The month before moving to South Korea can be so nerve-wracking. There is so much to think about - from visas to how to get to the airport. For me, one of the things that consumed a lot of my time was deciding what to pack. Although you are moving across the world, you should only bring one or two suitcases as it’ll be easier to transport and less hassle to store in your new apartment. With this in mind, saving as much space as possible is so important. Online you’ll find a lot of advice on what you MUST bring to South Korea but after living here one year I’m here to advise you what you SHOULDN’T bring. Disclaimer: this is written from the point of view of someone who moved to one of the major cities of Korea, Daegu. If you are moving to any city this information will be applicable to you however if you plan to move to a rural area of the country, some things will be harder to find. TowelsSo many people said I should bring a big towel with me to Korea as the only towels I'll be able to find would be small towels. I ended up bringing a small microfiber towel (good for travelling) but on my first day here I was able to buy a big fluffy towel in Homeplus. Don’t waste the space and just bring a small compact towel instead for your first few days. Bed SheetsI saw some articles advising to bring bed sheets. This is a bit of a silly one to bring in my opinion as 1. You have no idea what bed you will get when you arrive to your apartment and 2. they take up a lot of space. On my first day I didn’t have anything to cover my mattress, just a pillow and comforter. However, for the first week I lay a beach towel on the bed and within a few weeks had bought a comfortable bottom mattress cover. Don’t bring duvet sheets either as you don’t know what size bed you will get and although in Korea they tend to favour the more American style sheets or comforter, you can easily find and purchase them. DeodrantKorean people are blessed in that they don’t sweat like we do and don’t smell! Most Koreans therefore don't have a need for deodorant. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist! Nivea is an easy brand to find in any Olive Young (both spray and dry kinds). If you have a preference to a particular brand, bring it along but if you’re not fussed it is easy to get here. ToothpasteIt is true that Korean toothpaste can be a little different to ours. However, walk into any large Olive Young with an international section and you’ll find Colgate or other international brands easily. Of course, it’s imported and a little more expensive but it’s super easy to get. Only bother to bring one large or two small ones with you to cover you for the first few months. If you don't live near an Olive Young, you'll be able to find it on Coupang to buy in bulk. SocksI saw somewhere that getting socks is hard! It is literally the opposite here. There are whole stores dedicated to socks! Save the space and just bring what you need. If you have large feet, it might be a little harder but they'll be something that fits right. Other underwear can be a different story though… ClothesClothes - When I first moved - I brought so many clothes from home for any occasion. Since living here, I have changed my style slightly as I love the Korean fashion choices and have also found that some things I have never worn here. Bring a lot of casual but work appropriate clothes, spare anything too formal and low cut. Once you are here I'm sure you'll quickly be revamping your wardrobe. However, many Korean stores are lacking in size diversity. I am a UK size 10 and have a tall mid-slim figure. I can fit into most clothes in boutique free size shops here, although anything that hugs my hips such as trousers or jeans is usually a no go. There are a number of stores with staggered sizing and some such as H&M and Zara can have some size diversity. So do keep this in mind. Some of my friends here love ASOS as they ship free internationally and in Seoul there are a number of stores that cater to plus size figures. ShoesI have larger feet for a woman. I'm a UK size 6-7. It can be hard to find traditional feminine shoes in my size (it usually doesn’t go higher that my size) but as a lover of trainers and street fashion I have no problem buying shoes. If you have larger feet and like wearing high heels, I do recommend you bring these from home. Remember that when you are at school, you'll be wearing slippers, not outside shoes, so don't bring anything fancy for work! HerbsThis was a bit of a joke in my friend group when we first moved here. We all brought our favourite herbs and spices from the UK but found that Homeplus and Emart have an impressive range of herbs and spices. Of course, if you have a favorite you can’t live without - bring it along - but if you want your standard herbs and spices, all can be found here. SuncreamBody suncream is rarer but can be found on coupang. Face suncream is everywhere and it is probably better than the one you use at home! So take advantage of Koreas amazing skincare and buy some here! Period Products Tampons are harder to purchase but I have found them in all the big stores (even Marts) here. Pads can be a little thicker but once you get used to them its ok! Don't pack your suitcase with a years worth of supplies - worst case scenario, everything you need can be found on coupang. Good luck with the final stages of your move to Korea!
I have lived in Daegu for 18 months now and love it here. I write travel tips for adventures around the country as well as advice for those moving or thinking of living in Daegu.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Hi! I'm Holly, a twenty something traveller from the UK. Over the years I've been lucky enough to live and travel in many countries. I've studied in America and working holidayed in Australia and New Zealand! I currently live in South Korea. Learn more about me below!
Read More >> |