Communication
There are two alternatives:
- The most common is going to Hanbit Plaza, explained below
- There is a phone shop in N13, but they do not speak English (TODO)
The Hanbit Plaza has a phone shop (more like a kiosk), in the first floor, right next to the escalator. There should be a sign that advertises for international KAIST students.
Here you can get a prepaid SIM-card from FreeT. The first time you need to bring you passport, but you will have to come back within three months with your ARC if you didn't have it the first time.
It costs 30,000 Won for 1.5 GB / 1.5 hours of calling. If you don't use it, you still get charged a set amount.
FreeT is pretty uncommon in Korea, which begs the question why this is the only option. Maybe because they make good money of international students who doesn't have a better option.
You can get a prepaid sim card from any Olleh (KT) shop. Just bring your passport or ARC (ARC is recommended if you plan on using the phone number for online identification).
There's a shop in the street of Hanbit Plaza, next to the bakery. The staff there is VERY clueless and rude, but should still get the job done. There's a bigger shop in Gungdong.
This costs 8000 Won for setup, then monthly charge (prepaid) minimum of 5000 Won for phone calls and any data flatrate you want, e.g. 13500 Won for 1 GB. Renew once a month in person or ask them to set up auto-renewal (자동충전).
If you have a friend who speaks Korean, you can with their help get a postpaid subscription (TODO) which can be cheaper.
If you got your SIM-card at Hanbit Plaza (above) you can go to them and pay in cash.
You can also (most times) recharge in convenient stores (CU, 7/11 etc.), although, for some reason, only some that can do it (or understands what you want). If you have FreeT it helps showing their website which has a page with some text to show the person working there: http://pps.freet.co.kr/pps/english/charge.jsp
You can also transfer money through bank transfer (TODO).
There is a post office in the building connected to the N11 cafeteria, next to the barbershop.
You can buy postcards in the KAIST Shop, in W2. Takes about 1.5 - 2 weeks to send to Western Europe.