South Korea Packing List

A few people have written to me and asked what I think they should bring to Korea and while my guide is not complete by any means, I do hope that it helps you in some way.  

First things you should know: 

1. Korea has 4 distinct seasons and you should be prepared for this (mentally and physically)
2. Korea is not a third world country.  You can get almost everything you possibly desire here, if just at a slight cost markup.  

Clothing

• Summer:
• shorts/skirts
• t-shirts
• tank-tops (Koreans don't really wear tank-tops very much because they are very upper-body conscious and some people think it's rude to show your shoulders, but if nothing else, bring a few as layering wear)
• swimsuit (Koreans don't wear bikinis to the beach.  They swim and lounge in regular clothing.  It's ok to bring a bikini but if you want to swim at the pool in your gym, you really ought to have a one-piece bathing suit.) 
• rain jacket (summer is the rainy season)
• Fall & Spring 
• jeans (1 nice to wear to work and 1 for hanging around)
• slacks or khakis for work 
• long-sleeved tees 
• light sweater
• medium jacket  
• Winter 
• a really thick and warm jacket (or you can just buy one here if you need to save the space in your suitcase.  This jacket will be your bible and you will use it everyday for months)
• hat, scarf, gloves (you can really buy all this here but if you want to bring it, that's cool too)
• heavier sweaters or fleece 

Shoes :

• running shoes/sneakers
• everyday flats/shoes
• winter boots
• 1 pair of high heels 
• 1 going-out pair of boots
• sandals
• your favorite pair of slippers

(As a note: at most schools you are required to use indoor shoes.  Some hagwons don't implement this rule but all public schools do.  Mine are just simple black ballet flat shoes.  It doesn't matter what kind you wear.  I have seen teachers wear high heels and I have seen teachers wear sandals or even slippers)

(A further note on shoes:  Koreans have small feet.  If you have large feet or even normal-sized feet, don't expect to find shoes easily.  I wear a women's US size 8, which I think of as average, but is monstrously large here.  I can't ever buy shoes in the subway stations, but Home Plus, E-Mart, and ABC Mart always carry my size, Korean 250).    

Accessories:

• sheets for a twin size bed (Koreans don't really use sheets!) 
• an alarm clock (or you could just buy it here)
• tampons (they are becoming more common, but if you are in a rural place, you might want to stock up.  Koreans mostly just use pads so don't bring those)
• toothpaste (Personally, I don't really mind the Korean toothpaste but some people think it's gross so if you think you might care, bring some.  Yes, you can buy Crest or Colgate but it's a bit more expensive.) 
• books & movies 
• laptop and camera (some people say that you should buy this stuff in Korea because being so close to China it's gotta be cheaper.  Lies, I tell you.  The US/Canada is way cheaper.  Apple products are the same price though.) 
• DayQuil/Nyquil (going to the doctor is really easy here and so is going to the pharmacy to pick up some pills for that head cold the doctor can't help with but if you're like, you like the comfort of DayQuil when you have a cold even if you're not convinced it works in the first place.  Don't bother bringing asprin or other meds, it's all here.) 
• photos of friends and family 
• a razor with the refills.  (You can buy the Venus at Home Plus supermarket but eh, just bring one along anyway) 
• deodorant (this is also becoming more common these days because of all the foreigners but you might as well just pack it in it you've got room) 
• your Costco membership.  We <3 Costco here.  

Things you DON'T need to bring: 

• um, like almost all of this list.  Seriously, you can buy anything you want here. 
• those little converter things (see picture).  They are so cheap here.  
• umbrella (buy it here; be like the Koreans and use it/love it for sun, snow and rain)
• cheap jewelry (Korea is cheap jewelry heaven)
• cheap socks with cute little designs on them (Korea is also sock heaven)

Random Things I'm Glad I packed:

• canvas shopping bag (I just like mine and it's better quality than some others out there)
• um... nothing really. 

*** This list may be amended at any time.  If you have some suggestions/advice please leave a comment in the blog and I'll try to fix my list ***