About
An editorial platform for long-stay visitors to Korea.
Author
Hi, I'm Sua 👋
Living in Busan. Writing Korea for the friends who want to stay.
I run klifestyles.com. My Korean name is Kim Sua (김수아), but international friends just call me Sua. I'm a thirty-something woman based in Busan, writing about Korean fashion, food, and housing — for foreign residents and visitors who actually want to live here, not just snap photos and leave.
01
Why I started this
This blog started because of family. My younger brother married his Taiwanese girlfriend, and watching them settle into life together in Korea opened my eyes. So much of what feels "obvious" to a Korean — choosing a neighborhood, signing a lease, picking the right café for hand-drip coffee, deciding whether to buy or rent a hanbok — turns out to be a real wall for someone who didn't grow up here.
So I started writing. The site covers everyday Korean life from the angle of foreign residents, digital nomads, and people staying for a month or more. Busan is my home base, so you'll see a lot of Busan content, but Seoul shows up just as often.
02
A bit more about me
I play tennis, I run, and I'm pretty obsessed with the ocean 🌊 — there's nothing better than running along Gwangalli at sunset.
I'm a brunch person at heart: toast, Greek yogurt, fresh vegetables. Heavy or oily food doesn't really agree with me (yes, even Korean ones — I always pick the lighter dishes). I make my own hummus and tzatziki at home, which is one of those small everyday joys. Honestly, it's been hard finding fellow hummus lovers in Korea, so I tend to bond with international friends over food more than locals 😊
03
Three promises for this site
Three things I keep in mind every time I write.
01
Cross-checked facts
Every fact is cross-checked with official sources, with clear notes whenever something might change.
02
Only places I've been
Every place I recommend, I've actually been to. No copy-pastes from somewhere else.
03
Like a friend
Every post is written like I'm telling a friend — because most of you reading this are friends I just haven't met yet.
See you in Korea
If you have a question or want to suggest a neighborhood I should write about, drop a comment or email. See you in Korea!
Or email hello@klifestyles.com