Seoul

Navigate Seoul as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and local insights.

Security Scan

The skill's files, instructions, and requirements are consistent with its stated purpose of providing practical guidance about Seoul and do not request unrelated privileges or secrets.

Purpose & Capability

The name/description ('Seoul' travel/resident/tech/visa guide) matches the included markdown files (neighborhoods, transport, visas, costs, culture, etc.). The skill requests no binaries, env vars, or config paths, which is appropriate for an instruction-only informational guide.

Instruction Scope

SKILL.md limits runtime behavior to identifying user context and loading relevant bundled markdown files. It does not instruct the agent to read unrelated system files, fetch credentials, call hidden endpoints, or exfiltrate data. The guidance to use 'current data' (Feb 2026 snapshot) is reasonable but implies the content is time-sensitive; the agent is not instructed to access external services autonomously.

Install Mechanism

No install spec and no code files — the skill is instruction-only. Nothing is downloaded or written to disk during install, which is the lowest-risk installation model.

Credentials

The skill declares no required environment variables, credentials, or config paths. There are no disproportionate secret or system access requests relative to the stated informational purpose.

Persistence & Privilege

The skill is not always-enabled and uses the default model-invocation behavior (agent may call it when relevant). It does not request persistent or elevated privileges, nor does it modify other skills' or system configurations.

Assessment

This skill appears coherent and informational: it contains many offline markdown files covering neighborhoods, visas, transport, costs, and culture and asks for no secrets or installs. Before relying on it: 1) verify time-sensitive facts (visa rules, rent figures, salaries, tax rates) against official government or reputable local sources because the bundle is a snapshot (notes claim 'Current Data (Feb 2026)'); 2) treat financial/visa figures as estimates, not legal advice; and 3) if the agent offers to fetch live data, confirm what external sites it will call and that you are comfortable with those network requests. No credentials or system access are required, so installing this skill poses minimal direct risk.

When to Use

User asks about Seoul for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
Gangnam, Seocho, Samsung	neighborhoods-gangnam.md
Hongdae, Mapo, Yeonnam	neighborhoods-hongdae.md
Itaewon, Hannam, Yongsan	neighborhoods-itaewon.md
Jongno, Bukchon, Insadong	neighborhoods-traditional.md
Choosing guide	neighborhoods-choosing.md
Food
Overview & dining scene	food-overview.md
Korean cuisine essentials	food-korean.md
International & fine dining	food-international.md
Best areas for dining	food-areas.md
Dietary, alcohol, etiquette	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transport (metro, buses, T-money)	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety & laws	safety.md
Weather & survival tips	climate.md
Local services (banking, phone)	local.md
Career
Tech industry & salaries	tech.md
Business setup & regulations	business.md
Visas (work, D-10, startup)	visas.md
Startups & funding	startup.md
Lifestyle
Culture & customs	culture.md
Healthcare & insurance	healthcare.md
Schools & education	education.md
Expat lifestyle & social	lifestyle.md
Driving & car ownership	driving.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. Housing System (Unique to Korea)

Korean rental system differs fundamentally from Western models:

• Jeonse (전세): Large deposit (50-80% of home value), no monthly rent
• Wolse (월세): Smaller deposit + monthly rent (closer to Western model)
• Banjiha (반지하): Semi-basement units — cheap but humidity issues
• Deposits are refundable but require significant upfront capital See cost.md and resident.md for current requirements.

3. Cultural Context

Korea has distinct social expectations:

• Hierarchy: Age and seniority matter in all interactions
• Drinking culture: Refusing drinks from seniors can be awkward
• Work culture: Long hours common; "눈치" (nunchi) — reading social cues essential
• Confucian roots: Respect for elders, education highly valued See culture.md for detailed guidance.

4. Weather Reality

• Summer (Jun-Aug): 25-35°C with monsoon season (장마) — high humidity, heavy rain
• Winter (Dec-Feb): -10 to 5°C — dry, cold, yellow dust (황사) from China
• Spring/Fall: Best seasons (April-May, Sep-Oct) — mild and pleasant See climate.md for monthly breakdown and survival strategies.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
Studio jeonse (Gangnam)	₩150-250M (~$110K-185K deposit)
Studio wolse (Gangnam)	₩10M deposit + ₩800K-1.2M/month
Studio wolse (Mapo/Hongdae)	₩5M deposit + ₩600K-900K/month
Senior SWE salary	₩70-120M/year (~$52K-89K)
Metro single ride	₩1,400 (~$1)
Dinner (Korean BBQ)	₩15,000-25,000/person
International school	₩25-40M/year

6. Cost Reality

Seoul is moderately expensive with some surprises:

• Housing: Jeonse requires huge capital; wolse more accessible
• Food: Cheap Korean food ($5-8), expensive imports/Western
• Healthcare: Excellent and affordable (national insurance)
• Transport: Very cheap (metro + bus integrated)
• Hidden costs: Key money (보증금), maintenance fees (관리비)

7. Transit Excellence

Unlike car-centric cities, Seoul has world-class public transit:

• Metro: 23 lines, 700+ stations, covers entire metropolitan area
• Buses: Comprehensive network, color-coded by distance
• T-money card: Essential — works on all transport, convenience stores
• KTX: High-speed rail to other cities (Busan: 2.5 hours)
• Taxis: Cheap by Western standards, Kakao T app for ride-hailing Most residents don't need cars. See transport.md.

8. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Gangnam, Seocho, Yeoksam
Creatives & nightlife	Hongdae, Yeonnam-dong, Itaewon
Families (Korean schools)	Apgujeong, Bundang, Songpa
Families (International schools)	Hannam, Yongsan, Pangyo
Budget-conscious	Sinchon, Noryangjin, outer Mapo
Traditional vibes	Bukchon, Samcheong-dong, Jongno
Tech workers	Pangyo (Korea's Silicon Valley), Gangnam

Visa Overview

Korea has multiple pathways for foreigners:

• E-7: Skilled worker visa (employer sponsorship required)
• E-7-1: IT specialist visa (points-based, easier)
• D-10: Job-seeking visa (up to 2 years)
• D-8: Corporate investment visa (startup founders)
• F-2-7: Points-based residency (long-term)
• F-5: Permanent residency (after 5+ years)
• K-ETA: Visa-free entry for most Western countries (tourism)

See visas.md for current requirements and processes.

Tech Industry Context

Seoul + Pangyo form Korea's tech hub:

• Chaebols: Samsung, LG, SK, Hyundai — stable but rigid
• Naver/Kakao: Internet giants, more startup-like culture
• Startups: Growing ecosystem, especially fintech and gaming
• Work culture: Long hours, hierarchy, but changing in tech
• English: Limited outside international companies

Salaries lower than US/Europe but:

• Lower taxes (income tax ~15-20% typical)
• National health insurance (3-4% of salary)
• Lower cost of living for daily expenses

See tech.md for detailed comparison and job hunting strategies.

Seoul-Specific Traps

• Jeonse scams — Always use certified real estate agents (공인중개사). Verify ownership.
• No tipping — Tipping is not expected and can be awkward.
• Cash still matters — Many small shops don't take foreign cards. Get Korean bank account.
• Apartment numbering — Buildings count ground floor as 1F. "5th floor" = 6th floor Western.
• Age calculation — Korea uses "Korean age" (+1-2 years). Being phased out but still used socially.
• Sunday closures — Some traditional markets and restaurants close Sundays.
• Phone addiction — Everyone uses KakaoTalk. No Kakao = social isolation.
• Noise complaints — Apartments have thin walls. Neighbor conflicts common.
• Yellow dust season — March-May, check air quality (미세먼지) before going out.
• Work dinner expectations — Declining 회식 (hweshik) can hurt career. Know when it's optional.

Legal Awareness

Key laws visitors/residents must know:

• Drugs: Zero tolerance. Cannabis = prison. Even prior use detected = deportation.
• Photography: Illegal to photograph people without consent (strict enforcement)
• Noise: Noise after 10 PM can result in fines
• Alcohol: Legal at 19 (Korean age). Public drinking is legal.
• Smoking: Banned in most public places. Designated areas only.
• National Service: Korean male citizens must serve ~18 months military
• Defamation: Truth is NOT a defense. Accurate criticism can be prosecuted.

See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• dubai — Similar city guide for Dubai with neighborhoods, visas, and expat life
• korean — Learn Korean language with structured lessons and practice
• travel — Plan trips with itineraries, packing lists, and logistics
• food — Explore cuisines, recipes, and dining recommendations
• money — Personal finance, budgeting, and expense tracking

Feedback

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