Moving to South Korea

The South Korean visa process is highly structured. For most long-term expats, the process begins with a Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance (CCVI). This document is typically applied for by your employer or sponsor in South Korea through the local immigration office. Once approved, you use the CCVI number to apply for the actual visa at a Korean embassy in your home country.

South Korea uses a granular visa system, with different categories for workers, students, spouses, and highly skilled professionals; choosing the right visa at the start makes life much easier later. Most long-term expats will hold a Residence Card (formerly known as the Alien Registration Card), which acts as your local ID for everything from banking to health insurance.

After arrival, all expats staying longer than 90 days must apply for a Residence Card at their local immigration office.

From arrival to registration

Once you arrive with a long-term visa:

1. You must apply for a Residence Card at the local immigration office within a set period (often 90 days), bringing your passport, photos, contract or enrolment letter, and housing documentation.
2. Your Residence Card number will be requested when you open a bank account, sign mobile contracts, or enroll in National Health Insurance, so factor processing time into your move.
3. If you change address, job, or school, you are generally required to update immigration authorities to remain compliant.

Seoul is frequently cited as one of Asia’s more expensive cities, yet actual living costs are defined less by rankings and more by lifestyle, location, and income structure.

South Korea’s relatively stable pricing environment offers predictability for internationally mobile professionals, particularly when compared with the sharper cost fluctuations seen in many Western markets.

For those earning in stronger foreign currencies, everyday expenses—such as premium local dining, domestic services, and transport—can represent strong value, especially outside Seoul’s most exclusive districts.

However, prime residential property, international education, and luxury or imported goods remain premium-priced. A clear understanding of costs comes from evaluating lifestyle-specific priorities rather than relying on broad city-wide comparisons.

The South Korean housing market operates on a unique rental system that often confuses foreigners.

There are two main ways to rent:

The “Jeonse” vs. “Wolse” System

1. Wolse (Monthly Rent): This is the standard Western model. You pay a deposit and monthly rent. However, deposits are high by Western standards—often ₩10 million to ₩20 million ($7,500–$15,000) for a standard studio.
2. Jeonse (Key Money Deposit): Unique to South Korea. You pay a massive lump-sum deposit (often 50–80% of the property’s value) upfront. You pay zero monthly rent for the 2-year lease. At the end, the landlord returns the full deposit.

Types of Accommodation

South Korea offers a range of residential options to suit different lifestyles, household sizes, and location preferences. While property styles may differ from those in Western markets, each option comes with its own advantages in terms of comfort, convenience, and amenities.

• Apartment (Apateu): Large complexes with many amenities, preferred by families.
• Officetel: A hybrid office/hotel building. These are modern, often furnished studios popular with single professionals.
• Villa: Low-rise apartment buildings (usually 3–5 stories). Generally older but more affordable than large apartment complexes.

What are the best neighbourhoods for expats in South Korea?

Expats in South Korea gravitate to neighborhoods blending English services, international communities, transport links, and family amenities, primarily in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu. Choices depend on lifestyle, central buzz for singles or green suburbs for families.

Education is highly valued in South Korea. While the public system is rigorous and high-achieving, it is instructed entirely in Korean.

If you are moving with children, understanding the South Korean education system and your schooling options is essential, because the pressures and expectations in local schools are quite distinct from many Western systems.

Families typically choose between local public schools, private institutions, and international schools, balancing language immersion, curriculum, and budget.

Here are some key points based on our research and understanding:

For expat families, schooling in South Korea generally comes down to a choice between local Korean schools and international schools, each with clear trade-offs. Local public schools are affordable and academically strong but teach mainly in Korean and follow an intensive, exam-focused culture, which can be challenging without solid language support.

International schools, mostly clustered in and around Seoul and Incheon with a few in other cities, offer English-medium curricula such as IB, American, or British systems and smoother pathways to overseas universities.

Crown’s school search service can be of great help if you have no idea where to start.

For many long-term foreign residents, NHIS premiums average roughly 110,000–130,000 KRW per month, though this can vary by income and circumstances; ignoring bills can negatively affect visa renewals.

What’s covered and what isn’t

NHIS generally covers:

• Clinic and hospital visits with co-pays in the low tens of thousands of KRW per visit.
• Emergency services, including ambulance and emergency room care, subject to partial co-pays.
• Prescription medications, with many common drugs subsidized.
• Periodic health checkups, often every two years for most workers.

Coverage for dental, vision, and mental health is partial, basic dental work (exams, fillings) and psychiatric consultations are often subsidized, while more extensive treatments and talk therapy may require additional private coverage or out-of-pocket payment.

Many expats supplement NHIS with a private top-up policy for broader hospital choice, private rooms, and better coverage for dental, maternity, or international evacuation, especially if they travel frequently or have ongoing medical needs.

South Korea’s tax system uses progressive rates for most residents but offers special options for certain foreign workers, including a flat-rate regime and relief for high-skilled professionals in strategic sectors. Understanding when you become tax resident, how social contributions work, and whether a tax treaty with your home country applies is key to avoiding costly surprises.

Income tax rates and residency

• Progressive rates:
  • South Korea applies progressive national income tax rates roughly from 6% up to 45%, with additional local income surtax added by municipalities.
• Flat-rate option for foreign workers:
  • Certain foreign employees can elect a special 19% flat income tax rate on South Korean employment income for up to five years, separate from the local surtax, instead of the progressive schedule.
  • Eligibility typically favors technical and professional workers in fields like IT, engineering, research, and finance, and the election usually must be made within a few months of starting work.
• ​Double taxation agreements:
  • South Korea has signed more than 90 Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) to help prevent the same income being taxed twice, which is particularly important if you continue earning in your home country or maintain tax ties there.

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Whether you are considered tax resident often depends on factors like the 183-day presence rule and your primary home, so cross-border professionals should seek country-specific advice, especially those from the US, UK, or EU.

Given the interplay between South Korean rules, social insurance, and your home jurisdiction’s tax system, many expats consult a specialist during their first year in South Korea to set up compliant structures for salary, bonuses, and any overseas investments.

Expats often face culture shock in South Korea’s high-context society, marked by indirect communication, strict hierarchy, and the art of nunchi (reading social cues without explicit words). Common hurdles include workplace deference to seniors, group-oriented socializing over individualism, and avoiding direct “no”s—opting for softer phrases like “that might be difficult” instead. Homesickness, language barriers, and intense work culture (long hours, after-work drinks) can amplify isolation, especially in the “adjustment slump” after the initial honeymoon phase.

Tips for Smooth Integration

Learn basic Korean phrases like polite greetings (annyeonghaseyo) and titles (-nim) to show respect and ease daily interactions. Participate in group activities such as shared meals, noraebang (karaoke), or festivals to build bonds, while observing local behaviors before acting. Join expat groups, language exchanges, or Meetups for support, establish routines like weekly walks, and embrace local food (kimchi, bibimbap) to foster openness. Patience pays off, many report thriving after 6–12 months by balancing immersion with self-care.