Cash - You will need to bring enough currency to keep you going until your first pay day. Gone2Korea strongly advises all teachers to bring $700USD minimum to get started, but closer to $1000USD is best if you can manage it. You will not be recieving any payment from your hiring school until roughly 4-6 weeks after you arrive so having a cash float is mandatory.
Suitable Clothes – There are
4 distinct seasons in Korea so you’ll need to bring suitable clothes to accommodate the weather changes. Additionally, you will need to bring work clothes that are acceptable with your school. Refer to our School Dress Codes page for details.
Prescription Medications – Most Korean pharmacies carry similar drugs and medications as the West. If you require prescriptions that may not be available in Korea then make sure to speak with your family doctor before departing.
Photocopies – It’s always wise to make photocopies of all the documents you plan on bringing overseas. Before you depart make sure to photocopy any and all documents that you’ll be bringing with you. Leave the photocopies with someone you can trust. The photocopies will be helpful if you should happen to lose your wallet, backpack, etc. at some point while abroad.
Banking Details – If you plan on sending money home then you will need to bring all of your bank details with you. Please visit our
banking in Korea page for more information.
Gift for your Employer – Bringing a small gift for your new Korean employer is recommended, not required. First impressions are always important and offering a small gift from your hometown is a nice gesture and way to show your appreciation. Nothing expensive is needed, although it should be something symbolic of where you are from. Tourist books, a nice bottle of local wine, a souvenir of sorts that’s specific to your state or province, etc. will work well.
Formal Outfit - Many westerners end up at a few formal events each year and having the appropriate attire is advised. Gone2Korea recommends bringing at least 1 formal outfit to Korea.
Stickers, Pencils & Erasers – We suggest loading up on stickers, pencils and erasers that have logos and symbols of things specific to your country and/or home town. These items make great prizes for your students and you can give them away after tests, quizzes, games, etc. You can purchase hundreds of small items from most dollar stores in the West. Stock up on items that have your favourite sports team logo on it, your countries flag, your university emblem, etc….the kids will love them!
Vitamins – Bringing some multi-vitamins with you is advised. It will likely take your body a month or two to adjust and taking a multi-vitamin daily will help.
Power Converters & Adaptors – There’s a difference between an adaptor and a converter. Adaptors are small prong like objects that you place on the end or your electric device in order to make it fit into the foreign electrical socket - adaptors don’t alter the wattage going into your devices. If you plan on bringing small objects that don’t require specific power amounts than using an adaptor will suffice. If you plan on bringing larger electronic devices that will need specific wattages (i.e. laptops and gaming systems) then you will need to invest in a power converter. Failing to use a converter for larger devices may permanently damage your electronics. You can find adaptors and converters at most major electronic stores in Korea. Adaptors are quite cheap, only $1 – 5$ USD and converters are substantially more. How much the converter will cost usually depends on the size. The more compact the converter is the more expensive they become.
