The greater Seoul area is home to nearly half of Korea’s total population. The city is rich with history, culture, and art. Mountains, rivers, and the West Sea shape the capital region. Reliable public transportation makes it easy to navigate the Seoul capital area by bus, subway, or taxi. You can travel the country by bus, high speed rail, or plane. Within your neighborhood, you can walk or bike the many kilometers of pedestrian pathways. Handicapped access is sometimes a challenge.

Korea enjoys four seasons. Winter is cold and dry with little precipitation, while summer is hot, humid, and wet. Spring and autumn are usually bright and dry. 

Learn more about Korea’s outdoor air quality so your family can make informed decisions about your indoor air quality and outdoor movements, and whether a KF94 or N95 mask is appropriate. KIS monitors on campus indoor and outdoor air quality to ensure the safety of students, and equips indoor spaces with air purifiers. 

The Korean peninsula has a beautiful and difficult history. Following the Korean War, South Korea rebuilt, rapidly developing an infrastructure and economy that allows continued innovation and global influence. Because the past can inform the present, you may want to learn more about the peninsula and East Asian history. 

Korean culture and social relationships are rooted in Confucianism which places the good of the whole society above the wants of an individual. In Korea, this establishes a hierarchy based on age, gender, and socio-economic status. In recent years, challenges to this social structure address the need for gender and workplace equality. Learn more about Confucianism here.

Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds may be a useful resource for your family. In their book, David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken address the process of transitioning from one place to another. The stages Pollock and Van Reken identify:

Involvement: You are settled and comfortable, feeling like you belong and can focus on your immediate relationships.

Leaving: When you learn that you are leaving a place, you begin loosening emotional ties and lean away from responsibilities you may have. You may feel anxious about leaving but also excited about moving.

Transition: This stage can be chaotic as you move from one place to another. You may be more self-centered during this stage.

Entering: Life is no longer chaotic. Now you are ready to begin life in your new place. You accept that you’re part of a new community.

Re-involvement: You finally feel like you are part of this new community.

Parents may also find Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges a useful resource to understand the experience too. 

Since the transition process for your child begins when they know they will move to Korea or transfer to KIS, you can prepare them for a healthy closure and smoother start by helping your child build a RAFT. Again, from Pollock and Van Renek:

Reconciliation: When you learn you are leaving, help your child resolve any conflicts before leaving. This involves asking for forgiveness and forgiving others.

Affirmation: Acknowledge the influential people in your child’s life. Write notes or give gifts to friends, family, teachers, and neighbors you are leaving.

Farewell: It’s important for your child to say goodbye not only to people, but to places, pets, and other important things too. Take photographs to remember or think of other ways to honor your farewell.

Think Destination: Start to think about your next destination. Encourage your child to research their new home or school. Learning more about your new place can change stress into excitement!