Seoul’s ₩62,000 Climate Card Is Gone: What Climate Card Plus Costs Now
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.
Money & Life
The financial reality of a Korean worker — rent, salary, cost of living, and money culture.
I Nearly Paid ₩1.5M to Upsize My Jeonse — Korea’s 2026 Agent Fee Table
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.
Korea’s Proposed 21% Flat Tax for Foreigners: Break-Even Is About ₩156M (2027)
Korea’s bill would raise the foreigner flat income tax from 19% to 21% (EY: income from 2027). My model shows flat beats regular rates above about ₩156M.
I Almost Paid a 40% Fee for a Dinner I Never Confirmed
Korea’s no-show fee cap jumped from 10% to 20-40% on Dec 18, 2025 — plus new wedding hall and hotel cancellation rules foreign diners need to know.
I Gave ₩50,000 at a Korean Wedding. Everyone Else Gave Double.
How much to give at a Korean wedding in 2026, by relationship, why the average jumped past ₩100,000, and the odd-number rule nobody explains.
Why My Coworker Never Walks Into a Bank to Send Money Home From Korea
Sending 500,000 won home from Korea costs 4x more by bank wire than by Hanpass, GME, or E9Pay. Here is the real fee and FX-spread math for 2026.
Do Foreigners Get Severance Pay in Korea? Here’s the Full Process
Yes, foreign workers get severance pay in Korea after one year. Here’s the 14-day rule, the IRP exception, E-9/H-2 insurance, and $5,000 wire threshold.
Korea’s New Management Fee Disclosure Law, and the Refund I Almost Missed
Korea’s Aug. 28, 2026 law makes agents explain your management fee, and reveals a refundable repair-fund charge most renters never claim back.
Why Korea’s 3.3% Freelancer Tax Cut Isn’t Actually a Tax Cut
Korea’s freelancer withholding tax drops to 2.2% in 2027 — but the final tax bill stays the same. Here’s what actually changes, and how refunds work.
Korea’s Pension Rate Just Jumped to 9.5%. Are You Even Covered?
Korea’s National Pension rate rose to 9.5% in January 2026. Here’s the real paycheck math, and the three separate rules deciding who’s exempt.