Daily Life
Recycling rules, phone plans, must-have apps, delivery culture, and your driver's license — everything for daily life in Korea.
Last updated: March 2026
Waste & Recycling
Korea's waste system is strict and specific. Each type of waste has its own bag, bin, and rules — here's everything you need to know.
Food-contaminated waste, diapers, cigarette butts, broken items that don't fit other categories. Must use official designated bags (종량제 봉투) bought from any convenience store.
How to dispose
All food scraps: vegetable peels, leftovers, coffee grounds. Separate from general trash. In apartment buildings, use the designated food waste bin.
How to dispose
Paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, cans, metal. Sort into separate bags or bins at your building's recycling area.
How to dispose
Furniture, appliances, mattresses, large electronics. Cannot be left with regular trash — must purchase a disposal sticker.
How to dispose
⚠️ Breaking recycling rules in Korea can result in fines. When in doubt, ask your building manager (관리인).
Essential Apps
Google apps alone won't cut it. Korea has its own app ecosystem — here are the ones locals actually use.
The best navigation in Korea. Google Maps is unreliable here — Naver Maps knows every alley, every restaurant, real-time transit.
Subway route planner with real-time train tracking. Shows transfer routes and estimated arrival.
Best driving navigation app in Korea. Integrates with car GPS systems. Good for road trips.
The #1 food delivery app. Every Korean restaurant delivers. Requires Korean phone number. Some UI now in English.
Faster than Baemin (often 30 min). Smaller restaurant selection but excellent for quick orders.
Amazon equivalent in Korea. Next-day or same-day delivery for almost everything. Rocket delivery is extraordinary.
THE messaging app in Korea. Everyone uses it. You need this. Download it before you even land.
Naver's translation app. Superior to Google Translate for Korean. Camera translation is excellent for reading menus, signs, contracts.
Deep Korean-English dictionary with example sentences, conjugations, and pronunciation.
Korea's fintech super-app. Easy money transfers, credit score checking, spending analysis. Works with most Korean bank accounts.
Hana, Shinhan, KB each have apps. Hana and Shinhan have decent English support.
Find English-speaking doctors and clinics. Book appointments directly from the app. Filter by specialty and language.
Search '약국' on Naver Maps to find open pharmacies near you with real-time hours.
Korea's Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace. Buy/sell second-hand items locally. Great for finding furniture when you first arrive.
Price comparison across all Korean online shops. Best way to find the cheapest price for any product.
Phone Plans
Korea has some of the fastest mobile networks in the world. Here's how to pick a plan that works for you.
Price
₩33,000/ mo
Data
Calls
Available at airports, SKT stores, convenience stores. Good for short-term visitors and new arrivals without ARC.
Price
₩30,000/ mo
Data
Calls
Requires ARC. Good monthly value. KT has solid nationwide coverage.
Price
₩38,000/ mo
Data
Calls
More data than competitors. Requires ARC. Good choice if you stream a lot.
Price
₩10,000/ mo
Data
Calls
MVNO carriers (Hellovision, U+알뜰폰, etc.) piggyback on major networks at 1/3 the price. Great for budget-conscious residents.
💡 If you don't have an ARC yet, you can still get a pre-paid SIM at the airport. Ask for a 선불 유심 (prepaid SIM).
Delivery
Korea's delivery culture is world-class. Food, groceries, electronics, furniture — it all comes to your door, fast.
Order before midnight, get it next morning. Often same-day for orders before 2pm. Extraordinary service. Sign up for Coupang Rocket Wow membership (₩4,990/month) for free shipping.
30-60 min food delivery. Download the app, set your address, and browse. Most restaurants have photos. Minimum orders apply (usually ₩15,000-20,000).
Your delivery address in Korea should be in Korean format. When setting up apps, use your building's Korean address (찾기 with Naver Maps or ask your landlord). English addresses rarely work.
Most delivery people will call/text when they arrive (in Korean). Having a basic phrase ready helps: '문 앞에 놔주세요' (leave at the door) is useful.
Useful Korean phrase
Text this to the delivery person, or paste it into the delivery note field in the app.
Korean addresses
Korean addresses start big and get smaller. English addresses usually flip the order.
This uses Korea's official Road Name Address English API when a Juso approval key is configured on the server.
English mailing format
56, Dongnimmun-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 03745
Source: Korea Road Name Address English API
Move the building number before the road name, then add district, city, country, and postal code.
Sigwang Church example · Korean order
도로명주소 서울특별시, 서대문구, 독립문로 56, (우)03745
English mailing format · English order
Road-name address 56, Dongnimmun-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 03745
Driver's License
If you already have a license from home, you may be able to convert it without taking a test.
If your home country has a reciprocal agreement with Korea, you can convert your existing license without a test. Countries include: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, France, and 100+ others.
Visit a Driver's License Examination Office (운전면허시험장)
Bring: ARC, passport, your home country license + Korean translation (from a notary or Naver), 1 passport photo, ₩10,000 fee
Take an eye test on-site (quick, about 5 minutes)
If your country requires it: take a short road safety quiz (25 questions, easy, in English)
Receive your Korean license same day (or next day)
If your country doesn't have an agreement, you'll need to take the full Korean driving test (written + practical). Visit Kakao Navi's website or the Road Traffic Authority (도로교통공단) site for study materials in English.
Written theory test
70 questions, passing score 60%. Available in English.
On-course driving test
Slow-speed maneuvers in a test course. Straightforward if you prepare.
Road driving test
Actual road driving with an examiner. Usually 5km route.
🚗 Check the full list of agreement countries and study materials (in English) at the Road Traffic Authority site: koroad.or.kr