Your First Week in Korea: A Day-by-Day Survival Guide

Bring $500-1,000 USD in cash to cover your first 1-2 weeks before your bank account and first paycheck are set up. Exchange at the airport or at currency exchange shops in areas like Myeongdong (slightly better rates). You can also withdraw KRW from Global ATMs at the airport and convenience stores.

Most schools pay monthly on a set date (commonly the 10th or 25th). If you arrive mid-month, your first paycheck may be partial or you may wait until the next pay date. Ask your school about the pay schedule and plan to have enough cash for 3-4 weeks of living expenses.

No. You can navigate the first week with zero Korean using Papago (translation app), Naver Map (in English), and pointing/gesturing. However, learning basic phrases makes everything smoother: 안녕하세요 (hello), 감사합니다 (thank you), 이거 주세요 (this one please), and 영어 가능하세요? (do you speak English?). Most younger Koreans speak some English.

Desk warming refers to sitting at your desk during school vacation periods when there are no classes to teach. It is common at public schools (EPIK). You are expected to be present during regular working hours even without classes. Use this time for lesson planning, studying Korean, or professional development. Some schools are flexible and may allow you to take vacation days during these periods.