Drinking water in Korea

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Drinking water in Korea

Here’s this week’s tip on Korean language and customs:

Q:
I just moved to Korea a few weeks ago and am planning to move into a new home very soon. The first and foremost concern in living in Korea is the drinking water issue. Is Korean tap water safe to drink? If I must purchase water, what are some options?

A:
Korean tap water is certainly clean and safe for washing food and cooking, but in most cities, boiling it before drinking it from the tap is recommended by health experts.

Most people purchase bottled water, readily available in stores and markets everywhere, and there are various local brands as well as well-known imports such as Evian and Perrier. For homes and offices, most local water companies offer delivery service and rent or sell an electric water dispenser for a large, 19-liter bottle. One bottle costs about 5,000 won ($5), and the number per month can vary. Water companies also rent or sell water purifiers which filter out sediments and impurities in the tap water.

A large number of health-conscious Koreans look for ubiquitous natural springs in the mountains. They take their own bottles to get fresh mineral water free of charge.
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