#87: What Nobody Tells You About Living in Korea - with Anaïs Chauvet, Ready Set Korea
Korean UnpackedShow Notes
What does it actually take to settle in Korea as a foreigner? In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, host Eliza speaks with Anaïs Chauvet - founder of Ready Set Korea and a French immigrant who has been living in Seoul since 2022 - about the practical, administrative, and cultural realities of building a life in Korea that nobody prepares you for. The conversation covers the ARC card (foreign resident card) process and why waiting too long to book your appointment is the most common mistake, the Korean rental market and why good apartments can disappear within hours, the cultural communication gaps that create friction between foreigners and Koreans, how language ability connects to daily life in ways that go beyond simple conversation, and what Ready Set Korea does to help foreigners navigate all of this - not by doing it for them, but by doing it alongside them. This episode is for Korean learners who are thinking about visiting or living in Korea, and for anyone curious about what real life in Korea looks like from a foreigner's perspective. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • Why the ARC card (외국인 등록증 / foreign resident card) should be your first priority after arriving in Korea - and the timeline most people don't account for • How the Korean rental market works - and why hesitating for even a day can cost you an apartment • The cultural communication differences that create unexpected friction - and how language learning is inseparable from cultural fluency • Why Anaïs works with clients rather than for them - and what that means for long-term confidence • Who Ready Set Korea's typical clients are and what they need most • What Anaïs loves most about her work - the moment a client leaves the immigration office smiling
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About Anaïs Chauvet - Ready Set Korea Anaïs Chauvet is a French immigrant based in Seoul, South Korea. She first came to Korea in 2013, studied Korean at Hanyang University, and has spent over three years building her life in Seoul since returning in September 2022. She is the founder of Ready Set Korea - a service helping foreigners who intend to stay in Korea longer than three months settle in comfortably, from the ARC card process and accommodation search to cultural navigation and administrative logistics. 🌐 Website: readysetkorea.org Korean FLOW Club A warm, structured weekly practice space for Korean learners who want consistent, low-pressure study. Real Korean - the kind that works in daily life, conversations, and relationships - not just in textbooks. For more info → www.joaacademy.com/the-korean-flow-club Connect 🌐 Website: https://www.joaacademy.com/ 📸 Instagram: @korean.joaacademy 🎧 Podcast: TOPIK & Beyond - available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms
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