Moving to a new country can be challenging for students who want to pursue higher education in a foreign country. When students first arrive in Korea and at KDI School, it is most probably the first time they have visited Korea. KDI School News Center understands this very well. Therefore, today we are going to give a 6-point primer for new students that will be starting their graduate education at KDI School. So, let us look for the important points that incoming students need to keep in mind.

Visas and Immigration: In Korea, students are required to obtain a D2 study visa prior to entering the country. Students chosen by KDI School must obtain a visa from the Korea Embassy in their home countries. After reaching Sejong City, students are required to apply for an alien registration card (an identification card for foreigners), which is needed in a variety of circumstances to verify your identity. In particular, the alien registration number written on the card is required in many financial transactions and when accessing government services. The immigration office allotted for KDI School is the Daejeon Immigration Office. Students should focus during the orientation days as more detailed information is given by KDI School during that time. Please make sure to carry your alien registration card everywhere as it may be required.

Groceries: Groceries are an important part of a student's life as they live away from their home. Students are likely to visit grocery stores at least once a week during their stay at the KDI School. No Brand and GS Supermarket are the two nearby grocery-chain stores where students can visit to buy fruits, vegetables, cereals, and a lot of other edible items. Daiso is a multipurpose superstore chain in Korea which sells a lot of useful items for everyday life. It is also located within walking distance of KDI School. Additionally, bigger chains like E-mart, Homeplus, and Costco are also available for residents of Sejong City.

Banking: Students must open bank accounts in order to receive scholarship stipends and conduct financial transactions in Korea. The Woori Bank and KDI School are partners, and they assist in the issuance of check cards for banking transactions. International students must attend the orientation to obtain a bank account. Please let the Student Affairs Division know if you were unable to attend the orientation so you can request one. In Korea, Internet banking is also available for foreign students. Students can register for Internet banking by visiting the Woori Bank branch at KDI School.

Money Exchange and COVID-19 Testing Information: We strongly suggest that students exchange their money into Korean Won either before or after arriving at Incheon International Airport. In order to avoid direct contact while still under self-monitored isolation, students are forced to complete a 5-day quarantine in the school's dormitory. During this period, you are only permitted to purchase meals for takeout. Additionally, you won't have access to your Korean bank account right away, so you'll also need cash for transportation. You must take a PCR test at Sejong City Hall on your first day of class. You will receive a guidebook when you arrive at the KDI dormitory; you can refer to it for directions or use the navigational apps to get to City Hall. You can choose to take a bus (221 or 991). We strongly encourage you to search the route while in the dorm and take a screenshot of it to use as a guide because you probably won’t t have a Korean sim card to access the internet.

Transportation Cards: You might have noticed the beeping sounds made when people touched a sensor with their wallets, backpacks, or even mobile phones to board or exit a bus or subway while commuting in Korea. They were using a bank card or T-Money card. The ease of portability and discount benefits of a T-money card are its major advantages. Compared to the KRW 1,350 cash fare, the base transit fare for T-money card users is KRW 1,250. By taking advantage of a fare discount for transfers, T-money customers can further reduce their expenses. Taxi fares can be paid with a transportation card as well. The transportation cards are available for purchase at every convenience store like GS25, Seven Eleven, CU, and Ministop.

Recycling: Garbage trucks are nonexistent in Sejong City. Only the food waste and general waste garbage bags need to be placed in the waste disposal inlets that have been installed near residences; each household has received an electronic tag that can be used to open the disposal inlets. The waste bag then drops and is sucked through pipes to the "Auto Clean Net Center," the facility in charge of managing the city's rubbish via an underground piping system. It is very important to note than you cannot dispose of all types of waste in the garbage bags. Recyclable items should be sorted and disposed of properly; inn Korea, recycling of waste is mandated by law, and every resident has to learn and follow the recycling rules. In KDI School Dormitory, the waste management booth and Auto-Clean Net garbage disposal system are available beside the 102 Dorm Building. During the Dormitory Orientation, the students will be trained in recycling and segregating waste.

KDI School News Center and Student Affairs division are always eager and willing to help students. If you need help or assistance settling in at KDI School, you should not hesitate to contact student affairs, the dormitory assistants, or the housemaster immediately. Furthermore, it is extremely important to focus and absorb information during the orientation sessions. More detailed information on KDI School’s campus life can be found by accessing the Student Handbook 2022 via this link- https://www.kdischool.ac.kr/board.es?mid=a10501040000&bid=0010