Hello Hanguk

A couple of months back, I was helping a friend figure out when to visit Seoul, and we kept running into the same problem: some weeks looked perfect on paper until we realized half the country would be traveling at the exact same time. She'd picked early May without knowing it was smack in the middle of what locals sometimes call "golden week"—a stretch when multiple holidays bunch together, turning a normal trip into a logistical puzzle. That experience reminded me how much Korea's holiday calendar matters if you're planning travel here, whether you're visiting or living locally. The rhythm of public holidays shapes everything from hotel prices to highway traffic, and understanding "bridge days"—those strategic extra days off that create longer breaks—can mean the difference between a relaxed trip and fighting crowds everywhere you go. What surprised me most was how Korea's substitute holiday system works differently than what I...

I moved to Seoul last year to work remotely for a U.S.-based tech company, and one of the first things I researched—probably obsessively—was whether Korea's infrastructure could actually support the kind of always-on work life I was used to. My previous setup in the States had its share of hiccups: occasional router resets, neighborhood outages during storms, and that one time my VPN decided to quit mid-presentation. What surprised me most wasn't just how fast the internet is here (though yes, it's ridiculously fast), but how differently Koreans approach connectivity, backup plans, and even the little things like where you plug in during a typhoon. If you're planning to work remotely from Korea—or you're already here and wondering why your neighbor has three routers—this is what I've learned about staying online, using VPNs without paranoia, and what to do when the power actually does go out. Table of Contents The Internet Speed Reality: Is ...

  Last winter, I met a designer in Hongdae who had been freelancing for eight months without knowing she needed to keep her bank statements organized for tax season. She'd been receiving payments with "3.3% deducted" in the transaction notes but had no idea what that meant or whether she needed to do anything about it. When May rolled around and someone mentioned comprehensive income tax filing, she panicked. If you're freelancing in Korea—or thinking about starting—you've probably heard about the mysterious "3.3%" that gets deducted from your payments. You might wonder whether you need to issue invoices, how to prove your income, or what role your bank statements actually play. The Korean system for freelance work is straightforward once you understand it, but it operates differently from employment, and the terminology can feel confusing at first. This guide walks through the practical side of freelancing in Korea: what the 3.3% withholding t...

  A few months ago, a friend of mine—a teacher living in Busan—ran into a problem with her apartment deposit. The landlord kept making excuses about returning the money, and she realized she had no idea where to even start looking for legal advice in English. She wasn't sure if she needed a lawyer, what documents to gather, or whether the process would be affordable. That moment of helplessness stuck with me because it's surprisingly common among expats here. Korea has a well-developed legal system, but navigating it in a second language—especially when you're unfamiliar with local norms—can feel overwhelming. The good news is that there are more English-accessible legal resources than most people realize. Some are free, some are low-cost, and some are worth paying for when the situation demands it. What matters most is knowing where to look and what to bring when you get there. This guide walks through the practical steps: which organizations offer English s...