Why Seoul Student Housing 42SHARE is chosen for many foreign student

In my previous post, I had mentioned about my definition of home and the importance of having a place to call home in a new environment. In the middle of looking for a ‘home’ I have found my own place to call home, and the name of the place is called 42SHARE. Now, I will tell you why I chose 42SHARE more specifically and in details. And I believe that a lot of people selected this place for similar reasons as mine. 

At 42SHARE you get to meet new, interesting people and create your own Korean lifestyle and experience the domestic life at the very heart of Seoul, Sinchon. The first people that you will meet are the managers. The managers do a good job at helping to ease the pace and locate yourself when you first get there specially if you are a first timer in Korea. They have people that speak fluently in English so those who are worried about language barrier do not have to worry. Since it is a place where people live, they try to be attentive on details where could be disturbing to us, the residents, and try to fix all the problems if there’s any upcoming difficulty. I don’t think there’s such a place where they try to be that attentive on the residents’ needs. This actually had provided me and the rest of the residents an easy Korean lifestyle. I didn’t have to go through by all the minimum daily problems by myself and made things easier. I would have struggled alone if I had selected another place to live.

#Study Lounge for entertainment and studies.

Like this, 42SHARE was the closest place that checked my wish list.

Talking about price, which is important, specially if you are a university student, it had a reasonable price, covering the extra expenses such as gas, water, electricity, etc. and it already has all the furniture that I needed, it was very modern comparing to other places, a good security system and the best part was that I got to live with other international students, people like me and have own private place at the same time! I was happy and lucky to find this place, so I contacted right away. They have various ways of communication so getting connected with them will be easy peasy! 

Yonsei Hall Rooftop

When I got there they had the prettiest and the most spacious study lounge. I liked the little details they focused on. I also liked the way they decorated the place; not too cold and studious atmosphere, but rather a cozy and fun-looking atmosphere. When studying in Korea, you’ll realize how much you’ll be going to cafes to do your studies, but later on I spent most of my studying time at the study lounge since is right below where I live. Not only that but I could also have a private space to study with my friends.

Yonsei Hall Shared Kitchen

The room was exactly what I needed. It has a perfect sized wardrobe, a private bathroom, a personal fridge and microwave, an AC which I could use it at any time, at any moment. I’m mentioning about the AC because most of the places in Seoul, the use of AC is restricted due to expensive electricity. But like I mentioned before, these expenses were already covered so it was all up to me how much I was gonna use it! They even have a pretty rooftop which is perfect to spend time when the weather is good. Since is right next to the kitchen, you can have a nice meal at the rooftop too! I really liked these common areas because good people are the reason why I call a place home and I did meet good people and made unforgettable memories while living at that place.

As a university student and as a foreign student studying in the Sinchon area, this place was the best choice I had made. It has everything a person, especially a university student needs in her or his daily university life and social life. Like me, hope you make the best choice for your future university experiences!

*This article is written by Park Jaewon who is studying as a foreigner and a Korean who experienced Seoul Student Housing42SHARE

Are you an International Student Coming to Seoul?

Got Apps? 

Preparing to come to Seoul or already in Seoul there a few apps that we recommend for you to download as soon as you can since they will be vital during your stay :) 

Kakao Talk  (카카오 톡) 

You may or may not know this but Kakao Talk is a MUST in South Korea, is the main communication app and it's free to download!! Also the emoticons are adorable and have their own store and merchandise. Besides of being the top messaging app in South Korea, the brand has other apps that will help you around the country and you can even shop, receive and send money!! 

Download the KakaoTalk app here:  iOS / Android

Navigation: 

There are a couple of different apps to help you around as you explore the city, but according to your preference and style of liking one might seem better than the other.

Kakao Map vs Naver Map 

Both of these apps are great for navigation however we found that Kakao Map is preferred by users, even Koreans, because of the additional features it has. In Kakao Map you can see the streets in 3D to give you a better sense of where you are and where to go! Excellent when you are lost :)  

Also both apps can be changed to English and most likely than not if your kakao is already set in English then when downloading other related apps, should be in English as well~ 

Both apps have subway maps that you can easily calculate how long would it take you to get to your destination, price, timetable and adjustable as well if you are planning to go later. Both of these apps are great for navigation so it really comes up to you on which style you like best, download both and see :) 

Download the KakaoMap app here:  iOS / Android

Download the Naver Map app here:  iOS / Android

Subway Korea (Subway Route Navigation): 

If you still want an individual app to look for subway routes and timetables, we recommend this one right here! Because it let's you know when a new update is needed maybe due to a subway line change and works great if you go to other major cities such as Busan or Daegu. Of course, this app also allows you to tell it point A to B and will give you information about your route. 

Download the Subway Korea app here:  iOS / Android

Kakao Taxi 

This app is a MUST!! even though you may feel like you will never use a Taxi, trust me you will want to have this app in your phone because you never know!! If you are familiar with Uber or Lyft, then Kakao Taxi will be easy to use as well. As mentioned before if your Kakao Talk is in English already then this app should as well, or you can change it under settings. 

However you do need a Korean phone number or a phone number where you can still receive calls. Because if the driver can't see you they will most likely call!! but in order to avoid calling you make sure you are in a visible accessible place and/or write it down in the special request section. 

For payment, there is an option for you to put your card information and instantly pay the driver or you can also pay in person just click "pay to driver". The app also saves your "use locations" if you want to go back sometime in the future. 

Download Kakao Taxi app here:  iOS / Android

Kakao Bus  

This app is great if you are trying to use the Bus instead of the Subway, which it is a cheaper option!! However either in Naver or Kakao maps you will be able to see bus routes as well to get to your destination, but may or not have enough information about timetables as this app does. 

Download Kakao Bus app here:  iOS / Android

Translator Apps: Papago and WayGo

If you do not know Korean or not enough to understand everything around you, you may want to download these apps since they can translate anything around you either if you type it, speak it or scan it. Also keep in mind that you will need Wifi for these to work!!

Download Papago app here:  iOS / Android

Download the WayGo app here:  iOS 

To Stay Safe Apps: 

One of the things you are going to notice is that if there is a massive natural event occurring people's phone will go off except yours!? well unless you have a phone bought in South Korea. Because of this there are apps that will alert foreign phones about major natural alerts, such as air pollution, heat waves and typhoons. 

Emergency Ready App 

This app is in English and provides useful information in urgent situations, it also includes emergency contact numbers and teaches users how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the app they also have videos about how to use a fire extinguisher, a fire hydrant and shows the location of a nearest shelter. 

Please download this app if you did not bought a phone in Korea or speak Korean!!! 

Download the Emergency Ready app here:  iOS / Android

Air Quality/ AirVisual App 

As you may know, there is a lot of air pollution in South Korea due to various reasons but sometimes it's OK and sometimes it is not so in order to stay healthy is great to have this app on your phone!! Also you can find a face mask in any convenient store such as GS25 or CU!! 

Download the Air Quality/AirVisual app here:  iOS / Android

AccuWeather App

This app is great to know the weather forecast throughout the day and future days, a great thing about this one is that it shows by hour!! Also sends you alerts if heavy or dangerous weather conditions are expected!! 

Download the AccuWeather app here:  iOS / Android

We hope that these apps are really useful for you and that you download the ones that you feel more comfortable with! Also please please stay safe and follow the alerts weather conditions are not a joke!! Remember to check out our other blog post about living in Seoul~ :) 

Process of a Foreign Student Finding a Korean Home

Hi I’m Cristina from Dominican Republic and I’m currently studying Psychology at Ewha Womans University. These days I’m realizing that more people comes and goes to this very city, Seoul, Korea with different reasons, but I believe that those reasons comes from curiosity and wanting to experience a domestic, fun Korean lifestyle. So today, I would like to give some tips to you guys who are looking for a place to stay during your visit in Korea!

Ewha Womans University

I know how overwhelming it is to look for a place in a new environment, specially in a place where you’ve never been or would like to try to live the same place in a different atmosphere and perspective. I hope that my experience on this area will help you out and narrow down your options for your new Korean home!

First of all, I went into very different sources to look for places in Sinchon, Seoul, since the place is in the middle of all the places that a university student can look for, there were so many options to look at. I asked my friends and they all told me diverse informations, I was basically overloaded with too much information. So I decided to narrow it down by defining my term of ‘home’ and in what kind of home I look at myself living in.

I call a place ‘home’ when it is somewhere I definitely know that I’ll feel safe, cozy, and feel like I’ll make memorables days with good people around me. And from experience, having people around you actually helps you to find a good pace in a new place too. So considering all of these factors, I started to look into various houses that somewhat matches to my definition of ‘home’. To my surprise, there were a lot of places that matched, but a lot of them were expensive (considering my personal budget pocket hehe) and I had to spend extra expenses on other payments and as an university student, I wanted a place where it was a reasonable price that could cover every other expenses. Then I found 42SHARE.

On my way home from Ewha

42SHARE had given me the best opportunity to live my Korean life at another level. Specially, thanks to the common facilities they provide, I could meet a lot of friends with a common goal: have the best fun in Korea. We went to school together, and come home together, which was a nice and fun pattern since I like the little things like the walks that I had with my friends. We made our own domestic Korean lifestyle, which is something I will always remember, I mean, it was our unique thing, and those are unforgettable, ain’t I right?

My favorite cafe located right in the middle of school and home

The small things like those kept accumulating as time passed, and without me trying anything, I realized that this place had become my home. I’d become attached to this place and felt so safe since I had my routines based on this place and my people were here. It was indeed the best choice I have made for my first time living here in Korea.

*This article is written by Park Jaewon who is studying as a foreigner and a Korean who experienced Seoul Student Housing42SHARE

Keeping Your Korean Home Clean

Recycling in Seoul 

Living in South Korea you can't just throw everything in one bag and call it good, there are rules and special bags for getting rid of the junk. 

Having the Right Bag! 

Each district has their own official bag, you can't use Mapo-gu in Seodaemun-gu district. 42SHARE accommodation halls are in Seodaemun-gu district, so please make sure you are using the right bags :) 

Food Waste Bag 

Again remember to have the right bag for your district as well as to know what goes and does not go into this special bag. Basically anything that is edible has to go into this bag, but DO NOT throw in egg shells, clam shells, onion or garlic paper-like skin, animal bones, tea bags or tea leaves; instead they are considered as general waste, the bag below. 

Notice that this bag is from Mapo-gu District which is pretty near from Seodaemun-gu, but generally food waste bags in Seoul will be of color yellow. 

General Waste Bag

In this bag you throw in the mentioned above waste that DOES NOT go into the food waste bag, as well as non-recyclable waste (further discussion below). 

To give an idea of what can go into this bag here is a list: 

      ⌗Used Tissue                                         ⌗Sanitary Pads                                ⌗etc. 

      ⌗Old Clothes                                         ⌗Toys

      ⌗Old Shoes                                            ⌗Pens or Pencils 

As a side note, if you have items or clothing that are still in good condition and would rather donate them, check out this link for a list of Drop-off Locations around Seoul: https://www.korea4expats.com/article-donations-clothing-household-goods-seoul.html

Seodaemun-gu District (서대문구청장) Bag

The highlighted blue on the trash bag indicates the district the bag is to be used in, use this image as a guide for those who will be staying at our accommodation halls! 

Recyclable Waste Bag 

Now here is where it gets a bit tricky for some people. This bag is meant to be even more environmentally friendly by having a separate bag to recycle paper, glass, vinyl, cans, and plastic. However for this area of waste you do not need a special bag, you can use any bag you may have from shopping and leave it at it's designated bin. 

Please use ONLY transparent bags and don't throw loose waste!! :) 

Waste that you can put in this bag are: 

• Paper
• Printing paper
• Magazines
• Newspaper 
• Boxes
• Cartons, etc. 
• Paper pack 
• Juice
• Milk
• Yogurt, etc.
• Glass 
• Vitamin or energy bottles
• Alcoholic bottles, etc. 
• Cans 
• aluminum 
• Iron
• Plastic 
• NO:
• Toys and stationary pens.
• Vinyl 
• Snack bags
• Dessert wraps 

Where to Buy??

Now that you know what kind of bags you need and how to use them, let's learn where to get them! 

Usually you can easily purchase them at any nearby convenience store such as GS25 or CU, as well as Chain or Local Marts as we talked about on our other blog post "Shopping, Banks, and SIM Cards In Seoul" Keep in mind tho that most likely than not you will have to ask the cashier for the bags and be able to tell them how many gallons (what size) you would like. 

For that we have a list of sentences you can use when purchasing your bags!: 

How to Ask:

⌗일반 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (il-ban sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have general waste garbage bags?

⌗음식물 쓰레기 봉투 있어요? (eum-sig-mul sseu-le-gi bong-tu iss-eo-yo?) = Do you have food waste garbage bags?

몇 리터? (myeot-li-teo?) = How many liters? 

   ⌗이 (i) = two                                                                  ⌗삼십 (sam-sib) = thirty

   ⌗삼 (sam) = three                                                           ⌗오십 (o-sib) = fifty

   ⌗오 (o)= five                                                                   ⌗칠십오 (chil-sib-o) = seventy-five

   ⌗십 (sib) = ten                                                                 ⌗백 (baek) = One Hundred

   ⌗이십 (i-sib) = twenty                     

Also keep in mind that not all locations possible to buy these bags will have all the sizes, mostly the bigger sized ones! 

몇 장? (myeot-jang?) = How many?

   ⌗하나 (ha-na) = one                                                                     ⌗여섯 (yeo-seot) = six

                                                

   ⌗둘 (dul) = two                                                                            ⌗일곱 (il-gob) = seven

   ⌗셋 (set) = three                                                                          ⌗여덟 (yeo-deolb) = eight

   ⌗넷 (net) = four                                                                            ⌗아홉 (a-hob)= nine

   ⌗다섯 (da-seot) = five                                                                   ⌗열 (yeol) = ten

My Waste Bags are full now what? 

At 42SHARE we have 3 waste bins to throw in your bags! 

The BLUE Waste Bin is where you will throw in your Recycle and Food waste bags, while the YELLOW Waste Bins are for General Waste. 

Please remember when throwing away your waste to put them in the right bag as explained in this post!! it is really important not only for the environment but for your pocket as well, since there will be a fine of ₩100,000 if recycling guidelines are not followed.

For more information go to: https://10mag.com/your-complete-guide-to-garbage-disposal-in-south-korea/

Once you get used to how to assemble your waste it won't be as stressful as it sounds!! We hope that you transition well into living in Seoul and don't forget to check out our other blog posts!!! 

Summer in Seoul

Surviving Seoul's Summer

The weather in Seoul during the summer can be a hassle for foreigners if humidity and rain is not common in your home country. However we will let you know some great tips to overcome this hot weather that can be overwhelming even for natives!! 

Clothing 

Last week's blog post we talked about how people living in Seoul dress pretty fashionably but how do we stay in fashion and fresh at the same time??? 

Of course it is recommended to wear breathable clothing that would absorb and cool your body. For some visual representation on how to stay cool here are some images: 

As for to shoes we recommend to wear sandals and you will also see that it is the most popular type of shoes to wear. If you do not feel comfortable on those any waterproof shoes should do the trick or slip on's as well according to the weather :) 

What to Carry Around? 

Of course when you are travelling you kind of already know what to carry around in your bag but in Seoul there are some items you will want as soon as possible!! 

One of them is a portable FAN!! these are great when you are making your way to the subway and already start feeling the heat. They come in slightly different sizes and prices, but it is common to find them at any subway station or chain stores such as Artbox (remember!). Prices range from ₩15,000 to ₩25,000 but it will be totally worth it!

You would also want to carry around some a handkerchief or tissue to dry off your face when sweating, because nobody wants to be seen as if they just ran a marathon when you are just walking by! 

Before you head out, you should check the weather if there would be any rain so you can carry an umbrella. Also remember from "Prepare to live in Seoul" blog post to where purchase one if you forget it!! Another thing to keep in mind is that rain in Korea does not last for long periods of time. Usually it would rain from 5 min to 10 min and then be fine for a couple hours more. 

Hope you prepare well when coming to Seoul in the Summer!! Remember to checkout our other posts about what to do in the Summer? 

Shopping, Banks and SIM Cards in Seoul!

Your Korean Home

Now that you are in Seoul, you should learn about where to find and purchase certain things in order to make your accommodation your new home! 

Where to...? 

Following will be a formatted list of certain items you can conveniently purchase for an affordable price! As you may have noticed, people in Korea take a lot of care on how they dress and look, and you may want to join in. For that following are a list of places where you can find fashionable on season clothing for an affordable price! 

Ewha University Shopping Area 

You may or may not have heard of this shopping area and how cute and stylish the clothing are. However when you plan to go there prepare to spend hours to decide which one to buy! Some of the perks of this shopping area is that you can do everything in one day. There are numerous of makeup stores and various hair salons to get a complete makeover. Also there are different clothing stores that slightly vary in style and a few number of shoe shops that cater all kinds of styles and sizes. 

Also is not just for women, there are options for men as well!! In clothing, shoes and care products so do not be discourage to look around!~ 

The map above illustrates the recommended shopping areas by locals since they are pretty popular and in reasonable prices. As you can see the purple line is known as "52 St." but is commonly not seen in the map, however is trendy for young women's clothes and accessories. The Yellow circle shows great areas to look for shoes and clothing for all genders also along your way you will see many popular makeup brand stores!! 

Hongdae Shopping Area 

Hongdae is one of the popular areas that you have heard because of their street dance, nightlife and food! Besides those great things to do, there are numerous clothing stores that you can explore around with a different style from Ewha Shopping Center. 

We also recommend to go shopping during the week or early in the weekend because of the popularity of the area!! 

Gangnam and Express Bus Terminal Stations

As you go around Seoul, you may notice that there are clothing stores in the subway stations so with older style and some not so. However we recommend to check out Gangnam for chic and classy clothing if that is more of your style. Keep in mind that you do have to scan out of the station to explore around~

Now for the Express Bus Terminal is the biggest underground shopping areas in Seoul and has a vast selections of stores to purchase clothes, shoes, accessories and even food!! The terminal is also known as GOTEO Mall (GOTEO in Korean means Express) which is popular for the ladies, to get there you go to any exit 8 and will eventually lead you to the Mall. 

Grocery Shopping!! 

We all love food! and would love to go out to eat everyday but sometimes miss to cook something at home or just getting some snacks while you study! In Seoul there are a few chain supermarkets that have many products but there are also local supermarkets that may have cheaper options! follow this link to learn the different options to grocery shop: https://www.korvia.com/a-newbies-guide-to-grocery-shopping-in-seoul/

Yonsei Hall 

For those who will be staying at our Yonsei hall location, there are some options for you to purchase your groceries! One of them is the Harmony Mart (하모니마트) which is across from the big street!! To get there just head towwards the big street from the Hall and cross, you won't be able to miss it!! Items are affordable and even cheaper than going to the convenience store!! 

The map illustrates how to get to the Harmony Market by walking in only 4 minutes!! The Blue point is where Yonsei Hall is located and the Red point is the Harmony Market location!! 

Sogang and Sogang Arrupe Hall 

As to Sogang Hall, a big grocery store is quite far from the accommodation but there are a lot of convenience stores to find snacks!! Also is good to know that cheaper fruit are found being sold by big blue trucks as the picture below. 

  

Banking in Korea

Going to a bank or using an ATM can be quite terrifying if you are not sure how to use one. However most ATM's in Korea accept Foreign Cards and have the option to complete your transaction in English and sometimes other languages as well! 

Personally for money exchange going to a Bank is the better option since they sometimes don't take additional fees for converting your cash! If you decide to do this make sure you bring either you passport or ARC with you as a form of ID! 

If you will be studying in Seoul, your school should help you to open up a Korean bank account in which you will be able to put money in and sometimes even use it as a T-Money Card. We can not guarantee that every bank will have English speaking staff but if you go to popular foreigner areas such as Itaewon, you will certainly have no problem!! 

SIM Cards in Korea

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Seoul, there are various options to which kind of SIM Card you would want to purchase as well as different options according to your travels. DON'T FORGET TO UNLOCK YOUR PHONE!! 

Pocket Wifi 

If you just want wifi and not having to deal with all of the SIM card options, another option for you can be a Pocket Wifi which can vary in prices depending on how many days you will use it. One of the cons about this option is that you will have to be carrying around the poceket wifi device but have better signal than a SIM card! Click this link for further details and different companies you can purchase one: https://pretraveller.com/best-pocket-wifi-rental-korea/

For an ongoing updated page about best SIM Card options click: https://pretraveller.com/best-sim-card-in-korea/

We hope you transition well into your new future home and find everything you need to feel comfortable! Remember to checkout our other blog posts about living in Seoul.