Whether you are a student on exchange in Korea or a digital nomad visiting the amazing country; sometimes you need a place to get some work done without distractions. We have put together this list of great places you can go to focus and complete your work or study.
10. Parks
Depending on what you are studying or your workflow, a park can be a great place to study. If you just need to do some reading or writing without a need for electronics a park is perfect. It allows to have some connection to nature and few distractions so you can focus. There are many nice parks in Seoul like Hangang park and Yeouinara park. You could even study or work alongside the city streams like Chunggyecheon and Durimcheon. Best of all these places are free!
9. Motels
A motel may sound like a weird place to get some study or work done. But actually many groups of students in Korea are now hiring out hotel rooms for a quiet space to study. This is a good option if you are doing some group study or work that requires a private, quiet area. You can study/work for a while then take a nap or host a party. Cost can be around 30,000 – 40,000 won for 6 hours or even a full day.
8. Hostel
If you are staying in a nicer hostel, most of them have great common areas to get some work or study done. They will generally be quiet with a little bit of activity. Plus the seating and WiFi should also be great. Another benefit is the cost is already included in your accommodation, so may as well take advantage of the space if you need to get some work done.
7. Library
Libraries are another great location for students and digital nomads alike. There are many libraries in Seoul like the Seoul Metropolitan Library. However be aware that these locations can get extremely busy due to the amount of students that are studying in Seoul. In saying that, they are free and a nice option if you can get in early and snatch a seat.
6. Book stores
Similar to libraries in a way, many book stores have sit down areas generally with a cafe. They can be another option to get some study/work done; perhaps you might be inspired being surrounded by books. This is generally free but if there is a cafe you will need to purchase a beverage or food.
5. PC bang (PC room/cafe)
If you don’t have a computer to do some work on or just need a more powerful machine; a PC bang can provide that. The computers there are generally have high specifications for playing games but that can translate to an emergency video editing or photoshopping machine if required. You can can download anything you want onto the machine as the internet is super quick and the computers get reset after each session. So you will have to factor in set up time when you first log in. Cost is generally 1,000 won for a 40 minute session.
3. Community centers
Local community centers might have study rooms or spaces available for use. They will generally be free for use and should be relatively quiet. As a bonus you might be able to join in on classes there, for example if you wanted to learn Korean. You may also meet other digital nomads who you can share stories or even collaborate with.
4. Study cafes
There are many specialized study cafes in Korea stemming from the need for quiet study spaces with overcrowded libraries. These cafes will be much quieter than their conventional brethren and you will be expected to remain quiet as well. So no phone calls and don’t forget your headphones if you want to listen to something. There are a large variety of study cafes, all offering a different range of facilities. So it may take some research to find a study cafe that really suits all your needs. Costs for these cafes starts at around 2,500 won for a two hour session and it gets cheaper the longer that you stay.
2. Co-working space
These spaces are a fantastic option albeit probably the most expensive. However if you require a quieter space, access to meetings rooms/offices or want be around other digital nomads they might be the best option. There are many co working spaces around Seoul catering to the many startups and digital nomads around Seoul. Prices start at free hotdesking at government supported locations like youthzone.kr and Honghap Valley. As for paid option you are looking at 300,000+ won per month for hotdesking at a place like WeWork or FastFive.
1. Cafes
Cafes are very popular in Korea for people to meet up, study and work. There are many chain cafes all around Seoul so you will have no trouble finding them. They generally have good, free internet and nice seating. You can generally stay for a couple of hours after buying a drink as they never really get fully packed; probably due to the amount of cafes. As another benefit some studies have shown it beneficial to work in a cafe due to the background noise and activity. Here are the major chain cafes in Korea:
- Starbucks
- Ediya
- Holly’s Coffee
- Tom N Toms Coffee
- Pascucci
- Paik’s Coffee
It will generally cost you 4,000 to 6,000 won for a drink at these cafes which should allow you to work of a couple of hours.
Hopefully you can find a place or two on this list for you use as a study or work location. Let us know if you have found any other great places to study at or work from in Korea.
Alche is a passionate writer about many topics and wants to share knowledge in a simple way so all readers can enjoy and learn.