Know Before You Go: Korea
by Rachel Carpenter - October 26th, 2021
This article is part of our "Know Before You Go" series, which helps military families moving to overseas duty stations.
Congratulations! You have received notification that you are moving to Korea! You are either thrilled or terrified, and moving OCONUS is a bit of both these emotions.
You might be a tad overwhelmed with it all: the logistics of a long-distance move, the planning, the reality of living in a foreign country, etc. There are plenty of people and organizations there to support you and assist with the move, but there are still so many things that you will not be prepared for. You can learn the language, read books and blogs about what to expect in your new home, and brace yourself for the culture shock...and you will still be unprepared.
But don’t let this alarm you! I have moved and lived overseas and while I do not have every possible scenario you might encounter, I can give you some things to consider before you arrive that can help you acclimate and truly enjoy your time OCONUS.
Know before you go: Korea edition
Decide if your entire family will move: Tours to Korea are often unaccompanied, meaning that the service member alone is authorized to move there. The tours are shorter, but it is at least a year apart. There are orders that authorize dependents to gain command sponsorship and move too! But you might also decide that you want to move as a family, even if your service member is not authorized an accompanied tour. If that is the case, you must consider that your move and housing will not be paid for (the military will only pay for the service member) and you must submit an Exception to Policy letter to explain your reasons for this.
While no one wants to live apart from their family, you might not have a choice or you might decide that you would rather do a shorter, unaccompanied tour instead of taking your entire family. It’s a decision that only you and your family can make, but consider it carefully and weigh all the factors (housing, finances, travel, etc.).
Make sure your smartphone is unlocked: You will need a Korean phone plan but do not need to purchase a new phone! Most phones are unlocked or can be for a small price. I learned this the hard way in my first OCONUS move and ended up purchasing a low tech, terrible phone. Ask your sponsor about what providers are best for your duty station.
Contact your sponsor ASAP: This is vital for any OCONUS move! But after speaking with several friends and from my husband’s experience, your sponsor is your go-to, “boots on the ground” source for the most current information, especially in Korea. What can you expect when you arrive? What hotel should you reserve? Do you need Korean won or will your credit cards work upon arrival? This is the person who can connect you to your new unit AND your new country.
Figure out what housing will look like: Just like in Europe, housing in Korea is very different than the U.S. There are few standalone houses here; most families live in apartments or townhouses. If you do find a home, it is much smaller than you are used to! If you are required to live on base or allowed to, you may not even need to bring furniture! Many are furnished. If you decide to live off base, contact the housing office to find a list of realtors to help you find a home. You can also search on Homes.mil to see what options you may have and can afford with your OHA, or Overseas Housing Allowance.
Prep and plan for your four-legged family members: They will be moving, too! All overseas moves with pets require an international health certificate, but some countries require blood tests or vaccines. Korea is one of those. Your pet must have a rabies titer test (completed within one year of arrival), a current rabies vaccination, and an international health certificate with the USDA stamp dated ten days or less from your arrival. My recommendation is to work with a military veterinarian if possible; they help people PCS with pets all the time and all over the world, so they are best prepared to assist you and your pets. And don’t forget to book them on your flight! This can be a major expense, which brings me to the next point...
Start saving: Start saving money now to help you pay for your move. You will receive reimbursement for some expenses but things like your pet’s , a rental car, or housing deposits will not be eligible. Start socking away some cash and if you end up not needing it, you have more savings!
Pick up conversational Korean or Hangul: It is true that English is common and frequently used in Korea. But as a sign of cultural respect, try to learn a little. It helps you connect with the country and the culture. Also, it can assist you if you are in a location with little English or if you have special dietary requirements. Try a language app and get started before you arrive.
Korea is a bustling, busy country with so much culture to explore. Hopefully, this will help prepare you and your family for an adventure and to settle in quickly.
행운을 빕니다 haeng-un-eul bibnida (good luck)!
Rachel is the co-owner and editor of The Military Mom Collective. She has been an Air Force spouse for 18 years and is a mother of four children. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys reading as many books as possible and drinking all of the coffee. Rachel is also the editor at AMSE, the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs, and a freelance writer. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications. She has been writing for over 10 years and loves staying connected with the military community. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
