Daily life
외국인등록증 / Oegugin-deungnokjeung
weh-gu-gin deung-nok-jeung
The Alien Registration Card. Its 13-digit number is what every Korean system knows you by. Register within 90 days of arrival.
다가구주택 / Dagagu-jutaek
da-ga-gu ju-taek
A multi-household house — one owner, one registered title, many tenants who all rank against the same property. Daejeon has more of this stock than anywhere in Korea, and it is where deposits get lost.
전세 / 월세 — Jeonse / Wolse
jeon-se / wol-se
The two lease types. Jeonse is a lump sum worth most of the property's value with no monthly rent, returned at the end; wolse is a smaller deposit plus rent. Take wolse first, and in this city especially.
전입신고 / Jeonip-singo
jeo-nip-shin-go
The move-in report at your district office. File it the day you take the keys — the deposit protection it creates only starts at midnight the following day.
확정일자 / Hwakjeong-ilja
hwak-jeong il-ja
The 'fixed date' stamp on your lease. It ranks your deposit against the property by date — which in a multi-household house also means ranking you against every other tenant.
전입세대확인서 / Jeonip-sedae-hwaginseo
jeo-nip se-dae hwa-gin-seo
The certificate showing every household registered at an address. In a multi-household house it is how you find out how many deposits already rank ahead of yours. Ask for it.
미납국세 열람 / Minap-guksae yeollam
mi-nap guk-se yeol-lam
Viewing the landlord's unpaid national taxes. Since April 2023, on a deposit over ₩10 million you can do this at any tax office without their consent once the contract is signed.
Social
출연연 / Chullyeonyeon
chul-lyeon-yeon
Shorthand for the government-funded research institutes. In Daejeon it is a category people belong to — 'my husband is at a chullyeonyeon' locates someone precisely.
Culture
성심당 / Sungsimdang
seong-shim-dang
The bakery founded by a refugee family in 1956 that refuses to open branches outside Daejeon. The queue is a civic institution and 'I brought Sungsimdang' is a complete social gesture.
칼국수 / Kalguksu
kal-guk-su
Hand-cut noodle soup. Daejeon claims it, has a festival for it, and every district has a shop that people will argue about.
Emergency
도와주세요! / Dowajuseyo!
do-wa-ju-se-yo
Help me! — 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, free from any phone.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.