Looking for American Expats in South Korea?

If you’re a new or soon-to-be expat in South Korea, you probably aren’t quite sure yet what it will be like. That’s why we gathered the answers to some key questions you may have about life in South Korea. If you want to ask more specific questions — or even share your own tips — join InterNations! You’ll be part of a community of new and experienced expats who love to help each other out.

What are the most common nationalities in South Korea? As an expat in South Korea, you'll meet people from many different cultures (especially if you're an InterNations member!) The top nationalities in the InterNations Communities in South Korea currently are:

• Americans
• Canadians
• British
• Indians

Which cities are most popular among expats in South Korea? Some cities attract more expats than others. These are the cities with the largest expat communities in South Korea:

• Seoul
• Busan
• Incheon

How much rent do expats pay in South Korea? Your personal situation plays a role here. Single expats spend on average 495 USD on their accommodation per month, while expat families spend around 1.455 USD. And of course, rents can also vary greatly depending on the location and city within South Korea.

To give you an idea of what to expect, here are some rent averages for the most popular cities in South Korea.

Average rent in Seoul

• Single expats: 811 USD
• Expat families: 2.645 USD

Average rent in Busan

• Single expats: 550 USD
• Expat families: 1.200 USD

Average rent in Incheon

• Single expats: 278 USD
• Expat families: 1.213 USD

How safe is South Korea? You may be wondering about safety. In general people perceive their personal safety situation in South Korea as very safe. People rate the risk of falling victim to petty crime (such as pickpocketing or minor theft) as very low. They consider the chance of being the victim of violent crime (including mugging) very low. And, they rate confidence in the police force and related local authorities as very high.

How safe is South Korea for women? Female expats rated the safety situation in South Korea as very safe. This is based on the feedback of expat women living in South Korea (rather than actual crime statistics). So obviously this can be highly subjective and depends on factors such as where people live.

Thinking about moving to South Korea as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in South Korea wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• It's safe and easy to get around. Two standouts: 92% of expats in South Korea rate personal safety positively and 91% rate the availability of public transportation positively, against a global average of 73%.

• Healthcare is excellent and cheap. Americans single out the value — 71% rate healthcare affordability positively and 74% rate the quality of medical care positively.

• Food and daily convenience shine. Cuisine, delivery, and a smooth, connected daily life come up often as everyday pleasures.

• The outdoors is close by. Mountains and temples are within easy reach, and 82% say it's easy to get around on foot or by bike.

• Jobs and friendships are hard to build. Two of the lowest scores are here: just 17% rate the local job market positively and 17% say making local friends is easy.

• Bureaucracy and housing frustrate. Only 23% find it easy to deal with authorities and 24% rate housing affordability positively (vs. 34% globally).

• The language is a real barrier. Just 27% say Korean is easy to learn, and navigating websites and payments trips people up.

• Work culture and air quality wear on people. Long hours and pollution are recurring, and friendliness rates 48% (vs. 62% globally).

For Americans, South Korea is safe, convenient, and cheap where it counts, with standout transport and healthcare. The trade-offs are a tough job and social scene, heavy paperwork, and a demanding work culture. It suits those with a job lined up and patience for the language.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in South Korea is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the South Korean way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in South Korea, residing in Seoul, Busan, Incheon and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in Seoul.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in South Korea.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our South Korea Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Busan.
• Search the InterNations Places database for South Korea to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the urban sprawl of Gyeonggi to such popular nature places as Boseong Tea Field, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in South Korea.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in South Korea. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional South Korean kimchi, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Seoul’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see Korea's honeymoon island of Jeju as well as other beautiful landmarks in South Korea.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in South Korea!