South Korea
Living, work, immigration, education & business — official links and practical guides
Key Facts
Basics
Currency
KRW
Region
East Asia
Local time
UTC+9
Asia/Seoul
Economy
Population
51.75M
GDP (current US$)
$1.88T
GDP per capita
$36,239
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) · 2024 · Last checked: 2026-07-06
Tax snapshot
Corporate tax
25%
+2.5% municipal
VAT
10%
Top individual income tax
45%
+4.5% municipal
Capital-gains tax
Varies
- Basic PIT top rate is 45%; local income tax is separate at 10% of PIT due (about 4.5pp at the top). CIT top bracket is 25% from 2026.
Source: National tax authority · Cross-check: OECD · PwC · KPMG · Last checked: 2026-07-16
Headline statutory rates. The income-tax figure includes national surtaxes; any regional or municipal layer is shown beside it. Social contributions and reliefs are excluded. Verify the current rate with the authority before relying on it.
At a glance
A high-demand destination for study, tech work and culture, with a points-based residence track and a 2024 digital-nomad visa; Korean-language ability shapes daily life.
Best for
International students, employer-sponsored skilled professionals (E-7), and points-qualified long-term residents.
Who this may not suit
People who expect to get by in English long-term, or who want to switch employers freely — most work statuses are tied to a sponsor and to your registered field.
Main routes in
E-7 skilled work Employer-sponsored professional work visa tied to a specific role. D-2 student → D-10 Study, then a job-seeking visa to convert to work. F-2 points → F-5 PR A points-based residence building toward permanent residence (F-5).
Key trade-offs
- Korean-language ability strongly affects jobs and daily services.
- Work visas are employer- and role-specific.
- Housing usually needs a large jeonse/wolse deposit.
First steps
- 1 Secure a job offer or university admission (it sets your visa basis).
- 2 Apply for the visa, then get your Alien Registration Card via HiKorea.
- 3 Enrol in National Health Insurance (mandatory after 6 months).
- 4 Track your visa-type conditions and renewal dates on HiKorea.
What changes often
- · Points-based F-2-7 residence scoring
- · D-8/D-9 business and investment thresholds
- · TOPIK levels required for status changes
Visa categories and the points system change — confirm on HiKorea and Korea’s immigration service. HiKorea ↗
Major cities
All cities (9) →Living
Housing
Renting and buying property in South Korea — typical rents, deposits, contracts, and official tenancy rules.
Healthcare
How the South Korea healthcare system works — public vs private care, eligibility, and costs for residents and visitors.
Insurance
Insurance in South Korea — health, travel, and digital-nomad cover, what is mandatory, and how to choose a plan.
Work
Jobs
Where to find jobs in South Korea — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
Employers
Major employers hiring in South Korea, with links to their official careers pages.
Government Jobs
Public-sector and civil-service hiring in South Korea — the official government job portal.
Salaries
Typical salaries by role in South Korea — pay ranges, taxes, and cost-of-living context.
Immigration & Mobility
Work Visa
Work permit categories, eligibility, sponsorship, application steps, and processing times.
Startup Visa
Entrepreneur and startup visa programs, investment thresholds, and application criteria.
Student Visa
Student visa categories, eligibility, required documents, work rights, and application steps.
Tourist Visa
Tourist and visitor visa requirements, visa-free entry, duration, and application steps.
Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Digital Nomad Visa
Remote-work visa programs, income requirements, duration, taxes, and application steps.
Education
Universities
Top universities in South Korea, admissions, tuition, and international-student support.
Online Courses
Online learning relevant to South Korea — accredited platforms, local MOOCs, and language courses.
Scholarships
Scholarships and financial aid for studying in South Korea — government, university, and international programs.
Study Abroad
How to study in South Korea as an international student — application steps, student visas, and living costs.
Business
Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
Business Banking
Opening business and personal bank accounts, remote options, required documents, and fees.
Investment
Foreign investment rules, incentives, investment promotion agencies, and restricted sectors.
Tax System
Corporate tax, VAT/GST, personal income tax, capital gains, and filing obligations.
Import & Export
Customs procedures, duties, de minimis thresholds, EORI/registration, and restricted goods.
Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Compliance
Corporate, tax, employment, data-protection, AML/KYC, trade and AI compliance — official regulators and registries.
Corporate Compliance
Annual filings, registered-agent and beneficial-ownership obligations, and the official company registry.
Tax Compliance
Filing calendars, registration thresholds and the official tax authority.
Employment Compliance
Mandatory contracts, payroll and social-insurance registration, and the official labor authority.
Privacy & Data Protection
The country's own data-protection regime, registration duties, and its official supervisory authority.
AML & KYC
Anti-money-laundering and customer-due-diligence obligations, regulated activities, and the official financial regulator.
Import & Export Compliance
Customs registration, controlled/restricted goods, sanctions screening, and the official customs authority.
AI Regulations
The country's own AI governance approach, risk tiers, transparency duties, and its official authority.