effect” is real, and uncomfortable

Koreans who have never lived abroad only have the media to show them what life is like in other countries. This means Hollywood movies and popular Western TV shows are all they have to go by. This, plus the differences in culture between Korea and the Western world, has created a false stereotype that Western women are more sexually available. As a result, some men actively fetishise foreigners or pursue them purely for novelty.

This is not an “all men” situation, but it happens often enough that you should be aware of it before arriving.

---

Summary of things to know before moving to Korea

As with any country, it is always worth doing your research before you make the move so you can avoid extreme culture shock. When you have an idea of the main differences, it can help mentally prepare you so you have fewer surprises.

My main goal is to help you have a smoother transition into your new life in South Korea, so hopefully, this list of things to know before moving is that first step.