I'm moving into a new place soon and there's no air conditioner?
I'm moving into a new place soon and there's no air conditioner. Has anyone here already lived like this? How did you manage during summer? Also, what's the best way to get one in Korea? Is buying on Coupang a good option, or should I look for installation services separately?
1 Answer
Korean summers are seriously hot and humid, so getting an AC unit is pretty much essential. Buying on Coupang is actually a great option because many listings include installation service. A wall-mounted unit from Samsung or LG runs about 500,000 to 800,000 won, and installation is typically 100,000 to 150,000 won extra. Make sure to order well before summer starts because installation wait times can stretch to 1 to 2 weeks during peak season.
If buying a new unit feels too expensive, you have a few alternatives. Portable AC units cost around 300,000 won and need no installation, just a window to vent the hose through. They are not as powerful but decent for a single room. You can also find used wall units on Danggeun Market (당근마켓) for much less, sometimes including transfer installation. Another option is renting an AC unit for the summer months through services you can find on Naver by searching 에어컨 렌탈. Until you get your AC set up, a combination of a fan and a dehumidifier (제습기) makes a surprising difference since a lot of the discomfort comes from the humidity rather than heat alone.