Since I was unemployed after graduating from college in the US, (what a surprise, I majored in Philosophy- not exactly a job goldmine) I had a lot of free time to research teaching and living in South Korea. With regards to the living aspect, I found a lot of good information and a lot of misinformation. I think the misinformation may have stemmed from either laziness, non-resourcefulness, or ignorance-- whatever. Based on all of this information, good or bad, my husband, Christian, and I brought way too many unnecessary items, totaling 6 suitcases and costing $220 extra USD.
Since I have only lived in Daegu, I can only vouch for things I've seen here. Smaller citites may have much less selection and definitely will not have a Costco like Daegu. I think a good and definitive list of things to bring is of utmost importance to someone coming to Daegu, South Korea to live for at least one year.
Necessary:
Prescriptions- anything you currently take regularly or for certain conditions that come and go (asthma, allergies, etc.), bring a few months supply to avoid having to go to the doctor in your first couple (read: super stressful) months.
Contacts- up to a one year's supply if you want to avoid going to the eye doctor here.
Glasses- in good condition and up to date.
Special contact solution- I use a hydrogen peroxide solution that I haven't seen here- do not bring giant bottles of ReNu and such- it is available at large stores here (E-mart/HomePlus) or at an optometrist's office.
Particular cosmetics- available brands here are Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Clinique, Aveda, Lancome, L'Oreal, Stila, MAC, Origins, Bobbi Brown, etc. So if you can't use any of these widely available brands, bring your own cleanser/lotion/cosmetics. I like Bare Minerals and I haven't seen that here, so I'm glad that I brought a bunch. I think the prices in Korea are slightly higher, but factor in not having to pack an extra suitcase for cosmetics, etc. and save $110!
Basic First Aid Kit- this will save you hassles and annoyances in trying to bandage small cuts and other things that happen while moving/unpacking. Band-aids, hydrocortisone cream, antibiotic cream, and small container of hand sanitizer/wipes will be sufficient.
Medicine: Bring cold medicine! You will more than likely get sick at least once after arriving and more than likely soon after arriving. Bring Advil! Bring Midol if you use it. Anything you take at least once a month, BRING IT! You don't want to spend all your free time the first month hunting for things like medicine, especially if you get sick.
Deodorant: A must! I can't recall seeing any deodorant here. I brought three sticks and a travel stick.
Toothpaste: Bring your favorite kind. I bought a large package at Costco before coming. Toothpaste is widely available here if you have no preference. American brands are a little more pricey.
Ladies Only: You can bring a large amount of tampons if you want, they are available here, but VERY expensive. If you use a specific kind or type, bring them. Bring panty-liners if you like, I have only seen large pads here. I brought my year's supply.
Towels: Bring a few large towels with you! They are rare and expensive here. Bring a face or hand towel if you like.
Sheets: Unless you hate top-sheets, bring a set of sheets with you. Chances are, you will have a naked bed in your new apartment and the fact that I brought a set of sheets, pillowcases, and a blanket from home saved me money, time, and annoyance. Fitted sheets are available for around $20. Larger department stores have sheet/comforter, etc. sets for around $200 or more. I'm sure you can also bargain shop for these items but I haven't had to do so.
Clothes: Bring casual and formal clothes; you'll need formal clothes to meet with the DMOE and for fancy outings and meetings. Asian sizes are different and some people have difficulty finding clothes that fit the same way. Pantyhose or stockings would be a good addition to your belongings.
Costco Card: If you already have a Costco membership, bring your card with you! If you want a membership, it's super easy and costs 35,0000 Won.
Spices: Taco seasoning, cumin, coriander, Italian seasoning, and anything you can't live without (VANILLA!). I have seen curry, pepper, salt, etc. on sale at E-mart at cheaper than US grocery store prices. Also, brown gravy mix or Jiffy cornbread mix for you Southerners out there!
Tea/Coffee: Bring your favorite black or green tea with you or have it shipped. *update*I have seen Lipton at Lotte Department store at a high price. I found Earl Grey at HomePlus.* Dunkin' Donuts sells coffee beans and will grind them fresh for you. Coffee is also widely available at Costco. You can buy a coffee maker at E-Mart or HomePlus for as little as $20. I had my parents ship me my tiny french press. You can find sugar and milk at the store.Electronics: Bring your iPod, computer, hard drives, and memory sticks (an various plug adapters)! They are higher here than in the states and everything is *Brand New*. I thought it would be better to buy a camera here, but I think I was wrong. I'll just wait for prices to drop and suck it up. *update: I bought a Nikon Coolpix s3000 camera at Lotte Young Plaza for roughly $180. It's 12 megapixels, 4x zoom, 2.7 inch LCD screen. A good deal, I think!*
Adapters: You will need a good adapter for your laptop (if three pronged) and other small appliances like iPod or hard drive. Bring just the plug type for the small things and one good one for the big things. The Apple store sells worldwide adapters for the computer plug and it is very useful for traveling.Unnecessary:
Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash, body sponge/scrubby: these things are WIDELY available at any convenience store or department store; contact solution, cough drops, candy, snacks, etc. Hairdryers and straighteners are at all LG stores and E-Mart and HomePlus.
Do not bring an American iPhone- it will not work as anything other than an iPod.
That's all I can think of right now, but I'll add more later, if I remember anything important!
