Seoul, every day

Much of daily life in Seoul makes more sense once you know the problem it was built to solve. This section starts with street and everyday rules, such as when and where you can cross the road, and explains the reasons behind them. Housing, recycling and delivery are next on our list. Each piece ends with what you can do about it.

In this section

Chart: Seoul Palette · Data: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation
Why does buying alcohol in Korea still go by birth year?Since June 2023, international age has been the general rule for administrative and civil matters in Korea, but buying alcohol is an exception that goes by birth year: in 2026, anyone born in 2007 or earlier qualifies. Sellers must check age and identity, so it helps to carry ID that shows your date of birth.
Chart: Seoul Palette · Data: Korea Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Korea Ministry of Government Legislation
Why is there no bin in Korean public toilet stalls?In Korean public restrooms, toilet paper goes in the toilet. A rule in force since 2018 took bins out of stalls, with exceptions; the government cited looks, smells and pests. Women's stalls generally have a sanitary-product container.
Photo: Joshua T. Garcia (CC0 1.0) · Source · License
Why doesn't Uber work like it does at home in Seoul?With a few exceptions, Korean law bars private cars from carrying passengers for payment and bars anyone from arranging such rides. So in Seoul, the Uber app connects you with licensed taxis. Install it and add a payment method before you fly.
Photo: Narubaru7 (CC BY 4.0) · Source · License
Why do some Korean ATMs reject foreign cards?In our reading, a Korean ATM may not accept a foreign card if it isn't linked to a network that supports it. Look for a "Global" sign, and before you fly, ask your card issuer about ATM withdrawals in Korea.
Chart: Seoul Palette · Data: Gwangjin-gu Office (Seoul), Kyunghyang Shinmun
Why do Korean cafes confuse first-time visitors?Buzzers and returning your tray are shop habits, not laws. The legal rule you'll notice is about cups: if you order to stay, the shop can't give you a single-use plastic cup.
Winter in Seoul: how cold it gets, what to pack, and what changesJanuary, Seoul's coldest month, averages -1.9°C; December and February sit just above freezing. Pack layers, gloves and a hat, and expect warm rooms indoors.
Chart: Seoul Palette · Data: CU, Tmoney, VISITKOREA, Visit Seoul
Korean convenience stores: what you can do, and why cash mattersYou can top up Tmoney, buy basics and often get cash late at night. Bring Korean won: top-ups take cash, and only marked ATMs take foreign cards.
Photo: G41rn8 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source · License
Why are floors in Korea warm? Ondol, and where you'll feel itIt's ondol, Korea's underfloor heating, now mostly run on hot-water pipes. You'll meet it in your room, at Gyeongbokgung, and at the door as shoes come off.
Chart: Seoul Palette · Data: Seoul Metropolitan Government open data (OA-15069), Seoul Shinmun 2025-11-20
Trash cans in Seoul: why so few, where to put your trashSeoul cut street bins after its 1995 pay-per-bag trash system and has been adding some back since 2023. Check bus stops and subway exits, or carry your trash.
Why is there toilet paper on Korean restaurant tables?The reason on record is price: in 2001, a Daegu restaurant owner and a local official said rolls cost less. Rules on table versus bathroom paper came later.
Photo: P.Ctnt (Public domain) · Source
Is jaywalking illegal in Korea? What the law says and the fineYes, if the road has a crosswalk or the light is red. The standard jaywalking fine in Korea is KRW 20,000 (about US$15) or KRW 30,000 (about US$22).