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Kang & Kriel Recruitment
What to pack (and what not to pack) when moving to Korea to teach English — organized by category: documents, clothing, electronics, personal items, and things to buy in Korea instead.
Pack essential documents (passport, apostilled degree, background check, contract copies), 1-2 weeks of clothing suitable for the season, your laptop and phone with charger, personal medications with prescriptions, and comfort items from home that are hard to find in Korea. Keep your luggage under two checked bags — Korea has excellent shopping for most items at reasonable prices.
Carry all original documents in your hand luggage: passport, apostilled degree, apostilled background check, employment contract, TEFL certificate, university transcripts, 6-8 passport photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm), and printed copies of your flight itinerary and school contact information. Digital scans stored in cloud storage serve as backup.
Losing your apostilled documents would delay your visa process by months. Never put originals in checked luggage. Keep physical copies in a document organizer and digital copies in Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox. Also carry a printed copy of your school address in Korean characters (한글) for the taxi from the airport. If your school is sending someone to meet you, bring their name and phone number printed out.
Pack 1-2 weeks of season-appropriate clothing. Korea has four distinct seasons: hot humid summers (June-August), cold dry winters (December-February), and mild spring and fall. If you wear larger sizes (above US men L or women 10), bring more clothing as Korean sizes run smaller. Professional teaching attire is expected at Korean schools — pack at least 3-5 work-appropriate outfits.
Korean fashion is excellent and affordable — stores like Uniqlo, Zara, and local brands are everywhere. However, shoe sizes above US men 11 or women 9.5 are difficult to find. If you have large feet, bring enough shoes for all seasons. For winter, Korea gets genuinely cold (down to -15°C in Seoul). You can buy a quality Korean padded coat (패딩) for 50,000-150,000 KRW after arrival. Avoid packing bulky winter gear — buy it locally. Pack versatile layers rather than heavy items to save luggage space.
Korea uses 220V power with Type C and Type F round two-pin outlets. Bring a universal adapter or Korean-specific adapter. Your laptop likely handles 110-220V automatically (check the power brick label). US 110V devices like hair dryers or straighteners will need a voltage converter, not just an adapter.
Bring your laptop, phone, charging cables, and any adapters you need. Consider bringing a portable power bank for commuting. Korea has some of the fastest internet in the world — your apartment will likely have 100 Mbps or faster Wi-Fi included. If you use a Kindle or e-reader, bring it — English books in Korea are expensive (2-3x home country prices). External hard drives are useful for storing lesson materials and personal media.
Bring all prescription medications with documentation (doctor letter and prescription label), enough supply for your first 2-3 months. Deodorant in Western brands has limited availability in Korea. If you have specific dietary supplements, sunscreen brands, or hygiene products you prefer, bring a starter supply. Contact lens solution and common over-the-counter medications are widely available in Korea.
Korean pharmacies (약국) are on every block and carry most common medications without prescription. However, some Western medications are not available or have different formulations. If you take prescription medication, bring your doctor letter in English describing the medication, dosage, and condition. Bring a 3-month supply to cover the period before you find a Korean doctor. For comfort items: bring your favorite pillow if you have space, photos from home, a small amount of your favorite snacks, and any hobby supplies that would be expensive or hard to find in Korea.
Do not pack heavy winter coats (excellent and cheap in Korea), kitchen supplies (your apartment is furnished), toiletries beyond a starter supply (Korean skincare and hygiene products are world-class), or excessive amounts of clothing. Korea has Daiso (everything for 1,000-5,000 KRW), Coupang (next-day delivery for nearly anything), and excellent convenience stores.
Korean apartment furnishing varies but typically includes a bed, desk, wardrobe, washing machine, refrigerator, air conditioner, and basic kitchen equipment. Buy bedding, towels, and kitchen extras at Daiso or Emart after arrival. Korean skincare products are genuinely excellent and more affordable than imported Western brands. Coupang (the Korean equivalent of Amazon) delivers most items next-day, even to rural areas. Do not waste luggage space on things that are cheap and easy to buy locally.
Gather all original documents, make physical copies, and upload digital scans to cloud storage. Place originals in a carry-on document organizer.
Duration: 2 hoursConfirm your airline baggage allowance (typically 2 checked bags of 23 kg each for long-haul flights). Weigh your bags before heading to the airport.
Duration: 30 minutesPack 1-2 weeks of season-appropriate clothing plus professional teaching outfits. Leave space for items you will buy in Korea.
Duration: 1-2 hoursCheck all device power bricks for 220V compatibility. Buy Korean-compatible adapters if needed. Pack chargers in carry-on.
Duration: 30 minutesPack prescription medications with documentation, personal comfort items, and any hard-to-find products in Korea.
Duration: 1 hourSenior ESL Consultant & TESOL Trainer
8+ years of experience
Two checked bags (23 kg each) and a carry-on is ideal. One bag for clothing, one for personal items and comfort goods. Your carry-on should hold all documents, electronics, and 1-2 days of essentials in case checked luggage is delayed. Avoid overpacking — you will buy things in Korea.
Yes, but international shipping is expensive (a 10 kg box costs $60-150 USD via USPS, FedEx, or DHL). It is usually more cost-effective to pack extra luggage or buy items in Korea. If you must ship, allow 2-4 weeks for delivery and have your Korean school address ready.
Bringing small gifts from your home country is a thoughtful gesture and appreciated in Korean workplace culture. Local snacks, chocolates, coffee, or small souvenirs representing your hometown or country are ideal. Do not spend much — it is the gesture that matters. Prepare 5-10 small gifts for your immediate colleagues.
Many teacher apartments have a bed frame with mattress. Some have a floor sleeping setup (traditional Korean style) with a thin mattress on heated flooring (ondol). If you prefer a bed frame and your apartment does not have one, you can buy an affordable frame from Coupang for 100,000-200,000 KRW.
No. A laptop is sufficient and far more practical for the move. Korean internet cafés (PC방) are available if you need a desktop setup temporarily. If you are a gamer, consider bringing a laptop with decent specs rather than shipping a desktop.
Sarah Chen. (2026, April 1). Packing Checklist for ESL Teachers Moving to Korea. ESL365. https://esl365.com /knowledge-hub/packing-checklist