Dear Freshmen: Tips and Tricks for Living in Gwangju and Korea

By C. Adam Volle

It is a common tradition at four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. for graduating seniors to write advice for incoming freshmen, which is then published in either the campus rag or the yearbook.

Of course, there is no “graduating” from Korea – and even if there was, they would probably be holding me back. Living here is an education though, and I have learned a few things in my four years here. So, if you are a fellow waeguk and new to life in South Korea, here are some tips and tricks that will help get you off to a good start.

Transportation:

• You can get a free bus route map by going to either the tourist information center outside the bus terminal or the one inside the train station. As decorations for your new apartment go, few are more useful. The tourist centers frequently run out of maps, so you may have to make more than one trip to get ahold of one.

• There are several useful apps available for your smartphone. 광주버스 (Gwangju Bus) will tell you how to get to stops in Gwangju and how many minutes you have left until your bus is due. Like its name, the app is entirely written in Korean, but you only need to know how to sound out words to make use of it. If you find even that too daunting, the Google Maps app works too. Also, the 가가오 택시 (Kakao Taxi) app has made waiting around and worrying about whether a taxi will ever show up a thing of the past. It requires memorizing a handful of options in Korean, but is very intuitive.

• Just because a taxi driver is grouchy or does not pick you up, does not necessarily mean he or she is racist. Your general happiness in Korea will rely to no small extent on giving people the benefit of the doubt so make a habit of assuming that there are other factors at play. You will usually be right.

Housekeeping:

• If you purchase the largest airtight plastic container that will fit inside a level of your refrigerator, you can put your food waste in that and eliminate the odor. It is also nice just having your food waste out of sight.

• Mold grows easily in Korean apartments due to lack of ventilation, particularly in bathrooms. I run a squeegee over the bathroom mirror and the walls of my bath after every shower. If you are living in a “villa” apartment, be sure to leave your windows cracked open when you are not at home. If a mold problem develops, hit it with bleach or vinegar.

Health:

• Go to the dentist every six months for a cheap check-up and cleaning, courtesy of your national health insurance.

• Keep in mind that many medical procedures are cheaper here. If you are an American who has always wanted LASIK eye surgery, for example, now may be the time.

Money:

• Rechargeable HanPay city transportation cards are available at Seven-Elevens and will save you 100 won per trip. You can also use them in taxis.

• In general, Daiso is cheaper than local markets, which are cheaper than HomePlus, which is cheaper than Emart, which is cheaper than Lotte, which is cheaper than Shinsegae. Of course, a Daiso’s selection pales in comparison to a HomePlus’s.

• Find out immediately if you will be paying taxes to the Korean government this year, because you can qualify for a number of deductions if you play your cards right. For example:

• Once you have one, you should use your debit or credit card for most transactions. You may be able to use your bank card as a city transportation card as well. By using your card you create a paper trail with which you can later show the Korean government you spent over twenty-five percent of your income in-country. You will receive a tax credit for having done so.

• If you are renting an apartment with anyone, even your wife or husband, then only one of you should transfer the monthly rent from your bank account. There is a tax deduction for housing available, but it is only available to the one individual named on the housing contract, who must be able to show that all twelve months’ worth of rent came from his or her account.

On Koreans and Teaching:

• While I was still having trouble with Korean names I simply referred to everyone as “Ms. [Family Name]” or “Mr. [Family Name].” It is a little formal but consistently respectful, easy since most Korean surnames are one syllable, and if you happen to be an Englishman you will delight Koreans everywhere by confirming their stereotype of you as a gentleman or lady. Wear a bowler hat and use a walking stick for added effect. You can even do the same with your older students, since teaching them proper forms of address is part of your job.

• If you have co-teachers, treat them as your direct superiors, whatever the organizational flowchart says. Always ask them for their opinions and ideas regarding your lessons, regardless of their attitudes.

• Be proactive in learning what school events are upcoming which may affect your own schedule. It is not a bad idea to ask every week if anything is happening. I once found myself hiking up a mountain in a nice suit instead of going on my Valentine’s Day date because I forgot to ask.

• At social gatherings with your Korean coworkers, don’t feel pressure to talk, nor bitter if they have conversations in Korean without including you. Young, new employees aren’t expected to talk much, even if they’re Koreans. If you just smile, are decently cheerful and attentive, and refill people’s drinks (with both hands!) whenever they’re empty, you win!

If you have questions:

• Gwangju’s Dongbu Police Department has an English-speaking officer on staff named Hye-gyoung Lee. Her English name is Monika. You can email her with any specific questions or concerns at monika1004@naver.com.

• The bus’s number is 1330 and its kind staff is willing to look up anything from a bus route to a festival time. They do not know you are not a tourist.

• Join “Gwangju – 광주” group on Facebook. You will probably be able to find the answers to most of your questions by using the search function.

• Join the “Gwangju News” and “GIC” Facebook pages to track upcoming community events, of course. The Gwangju Blog is also an excellent resource.

That should do it. Welcome to Korea. Prepare for your hazing.