Hello everyone!

I'm going to put everything I have on my mind and let me know if I'm wrong or give me some tips and info about the matter.

I'm a 19 y/o transgender female pre-hormones, expected to start my HRT on January 28. I'm going to start University in South Korea this 2019, obviously spending my first year on Language program and all that, but that's not what I'm here to talk about. All this thing of studying abroad is financially possible because of my parents, now the thing is that in the middle of it all is my transition.

My family is religious and already refused to accept me as who I am 3 years ago and then it got buried and they forgot about it and supposedly I'm "normal" lol anyways they smell something about it but not into my business and life like before, they just don't care. The thing is that where I'm based now Hrt prescriptions are free in sense of medical health you obviously have to buy it, but it doesn't cost anywhere more than 5$ because social security covers it, generally health system is free provided by the government, and you don't need any psychology letter to get the prescription cuz everyone is free to determine his gender as of a law they put.

After introducing my situation, let's get now to the point of it all. I'm going to study my undergraduate degree in South Korea plus a year and some months for the language which would be 5 years or more and I'm probably going to stay there after, I've already been there on vacation last year and I really enjoyed my time. I'm worried about my transition and I don't know if I can import my medical file to a endocrinologist to South Korea to continue my Hrt there or should I start it there and not in my home country or the way around? I know the situation of the LGBTQ community, and generally it's a very safe country to be in, specially because my ORIGIN country there's a death and jail penalty as for being part of the LGBTQ community, my actual residency country is completely okay in terms or trans rights and protection but in terms of my UNI education I don't want to get it here neither my parents. So I'm still waiting on my endocrinologist appointment to get info about continuing my treatment abroad (all behind my parents back), because I can't come back every now and then for checkups simply because plane tickets are way high through the roofs with the price. Now I know some of y'all might be like oh society is strict and they don't accept it etc plus they discriminate a lot so if you're going to say that please just hold it in cuz I already know the story and the "don't go to Korea" etc, but that's not my case and I have my own reasons and point of view.

Thank you for reading all of this, I appreciate your time and if you got here I hope ur okay and have a nice day! If you transitioned or are doing it in South Korea or have any information related to the topic please let me know, I can't find that much information on all I want to do!

Much love,
Huda🌹

Hi, Huda!

Welcome to Susan's Place.

I know nothing about the medical system in Korea.  We do, however, have at least one Korean member, @barbie, who might have information for you.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions forum to tell the members about yourself.  Here is some information that we like to share with new members:

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@Huda
Dear Huda: 
     I see that you have joined Susan's Place and this is your very first posting here on the Forums.
I am most pleased that you had decided to come to the Susan's Place site and the Forums.  As you post here on the forums you will be able to exchange thoughts and comments with others that are experiencing many of the same things.

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation as you continue to feel free to share it.

    I see that our lovely member @KathyLauren has already welcomed you but I also want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***There is a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new like-minded friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    There is information and important LINKS that  KathyLauren  included below her welcome message to you.   You will find information about the site that will help you navigate around and best utilize the features here.   
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

@Huda
Oh, and another thing, Huda,
As @KathyLauren mentioned in her Welcome Message to you, please make
a point to stop by the Introductions Forum to briefly tell more members about yourself.

Your introduction there will permit other members here to know of your arrival... and you can expect more sharing of thoughts with other members... an as you get more involved in exchanging comments on various posts other members will be along to offer their thoughts and comments in response to any of your specific questions and concerns..

NOTE  Now, after all of this Official Greeting stuff we will let you now have time to do some postings..

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place,,
Danielle

I lived in South Korea for 13 years. The health system is based on national health insurance. They are as comprehensive as you want them to be or can afford. As for transitioning particuarly the early stage you may find that while the younger generation is more accepting older people will look at you with suspicion at best. Once you can pass it should be ok. Not going to lie, the first year won't be fun. You stand out as a 'foreigner' anyway will just draw more attention. I suggest learning the language as soon as you can as it will make things easier. One thing you have going for you is that effeminate men are quite common so early on you shouldn't have too many issues.

Feel free to PM me if you you want any more information on living there. Good luck and you got this...

Quote from: Huda on December 24, 2018, 08:52:38 AM
I'm worried about my transition and I don't know if I can import my medical file to a endocrinologist to South Korea to continue my Hrt there or should I start it there and not in my home country or the way around?

You have better bring all medical documents available. The price of a medicine product can greatly differ depending on whether it is covered by the national health insurance or not. Documents are critical here in S. Korea to show or prove something, especially in institutions including college and doctor's office. Once the doctor gives a prescription to you, the cost of the medicine is very cheap here in S. Korea.

At my university, there are many foreign students, but I do not know how and whether they can get the benefits of the national health insurance. You may search the internet. For example:

https://www.korea4expats.com/article-foreign-residents-and-the-nhi-plan.html
https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/south-korea-student-insurance/health-insurance-in-south-korea.php

Many people in the street here speak to me in English, as they recognize me as a kind of foreigner from Russia or South America. Whether you are transgender or not, it does not matter so much as you will look anyway exotic. I frequently wear miniskirts during my classes, but students do not care so much. Yes. Young people here are more open-minded and accepting. There are already too many weird people here, and you don't need to worry so much.

Any other questions?

barbie~~

Quote from: barbie on December 24, 2018, 05:45:06 PM
You have better bring all medical documents available. The price of a medicine product can greatly differ depending on whether it is covered by the national health insurance or not. Documents are critical here in S. Korea to show or prove something, especially in institutions including college and doctor's office. Once the doctor gives a prescription to you, the cost of the medicine is very cheap here in S. Korea.

At my university, there are many foreign students, but I do not know how and whether they can get the benefits of the national health insurance. You may search the internet. For example:

https://www.korea4expats.com/article-foreign-residents-and-the-nhi-plan.html
https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/south-korea-student-insurance/health-insurance-in-south-korea.php

Many people in the street here speak to me in English, as they recognize me as a kind of foreigner from Russia or South America. Whether you are transgender or not, it does not matter so much as you will look anyway exotic. I frequently wear miniskirts during my classes, but students do not care so much. Yes. Young people here are more open-minded and accepting. There are already too many weird people here, and you don't need to worry so much.

Any other questions?

barbie~~

In addition you'll want any documents not in Korean (ie most if not all of them) OFFICIALLY translated and apostiled if possible. Its easier to do that before you go. The workers at the district (gu) offices are just cogs in a wheel and if something doesn't fit their checklist you'll have issues. Also get you driver license translated and have an international driving permit - trust on this one its way easier to convert than get another in Korea.

First of all i would like to thank @KathyLauren and @Alaskan Danielle for the warm welcome!
It feels great to have it and i appreciate it!

I will stop by the Introduction forum as soon as possible, work is literally draining my soul these days!
Thanks again KathyLauren and Alaskan Danielle for the links!

I'm still getting the hang of it all so excuse any mistake i might have made with the mentions..

Quote from: krobinson103 on December 24, 2018, 05:10:48 PM
I lived in South Korea for 13 years. The health system is based on national health insurance. They are as comprehensive as you want them to be or can afford. As for transitioning particuarly the early stage you may find that while the younger generation is more accepting older people will look at you with suspicion at best. Once you can pass it should be ok. Not going to lie, the first year won't be fun. You stand out as a 'foreigner' anyway will just draw more attention. I suggest learning the language as soon as you can as it will make things easier. One thing you have going for you is that effeminate men are quite common so early on you shouldn't have too many issues.

Feel free to PM me if you you want any more information on living there. Good luck and you got this...

Hello!

I didn't knew completly, more i was clueless as to what should i search for about the health care system. That's exactly what i've been reading almost everywhere, that the younger generation is more open-minded. Well i'm expecting the first year to be really hard, it's a completly new enviroment for me to be on. Glad to hear that because i've been always being bullied by people near me for "acting" feminine and looking like a girl, im talking in sense of facial freatures and everyone took me as a gay male, the thing is that it's just who i am which is a female and i can't help it it just comes out like that, but i never took those comments as negative but as positive and they gave me strenght that it's something good for my transition, i guess i just didn't go through puberty completly yet.

So yes, about the language.. that's what i'm going to put my first entire year on, just learn it and adapt to the culture while i take care of my HRT to start UNI later, i do expect the first year to be really hard being all by myself there.

By the way, as you have mentioned that you have been living there for 13 years, did you get the chance to apply for korean citizenship? as it requires 5 years of legal residency and i'm interested in that specially for the name change and all that follows, or you didn't want to get it?

Thank you for your words, i will PM you when i'm able to regarding the last question, it seems that i have some limits as a new member!

Much love!!

Quote from: barbie on December 24, 2018, 05:45:06 PM
You have better bring all medical documents available. The price of a medicine product can greatly differ depending on whether it is covered by the national health insurance or not. Documents are critical here in S. Korea to show or prove something, especially in institutions including college and doctor's office. Once the doctor gives a prescription to you, the cost of the medicine is very cheap here in S. Korea.

At my university, there are many foreign students, but I do not know how and whether they can get the benefits of the national health insurance. You may search the internet. For example:

https://www.korea4expats.com/article-foreign-residents-and-the-nhi-plan.html
https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/south-korea-student-insurance/health-insurance-in-south-korea.php

Many people in the street here speak to me in English, as they recognize me as a kind of foreigner from Russia or South America. Whether you are transgender or not, it does not matter so much as you will look anyway exotic. I frequently wear miniskirts during my classes, but students do not care so much. Yes. Young people here are more open-minded and accepting. There are already too many weird people here, and you don't need to worry so much.

Any other questions?

barbie~~

Hello Barbie!

I will collect all my medical documents, and as @krobinson103 typed i will translate them to english preferably so there won't be a problem and also apostile them, i have no problem in getting that done at all!

From your point of view living there, is there a big chance for the doctor to actually continue with my hrt treatment that i start in my country without stopping it or refusing to control my treatment having all my documents needed? or they'll follow my medical documents and i get to continue my treatment? i'm scared that i won't be able to get my prescription that's all.. i know that i can take with me there almost 2 months or 3 worth of prescription or something but idk..

H've checked briefly the links you gave me and will look into them more deeply in a few minutes but i see that i have a 30% kind of discount of what i have to pay as a contribution to the NATIONAL HEALTH INS because i'll be a student, which the amount normally is around 50000 KWN as they state and where i'm located i'll be around 39$ and doing the 30% off is just 12$ or so, so it's not that much but i have no problem in paying more or less (where i live we don't use dollars, thats just an example).

Glad to hear that from someone who's actually experiencing it there and actually telling me that people tend to be okay with it! You literally gave me hope on my future! I'm literally happy to know all these possible options! i'm grateful for joining this forum. I guess that i'll stand out as a foreigner but glad to know that being transgender won't be a huge negative thing there! People always gave me negative comments about living there and being who i truly am, not talking about full time on the first time but i plan to transition gradually.

I have a few more questions that i just can't put here right now due to the fact that they're all over the place, im just glad to know that i might have a chance to continue my journey there! Will let you know about anything i have to ask!

Much love, Huda

Quote from: Huda on December 25, 2018, 12:18:55 PM
From your point of view living there, is there a big chance for the doctor to actually continue with my hrt treatment that i start in my country without stopping it or refusing to control my treatment having all my documents needed? or they'll follow my medical documents and i get to continue my treatment? i'm scared that i won't be able to get my prescription that's all.. i know that i can take with me there almost 2 months or 3 worth of prescription or something but idk..

About 10 years ago, I once tried HRT, after getting a letter from a psychiatrist. The cost for getting the letter was ca. US$300 at that time. As I have a family, the physician said to me he can give prescription if my wife comes together with me to agree. I gave up, but you may easily get prescription if you bring the letter from the psychiatrist or if you can demonstrate with any document that you are already eligible for HRT. I heard that some m2f transgender people here get self HRT without prescription, but I think it is not desirable and will cost far more.

Here in S. Korea, the prices of prescribed medicines are very cheap. Also the costs of medical tests or exams are very cheap. For example, it costed more than US$100 to take x-ray in the U.S., but here it is less than US$10 even without health insurance. Annual health check-up is free and an endoscopy is less than US$ 7 with the national health insurance.

Whether you are transgender or not, it is a challenge to live and study in a foreign country.

barbie~~

Quote from: Huda on December 25, 2018, 11:44:15 AM
Hello!

I didn't knew completly, more i was clueless as to what should i search for about the health care system. That's exactly what i've been reading almost everywhere, that the younger generation is more open-minded. Well i'm expecting the first year to be really hard, it's a completly new enviroment for me to be on. Glad to hear that because i've been always being bullied by people near me for "acting" feminine and looking like a girl, im talking in sense of facial freatures and everyone took me as a gay male, the thing is that it's just who i am which is a female and i can't help it it just comes out like that, but i never took those comments as negative but as positive and they gave me strenght that it's something good for my transition, i guess i just didn't go through puberty completly yet.

So yes, about the language.. that's what i'm going to put my first entire year on, just learn it and adapt to the culture while i take care of my HRT to start UNI later, i do expect the first year to be really hard being all by myself there.

By the way, as you have mentioned that you have been living there for 13 years, did you get the chance to apply for korean citizenship? as it requires 5 years of legal residency and i'm interested in that specially for the name change and all that follows, or you didn't want to get it?

Thank you for your words, i will PM you when i'm able to regarding the last question, it seems that i have some limits as a new member!

Much love!!

I have a permanant residency visa but haven't been there for several years now. I could have applied for citizenship BUT there is an issue you should consider. If you are legally male then as a citizen you are expected to join the army for two years. Trust me on this one... you do not want to be trans in the Korean army. I would just try and get a permanent residency visa.

Sorry for the late reply

Thank you all for the information, now i have an insight and hope to continue my transition there! I hope i can be able to ask you for any question i might have in the future regarding the topic!

Much love!