South Korea

Main routes

• E-7 (specific activities): for professionals sponsored by a Korean employer in approved occupations, with salary and qualification requirements.
• E-2 (foreign language teaching): for native speakers teaching at schools and private academies (hagwons).
• D-2 (student): for degree students at Korean universities, with limited part-time work allowed after permission.
• D-10 (job seeking): lets graduates and professionals stay in Korea while looking for work, including a points-based track.
• F-2-7 (points-based residence): a flexible long-term visa awarded on points for age, education, Korean ability and income. You need at least 80 points.
• F-1-D (workation): a digital nomad visa for remote workers with high foreign income.
• F-4 and F-6: for overseas Koreans and spouses of Korean citizens.

After you arrive

Register for your ARC within 90 days at the immigration office. Book appointments through HiKorea.

The job market

Many foreigners start as English teachers on the E-2 visa. Skilled professionals find roles in semiconductors, IT, gaming, automotive, shipbuilding, research and international business.

• In demand: software engineers, AI and data specialists, researchers, engineers and language teachers
• Minimum wage: 10,030 won an hour in 2025, rising to 10,320 won in 2026
• Severance: after one year of work, employees receive about one month's pay for each year of service

Work culture

Hierarchy and seniority matter. Team dinners (hoesik) build relationships, though they are less mandatory than they used to be. The legal limit is 52 hours a week, including overtime.

Where to look

• LinkedIn, Saramin and JobKorea
• The Work24 government job portal
• Recruiters for tech and engineering roles

Rental types

• Wolse: monthly rent plus a deposit (bojeunggeum), often 5 to 10 million won or more
• Jeonse: a very large lump-sum deposit, often 50 to 80% of the property value, with no monthly rent. The deposit is returned at the end of the lease.
• Officetels and one-rooms: compact studios popular with singles
• Goshiwon and share houses: cheap, very small rooms for short stays

Finding a place

• Use apps such as Zigbang, Dabang and Naver Real Estate
• Local real estate agents (budongsan) handle most rentals
• Agent fees are regulated and depend on the deposit and rent

National Health Insurance (NHIS)

Foreign residents staying six months or more are automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Employees pay about half of the premium through salary deductions, and the employer pays the rest. Students and self-employed people pay a monthly premium directly.

• Covers doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions and many procedures
• Patients pay a share of costs, often 20 to 60%
• Dental and some treatments have limited coverage

Where to go

• Local clinics (uiwon) for everyday problems, with no referral needed
• Large university hospitals for specialist care, usually with a referral
• Many hospitals in Seoul and Busan have international clinics with English-speaking staff

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are near most clinics. Some common medicines can be bought at convenience stores.

Typical monthly costs

• Rent: 700,000 to 1,500,000 won for a one-room or officetel in Seoul, plus a deposit
• Utilities and maintenance fees: 150,000 to 250,000 won, higher with winter heating
• Groceries: 400,000 to 600,000 won per person
• Transport: around 60,000 won a month
• Eating out: 9,000 to 13,000 won for a simple meal

Budget examples

• A single person in Seoul lives comfortably on about 2.5 to 3.5 million won a month
• Costs in Busan, Daegu and smaller cities are noticeably lower

Surprises

Fresh fruit, beef, cheese and imported products are expensive. Coffee is also pricey compared with meals.

Public transport

Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and Gwangju have subway systems, and buses reach almost everywhere. Transfers between subway and bus are discounted.

• Use a T-money card or a contactless credit card from a Korean bank
• Top up T-money at convenience stores and stations
• Seoul's Climate Card offers unlimited monthly travel on most city transport

Trains

KTX and SRT high-speed trains connect Seoul with Busan in about 2.5 hours. Korail runs slower trains to the rest of the country.

Maps and taxis

Google Maps has limited directions in Korea. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap instead, and Kakao T for taxis.

Driving

Many licences can be exchanged for a Korean one. Traffic in big cities is heavy, and speed cameras are everywhere.

Daily life

Korean life is busy and social. Evenings often include Korean barbecue, chicken and beer (chimaek) or karaoke (noraebang). Cafés are everywhere and often open late.

Culture and etiquette

• Age and seniority matter: use polite language with elders and superiors
• Pour drinks for others and receive them with both hands
• Remove your shoes when entering homes and some restaurants

Things to do

• Hiking is a national pastime, with trails on Bukhansan, Seoraksan and Jirisan
• Palaces, temples and hanok villages
• K-pop concerts, baseball games and festivals
• Jeju Island for beaches and volcanic landscapes

Holidays

Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest festival) are the biggest holidays, when many people travel home.

Schools

Korean public schools are free and academically demanding. Many children also attend private after-school academies (hagwons). Foreign children can enrol in local schools, which teach in Korean.

International schools

Seoul, Busan, Songdo and Jeju have international and foreign schools, including Seoul Foreign School, Dwight School Seoul and Busan Foreign School. Fees often exceed 30 million won a year.

Universities

Top universities include Seoul National University, KAIST, Yonsei, Korea University and POSTECH. Many offer English-taught programmes, especially at graduate level.

• The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) funds tuition, living costs and Korean language study
• Korean language institutes at universities offer intensive courses

Childcare

Daycare centres (eorinijip) are common, but foreign families usually do not receive the same subsidies as citizens.

Opening a bank account

Major banks include KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana and NH NongHyup, plus digital banks such as KakaoBank and Toss Bank. You usually need:

• Passport and ARC
• Proof of employment or student status
• A Korean phone number in your own name

New accounts may have limits on daily transfers until you show proof of income.

Paying for things

• Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere
• Kakao Pay, Naver Pay and Samsung Pay are widely used
• Many websites require Korean identity verification, which becomes easier with an ARC and local phone

Taxes and pension

Income tax is withheld monthly and settled through year-end tax settlement each January. Foreign employees can choose a flat 19% rate (plus local tax) in some cases. Most workers also pay into the National Pension Service.

Immigration rules

• Carry your ARC at all times
• Report changes of address within 14 days and changes of employer as required by your visa
• Working outside your visa conditions can lead to fines and deportation

Drugs

Korea has very strict drug laws. Cannabis is illegal, and Korean law can apply to use abroad. Drug tests on entry or after an arrest can lead to prosecution and deportation.

Alcohol and driving

• You can legally drink from 1 January of the year you turn 19
• The drink-driving limit is 0.03%, and penalties are severe

Everyday rules

• Hidden cameras and filming people without consent are serious crimes
• Defamation laws are strict, even for true statements made publicly online
• Korea officially adopted international age in 2023 for legal and administrative purposes

Airports and airlines

• Incheon International (ICN): the main international gateway, about an hour from central Seoul by AREX train
• Gimpo (GMP): domestic flights and short routes to Japan, China and Taiwan
• Gimhae (PUS): Busan's airport
• Korean Air and many low-cost carriers such as Jeju Air, T'way and Jin Air

Regional trips

Japan, Taiwan, China and Southeast Asia are short, affordable flights away. Ferries run from Busan to Fukuoka and Osaka.

Within Korea

• Jeju Island by a short flight
• Gyeongju for ancient temples and tombs
• Gangneung and Sokcho on the east coast
• Jeonju for food and hanok villages

Entry rules

Many nationalities need a K-ETA or visa to enter. Residents with a valid ARC can re-enter without one.