Korean Apartment Maintenance Bill: How to Read 관리비
An apartment bill marked 관리비 can be confusing because it may combine shared building costs with char…
Getting a Haircut in Korea: What to Say at the Salon
A haircut can go wrong even when you know the Korean word for “short.” The useful part is specifying…
How to Use a Coin Laundry in Korea (Wash & Dry Guide)
A Korean coin laundry is useful when your apartment washer is too small for bedding, you need a drye…
How to Use Naver Map in Korea (Google Maps Alternative)
Before you arrive in Korea, install a local map app. Google Maps may not provide the same level of l…
Seoul Bus Guide for Foreigners (Colors & T-money)
There’s a bus stop right outside my restaurant in Mapo, and I’ve lost count of how many …
Korean Drinking Etiquette: Rules Every Foreigner Should Know
At my first proper 회식 (staff dinner) years ago as a young cook, I made the classic rookie mistake: I…
Visiting a Korean Home: Etiquette Guide for Foreigners
Last Chuseok I invited one of my restaurant’s part-timers — a graduate student from Canada wit…
Tipping in Korea: Do You Tip? (The Simple Answer)
A tourist once left a 10,000-won bill tucked under his plate at my restaurant. My server spotted it,…
How to Order Food Not Spicy in Korea (Survival Guide)
I keep a carton of milk in the restaurant fridge that isn’t for coffee or cooking — it’s…