Your First Week in South Korea: A Day-by-Day Survival Guide | Admissions.kr

You have just stepped off a long flight, navigated Incheon Airport with jet lag and heavy luggage, and now you are standing in South Korea — your home for the next year, two years, or more. The excitement is real, but so is the overwhelming to-do list. Bank account. Phone number. ARC. Insurance. Where to eat. How to use the subway. It is a lot.

This guide organizes your first seven days into a structured, day-by-day plan. Follow it in order and by the end of the week, you will have every essential squared away, freeing you to focus on what you came here for: your education.

Before Day 1: What to Prepare at Home

Before leaving your home country, handle these items:

Day 1 (Arrival Day): Airport to Your New Home

At the Airport

Step 1: Immigration and baggage

Pass through immigration control. Have your passport, visa, and return address ready.
Collect your luggage from the carousel.
Clear customs (green lane if nothing to declare).

Step 2: Get a SIM card or WiFi

Visit the SKT, KT, or LG U+ booth in the arrivals hall.
Buy a prepaid tourist SIM (30-day, unlimited data: ~45,000–55,000 KRW) or rent a pocket WiFi.
This gives you immediate internet access for navigation and communication.

Step 3: Get to your destination

AREX (Airport Railroad Express): Direct train from Incheon to Seoul Station in 43 minutes (~9,500 KRW for express, ~4,850 KRW for all-stop).
Airport limousine bus: Comfortable buses to major areas across Seoul and other cities (~10,000–18,000 KRW).
Taxi: Convenient but expensive (~65,000–90,000 KRW to central Seoul). Consider splitting with other arriving students.
University shuttle: Many universities offer airport pickup for new students. Check with your international office in advance.

Step 4: Settle into your accommodation

Check into your dormitory or apartment.
Confirm your room works: electricity, hot water, air conditioning/heating, WiFi password.
Unpack essentials. Leave detailed organizing for later.

Step 5: Find food and basic supplies

Locate the nearest convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24) for water, snacks, and toiletries.
Try the nearest restaurant — point-and-order is fine; most places have picture menus.
Download Baemin (배달의민족) or Coupang Eats for food delivery. These work without a Korean bank account if you have an international card.

Day 1 Checklist

Day 2: University Orientation and Campus Exploration

Morning: Orientation

Most universities hold orientation sessions in the first few days. This is essential — do not skip it.

What orientation covers:

Academic calendar and registration
Campus tour (library, student center, cafeteria, health center)
International student office introduction
ARC application guidance (many universities coordinate group applications)
Student ID card issuance
Dormitory rules (if applicable)
Buddy/mentor program signup
Health insurance information
Campus safety and emergency contacts

What to bring to orientation:

Passport
Certificate of Admission
Passport-size photos (2–3)
A notebook and pen
Your phone (charged)

Afternoon: Explore Campus

After orientation, walk around your campus:

Library: Get your library card and learn the study room reservation system (usually through the university app)
Cafeteria (학생식당): Student cafeterias offer meals for 3,000–5,000 KRW — the cheapest healthy food option
Health center: Know where it is before you need it
International student office: Introduce yourself; they are your lifeline for the next few years
Nearest subway/bus station: Learn the route between campus and your accommodation

Evening: Set Up KakaoTalk

If you have not already:

Download KakaoTalk from the App Store or Google Play.
Register with your Korean phone number (from your prepaid SIM).
Set up your profile.
Join your university's international student group chats (ask at orientation or check the university's social media for links).

KakaoTalk is how Korea communicates. Professors, classmates, study groups, and social events all flow through KakaoTalk.

Day 2 Checklist

Day 3: ARC Application

Your Alien Registration Card is the foundation for everything else (bank account, insurance, work permits), so tackle this early.

If Your University Handles Group ARC Applications

Submit your documents to the international office (passport copy, photos, enrollment certificate, application form, housing proof).
The university submits applications in bulk.
Your ARC will arrive by mail in 2–3 weeks.

If You Apply Individually

Book an appointment on Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr) — do this today even if your appointment is days away.
Gather documents: passport, application form, photo, enrollment certificate, proof of residence, TB test results (if required), 30,000 KRW fee.
Visit the immigration office on your appointment date.

While waiting for your ARC, keep your passport with you at all times as your primary ID.

For the complete ARC process, see our Alien Registration Card Guide.

Day 3 Checklist

Book Hi Korea appointment (or submit documents to university)
Prepare all ARC documents
Visit immigration office (if appointment is today)
Buy T-money transportation card at convenience store

Day 4: Transportation Mastery

Get a T-money Card

A T-money card (or Cashbee card) is a rechargeable transit card used for:

Subway
City buses
Some taxis
Convenience store purchases

Where to buy: Any convenience store (2,500–4,000 KRW for the card). Recharge at convenience stores or subway station machines.

How much to load: Start with 20,000–30,000 KRW. A single subway ride costs 1,400 KRW (base fare), and a bus ride costs 1,200 KRW.

Learn the Subway

Korean subway systems are world-class:

Apps: Download KakaoMap or Naver Map for real-time transit directions in English
Signage: All stations have English signage, announcements in English, and numbered stations
Hours: Approximately 5:30 AM – midnight (varies by line)
Cost: 1,400 KRW base fare (up to 10 km), increases by distance
Transfer discount: Free transfers between subway and bus within 30 minutes

Learn the Bus System

Bus numbers and routes are shown on Naver Map and KakaoMap
Blue buses: Long routes across the city
Green buses: Local neighborhood routes
Red buses: Express routes to suburbs
Tap your T-money card when boarding AND exiting (transfer discount calculation)

Explore Your Neighborhood

Walk around your neighborhood and locate:

Nearest subway station
Nearest bus stop
Supermarket (이마트, 홈플러스, or local mart)
Laundromat (if your building does not have a washing machine)
Pharmacy (약국)
Clinic (의원)
Post office (우체국)
Banks (국민, 신한, 우리, 하나)

Day 4 Checklist

Buy and charge T-money card
Take your first subway ride
Take your first bus ride
Explore neighborhood on foot
Locate key facilities (supermarket, pharmacy, bank)

Day 5: Bank Account

Once you have your ARC (or even before, with limited functionality), open a Korean bank account.

Choose Your Bank

Pick a bank that has an ATM on campus and a branch near your home. KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, and Hana are all solid choices.

What to Bring

Passport
ARC (or passport + enrollment certificate if ARC is not ready yet)
Korean phone number
Proof of address
Student enrollment certificate

At the Bank

Allow 30–60 minutes for the process
You will receive a debit card (체크카드) and passbook (통장)
Set up mobile banking on your phone with the help of the bank staff
Set up auto-payment for monthly NHIS premiums (when they start)

After the Bank

Set up KakaoPay (link your bank account in KakaoTalk for mobile payments)
Register for Naver Pay for online shopping
Enable transaction alerts (SMS or push notifications)

For the detailed bank guide, see our Korean Bank Account Guide.

Day 5 Checklist

Day 6: Phone Plan Upgrade and Shopping

Upgrade Your Phone Plan

If you started with a prepaid tourist SIM, now is the time to evaluate longer-term options:

MVNO (budget carrier): Best value for most students (15,000–35,000 KRW/month)
Big Three contract: More reliable service, student discounts available (30,000–55,000 KRW/month)
You need your ARC for a contract plan. If your ARC is not ready yet, keep your prepaid SIM and upgrade later.

Essential Shopping

Now that you have a bank account and can use Korean payment methods, stock up on essentials:

From Daiso (다이소) — Korea's best budget store:

Kitchen utensils, cleaning supplies, storage containers
Hangers, extension cords, desk organizer
Most items 1,000–5,000 KRW

From a supermarket (이마트, 홈플러스, or online via Coupang):

Rice, ramen, cooking oil, soy sauce, eggs
Seasonal fruits and vegetables
Toiletries and laundry detergent

From Coupang (쿠팡) — Korea's Amazon:

Larger items (bedding, desk lamp, router, rice cooker)
Rocket delivery: order by midnight, arrive by 7 AM the next day
Sign up for Rocket WOW membership (4,990 KRW/month) for free delivery on all orders

Day 6 Checklist

Evaluate phone plan options
Visit Daiso for household essentials
Grocery shop at a supermarket
Order any needed items on Coupang
Register for university course portal/LMS

Join Student Organizations

Korean universities have vibrant club cultures (동아리):

International student clubs: Designed for foreign students, organize trips, cultural events, and social gatherings
Language exchange clubs: Practice Korean while helping Korean students practice your language
Sports clubs: Hiking, soccer, basketball, badminton, taekwondo
Academic clubs: Study groups, research clubs, career development

Connect with Your Country's Student Community

Most universities have student associations organized by nationality or region:

Vietnamese Student Association
Chinese Student Association
South Asian Student Association
Central Asian Student Association
African Student Association

These groups provide invaluable support: advice from students who have been through everything you are experiencing, familiar food gatherings, cultural celebrations, and a support network for tough times.

Set Up Remaining Digital Services

University email: Set up and check your university email account
LMS (Learning Management System): Register for the course portal (Blackboard, Canvas, or university-specific)
Coupang account: Register for online shopping
Baemin/Coupang Eats: Set up food delivery
Naver Map: Save your campus, home, and key locations as favorites
Papago: Bookmark this translation app for daily use

Explore Beyond Campus

Take the subway or bus to a popular area and explore:

Seoul: Hongdae (youth culture), Myeongdong (shopping), Gwanghwamun (historic), Gangnam (modern)
Busan: Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village
Daegu: Dongseongno shopping district
Other cities: Downtown area, local market, cultural landmarks

Exploring helps combat homesickness and builds confidence in navigating your new city.

Day 7 Checklist

Join 1–2 student clubs or organizations
Connect with nationality-based student community
Set up university email and course portal
Register for essential apps (Coupang, Baemin, Naver Map)
Explore a neighborhood beyond campus
Call/video chat family to share your first week

The Master Checklist: Week 1 Summary

By the end of your first week, you should have completed:

Critical (Must-Do)

Arrived and settled into accommodation
Got SIM card / phone connectivity
Attended university orientation
Started ARC application process
Got T-money card and learned transit
Opened bank account (or scheduled it)
Set up KakaoTalk

Important (Should-Do)

Explored campus and neighborhood
Set up mobile banking and KakaoPay
Joined student groups / social connections
Set up university email and LMS
Stocked up on household essentials
Registered for essential apps

Nice-to-Have (Can Wait)

Upgraded to long-term phone plan (wait for ARC)
Set up home internet (if off-campus)
Visited doctor/dentist for any pre-existing needs
Applied for part-time work permit (after ARC)
Set up remittance service for sending money home

Coming Weeks: What is Next

Week 2–3:

Receive your ARC
Upgrade phone plan with ARC
Apply for part-time work permit (if needed)
NHIS enrollment will process automatically

Week 4:

Receive NHIS card
Set up NHIS auto-payment
Classes are in full swing — settle into academic routine

Month 2+:

Academic life becomes the focus
Explore Korea on weekends (day trips, overnight trips)
Build your social network
Consider part-time work opportunities

Final Thoughts

Your first week in Korea is intense but manageable if you take it one day at a time. The most important thing is to handle the critical items (SIM, ARC, bank, transit) early so they do not pile up alongside your academic workload. Everything else — from finding the best kimbap restaurant to learning how to use the coin laundry — will come naturally with time.

Korea is an incredibly organized, efficient, and welcoming country for international students. The systems are designed to work, the infrastructure is world-class, and there are support networks at every turn. Trust the process, ask for help when you need it, and enjoy the adventure.