About
Hey, I'm Seon (선). Not Sean — but don't worry, I get that a lot.
I'm Korean, and Seoul is home. I started this blog because Korea runs on its own apps, its own rules, and its own way of doing things. And honestly? Google gets a lot of it wrong.
Visitors keep running into the same walls. Google Maps won't give you walking directions. The taxi app wants a Korean phone number. Your card gets declined at the one place you really wanted to eat. Most of the answers online are outdated, vague, or written by someone who's never actually tried it.
That's where I come in. I use Naver Map, Kakao T, and Korean banking apps every day. I can also read the Korean-only notices and fine print that never get translated. So I figure it out, try it myself, and walk you through it step by step.
What you'll find here
- Apps & Tech: Naver Map, Kakao T, food delivery, translation apps, and that dreaded phone verification
- Entry & Arrival: K-ETA, the e-Arrival Card, eSIMs, and getting from the airport into the city
- Money: using your foreign card, cash, T-money, and tax refunds
- Getting Around: the subway, KTX trains, and easy day trips
- Living in Korea: phone plans, bank accounts, and all the everyday paperwork
How I do things
- I actually try it. Every guide is based on what I did myself, with real screenshots.
- Real numbers, no guesswork. Prices, travel times, and fees, just as I found them.
- I keep it current. Rules and apps in Korea change all the time. Every post shows when I last checked it, and I update it when something changes.
- I'll give it to you straight. If something's a hassle or not worth the money, I'll tell you.
Got a question I haven't covered yet? Shoot me an email at seonfromseoul@gmail.com. It just might become my next post.
See you in Seoul!
— Seon