Money: It's important to bring enough money to cover your living expenses for the time between your arrival and your first paycheck. Although public school teachers do get settlement allowances, this is meant more to help new teachers finish furnish their apartments rather than to live off of. Teachers often do not receive their first paychecks until a month or six weeks after starting at their schools. Bringing 600 to 1,000 USD, depending on your spending habits, and a credit card would be safe. Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club) are accepted at most consumer goods and service businesses.

Clothing and Shoes: Clothes and shoe shopping in Korea can be a challenge for someone of a western build (and with a western fashion sense). Those who wear medium or larger sizes will often have a difficult time finding clothes that fit, although some "foreigner" areas have stores that cater to larger people. The same is true when it comes to shoes and socks, so pack accordingly.

It's important to also keep in mind that fashion in Korea can be quite conservative. Male teachers often feel more comfortable wearing collared shirts and long pants while teaching, while females should not wear low-cut tops and often won't wear shirts without sleeves to school.

Prepare ahead, clothing-wise, for the weather extremes that this peninsula experiences. Winters can be quite cold, with some areas experiencing a lot of snow. The monsoon season brings with it heavy rains and wind, while summers can be extremely hot and humid.

Favorite Brands/Types of Products: Although it is possible to find western brands here in Korea, they are often considerably more expensive or difficult to locate. While many familiar brands of shampoo can often be found at local shops, locating a suitable brand of deodorant can be difficult. Cosmetic shops are plentiful and inexpensive, but finding lipsticks right for your skin tone may be challenging, and tracking down the right shade of foundation can be nearly impossible, especially for darker complexions.

Larger food markets often have foreign sections with a variety of western foods. These items will cost considerably more than they do in your country, and the selections will be limited. Packing favorite items like spices and mixes would help insure you have them during your time in Korea. It is important to note that many single apartments do not have ovens, so baking might not be an option, unless you choose to purchase a small convection oven.

Metropolitan areas often do have ¡°foreigner¡± neighborhoods, with shops that specialize in carrying items familiar to the western community. These shops are often a bit expensive, but carry a surprising amount of local favorites.

Medicine/Prescription Medic ine Records: Most medicines are available here in Korea , b ut you will need your current prescription to show to a doctor here . Over the counter medicine s like cold tablets are helpful to bring, as it is sometimes a challenge to figure out the local equivalents to familiar medications.

An Open Mind: Life is different in Korea . Things that you may take for granted in your home country like the amount of personal space, volume of speech and pace of life suddenly can become issues if you let them. T ry to t ake the time to learn about the differences between Korean culture and your own, making attempts to discover why things are done they way they are . Keeping an open mind and positive attitude will make adjusting to your new life in Korea a lot more pleasant .

For T hose Traveling from the USA or Canada: W orknPlay Consulting is able to make flight arrangements for teachers departing from the United States and Canada. Our recruiters work with a travel agency based in Korea to figure out the best flight to fit your schedule.

For Those Traveling from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK, Ireland or Other Countries:
Our recruiters can provide you with a list of websites that provide air tickets at reasonable prices. Y ou can also opt to contact travel agencies in your area to find the flight that would work best for you. With either option, please search for an economy-class, one way ticket to the appropriate airport in Korea. Your recruiter will help determine which airport would be best for you.

When you 've determined the ticket that you wish to purchase, please send detailed flight and price information to your recruiter. It ' s very important that you do not purchase a ticket without informing us first. We can then compare prices and flight schedule s, and help make a reservation for the best option that fits with the agreement with your school.

Airport Pickup in Korea:

Call Van
WorknPlay Consulting will arrange a van to pick you up at the airport , and transport you and your luggage to your school and home. P lease send your recruiter your flight itinerary through e-mail before leaving for Korea
A call van driver or a member of our staff will hold a placard with your name on it and greet you at the arrival gate

Bus
Teachers can choose between limousine buses or regular inter-city buses. When flying into Incheon Airport, i nter-city buses stop at the major districts and hotels around Seoul. For i nformation about limousine and bus services , and to purchase tickets , visit the Transportation Information Counter (near the exit No. 2, 4, 9, 13) on the arrival floor (1st floor) of the Incheon Airport .