Moving to Korea? Super Simple Guide to Set Up Your Apartment in Korea

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Moving to Korea can be an intimidating venture. You might not come with anything more than a few bags of clothes, and your first apartment in Korea may very well have nothing inside. Don’t worry. If you’re moving to Seoul, follow this super simple guide to setting up your apartment in Korea, and you’ll feel at home right away!

Step #1: Go to Daiso for The Small Stuff

Daiso is a Japanese discount store that is wildly popular here in Korea. In Seoul, there’s seemingly a Daiso at every major subway station. But more than being easily accessible, the best thing about Daiso is that it’s crazy cheap. Every item in the store ranges from 1,000 won to 4,000 won. Nothing more, nothing less. So Daiso is the perfect store for those moving to Korea looking to furnish their apartment. Buy cups, knives, nail polish remover, birthday cards, dress shirts, picture frames, slippers, batteries, ramyun noodles and other random things that can be had on the cheap. Seriously, they have so much stuff. Just go and see for yourself. It’s amajing!

Step #2: Shop on Gmarket for the Big Stuff

When you get to your apartment in Korea, it might be just an empty room. Not all apartments in Korea come furnished, so you might have to get the big stuff (furniture, appliances, etc.) on your own. That’s where Gmarket comes in handy. Gmarket is the number one online retail shop in Korea, and just like online shopping anywhere else, Gmarket lets you sort by price, which will come in handy if you’re moving to Korea on a budget. But the best thing about shopping online for your apartment in Korea is, of course, the delivery! Big things like furniture and large appliances are almost impossible to carry around if you’ve just moved to Korea. Take advantage of superquick deliver (usually next business day), which is often a high-five inducing price of free (not always though ).

Tip 1: Gmarket is a Korean internet site (duh!), but Korean internet may be very different than what you are used to (navigation, user experience, etc.). Even if the language is set to English, it is still difficult for many people to navigate. If you can’t get a friend to help you, you can always check out this Gmarket guide.

Step #3: Go to a Major Supermarket for Everything Else

Super-sized supermarkets are all over Korea. These super supermarkets like E-mart and Home Plus can be so big they seem like mini-malls. Not only do they sell fresh produce and ramyun boxes, but they also have stalls that sell clothes, jewelry, underwear, appliances, tv’s and everything else under the sun. These supermarkets pretty much have everything you need inside a house. You can buy a bed to sleep on, food to eat, and even a pet iguana to cuddle with (if that’s your thing). Prices are comparable to those you’ll see on Gmarket, but the benefit of shopping here is you can see, feel and touch. You can also get everything under one roof. For the big stuff, many of these Korean supermarkets will also offer delivery. Find the biggest mega supermarket near your apartment in Korea quick. Your iguana awaits you

Have any other places you suggest going when moving to a new apartment in Korea? Share with us in the comments!