13 Best Places to Live in South Korea

South Korea (officially known as the Republic of Korea) is a country in East Asia that borders North Korea and is famous for its beautiful countryside, small coastal villages and sub-tropical islands.

Moving to South Korea affords a lot of good opportunities both professionally and personally. Let’s take a look at some of the best places to live in South Korea.

Sections

Best Places To Live In South Korea

City	Reason
Seoul	Best for work
Daejeon	Best for affordability
Busan	Best for families
Seoul, Itaewon	Best for immigrants
Gyeongju	Best for retirement
Seoul, Hongdae	Best for young adults
Suwon	Best for students
Daegu and Jeonju	Best for food and nightlife
Incheon	Best for singles
Seoul, Jongno	Best for the LGBT+ community
Daegu	Best for weather
Jeju Island	Best for beaches
Taebok	Best for mountains

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Work

South Korea is the fourth largest economy in Asia and many expats are considering relocating there to take advantage of its growing job market. Seoul is the capital of South Korea and a huge metropolitan city that blends high-tech advancements and cultural heritage.

Teaching English as a foreign language is a common job for expats but the other main industries in South Korea are vehicular manufacturing, chemicals and electronics. Some of the major companies in South Korea are Samsung, Hyundai and LG Electronics.

For many jobs in South Korea, a university degree is a requirement and it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of Korean before you decide to move. South Korea has a strong work culture and it’s common to work long hours during the week.

As well as Seoul, Busan – a port city – also has a thriving and growing job market with plenty of opportunities for foreign residents.

Cheapest Places To Live In South Korea

It’s worth noting that South Korea is an expensive country and that in the bigger cities, the cost of living can be quite high, though potentially offset by higher wages depending on the job.

Those who want to live in a big city without the cost associated with Seoul, Busan or Incheon could consider the central city of Daejeon, alongside the Geum River and surrounded by wonderful forests.

Daejeon is almost half as expensive as living in Seoul and the city has numerous perks such as the highly efficient transport systems. There are also several amenities such as museums and galleries which can be enjoyed on a budget.

Another more affordable city is Changwon which is the capital of Gyeongsangnam-do, which also has a range of affordable amenities and natural spots to enjoy.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Families

Deciding to relocate with a family can be challenging – you’ll need to take into account the amenities available in the city, the access to education and healthcare and living costs.

Busan is a great choice for families hoping to move to South Korea. The city is located on the southeast coast and, like Seoul, is a popular choice for foreigners and tourists.

There is a large expat community in Busan as well as international schools and the city has lots of fun cultural experiences honouring South Korea’s heritage while still being a modern city.

Seoul is another great choice for families due to the size of the city and the large already-established expat community. Keep in mind that both Busan and Seoul are expensive choices as they are the major cities in South Korea.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Immigrants

The city in South Korea with the largest foreign community is Seoul. Seoul’s the capital city of South Korea and is famous for attractions such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and Jogyesa Temple.

There are a lot of job opportunities in South Korea for expats hoping to teach English as a foreign language or who have university degrees in industries such as economics or technology. The city is modern and high-tech, offering a very high quality of life to their residents.

Foreign residents have traditionally settled in neighbourhoods north of the Han River. Itaewon, Hannam-dong and Ichon-dong are the residential districts with the largest expat communities.

In particular, Itaewon is full of Western restaurants and shops and English is commonly used, which can be comforting for those who are adjusting to the potential culture shock of moving to South Korea.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Retirement

South Korea is increasingly becoming a popular choice for retirees due to the high quality of life in the country. South Korea is also a stunning country with beautiful natural and historic sites.

Gyeongju is a coastal city in southeast South Korea and is known as the ‘museum without walls’ due to the huge amount of temples, tombs, rock carvings and pagodas throughout the city.

There are good amenities in Gyeongju; the public transportation system is efficient and there are plenty of local grocery shops. The climate in Gyeongju is warm and the rainy season is through June, July, August and September.

For those who want to be closer to the capital, Cheonan is a perfect option. It’s approximately an hour from Seoul and is slightly less busy than the capital with multiple baths, temples and museums.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Young Adults

Seoul is one of the best cities in South Korea for young adults. In particular, the Hongdae district is a particularly favoured spot for the youth in Seoul.

Hongdae has a range of nightclubs, shops and restaurants and is close to some of South Korea’s best universities. It has an urban art scene and is also famous for its indie music scene with lots of street festivals and performances.

The nightlife in Hongdae is also very popular with young adults. There are several underground clubs and hipster venues for young adults to explore and enjoy. As well as the bars, South Korea is known to have plenty of karaoke bars that serve alcohol and are open until the early hours.

Daegu is another South Korean city that is popular with young adults as it also has a range of good nightlife, delicious restaurants and a thriving underground music scene.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Students

South Korea is home to some of the world’s top-ranked universities including Seoul National University and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Suwon is the capital of Gyeonggi Province and is famous for the Hwaseong Fortress which has four arched gates with pagodas situated on top.

It is also an educational hub in South Korea with easy access to Seoul. The well-known universities of Kyung-hee and Sungkyunkwan are also based in Suwon, as well as the Gyeonggi Suwon International School.

Suwon is also much more affordable than Seoul as well as having lots of historical sites scattered throughout the city – perfect for a student with an interest in South Korea’s history and culture.

Seoul and Busan are other good cities for students as both offer good quality of life as well as having large expat communities.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Food and Nightlife

Daegu is located in the North Gyeongsang Province and is commonly known for once being the economic capital of South Korea. It has a good quality of life with a range of bars, cafes and restaurants.

Daegu is known for its nightlife – ranging from music houses and halls to underground clubs that stay open to the early hours. The main area for nightlife is Yasi-golmok, Rodeo Street, and the Kyungpook University district.

There are many fantastic cities in South Korea for enjoying the local cuisine – South Korea has great seafood as well as meat and vegetable dishes. It is also common for residents to eat in their local convenience store as the stores provides microwaves and hot water for noodles and snacks.

Jeonju is known as the food capital of South Korea, with a dynamic food scene; in 2012 the city was designated a Unesco City of Gastronomy. The city has a range of food stalls, markets and restaurants which have a variety of local ingredients and dishes that are sure to delight even the most seasoned and well-travelled foodie.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Singles

Bordering the capital of Seoul is the city of Incheon which is home to approximately three million people. For some, Incheon is considered to be part of Seoul but Incheon has an entirely independent economy.

Incheon is very welcoming to foreigners and expats and even has the title of ‘English City’, which makes it the perfect place for singles hoping to move to South Korea and make new connections.

It is also less fast-paced than Seoul while still being a modern and up-to-date city with convenient amenities and more affordable housing. This is particularly good for single people who may be purchasing housing alone.

Incheon is also a very romantic spot due to its view of the surrounding islands – with some of them being used as filming locations for famous romantic K-dramas.

Busan is another good city for single people that is slightly more fast-paced than Incheon. Dating apps are commonly used in South Korea and Busan has plenty of bars and events to meet new people.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for the LGBT+ Community

When considering moving to South Korea as a member of the LGBT+ community, it’s worth knowing that the country has a complex relationship with homosexuality and discrimination.

While it is legal to be gay in South Korea, same-sex marriage is illegal and there are no anti-discrimination laws in place to protect members of the community.

The country is known to be socially conservative and it is worth considering this if you are a member of the LGBT+ community.

However, Seoul does have a neighbourhood that caters to the community with bars lined along the Jongno 3-ga Road in Jongno. There is also a district in Itaewon called ‘The Hill’ which is welcoming of the LGBT+ community.

Best Places To Live In South Korea for Weather

The weather in South Korea can be easily divided into four seasons, with beautiful cherry blossoms during the Spring and glorious sunshine during the summer.

Winters in South Korea are long and dry and though the period is very sunny, the snow likely won’t dry. The winter season can be very cold and bitter depending on where you choose to settle in the country – winds can sweep in from Russia.

The monsoon season in South Korea runs from the beginning of June until the end of July.

For those hoping to move to a warm city, Daegu gets the hottest weather during the summer season – the warmth can sometimes be stifling and the city can get very muggy.

Jeju Island is South Korea’s largest island and is another spot that has lovely warm summers, but there is more wind making it more tolerable than city summers.

Best Places To Live In South Korea Near Beaches

South Korea is surrounded by subtropical islands and the largest is Jeju Island. Jeju Island is the only island to have a ferry dock and airport and is surrounded by outstanding beaches and stunning views.

Jeju City is the main city on Jeju Island and is a popular tourist location during the summer. The island was designated as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2002 and as a World Natural Heritage in 2007.

Jeju Island has a lot of beaches and a coastline of more than 200 kilometres. Hyeopjae and Geumneung Beach are two well-known beaches on Jeju Island that are connected by a long strip of sand.

Pyoseon Haevichi is another one of the most famous beaches on Jeju Island and has stunning white sand and lovely shallow water, perfect for a dip or paddling.

Best Places To Live In South Korea Near Mountains

Taebok is in Gangwon Province and it shares its name with the Taebok Mountains – a mountain ridge that runs through both North and South Korea.

It is the highest city in South Korea and has a known scene for winter sports and the annual Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival which has various themes and attractions to enjoy the large amounts of snow the city receives.

The main mountains near Taebok are Daedeok, Maebong, Baekbyeong, Yeonhwa and Hambaek. As well as the mountains there are nearby rivers and valleys which provide wonderful natural trails and walks.

Gongju is a city in South Chungcheong province and is near the Gyeryongsan mountain. The city is cultural and historic with many sites such as the Gongju Gongsanseong Fortress and Buddhist Temples such as Magoksa.