Korean culture offers a unique blend of the traditional with modern, with family being one of the most important aspects of daily life.  Koreans take great pride in their ancestry, and children are taught to respect their elders from a young age. 

Korea is on the cutting edge of technology. You can rent DVD rooms (little personal movie theaters), or sing with your friends in private karaoke chambers.  High-speed Internet cafes can be found everywhere.  Koreans are quickly assimilating many ways of the West, and their cities are concrete warrens of neon-lit restaurants and shops that are familiar to westerners.  Over the past 15 years Koreans have become fully accustomed to foreign teachers, and in many cases go out of their way to accommodate them.

South Koreans tend to work harder than westerners and will expect you to keep pace.  The Korean work week is typically 55 hours.  They also get little time off.  If you are constantly sick or absent, your employers will not hold you in high regard.  This can cause problems.  If you are willing to work hard, you will absolutely earn respect from your employer and colleagues.

Speaking Korean is certainly not required for you to enjoy living in Korea. However, if you do make an effort to learn the language, your experience will be richer. All Koreans speak the same language, Hanguel. Hanguel consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants that are combined to form syllabic groupings. There are several dialects of Hanguel, but they are so similar to each other that Koreans have little trouble understanding each other.

On the whole, Korean food has a reputation for being spicy and flavourful.  Garlic and hot pepper are commonly used as seasonings.  Kimchi, a fermented dish made of vegetables, salt, and other seasonings, is the best known and most popular type of Korean food.  It is popular among Koreans for its taste and high nutritional value.  In fact, kimchi is served at almost every meal.  While many foreigners find that it has an acquired taste, they readily admit to missing it when they return home.
Being polite and using table manners are an important part of the dining experience in Korea.  Some important things to remember are:
People do not point at others.

The cost of living in South Korea is quite low, especially when considering that your accommodations will be paid for by the school.  However, you should expect to pay approximately. 70,000 KRW per month for electricity, water, TV and gas although this can vary depending on your lifestyle.  Korea is well known for being a shopper's paradise! Great prices can be found for shoes, clothes, handbags, suitcases, leather goods, silk, antiques, reproductions, and all kinds of souvenirs. You can easily find makers of custom-made clothes and shoes of varying quality. Although department stores and most shops have fixed prices for items, bargaining can usually get a lower price with street vendors and in the major open air markets.  However, do not expect the same level of haggling conditions that exist in Thailand.
Pricing for some basic toiletries are listed as follows (all prices are approximate):

• Soap - 1,000
• Shampoo - 6,000 for a pack of two
• Toothpaste - 2,000
• Toothbrushes - 1,800
• Toilet paper - 2,500 for ten
• Deodorant - 11,000 (it is very hard to find and very expensive.)

It is a good idea to have one suit or dress for formal occasions. School dress is generally conservative. Men should wear pants and shirts with buttons. A shirt and tie is good at the beginning as a sign of respect. Women should avoid low-cut or overly tight clothes, but nice pants are fine. Earrings on men, and piercings in general are not acceptable in Korean schools. The schools are fairly conservative, and it is a good idea for you to be so as well.
You may or may not be able to find the types and brands of toiletries and beauty products that you use. If you are really attached to a certain product, bring enough of that with you to last until you find a suitable replacement.

- Land line Dial '1339' (No area code is required)
- Mobile phone: 'Dial your local area code + 1339'
In an emergency, call 1339 to contact an 'Emergency Medical Information Center' There are Emergency Medical Information Centers located in 12 cities and provinces throughout the country. They offer emergency medical information in real time. The centers are open 24 hours, 365 day a year. Counselors will refer patients to the appropriate medical centers. Doctors at the centers will carry out consultation and emergency measures over the telephone. If necessary, the centers can arrange ambulance transportation

After you arrive in Korea, your employer will take you to the bank to help you set up a Korean bank account. To open a bank in Korea you will need your passport, working visa and alien registration card. Some banks will ask you to provide photocopies of these documents.  You should also get set up with a Korean bank card as well, since your Canadian debit and credit cards may not work, or be accepted in stores.  Bank machines are pretty easy to find, though many do not operate 24 hours a day and will close at 11:00 pm. The major, and most reputable banks in Korea are, Foreign Exchange Bank, Kookmin, Woori Bank, Citibank, and Shinhan. 
Transferring money back home is relatively easy as most banks have some English-speaking employees who are able to help you fill out the forms. If you have a one year contract with a work visa you may send 60% of your earnings to your home country. However, some banks allow 80% while others ignore the policy and allow you to send 100%.  You will want to transfer a large amount if possible, as your bank in Canada may charge surprisingly high fees for receiving an overseas transfer, and the bank you transfer from in Korea will charge up to 10,000 won. In addition, your transfer may pass through other banks before it's gets where you want it to go and additional fees will be added, bringing the total anywhere from C$30/US$24 – C$50/US$40) per transfer.
One way to save money in foreign currency is to buy travelers' cheques, and to simply keep them at home. Be sure to sign them once so that you can have them replaced if they are lost or stolen. You may request a certified cheque be made out to your bank in your home country and then mail it home. The cost for this service is approximately 15,000won.