Student Life
Cost of Living
Going to university can mean more costs than just tuition fees. Accommodation, books, study materials, transport and parking are all common expenses often overlooked.
Public Transport
Korea University Seoul campus is serviced by extensive bus and subway, offering fast and reliable services to and from the campus. Students can use SMART ID card as a smart card to pay public transit fares in bus, subway taxi and etc. Smart cards (T-Money or Student SAMRT ID) allow you to transfer from one bus line to another, or from a subway to a bus (or vice versa) at no extra charge, as long as you board the next leg within 30 minutes of getting off the bus/subway.
Free campus bus
Travel between the campuses (ie. Science campus, the CJ I-house and the main campus) has never been easier with a free shuttle bus.
- Campus bus Route : Garage(Anam Dormitory Gate) -> North Gate -> KU Lyceum -> College of Political Science & Economic, West Gate -> Science & Engineering campus, Shuttle Bus Stop -> College of Medicine -> Nokgee Stadium -> Korean Studies Hall -> Garage(Anam Dormitory Gate)
- The shuttle bus runs daily except on weekends and national holidays.
Books and equipment costs
Faculties or departments will often issue lists of books and equipment that you need to obtain. Mostly it is indicated in the course syllabus. With a little care, costs can be minimized. Students can become a member of KOPAS which runs as online flea market for secondhand textbooks. Look for 헌책방(전공책) menu at the top of the page for advertisement on secondhand books or equipment on sale. Student can also buy books and equipment at our Uni-Store. Uni-Store is your first stop if you need textbooks, academic publications, software, stationery or new novels. Uni-Store is located in central plaza for humanities and social sciences campus or in hana square at science/engineering campus.
membership at KOPAS
(This site is only
available in Korean Language)
- Log into https://www.koreapas.com/bbs/main.php -> Click 회원가입 -> 아이디입력(중복확인) -> 닉네임 입력(중복확인) -> 비밀번호입력 -> 가입약관 동의 후 회원가입 완료
- 위의 아이디/패스워드로 로그인할 경우 고파스 사이트 중간에 인증하기 버튼이 생성됨
-
인증하기 -> KUPID 포탈 아이디/패스워드 입력 후 인증하기 버튼누르기 -> 완료
(가입한지 24시간 내에만 인증이 가능함)
Expenses Guide
The following is a guide to what an average student can expect to pay in 2021, including basic monthly expenses and costs of some regularly purchased items. All prices are in Korean Won and are intended as a guide for 2021 only.
| Single student living on-campus |
Single student living off-campus* (private provider) |
Single student living off-campus* (Gositel) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent** | School dorm ₩402,000(double room) ~₩501,000(single room) |
₩5,000,000~₩10,000,000 Deposit | ₩200,000~₩400,000 |
| Utilities | Included in dormitory expense | ₩30,000~₩50,000 | ₩30,000~₩50,000 |
| Food | Dormitory meal ₩110,000million (30 meals per month) ~₩150,000 (50 meals per month) |
₩300,000~₩500,000 | ₩300,000~₩500,000 |
| Mobile phone | ₩30,000~₩110,000 | ₩30,000~₩110,000 | ₩30,000~₩110,000 |
| Internet | Included in dormitory expense | ₩20,000~₩40,000 (Mostly included in maintenance fee) |
₩20,000~₩40,000 (Mostly included in maintenance fee) |
| Public transport | ₩70,000~₩110,000 | ₩70,000~₩110,000 | ₩70,000~₩110,000 |
| Photocopying | ₩30,000~₩40,000 | ₩30,000~₩40,000 | ₩30,000~₩40,000 |
| Recreation | ₩180,000~₩250,000 | ₩180,000~₩250,000 | ₩180,000~₩250,000 |
| Total monthly expenses | ₩822,000~₩1,161,000 | ₩5,660,000~₩11,100,000 | - |
| Other annual expenses in KRW | |
|---|---|
| Textbooks and study materials | ₩150,000~₩200,000 |
| Clothing/personal | ₩250,000~₩300,000 |
| Health Insurance | Monthly contributions for international students:₩43,490 |
| Tuition fees | ₩5,000,000(1semester) |
| Item costs in KRW & USD | |
|---|---|
| Loaf of bread | ₩3,000~₩7,000 |
| 1 litre carton of milk | ₩2,500~₩4,000 |
| Bottle of water (600ml) | ₩1,100~₩1,500 |
| Cup of coffee | ₩3,000~₩8,000 |
| Big Mac | ₩5,900 |
| Cinema ticket (student rate) | ₩7,000~₩11,000 |
| Bus tiket (student rate) | ₩1,250~₩1,750 |
Reference List
1. Korean Price Index : http://www.kpi.or.kr/www/
2. Anam dormitory : https://dorm.korea.ac.kr:42305/src/main/main.php
3. Anam dormitory meal program : http://koreadorm.ourhome.co.kr/sub/notice.htm?ptype=view&code=notice&idx=9364
Cafeterias and Restaurants
There are array of restaurants and cafes on campus, offering inexpensive and diversified food. With a little experimentation, you will find many fine dining places to eat, which suit your taste and pocket book. List of Restaurants and Cafes on campus
Student Cafeteria in Minju Square/Aegineung Student Center (Science Campus) You can find daily menu in university student cafeteria. Check daily menu Daily menus are only available in Korean
Apart from university running students cafeterias, students have opportunity to explore other restaurants and fast food shops on campus such as Burger King, Mom’s Touch, Bibigo, Mothers’s Bob, Lotteria and so on.
Convenience Stores
There are 6 convenience stores on campus where you can buy snacks, drinks or simple necessities.
- GS25 (Convenience Store), Central Plaza B1 / 7:00am~ 11:00pm (Mon~ Sat), 8:00am~ 10pm (Sun)
- Ministop (Convenience Store), Tiger Plaza G1 / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- GS25 (Convenience Store), Uncho wooseon G1 / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- Sky garden Cafe, College of Law building 6F / 8:00am~ 8:00pm
- Orgo (Snack Store, Cafe), University-Student Union Building / 8:00am~ 7:00pm
- GS25 (Convenience Store), Central Library B1F / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- Ministop (Convenience Store), Hyundai Motor Hall B1F / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- GS25 (Convenience Store), Next to University-Student Union Building / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- Ministop (Convenience Store), Hanasquare B1F / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- Convenience store, Aegineung Student Center / 7:00am~ 10:00pm
- Ddo-rang (snack store), Aegineung Student Union Building / 7:00am~ 9:00pm
- Snack store, Techno Complex Research Center 1F / 7:00am~ 9:00pm
Post Office
There is a post office on humanities and social sciences campus. It is located at room#204 of International Studies Hall. There are daily mail service run for delivery of mails and parcels via normal or registered delivery. Students can also pay for bills for gas, electricity and water at the office. The post office also provides international money transfer service such as 'moneygram'. For more detailed information, student either visit or call 02-3290-1820.
Banking
Hana Bank is located in the building right next to the WOODANG hall. Usually student matters are handled on the first floor of the Hana bank. Anything related to the foreign currency or exchanging/transferring foreign currency is managed on the second floor of the building.
Students who wish to apply for SMART ID card (Student ID card that has a function of a debit card) should also visit this branch. The bank is open from 9:00am until 4:00pm Monday to Friday.
In Korea most of transactions are done with debit card in restaurants, stores, shopping centers and etc. Students can also use internet banking by applying for a digital authorized certificate(공인인증서). The instruction of applying for internet banking and use of the digital authorized certificate is provided by the Hana bank. Please refer to the map below for the location of the building.
ATM machines on Central Plaza/ Hana Square
Once students obtain debit card in Korea, she or he can use ATM machines that are on or off campus. The ATM machine service might be limited after 10:00 pm.