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Understand Korean culture, one everyday question at a time.

Practical guides to Korean customs, family life and language for readers getting to know Korea.

Browse the latest articles below, or contact the editorial team with a question or correction.

Korea International Health Insurance vs NHIS: Which Coverage Do Foreigners Actually Need?

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Korea International Health Insurance vs NHIS

For most foreigners living in South Korea, international health insurance and Korea’s National Health Insurance are not interchangeable products. NHIS is Korea’s statutory public health insurance system. International health insurance is a private contract whose coverage, countries, deductibles, exclusions, and claims rules depend on the policy. The first question is therefore not, “Which insurance has … Read more

Korea Nursing Home Cost: Long-Term Care Insurance and Monthly Fees

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Korea nursing home cost

If you are pricing a nursing home in South Korea, the number that matters is usually not the facility’s full care rate. For a resident approved for Korea’s Long-Term Care Insurance (노인장기요양보험) facility benefit, the ordinary statutory copayment is generally 20% of the covered facility charge. Food, optional room upgrades, hairdressing, and certain other non-covered … Read more

Moving a Pet to Korea: Insurance, Airline Fees, Quarantine and Vet Costs

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Moving a pet to Korea cost

Moving a dog or cat to South Korea does not normally mean paying for days of quarantine. If your pet arrives with the required microchip, government-issued health certificate and, when required, a qualifying rabies antibody test, Korean quarantine inspection can usually be completed on the day of arrival. The expensive branch begins when one of … Read more

Korean Franchise Agreement Review: Royalties, Territory and Exit Clauses

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Korean franchise agreement review

A Korean franchise agreement should not be reviewed by asking whether the royalty percentage looks reasonable. The larger question is whether the registered disclosure document, the contract, the territory map and the exit mechanics tell the same economic story. For a prospective franchisee, three clauses deserve particular attention. The royalty clause determines how much of … Read more

Korea Lawyer Retainer Fees Explained for Expats

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Korea lawyer retainer fees

There is no official nationwide “standard retainer” that private lawyers in South Korea must charge. Private legal fees are generally agreed between the lawyer and client, so the useful question is not whether a quote matches a supposed Korean average. It is whether the fee, scope, taxes, extra costs, and exit terms are clear enough … Read more

Private Health Insurance Before Korean NHIS: Gap Coverage and Exclusions

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Private health insurance before Korean NHIS

Private health insurance can protect you during the period before Korean National Health Insurance begins, but the first thing to verify is whether you actually have an NHIS waiting period. The widely repeated “six-month rule” applies to many non-employed foreign residents entering the regional insurance system. It does not apply in the same way to … Read more

International School Tuition in Korea: Application Fees, Transport and Hidden Costs

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International school tuition in Korea

International school tuition in Korea is only the largest line on the bill, not the whole bill. For the 2026–27 school year, major Seoul-area schools publish separate charges for applications, registration or entrance, deposits, buses, meals, examinations, learning support and other services. Some schools also divide tuition between Korean won and U.S. dollars. For a … Read more

Importing Korean Cosmetics to the US: FDA, Customs and Product Liability Costs

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Importing Korean cosmetics to US

Importing Korean cosmetics into the United States is no longer a matter of buying compliant K-beauty products in Seoul, adding an English sticker, and paying ordinary freight. The expensive question is not simply, “Is this cosmetic legal in Korea?” It is: What is this product under U.S. law, who is responsible for it, and what … Read more

Korea Business Bank Account for Foreign Companies: Fees, Documents and Rejection Reasons

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Korea foreign company bank account

A foreign company can open a business bank account in South Korea, but the bank will not look only at the passport of the person standing at the counter. It must be able to identify the company, the person authorized to act for it, the natural persons who ultimately own or control it, and the … Read more

Korea Civil Lawsuit Cost for Foreigners: Court Fees, Lawyers and Hidden Expenses

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Korea civil lawsuit cost for foreigners

Korean rules, translated into decisions. Korea Civil Lawsuit Cost for Foreigners: Court Fees, Lawyers and Hidden Expenses A civil lawsuit in South Korea does not come with one neat price tag. The court filing fee is calculated mainly from the value of the claim, but that is only the first layer. Service fees, lawyers, Korean … Read more