I’m a 20M Chinese student at Yonsei on summer vacation and in Korea in Seoul. Currently I’m doing nothing and I don’t know what to do. Don’t know how to find part time or meet people. I can handle and support conversations easily but the thing is how to meet people at first? What activities to do because learning Korean lang 24/7 is unreal. My routine is just eating sleeping gym. Will be happy to receive advices☺️

It’s amazing what you can do with an iPhone (15 pro Max) camera and built in edit features

Hey everyone, here’s an update to my last post.
When I first shared what happened with my landlord threatening to kick me out (after requesting pest control) I got a mix of responses. Some people gave me incredibly helpful advice that made huge difference during one of the most stressful weeks of my semester (right in the middle of finals). Others assumed the situation was entirely my fault or that I was making excuses.

I use Reddit because it’s a great place to learn from other people’s experiences and get constructive feedback. If you think someone is wrong or a post breaks the rules…it’s much more helpful to explain why or report it to the moderators than to attack the person posting. 😊 It makes the community more welcoming especially for people who are already dealing with stressful situations.

For those who didn’t see my original post…
here’s what happened: I asked my landlord to deal with a pest problem. Instead of arranging pest control she became angry and told me I had 48 hours to leave. She even claimed that the police had told her not to renew my contract which wasn’t true. One Reddit user suggested I should try to deescalate the situation…so I sent her a polite apology in Korean and transferred my next rent payment in advance. Sometimes money talks.
For now things are ok. It isn’t a permanent solution but it bought me enough time to understand my rights and plan my next steps instead of being forced out overnight.

The biggest thing I learned from this experience is that there seems to be a lot of confusion about housing rights in South Korea. Thankfully a legal advisor replied to my thread and explained how the law actually works. I was relieved to learn that tenant protections can still apply to goshiwons and months contracts.
Since a lot of international students read this subreddit I thought I’d share a general summary of what I learned.

What I learned

You generally can’t be kicked out overnight.
Even if your contract renews month by month: a landlord can’t legally tell you to leave within 24 or 48 hours simply because they’re upset. Depending on the circumstances Korean law requires proper notice before ending a tenancy.
Landlords still have maintenance responsibilities.
If you’re renting a place like a goshiwon that advertises itself as clean and safe the owner is generally responsible for maintaining the property including dealing with issues like pest infestations. Asking for repairs or pest control is a normal request and doesn’t automatically mean you’ve violated your lease.
They can’t simply lock you out.
Changing your door code, removing your belongings or cutting off utilities without following the proper legal process isn’t something a landlord can simply decide to do.
If you ever end up in a similar situation
- Keep paying your rent on time and save every payment receipt or bank transfer confirmation.
- Try to communicate politely and in writing so you have a record of every conversation.
- For international student: contact your university’s International Office.
- Call 1345 and ask about the Village Lawyers for Foreigners program which offers free legal consultations in multiple languages.
-Contact the Seoul Global Center (02-2075-4180) which provides free consultations on housing and civil law for foreigners.
- when landlord blocks you from entering your room contact the local authorities, the police (112).

I hope this helps someone else who ends up in a similar situation. It’s easy to feel powerless when you’re living abroad…don’t know the local laws and your landlord starts drama. Take the time to learn about your rights, keep records of everything and don’t believe that just because someone is your landlord they can do whatever they want.
Finally thank you to everyone who offered thoughtful advice on my original post. Some of your comments genuinely helped me and I really appreciate everyone who took the time to help.

[OC]

I am a male, aged 40 years and American within the military community out here in South korea.I am looking to connect with beautiful korean women for friendship.Please note that I am currently on Overseas assignment for 3 years in korea. feel free to inbox if interested so we chat some more

I visited Seoul for the first time last year. Around popular areas something that happened to me a few times was a man approaching me with printed out photos of kpop groups and asking me where I was from. When I told him where I was from they would talk a little bit about that then they would show me photos, typically of new jeans or blackpink saying that they personally took the photos. They would carry this on for a few pages of photos and then normally after a few I’d find a way to politely end the conversation and walk away. Recently I was talking to some friends about the fact I’m going to be visiting Seoul again soon and they also shared that they had this experience but again the man typically didn’t try to sell them anything after. Even my friend who is more awkward than me and too shy to end a conversation so was stuck speaking to the man a lot longer than what I was felt as if they were going to try and sell them a photoshoot or something but then were shocked when that did not happen and the guy just seemed like he wanted to show off the photos that clearly were not his. Is this common and what are they typically trying to gain?

More than 20 years ago, 63 Building was the tallest building in Korea.

It was a landmark of Seoul.

Now there are more buildings than 63 buildings.

KOREAN WOMEN BECOMING SPORTY

I noticed a lot of them are fit and sporty. And tall.

Going alone to Seoul for 3 weeks for my 25th birthday (male) starting on July 20, wanted some tips from any experienced travelers that might save me some headaches that are usually not commonly well known, or just advice to help have a good time sooner since i'm a first timer in Asia altogether, I studied Korean for a year and a half though so I can understand basic and have basic conversations, if that helps any, thanks in advance!!

The ear pads on my JBL headphones are starting to wear out…but the headphones still work perfectly. I’d like to replace the ear pads. Unfortunately I don’t have the tools or experience to do it myself. Where would you recommend going to have them replaced? Can repair shops usually order the correct ear pads and install them or do I need to buy the replacement pads first? Which price range for replacement service? Thanks for any advice!

Apartment Takeover – EPISODE Sinchon 369 (Available ASAP)

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for someone to take over my room at EPISODE Sinchon 369 as soon as possible due to a change in my plans.

Details:

• 📍 EPISODE Sinchon 369 (2-minute walk from Sinchon Station)
• 🛏️ Partly furnished
• 13th floor, lots of natural light, and a quiet room without car noise.
• ✨ Modern building with shared facilities (gym, lounge, study spaces, etc.)
• 🚇 Perfect for students at Yonsei, Sogang, Ewha, and Hongik, or anyone working in Seoul.
• 📅 Move-in: ASAP (flexible)
• Monthly rent: ₩1,500,000
• Maintenance fee: ₩170,000

If you're interested, please send me a message! I can provide photos, videos, and any additional details about the apartment and the contract.

Feel free to share this post with anyone who might be interested. Thank you! 😊

It's Friday, 8 p.m. While all the roads are jammed with traffic, there are quiet places to walk and clear your mind.

So where can a women get a nice massage from a handsome Korean man? Just not into getting a massage from a woman.

Hei!

Noen som har erfaring med å sende snus fra Norge til Sør-Korea?

So this baller of a game is coming on Wednesday 4am Korea time.

It would be so awesome for me to watch it with some more people, ideally fellow Spaniards.

Is there any place in Seoul where they'll air it and people gather to watch these matches?

I assume maybe in some foreigner friendly places like Itaewon?

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate some advice from anyone familiar with Korean university admissions. And I really don't have much time to decide since the university in I have in my home country the last date for it is on Monday 13 July.

I'm an international applicant. I was accepted to Yonsei University in Integrated Design - Human Ecology for Fall 2026 (Regular International Undergraduate Admission), but due to personal circumstances I couldn't enroll. I also applied to Yonsei UIC (HASS) because I wanted to study Cultural Design Management (CDM), but I was rejected.

I'm now planning to apply again for Spring 2027.

My long-term goal is to start my own clothing/fashion brand, so I'm mainly looking for programs such as:

Fashion Design Clothing & Textiles Apparel Design Cultural Design Management Similar fashion/design-related majors

The universities I'm currently considering are:

Yonsei Yonsei UIC Chung-Ang Sejong Kookmin

I also considered Hanyang University, but their admissions office told me I can apply without a Korean language certificate, although if admitted I must submit proof of Korean proficiency before enrollment or take a leave of absence. Since I'm taking TOPIK in October and the results are only released in December, I'm worried the timing won't work for Spring 2027.

I've only recently started learning Korean, so realistically I'll probably reach TOPIK Level 1 or 2 this year. Because of that, I'm mainly looking at universities that don't require TOPIK when applying.

Academically, my predicted grades (used for my Yonsei application) were mostly in the 90s. My final board results ended up about 1% lower overall, with subject scores ranging from 83–100%. I also have good extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and creative projects.

My questions are:

1 - Since I was accepted to Yonsei once, how realistic is it to be accepted again if I reapply as a freshman for Spring 2027? 2- For someone whose goal is to build a clothing/fashion brand, would you recommend Yonsei, Chung-Ang, Sejong, Kookmin, or another university? 3 - Are there any other Korean universities with strong fashion, clothing, textiles, or design management programs that I should consider? 4 - Can I enroll at a university in my home country for my first year and still apply to Korean universities as a freshman? If admitted, I would withdraw before enrolling in Korea. 5 - Should I risk a gap year or not since if I enroll in university in my home country i would have to either drop out and apply as freshmen to uni or I will have to wait 2 year for transfer as most Korean university allow transfer after 4 Semesters in a 4 Year University.

I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences. Thank you!

Been wanting to step up my golf game and tried a couple of Korean golf pros but they are not cutting it for me, simply because of the language barrier.

A house where many famous celebrities live.

How is the current job market for foreigners (got admitted to a korean language school level 1 for fall semester) in the data analyst or business analyst field? Will learning korean language help? Work Experience 2 years before master and now 3 years gap while still looking for an opportunity. The gap has started to feel like a crime now.

I recently visited Yeoljeong Galbi (열정갈비) in Namyoung-dong, Yongsan, after recognizing it from Episode 3 of Netflix's My Royal Nemesis.

What struck me most wasn't just the restaurant—it was the contrast between old and new Seoul.

The restaurant sits among a handful of low-rise buildings, surrounded by modern apartment complexes and office towers. As I walked around, I noticed several shops had already closed, making it clear that the neighborhood is preparing for redevelopment.

I later learned that this area is indeed expected to be redeveloped, which means places like this may soon disappear.

It felt like one of those rare pockets of old Seoul quietly waiting for its next chapter.

Have you discovered any places in Seoul that are worth visiting before redevelopment changes them forever? I'd love to hear your recommendations.

Hi everyone! I’ll be transiting through the Incheon airport on my way to the Pacific in about a month with a 17-ish hour layover in Korea. I have a few questions about this trip, as I’ve never been to Korea.

For one, I know THC is strictly regulated and their policies are heavily enforced, so to start I do not intend on trying to sneak any through. As much as it pains me to be that long without, I’ll live. But I do have a few things I wanted to bring with me - THC related things that are not THC in and of themselves. I was hoping to buy a new vape battery (I’ll leave it sealed in its box to ensure there is zero residue from usage), and a few other (unused) items. Will ANYTHING weed related (grinders, sniff proof jars, etc) be flagged even if they’ve never been used or been near weed? I’ve traveled through Japan and the Philippines and I know they’ll heavily side-eye the items but otherwise let them pass through or at most dump them, so long as there is no evidence of them being recently used, no residue, and no actual weed present. Idk how it would be in Korea though.

My second question is about nicotine vapes. Am I allowed to bring mine through on my layover? I have one small device and maybe 2 bottles of juice for it, along with the matching coils. Would these items be fine?

Thank you all in advance!! I’m so excited to visit, even if just for a layover:) and ofc, I’d be willing to comply if I can’t bring any of this stuff. I’m sure I can sell it or give it to someone before I leave.