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Discover unique cultural experiences and interactions beyond hotel stays through our exclusive “BORDERLESS TRAVEL” program for residents!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Borderless House.

Here at Borderless House, the new friendships and interactions under one roof provide a unique sense of fulfillment that only comes from living it.

Japanese residents might find themselves teaching Japanese to their new international housemates, assisting with various administrative procedures, and adapting to life in Japan. This mutual support mirrors the help we would seek if we were traveling or living abroad ourselves.

Stepping out of the comfort of home takes courage, but a warm community waiting at your destination can make any overseas adventure enjoyable and reassuring.

Today, we’re excited to introduce BORDERLESS TRAVEL, where you can enjoy short stays at Borderless Houses in different countries and meet new housemates across borders.

We’ll share the story of Yuzuki, who ventured from Kyoto’s Nishijin House to spend a week in February 2024 at KORYODAE2 HOUSE in Korea. Yuzuki will tell us about her experiences in Japan, her adventures in Korea, and the allure of BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

We also have comments from Robin, the manager of BORDERLESS KOREA, so stay tuned till the end for more insights!

Click here for more details on BORDERLESS TRAVEL!！

Embracing English: Yuzuki’s Journey at Nishijin House

Yuzuki’s time at Nishijin House brought about a significant shift in her views on English and international interactions. She explained that her decision to move there stemmed from a desire to conquer her fear of English and engage with people from different countries.

Although she initially enjoyed English, the stress of exam preparation diminished her passion, and she struggled to speak fluently. Yuzuki realized the limitations of speaking only Japanese and saw the potential of English to connect her with diverse cultures and ideas.

Driven by the need to immerse herself in an English-speaking environment, Yuzuki chose to live at Borderless House.

───Did you consider any other share houses before choosing Borderless House?

Yuzuki: Actually, I didn’t look anywhere else. I decided to move into Borderless House the same day I visited. The environment offered the perfect mix of English practice and social opportunities, all within my budget. Plus, I was planning to study abroad the next year, so the idea of practicing for that experience while still in Japan seemed perfect to me.

─── Could you tell us about your housemates at Nishijin House?

Yuzuki: On my first day, one of my housemates surprised me by inviting me to a party right away, which was unexpected (laughs)! Initially, I was nervous, but everyone was so welcoming that I quickly warmed up to them.

I formed a close bond with a foreign housemate, and we often went out together. I also shared unique insights with a working professional housemate. Whenever we faced challenges or disagreements in our shared living situation, we were able to discuss and resolve them during our regular house meetings at Nishijin House. It truly was a great community to be a part of.

───Have you noticed any personal growth or changes during your time at Nishijin House?

Yuzuki: Absolutely! Initially, spending time with people from other countries was out of the ordinary for me, and it came with a bit of tension. But after living in Borderless House, I’ve become comfortable engaging freely in conversations without considering race or nationality.

It’s been incredibly enriching to learn from the diverse perspectives and strong convictions of my housemates.

Embarking on My First Solo International Journey with BORDERLESS TRAVEL!

───How did you become interested in BORDERLESS TRAVEL?

Yuzuki: I’ve known about the program since I moved in and always wanted to try it. I felt staying at a Borderless House abroad would be more enriching than solo hotel stays, allowing me to learn the language and engage with locals.

It seemed like a perfect way to prepare for my first solo international trip before studying in Canada this summer.

─── Your first experience living abroad was with BORDERLESS TRAVEL. Did you encounter any challenges during your travel?

Yuzuki: It was quite nerve-wracking, especially going through immigration for the first time and figuring out train transfers on my own. But luckily, everything went smoothly without any major problems!

Yuzuki: When I got to Koryodaes House, I was greeted by Robin, the staff member I had been communicating with by email. Meeting him in person really helped me settle in. He showed me around and shared some local tips and places to visit.

───Traveling abroad for the first time can be quite daunting. Did you notice any notable differences during your stay in the Borderless House in Korea compared to Japan?

Yuzuki: Definitely. For example, I had to separate organic waste from burnable trash, and in public restrooms, I couldn’t flush toilet paper but had to discard it in a bin.

Living in an environment close to the local lifestyle, unlike a hotel stay, made me more aware of these cultural differences. This is one of the unique advantages of BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

Language Learning, Cultural Exploration, and International Connections: Maximize the Benefits of Short-Term Stays!

───During your seven-day stay, did you make any specific efforts?

Yuzuki: I focused on being proactive in starting conversations with my housemates. It was my first time in a shared room overseas, and I quickly hit it off with my Italian roommate on the first day. She left for Tokyo the next day, so we couldn’t meet again, but we kept in touch through Instagram, sharing messages and updates about her trip.

Many of my housemates were interested in Japan, so we enjoyed mingling and conversing in Japanese, English, and Korean.

───Did you also converse in Korean during your stay?

Yuzuki: Yes, I’ve been a fan of Korean dramas, which helped me learn the language pretty naturally. I actually speak Korean better than English! While there, Robin invited me to a Language Exchange event, where I got to meet and chat with people outside the house, making my stay even more enjoyable.

───It sounds like you made the most of your 7-day stay! What other activities did you do?

Yuzuki: I visited historic sites and museums that caught my interest. I dressed in traditional Korean clothes and explored Gyeongbokgung Palace, and I also went to the DMZ near the North Korean border.

I participated in a tour aimed at Japanese visitors and connected well with other participants. We discussed how the conflict known in Japan as the “Korean War” is referred to in Korea. Learning about Korean perspectives on their history was incredibly insightful.

─── Reflecting on your 7-day stay, could you highlight what makes BORDERLESS TRAVEL so special?

Yuzuki: Definitely! The program offers deep cultural experiences and meaningful interactions with local housemates that you just can’t get from staying in a hotel. It allows you to live much closer to how the locals do, which is unique to BORDERLESS TRAVEL.

I think even short stays can provide significant learning and insights. I recommend starting with a stay in a domestic Borderless House to get a feel for international exchange before trying out the program.

A Message from Robin, Korean Operations Staff

BORDERLESS TRAVEL, with its strong emphasis on tourism and travel aspects, offers an exciting experience that’s a bit different from our usual resident support. It was Yuzuki’s first solo international trip, so we actively shared information about tourist spots and recommended gourmet spots to ensure she could fully enjoy her time in Korea.

With a recent expansion in our staff at Borderless House Korea, we’re now even better equipped to support our guests in a variety of ways.

I enjoy keeping up with the latest trends and sharing new information, so I encourage you to take advantage of BORDERLESS TRAVEL and come visit us in Korea.

I’m looking forward to meeting you!

 

 

ーーーーーーーーーーーー

BORDERLESS TRAVEL, part of the Borderless Mates program, is an exclusive initiative for residents that offers connections beyond the typical share house experience.

Please note that due to the availability of vacancies at the destination, we may not be able to accommodate your preferred timing or house. We recommend contacting us before booking your flight.

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[November/Community Event] Ice Skating Day!

a small world in Seoul where young people 
from all around the world live in one house
and exchange cultures and languages!

Hello! We are “Borderless House Korea”,
a sharehouse for cultural exchanges!

 

Hello, Everyone!
This is Borderless House Korea.

a beautiful snowy landscape of winter in Seoul!
The weather is way too cold to visit Korea in winter,
but still it’s worth it because this landscape is
can only be seen in this season.

To fully enjoy this winter wonderland,
we had gathered and spent our time together.
For the community event for November,
we’ve been visited the Lotte World Ice Skate Link!

 

Ice skating, Running, Soccer, Basketball, Tennis..
Sports giving us more fun if we have mates who can do with us!
and here are the mates for you, in our Borderless House. 🙂 
​

Friends from all around the world includes Korean.
You can hang out with these
and also study Korean language at the same time.

​
Us, Borderless House Seoul make an community event for a month.
Various tenants of our 5 houses are gathered in this event day,
and hanging around together.

 

This ice skating day was especially attended
by many foreign mates living in Korea!

 

Since they can enjoy all the amusement parks and leisure activities that are a bit burdensome to come alone in Korea, so the mates couldn’t help but had been satisfied 🙂

Our mates were so busy to taking pictures even though they were just wearing skates! Amusement parks seem to have a charm that makes everyone go back to their childhood.

 

 

 


Deeds are better than words,
Ice skating helps each other to make friends faster!

On this day, housemates who are good at ice skating were with us,
but the mates who is in the beginner level that barely can take a step also participated.

​

Skating with nobody would be dangerous situation if you were alone.
However, our foreign mates come up to the beginner mates and help them first.

​

It was a very safe and fun time
because they taught the mates how to ride it in detail
and stayed with them until the end.

 


Gangnam, Wangsimni, Koryodae,..
have friends living all over Seoul!

 

On this ice skating day
the housemates of Gangnam, Koreodae 2, and 3
mainly participated.

​

Borderless House has 5 sharehouses in various areas in Seoul, such as Korea University, Hongdae, Gangnam, Wangsimni, etc.

​

So this community event is not just the time for making a friends who live in the same house, it’s more like making a new mates who are from other houses. It’s a great chance to get close to new friends!

 

 

 

Borderless House is a cultural exchange share house where you can have Korean neighbors right next door just by starting living alone, and you can naturally become friends while living together!

​

It’s an opportunity to enjoy a new daily life with a new friend in your daily life, even if you don’t go far away or try to find a like-minded friend.

 

 

A communal dwelling where people of various nationalities come together to communicate with each other beyond the background and culture of living with each other and join forces to create a peaceful daily life!

 

The Borderless House is the place where true co-living begins.

​

In fact, when we eat after the event and share our concerns and feelings in Korea, our staff also feel how precious and precious the relationship of housemates we met through our house.

 

 

2023 is just around the corner, but event ideas for housemates in Borderless House are a long way off!

Now, there’s only one event left for 2023!
What will be waiting for the next event?

​

We’ve prepared an event that can’t be missed at the end of the year, so please look forward to the next review! 🙂

 

[ Inquiry / Contact us, Contact to borderless world!]
We have 5 sharehouses in Seoul for you.

Find your House | Sharehouse in Seoul, Korea | BORDERLESS HOUSE
Enjoy the cultural exchange in our sharehouses!

FAQ｜Multicultural Sharehouse | BORDERLESS HOUSE
Any questions are welcomed!

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[October/Community Event] Hi! High! Hiking!

 

 

“A small world in Seoul where young people
from all over the world live in one house and
exchange cultures and languages!

We are “Borderless House Korea”,
a share house for cultural exchange!”

 

 

Hello, everyone!
This is Borderless House Korea.

The summer that didn’t seem to end is surprisingly over already!
It’s a cool autumn weather in Seoul.

In the long-awaited fall,
Borderless housemates gathered for the first time in a while
and spent time together .

 

 

 

 

​

“Foreigners and Korean residents living in various houses such as Anam, Gangnam, Wangsimni, and Hongdae! !”

The reason why our housemates has been gathered each other is!

It was because of  Borderless House’s community program,
hiking event that took place after a very, very long time!

This time, a total of 9 people spent time together, including Gangnam House, Koryodae 2 and 3 house mates and Borderless House staff.

 

 

Achasan Mountain-Yongmasan Mountain Course Climbing
(It takes about 3 hours including rest time)

Hiking difficulty: ☆☆ (first-timer level)

A hiking course that anyone can easily visit if you use Subway Line 5!
Achasan Mountain-Yongmasan Mountain Course.

Not only was this course easy to climb,
but it also had the advantage of being able to see two towers
representing Seoul and city scenery at once.

For foreign housemates who are new to living in Seoul,
it was a time to feel the charm of Seoul.

 

A hiking course that anyone can easily visit if you use Subway Line 5!
Achasan Mountain-Yongmasan Mountain Course.

Not only was this course easy to climb,
but it also had the advantage of being able to see two towers
representing Seoul and city scenery at once.

For foreign housemates who are new to living in Seoul,
it was a time to feel the charm of Seoul.

 

The meeting participants who met for the first time on this day as well,
also talked up the mountain together and supported each other on the steep mountain path.

so when they came down the mountain, they  became friends finally.


In fact, there are many people who are interested in English conversation or making foreign friends, but most of them worried about whether it is okay to  trust people they meet through the app.  and sometimes there is a  cost burden  as well.

By the way, Borderless House has foreign friends in the next room just by living in here, and  regularly holds social events for free at least once a month  where you can hang out with other foreign friends, so the satisfaction of the tenants is high!

 

After hiking, we should definitely eat delicious food together, right?

Both foreigners and Koreans exchanged their own food culture while sitting around at a secret restaurant that only the staff knew. We had a great time, wondering each other and laughing a lot.

 

 

Now this was a special event with Borderless House and housemates,
“hi! high! hiking!”

Warm and pleasant exchange with the world I never knew before!
Borderless House is planning the next social promotion event for tenants.

See you at the next event!!

 

[ Inquiry / Contact us, Contact to borderless world!]
We have 5 sharehouses in Seoul for you.

Find your House | Sharehouse in Seoul, Korea | BORDERLESS HOUSE
Enjoy the cultural exchange in our sharehouses!

FAQ｜Multicultural Sharehouse | BORDERLESS HOUSE
Any questions are welcomed!

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We are Social Business – BORDERLESS HOUSE

Do you know that Borderless House is a “Social Business”?

Perhaps I should have asked – Have you heard of Social Business? 

In general, it refers to a company or a business that tries to create value or impact society in a positive way by offering a service or a product that meets the needs or by presenting new solutions to challenges brought on by society.

And there are more and more people talking about it around the world, actually, you can also find some TED TALK videos talking about it too! 

Even though “Social Business” is a term that you should know, it may sound a little complicated. But don’t worry, let me clearly explain it in a simpler way below.

What is Social Business

The phrase ”Social Business” refers to a brand of entrepreneurship rooted in funding or implementing solutions to cultural, social, or environmental problems. 

Image credit: Devon Bunce/Digital Storytellers

Social Business seeks to maximize profits while maximizing benefits to society and the environment, and the profits are principally used to fund social programs.

The key traits and characteristics of Social Business

• The primary aim is to address a social problem
• It is financially self-sufficient
• It does not pay dividends to its owners
• It is guided by how its operations benefit the causes and communities of interest

What’s the difference between social business and regular business

Maximizing profits is not the primary goal of a social business as is with a traditional business – What sets a social business apart from a traditional business is that while the traditional business’s ultimate goal is to create wealth, the social business seeks to create lasting societal change.

What’s the difference between social business and non-profit organization

Unlike a non-profit, a social business is not dependent on donations or on private or public grants to survive, and to operate it is self-sustainable. While non-profit organizations where funds are spent only once on the field, funds in a social business are invested to increase and improve the business operations on the field on an indefinite basis.

Why is Social Business Important

Now, let’s go a little bit in-depth to see why social business is important, especially in our society and globally.

  • Social businesses have the potential to change society and the world.

As social business concentrates on developing, financially backing, and executing ideas that contribute to finding solutions for social, cultural, and environmental concerns, it can make a huge impact on our life, in a positive way – and that’s why social businesses are much-needed, considering the times that we’re living in. The vision of a social business is usually social well-being related and a broader idea to excel as a community.

So social business is also a business that gets everyone in the world involved. People say that change-makers are those who take creative actions to solve social problems for the good of all – and this is who we are.

‘Creator’ of Multicultural Society – BORDERLESS HOUSE

So, for Borderless House, the social problem that we aim to solve with our business is – Prejudice and Discrimination.

We aim to build relationships among people with different backgrounds, such as different nationalities, races, and religions, and gather them together to live under the same roof in our share houses.

There are not only benefits but also conflicts sometimes when living in a mixed-culture environment. However, by sharing thoughts and feelings from time to time with each other, people can build a strong relationship in which we can understand other cultures and perspectives deeply.

Creating such a connection is the greatest value of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

The goal of our business is to create a multicultural society where people can mutually understand each other’s background regardless of race or nationality, and without prejudice or discrimination.

Our Vision

As more and more foreigners are settling in Japan, and it is important that there are places where they can live in peace and harmony. We believe that this solution which gathers people from around the world to live in a share house together is essential in a multicultural society.

As a ‘creator’ of Multicultural Society, we hope to accelerate the creation of an ideal society and to provide more people with opportunities for international living experiences, we aim to keep expanding our business and keep offering and creating opportunities for In-depth international exchange.

Planting the seeds of world peace is our mission and we welcome you to be a part of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

 

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【Quarantine Exemption in Korea】 Did you get fully vaccinated?

 

Did you get fully Vaccinated?
Hello, this is Borderless House again and if your answer is ‘YES’, please check all details below! If not, please click this for your quarantine information.
Those who have completed the 2nd shist hot of COVID-19 infection will be managed the same way as those who received the 3rd shot (even if 180 days have passed after the vaccination, they will be recognized)

Q-Code: Quarantine COVID-19 Defense

Helpful news for using the advance input system for quarantine information before coming to Korea for the quarantine exemption. Please check all guides to this system through here .

Quarantine for Each Target Person

Guidance on the quarantine procedure differs based on the entrant condition. Please refer to the corresponding information and prevent disadvantage in advance upon your entry. Please check the website link below for details.

        Sources from  Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (click)

※Those who have completed vaccinations linked through the COOV system with their vaccination history registered in Korea can be exempted from quarantine from March 21st.
※Those who have completed inoculation overseas because they have not registered
theirvac current entrants from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Myanmar
※For more information, please refer to [KCDC website] → [Notifications] → [Notice].

Procedure of moving in Borderless House Seoul

1. Following all steps for Q-Code above.
2. Arriving in Korea and meeting with Staff at station Near House you reserve.
3. Getting PCR test at Health center. (For long term staying)
4. Before checking the result of the test, keep wearing mask in the house.
5. Next day, Negative – you could go out, Positive – doing quarantine. 

*When you arrive in Korea at late night, we share how to do self-move in by PDF.
*If you get positive after PCR test in Korea, please kindly check all details below.

Borderless House Seoul Quarantine Guideline

When we have COVID-19 positive cases in the sharehouses managed by Borderless Korea Corp.(hereinafter, Company), for the safety of tenants and prevention of the spread of COVID-19, we respond according to the guidelines below, and tenants must cooperate with the response.
This guideline basically follows the response guidelines of the quarantine authorities. However, there may be some differences in consideration of the sharehouse which is a special type of residence.

1. When a tenant has any sign and symptoms of COVID , the tenant immediately conducts a rapid antigen test and shares the results with Company and housemates (House Group Chat).

2. When one of the tenants has the symptoms, all tenants of the house must cooperate with Company staff’s own epidemiological investigation (suspicious route of infection, contact with housemates after the symptoms, other tenants who have symptoms, etc.).

the tenant receives a positive result by rapid antigen test, conduct a PCR test immediately and share the results with Company and your housemates (House Group Chat).

4. From the date on which the quarantine notice is received as a result of PCR test, in principle, the confirmed tenant should leave the house temporarily and
self-quarantine in another place.
4-1. Through our staff’s own epidemiological investigation, if there is a high possibilityof additional positive cases in the house, the tenants will not do temporary move-out until the other housemates get the PCR test results.
4-2. In the event of a large number of positive cases, the quarantine way is adjusted in consultation with Company and the tenants in consideration of the proportion of positive cases.

5. In the case of self-quarantine in another place, in principle, the confirmed tenant seeks a place to isolate himself, and Company is not responsible for this
. If a confirmed tenant cannot find a place, Company may help to reserve a place, but the confirmed tenant does not object to the conditions (location, equipment, price, etc.) of the place.

6. If a confirmed tenant is quarantined in another place, in accordance with Article 12 of Tenancy Contract, Company does not charge the rent during the quarantine period.

7. Company will sanitize the house after the quarantine measures are completed.
According to of Tenancy Contract, the cost will be charged to the confirmed tenants.

8. If the tenant does not follow the above guidelines, Company may regard it as a
violation of Article 7 of Regulations and rules in The Premise and may move out
according to Article 10 of Tenancy Contract, and the tenant is responsible for any
disadvantages.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.
We hope to see you here in the near future. 
Thank you and stay safe.

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BORDERLESS MATES Program▏Mate’s Voice of BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY (Part.1)

Until now, over 100 Borderless Mates have registered to BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY program! In this blog article, we’d like to let you know more about this special program that is designed for our residents and help them connect with Borderless House Mates around the world by interviewing our resident!

 

What is BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY?

Borderless Mates not only have diverse nationalities and language abilities but also have a range of international experience in specialized careers and hobbies. Undoubtedly there are Borderless Mates around the world who have the same interests or areas of specialization. Through BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, we would like to connect all these knowledgeable and passionate people with each other!

We imagine each Borderless Mate as a single book in the expansive Borderless Mates Library, which is comprised of both current and past residents.

Then let’s hear out the real voice from our resident, Ash about her experience of using BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY!

※Aboved pictures are Ashleigh meeting other Borderless Mates from different share houses in person after exchanging messages through Borderless Mates Library!

Tenant’s ‘Borderless Mates Library’ Story and Experience

Please introduce yourself first!

To quote my self-introduction on Borderless Mates Library, “G’day! I’m Ash and I was in Perth Australia until I moved to Japan… I love meeting new people, traveling, photography and I want to learn Korean, Chinese, and Spanish.” I have been living in Itabashi-kuyakushomae House since I moved here in March 2018 and am currently an English teacher at a bilingual kindergarten.

Why did you sign up for Borderless Mates Library?

Being in Borderless for over 3 years, I used to go to almost every event and was even the MC at the Borderless Olympics and Christmas Party in 2019. I loved that it created a community with members from other Borderless Houses and I was able to make friends living in different houses. Everyone has their own interesting background and we can create a connection from living in the same busy city. However, since the start of the pandemic, Borderless has been unable to run these events and I was unsure how to continue creating connections with other houses. Many of my foreign friends that lived in Borderless had to go home and I was left to my own devices to find more Borderless members. I was excited when Borderless announced its Borderless Mates Program. I thought that maybe it was a way to connect with people from other houses again and hopefully have inter-house parties in the future.

Could you please explain to us how it works?

Within the program, Borderless Mates Library peaked my interest the most, as you can post a profile and also look at other people’s profiles who have or are living in a Borderless House. Only those who have created a profile can send you a message because the site is password restricted. If you want to connect with someone after reading their profile, all you have to do is click “I want to contact this mate!” at the bottom of the page and it will lead you to a google form asking why you want to contact them and to write a message to them. The message is then moderated by Borderless Staff before being sent. As I read my profile again, it looks like I might have to update it, but at least that didn’t stop people from messaging me!

Making friends!

After making my profile soon after Mates Library started in September, I was eagerly waiting for someone to contact me. After a couple of months, someone finally reached out to me. I almost forgot that I had created a profile by this time, but was glad that Eiji, who had recently moved into Kikukawa 2. Being my first time to reply to a request, I used the template that Borderless adds to help me respond. Having our interests and hobbies written on our profiles made it easier to make a conversation and we soon exchanged Line IDs to arrange to meet up at a cafe. Being the first Mate to meet, I was nervous but excited! When we met, Eiji told me he was moving to Honancho!

What do you think is the best thing about joining Borderless Mates Program?

The great thing about the Borderless Mates Program is that you can sign up for multiple activities. During the Language Exchange in February, I had the chance to talk to Moe and so I was so glad to see that she reached out to me through Mates Library shortly after! Moe was moving into the same house as Eiji had moved to and she also contacted my housemate Dani, so we arranged for the four of us to get dinner together.

The most recent Mate to contact me is Shinjuku-Nakai member, Shun. Not many Australians are in Borderless right now because they decided to go home, so he reached out to me to make an Aussie friend. We have been hanging out a lot lately and he introduced me to his housemates. Eiji and I even made a small event and I asked Shun to invite his housemates, so we had people from different houses there. It was great to meet others who were interested in being involved in the Borderless community! What I love about this program is that you don’t form just one friend, but many.

※Image of BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY platform 

There are more interesting stories from Ash that we would like to share with you in our next article, please look forward to it!! 

About BORDERLESS MATES PROGRAM & How to join

Not just BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, we also have LANGUAGE EXCHANGE that allows you to brush up your language skills while having fun chatting with other Borderless Mates via 1 on 1 language exchange online, and  CLUB ACTIVITIES to meet people who share common interests and hobbies as you, also BORDERLESS TRAVEL that helps you to meet locals, start an interesting journey! You can find more details from the webpage of BORDERLESS MATES PROGRAM!

Once you become our tenants, you can join and enjoy those programs for free!

We are now offering foreigners who are currently living in Japan a rent-free room for up to 2 months with 【Trial Stay Campaign】! 
This is a great opportunity to try out living in a shared house while enjoying the special program!

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【Quarantine Experience】Tenant’s Review of Government Facility (2)

What do you expect when you do quarantine at Government facility?
We are again sharing how our tenant did before and you can check how she thought about the facility managed by Korean government below.

We hope you would enjoy the rest of her stories!
If you miss the first her story, please check our first update for her!

Quality of Government Facility

I was very pleased with the facility. I stayed at Hotel and the room was clean with various amenities that I would need during my 14 days. There was also a pack provided with information regarding the quarantine process, a thermometer to record our body temperature, face masks and other items. Before coming to Korea, I read that I should be prepared to pay anything between $1400 – $2100 USD for the accommodation and luckily my total was in the lower spectrum; roughly $1500 USD. Meals are provided 3 times a day and staff members make announcements through speakers in the room when the meal has been delivered in front of your room door. The meals are nutritious and mostly include rice, a meat dish, several vegetable side dishes, fruit and soup. I definitely found the meals tasty and filling. Sometimes they give ramen along with the dinner if you get hungry later. There are waste bags provided to put all your rubbish in and you are advised to leave it outside your room after lunch everyday. This way, you don’t have to worry about food waste smells in the room. If there are any other items you may need such as tea/coffee, water, toilet tissue etc, you can call the front desk and they would send them up to your room. On top of recording your temperature on the app every morning and night, the nurses also came every afternoon to do temperature checks.

Personal tips or recommendations 

the people staying at the government facilities also do the test 2 times during quarantine. Nurses came to my room on the morning of Day 2 to do the PCR test and I will have one more test done on the morning of Day 13.

the hotel has provided me with a form to fill out to let them know what my preferred means of transport will be. If I choose for someone to pick me up from the hotel, they can either come just before midnight on the day before I am allowed to leave or 6:00am on the release date. A shuttle service can also be accessed and the two destinations offered are Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Seoul Station. From there it is up to you how you travel to your final destination. These are the options for the particular hotel that I am staying at and may be different depending on which government facility you will be taken to.

Some tips I have include possibly moving furniture in the room to make it more spacious. In my case, my room had an additional bed and its positioning made the space a little tight. Once I moved the bed to a side, the room definitely felt a lot less cramped. Of course remember to move things back to their original place before you leave. I would also suggest bringing snacks if you have a sweet tooth. I have heard some other facilities provide a lot of snacks but at the facility which I am staying at, they mostly stick to the healthy fruit. For me, the meals were more than enough to satisfy my appetite (I still have lots of ramen, juice and yogurt stocked up) but others may not feel the same. In that case, it would be good to bring preserved food like canned tuna, ramen etc. As I drink a lot of tea and coffee, I made sure to bring a lot with me, just in case the hotel did not provide it, and I also brought long life milk that I was able to stick in the fridge as soon as I opened the carton. Although thinking about how to pass the time may be one of the first things people think of, I would just like to stress again to make sure you have plenty to keep yourself occupied. Whether that is bringing your electronics to watch netflix all day or bringing textbooks to study a language, I think it’s really important to have plenty to do to avoid boredom. Establishing a rough routine could be helpful; I know it has worked for me and days pass a lot quicker which is a shame because I do find quarantining rather comfortable.

We have a lot of the other tenant’s experience which we have not uploaded yet.
However, all updates we have shared are enough to help your plan coming to Korea. If you do not really know well even you check this all, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always ready for your inquries.

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【Quarantine Experience】Tenant’s Review of Government Facility (1)

If you plan to visit Korea for a short term stay less than 90 days,
this blog helps you do understand and prepare what you need for future plan .

As we many times share about quarantine experiences , please check this all in detail if you do not have a specific visa and come to Korea for just a trip . 

One of our tenant who just was done her quarantine at Government facility shared how she made for 14 days in Korea!

How she got quarantine info before coming

I was aware of the quarantine rules in Korea. I did a lot of research on quarantining before coming and my friends who were already in Korea also shared their experiences with me. I found out that long term visitors were given the option between sourcing their own appropriate accommodation to quarantine in or quarantining in a government facility. However, for short term visitors it is mandatory to stay in a government facility. Most of the information I found was either from the Korean embassy website or YouTube videos.

Procedures after arriving at Incheon airport

When I arrived at the airport, there was not much information provided. At various stages of going through immigration security, I was handed different pieces of paper stating that I will be going into mandatory quarantine for 14 days but I was not told exactly where I would be quarantining. I ‘m sure if I had asked someone, they would have been able to give me some more information but I simply went with the flow and trusted the process that I would eventually get where I was supposed to be . While waiting to be boarded into a bus going to our quarantine facility , I overheard an airport worker mentioning the name of the hotel we were going to and I was able to look it up briefly before arriving at the hotel .

To give you more details on arrival date ,
When I got off the plane, there were around 5 stations of processing which I needed to go through. At the first station, the airport staff checked my passport, my negative PCR test and took some of the documents which I had to fill out while I was on the plane. At the second station, the staff called my Korean contact to verify that they knew me and then they helped me install an app to upload my temperature and symptoms if any were to arise. the third station was the standard border security where they took my fingerprints and picture. They checked if I had a visa but as I have a British passport, I was allowed to enter the country without a visa. They gave me a lanyard with a red card which signified that I did not have a visa and that I would be staying at a government quarantine facility. At the fourth station,they took my fingerprints and photo again and verified my purpose for travelling. They then gave me 2 papers which were official notices of my quarantine period. At that point, I was able to collect my luggage and begin to exit the airport. As I came out to the area where people are greeted by their family and friends, airport staff noticed my red card and guided me to the final station where they checked my passport again, wrote down my details and advised me to wait until I am called to board the bus. the bus journey took about 20 mins to arrive at the hotel. At the hotel, the staff made sure everyone had the correct app downloaded and we filled out a form to state if we had any ongoing medical conditions or any special food requests ( eg vegetarian food, Halal food etc). After handing in that form,I paid for my stay and finally got to go to the room.

Not only tenant’s review who used Borderless Quarantine Support,
But Borderless House Seoul would like to share all kinds of experiences which are really helpful for those planning the quarantine in Korea.

We next time would share how Government facility is nice and well organized.
Thank you for your interest and time. Meet you again and Stay safe!

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【Quarantine Support】Tenant’s Real Review (3)

Hello again! This is Borderless House Seoul.
We hope all of you who read this would get more helpful information!

As we shared before, we are about to share the last review from Lena.
Finally, Lena shares the last part of her quarantine. 
Please check all stories before she tells you the last stories!

Go to first review of her quarantine with Borderless Support!

Tips or Recommendation for quarantine here

I don’t really have any tips except to set some alarm to wake up earlier in the morning and try not to sleep too late.

If you get easily bored, you might try to make a planning and bring some stuff from your home to entertain you. Personally, I didn’t do anything that I had planned to do, I just enjoyed these two weeks to rest from the jet lag.

 

Staff Sayings

We recommend that you make the list you would like to do before your semester starts. Because many of tenants become very busy with their classes. 
So if you have some plans like going some fancy places or the travel to other cities in Korea, please spend the time on searching it more and more!

How did you move in after quarantine?

After I was done with the quarantine, I used a taxi to go the Borderless House.
I think it was easier than taking the bus or the subway as I didn’t know how it worked and it’s also more convenient for my luggage. When I arrived there, staff from Borderless House welcomed me and showed me the apartment.

So far I really like living in Borderless House. I get along well with my housemates and really enjoy the fact that we all come from different countries, so we can share our culture and everything. I think it is really great experience that I would for sure recommend.

                 <When she firstly talked by Skype to confirm her reservation>

Thank you, Lena for all your time with your stories!
Your experience will help the future possible tenants a lot!

If you would like to know more…

Please check our official page for quarantine support!

We will back again with the other quarantine experience.
Next would be the one regarding the government quarantine facility.
Thank you and stay safe!

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【Quarantine Support】Tenant’s Real Review (2)

Hello the world, this is Borderless House Seoul again!
We hope Borderless Support which Lena did helped you well last time.

This time Lena shares how she thinks of this support from Borderless House! 
We will briefly add some our opinions as well.
If you would like to check the first review, please check First reivew out!
Then, please again welcome her and see how she tells about Support!

Lena, Please share Good & Weak point!

Using the quarantine support from Borderless House was really good. I knew that whenever I had a problem, I could contact them and get some help. This was really reassuring considering the fact that I was in a new country far from my home and all by myself. I also knew that by using the quarantine support, I would have a nice place to stay which is kind of important as you have to stay there for two whole weeks.

I don’t think there were negative aspects, I didn’t have any problems. The only thing was that when I checked out, I didn’t know that I had to check out before 12 PM. Consequently, checking out was kind of a rush as I hadn’t packed everything yet. But except for this, everything went well!

Finally, I really liked the fact that I had my independence in the way that I could cook and buy my own food, something that you can’t do if you use the government facility. It was a good way to pass the time. I also really appreciated the instant noodles that Borderless House left me.

Staff Sayings

When tenant confirms the quarantine room, we share all info by PDF file.
It explains how to do after you arrive in the airport and before out of quarantine place. However, if you do not know well or wonder something, please directly contact to our staff by Kakaotalk. So please make your account before coming!

And also we contact tenants on arrival date for some tips by Kakaotalk!
Staff Kakaotalk ID : borderlessseoul or blkhakmin.

Most of tenants wonder how to do after arriving in the airport,
so we would like to ask tenants all the time how they did. 
For the way other tenants did, please check this first out and check Lena’s one!

Please share what you did after arriving!

When I arrived at Incheon airport, I didn’t really know what to expect. I thought that the administrative procedure was going to take a long time with all the papers (quarantine, PCR test, passport, etc.). But I was actually very surprised because everything was well organized and it was pretty fast. You just have to follow the path and the directions instructed by the airport staff.

Roughly, when you arrive you have to go through a series of steps. First, they check your temperature and the results of your PCR test that you did before leaving your country. Little tip, make sure it’s written in English or at least the date, your name and the result, it’s gonna be easier! Once everything is checked, they will lead you to another place and ask you to download the self-quarantine app. Personally I had already downloaded it beforehand so it was quicker.

Then they are gonna help you put all your personal info in the app such as your quarantine address, phone number if you have one, name etc. After you’re done, you have to go through the immigration office where they’re gonna check your visa.

In the next step, they’re going to check your quarantine address and call the owner of the place you’re staying to see if it confirms to the quarantine rules (no shared spaces, etc.). It’s the step that can seem the more stressful but don’t worry, the staff can speak English and you just have to explain in what type of accommodations you’re staying. In my case, Borderless House had prepared a message in Korean to show the officer so it is easier if there is any miscommunication. Finally, you go through a last step before picking up your luggage which is a classic customs control.

Once you get your luggage and get out, some staff is going to ask you if you wanna use a bus or a taxi to go to your quarantine place. I personally took a taxi as I thought it would be simpler to do a PCR test on the way there. You just have to tell them the address and in which district or “Gu” it is located and they will call a taxi for you. As I arrived around 4 PM, I had time to stop at the health center to get my PCR test done but if you arrive later, you might not be able to do it because health centers close at 6 PM. When you arrive to the health center, you have to fill a paper with your info and they will give you a quarantine kit with face masks, hydroalcoholic gel and a cleaning product. After I was done, the taxi then drove me to my quarantine place.

Staff Sayings

When you arrive earlier and have enough time, taxi takes you to the health center.
Once you arrive in Korea, you have to get PCR test once again and also you have to do one more PCR test a day before you out of quarantine place.

If you arrive at late, you can directly go to quarantine room first.
But you have to go there next day (or within 3 days). 
You will get informed when you arrive in the airport from staff there!

Thank you, Lena! We see you next time!

How are all stories Lena shared? 
We hope your curiosities has been answered well.

We will have the last story for you all and share soon!
Thank you very much for your time and Stay Safe!