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S.H. Kim

I'm a software developer in the IT division of a Korean financial company. I was born and raised in Korea and live in the Seoul metro area with my wife and our seven-year-old daughter, commuting from Gyeonggi-do to Gangnam every weekday. I write about the parts of Korean life I actually deal with: work, money, parenting, food, and the paperwork in between.

How to Ride Seoul’s Late-Night Self-Driving Taxi in Gangnam (2026 Fares and Hours)

October 26, 2026 by S.H. Kim
Night traffic light trails on a Seoul street with the title Seoul's Self-Driving Taxi

Seoul’s Gangnam night robotaxi now has 19 cars and costs ₩4,800-₩6,700. Hours, Kakao T booking steps, the safety driver, and what Sangam’s November Level 4 changes.

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Do Foreign Parents Get Korea’s ₩1 Million Parental Benefit? (2026)

October 21, 2026 by S.H. Kim
Adult fist meeting a newborn's tiny fist, with the text Foreign Parents, Korea's 1M won Benefit?

Korea’s ₩1M parental benefit hinges on your child’s resident registration number, not your visa. Two family scenarios, monthly money and a dated checklist.

Categories Parenting in Korea Leave a comment

Seoul’s ₩62,000 Climate Card Is Gone: What Climate Card Plus Costs Now

October 16, 2026 by S.H. Kim
Seoul's Climate Card is gone: Climate Card Plus vs K-Pass transit cost 2026 cover graphic

Seoul’s ₩62,000 Climate Card ended in August 2026. Here is what Climate Card Plus (K-Pass) costs for 44, 20 and long-distance rides, and the ARC catch.

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Why Is a Roll of Kimbap Almost ₩4,000 in Seoul Now? The 2026 Price Ladder

October 5, 2026 by S.H. Kim

Seoul’s average kimbap roll hit ₩3,869 in July 2026, up 6.8% in a year. Here is the price ladder, the cost drivers, and what counts as a rip-off.

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Korea’s Boiler ‘Away Mode’ Button: A Decision Guide by Hours Away (Winter 2026)

October 3, 2026 by S.H. Kim
Wall-mounted thermostat panel on a textured white wall with boiler away mode headline

Away mode, off, or turn it down 1-2°C? A decision guide to Korean boiler settings by hours away and heating type, with the won math per degree.

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Why Doesn’t Korea Have a 4th Floor — or a 4th Army Division?

September 30, 2026 by S.H. Kim

Why Korean elevators skip the 4th floor, the army has no 4th Division, and red ink on a name still makes people flinch — a Seoul dad explains the pattern.

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I Tried a Rental E-Scooter as My Subway Backup in Seoul — Here’s Where the Law Caught Up With Me

September 30, 2026 by S.H. Kim

I rented a shared e-scooter in Seoul for a week as a subway backup. Here’s the license, age, and helmet law the sign-up screen never warned me about.

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Does My Daughter Need to Know Hangul Before First Grade? Inside Korea’s 65% Rule (2026)

September 29, 2026 by S.H. Kim
A small group of children in sun hats walking away in single file on a sunlit paved schoolyard path, colorful backpacks visible (pink, navy, camo), under the title "Does She Need Hangul Before First Grade? Korea's 64.8% Answer"

Korean law never requires Hangul before first grade, but 64.8% of parents teach it anyway — the packet, the policy, and what I’m actually doing.

Categories Parenting in Korea Leave a comment

I Nearly Paid ₩1.5M to Upsize My Jeonse — Korea’s 2026 Agent Fee Table

September 28, 2026 by S.H. Kim

Korea caps real estate agent fees by law. Here’s the 2026 rate table, the 10% VAT add-on, and why both tenant and landlord pay the same agent.

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Kimjang Got Cheaper — So Why Are 72% of Koreans Skipping It?

September 27, 2026 by S.H. Kim
Photo: Unsplash / Jason Leung

Kimjang got 5.6% cheaper in Korea between 2024 and 2025, yet 72% of households say they’re skipping it. Here’s what the real driver actually is.

Categories Food & Drink Leave a comment
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