A reader writes in looking for information about families and cost of living:
First off, I would like to thank you for answering many of my questions about South Korea. Chris, I have not found any information specific for families. I am married and we have two young children. Many questions have been answered, but is there any advice you can give? By the way, could you also give a cost of living price list such as rent, food, internet, clothing, etc...?
[S.N.]
S.N.,
I've written in the past about taking care of finances, as well as other money matters in the past, but families are a new question. Coming to Korea with a family can be a daunting task. On top of adjusting to a foreign country, there's a lot of practical matters the average single twentysomething doesn't think about. All are manageable, though.
VISAS
Assuming you've already located a job and on your way to an E-2 (foreign language teacher) or E-1 (university professor) visa, your school can assist in getting a visa for your spouse and children. The F-3 visa is designed specifically for them, as it's a 'Family Dependent' visa. This website has a lot more information about what's required to obtain that visa (as always, check directly with Immigration for any changes by calling 1345 or visiting http://immigration.go.kr). Be aware that a dependent spouse cannot officially work on this visa - they'll need a work visa of their own for that.
SCHOOLING
There are plenty of international schools available in the English language. This Korea4Expats article implies that competition may be higher than expected or desired, but decide for yourself when you check out the school. International boarding schools are expensive, but may be worth it depending on your situation. Be aware that boarding is only typically available from the sixth grade up (see the aforementioned Korea4Expats page).
If one parent intends to stay at home, you might consider homeschooling - it's still emerging as a viable option in Korea, but in parts of the Western world it's well established. If you decide to start down that path, consider buying your books in your home country, or have them shipped to you once you reach Korea - the materials here are still pretty limited.
COMMUNITY
I'm afraid I don't have many expat friends with families - certainly they're around, but the worlds we run in are quite different in some areas. The blog Six in Seoul is no longer being updated, but the author blogged about her life with a family in Korea. Her bloglist may have a few additional authors to read up on. Shannon over at the Seoul City Blog occasionally offers practical advice on the subject, while Korea4Expats also offers some advice and event listings. In general, it's a small minority of teachers who come to Korea with a family (though Buhay sa Korea and quite a few other bloggers have created one for themselves). You may find more in common with families on a military base than the typical young unmarried teachers (here's some information for military families if you're one of them). Keep your eyes open for events at one of the Multi-Cultural Centers around Seoul (here's a link to one - from that page you can find the other centers).
PLACES TO SEE / THINGS TO DO
Surprisingly, Seoul has plenty for kids to see. Children's Grand Park is great, as are any number of neighborhood parks scattered across the country. Quite a few other areas are fun for kids - Myeongdong, any of the five palaces in Seoul, most museums, and even the Bank of Korea Museum has a number of kid-friendly exhibits (most exhibits are in Korean, however). This korea.net article has a number of fun things coming up for children - or young-at-heart people - while this Korea4Expats article offers plenty of information on children's sports.
Cost of living price list such as rent, food, internet, clothing, etc....
Note that as of this post:
1 US dollar = 1,190 Korean won
1 Canadian dollar = 1,148 won
1 Euro = 1,537 won
1 Australian dollar = 1,066 won
1 South African rand = 160 won
For other currencies or up-to-date information, see the currency converter on the left sidebar.
Rent is one of those expenses that may be nonexistent or a substantial amount - it really depends on what your employer provides. I hesitate to provide a number, since it can vary so much. If you're expected to pay a monthly rent (월세, or wolse), it can be anywhere from 300,000 won a month to over 1,000,000 won a month. If you're going the 'down payment' route (the 정세, or jeonse) you might need 5,000,000 won or more to put down (the benefit is that you live rent-free during the time the landlord holds your money). See this post for more information about renting an apartment in Korea.
Food: My personal eating habits aren't precisely typical, but I'd estimate I spend about 150,000 won a month for food prepared in my apartment, and perhaps another 150,000 won eating out. Add in the Lady in Red, of course, and you wouldn't lump in another 300,000 won a month in the food budget. That there are plenty of places to find cheap restaurants or groceries means food is probably not a large slice of the budget.
Utilities: electricity tends to run 20,000 - 40,000 won / month (depending on the weather); water from the faucet is typically a trivial 10,000 - 20,000 won / month. Water delivered to your home may or may not include setup or equipment charges, but budget about 20,000 won a month for that. Gas will be the biggest expense in the winter (perhaps 60,000 - 80,000 a month) but quite small in the summer (perhaps 20,000 a month).
Internet: Expect to pay 25,000 - 35,000 won a month for home internet service. You'll get a slight discount and perhaps a bonus for signing a one-year (or longer) contract, but it's not required. If interested in WiBro (a USB antenna that picks up city-wide Wifi), I paid about 110,000 won for the device and pay about 20,000 won / month for the mobile internet service. PC bang are readily found virtually anywhere in the country at roughly 1,000 won an hour.
Cell phones: monthly plans tend to be more expensive or offer more than I need, so I have a simple pre-paid phone. As elsewhere in the world, many phones are cheap or free with the one or two-year contract that binds you (termination fees tend to be less here compared to the US, though). If buying the phone straight out (like for a prepaid phone) expect to spend anywhere from 50,000 won for an older second-hand phone to 800,000 won for the latest and greatest. Monthly plans start around 40,000 won for basic usage, while I spend perhaps 20,000 - 25,000 won / month to 'recharge' my pre-paid phone.
Travel / entertainment: Two expenses that will vary depending on what you're doing to entertain yourselves. A trip down to Children's Grand Park will cost little more than the subway ride, but KTX rides to Busan can be expensive. If your kids will be making good use of the Seoul subway / bus sytem, it's worth the time to register a T-money card in their name for the automatic discount (talk to the staff at any subway station). Teenagers 13-18 years old (청소년) get a 20% discount, while kids 7-12 years old (어린이) get a 50% discount. Children 6 years old or younger ride the subway and bus for free. For more information about subway fares and discounts, see one official page about them. Budget about 50,000 won / month for subway and bus fares for the breadwinner(s), and perhaps 25,000 won / month per additional family member.
That classic 'other / everything else category': Everything from taxi rides to alcohol to gym memberships (if desired) to Christmas gifts fall into this category. While I don't strictly budget my money, a good ballpark to shoot for might be 200,000 - 300,000 won / month.
Readers - any advice for families coming to Korea? Other resources worth noting?
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© Chris Backe - 2010
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