Make Korea Your Home
Everything a foreigner needs to live in Korea β visa, bank account, healthcare, housing, phone and daily life explained step by step.
All Living in Korea Guides
Click any guide to get the full step-by-step breakdown.
Visa Guide
Tourist, working holiday, D-10 job seeker, E-2 English teacher β all visa types with requirements and application steps.
Banking in Korea
How to open a Korean bank account as a foreigner, which bank to choose, KakaoBank setup, sending money abroad.
Healthcare & Insurance
National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment, types of hospitals, foreigner-friendly clinics, pharmacies and emergency care.
Housing in Korea
Jeonse vs wolse vs goshiwon β Korea’s unique rental system explained, how to find a room, and what to expect in the contract.
Phone & SIM Card
How to get a Korean phone number, comparing KT/SKT/LG U+, budget MVNO options, and the 10 essential apps for living in Korea.
Daily Life in Korea
Foreigner registration card, trash sorting system, cost of living budget, convenience store life, and Korean workplace culture.
New to Korea? Start Here
Your first-30-days checklist when you arrive in Korea.
Get your ARC (Alien Registration Card)
Within 90 days of arrival, register at your local Immigration Office (μΆμ κ΅κ΄λ¦¬μ¬λ¬΄μ). Required for almost everything: bank account, phone, insurance. Bring passport + visa + passport photo.
Open a bank account
IBK (κΈ°μ μν) and KEB Hana are most foreigner-friendly. Bring ARC + passport. IBK branches near universities are used to foreigners. KakaoBank can be set up on your phone after you have a Korean number.
Get a Korean phone number
Visit any carrier store (KT, SKT, LG U+) with your ARC + passport. Or buy a prepaid SIM at the airport. A Korean number is needed for bank apps, Naver, Kakao etc.
Enroll in National Health Insurance (NHI)
If employed, your company handles this. If self-employed or long-stay, visit NHIS (κ΅λ―Όκ±΄κ°λ³΄ν곡λ¨) or enroll online. Monthly premium: ~β©100,000β150,000 for most foreigners.
Find housing
Use Zigbang (μ§λ°©) or Dabang (λ€λ°©) apps to find rooms. Consider a goshiwon (κ³ μμ) for the first month while you find a proper apartment. Have a Korean friend or colleague review the contract.
Install essential apps
KakaoTalk (messaging), Naver Maps (navigation), Coupang (delivery), Baemin (food delivery), Toss (banking), KakaoTaxi (transport). These 6 apps cover 90% of daily needs.
Cost of Living in Korea (2026)
Realistic monthly budgets for foreigners in Seoul.
| Expense | Budget (κ³ μμ) | Mid-range (μλ£Έ) | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | β©350,000β500,000 | β©600,000β900,000 | β©1,200,000+ |
| Food (cooking + eating out) | β©250,000 | β©400,000 | β©600,000 |
| Transport (T-money) | β©60,000 | β©80,000 | β©100,000 |
| Phone plan | β©20,000 (MVNO) | β©40,000 | β©60,000+ |
| Health insurance (NHI) | β©70,000 | β©100,000 | β©130,000 |
| Utilities | Included | β©80,000 | β©130,000 |
| Total / month | ~β©750Kβ850K | ~β©1.3Mβ1.6M | ~β©2.2M+ |
β©1,000 β $0.74 USD. Seoul is significantly cheaper than London, Tokyo, or Sydney for equivalent quality of life.
π£οΈ Living in Korea Means Speaking Korean
Our 41-chapter course covers daily life conversations, workplace Korean, banking phrases, and everything you need to navigate life in Korea.