Korea's money, work and life for foreigners
Plain-English guides and calculators for foreigners in Korea: take-home pay, taxes, pension refunds, health insurance, visas, housing, investing, travel and daily life — with sources and 2026 numbers.
Step-by-step courses
14-part courseWorking in Korea: Money BasicsYour payslip → income tax (19% flat vs progressive) → pension refund → severance → health insurance → visas → leaving Korea. 14 parts, in the order you will meet them.8-part courseInvesting in Korea as a ForeignerOpening a brokerage account with an ARC, taxes on Korean dividends and gains, KOSPI ETFs at home vs abroad, buying property under the 2025 land-permit rules, ISA/IRP and crypto. 8 parts.
Calculators
CalculatorBuying Property in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)Foreigners can buy Korean property, but since Aug 2025 all of Seoul and 30 Gyeonggi/Incheon areas need a permit (to Aug 25, 2027) with a 2-year live-in rule.CalculatorCrypto in Korea for Foreigners (2026)ARC holders can trade on Upbit via K Bank; Coinone and Gopax take no new foreigners; non-residents are shut out. Tax from Jan 1, 2027: 22% above ₩2.5M.CalculatorKorea Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D) 2026Korea's workation visa is permanent since June 30, 2026. Income needed: ₩52.4M–104.8M a year by age and region (Seoul area vs outside). Checker, documents.CalculatorE-7 Visa Korea 2026Korea's E-7 work visa in 2026: salary floors by subcategory (₩31.12M / ₩25.89M / ₩26M), degree rules, the 20% employer ratio, E-7-4 points. Threshold checker.CalculatorE-9 (EPS) Workers in Korea 2026What an E-9 worker takes home in 2026: ₩10,320 minimum wage, overtime, legal housing deductions, insurance, tax — plus departure insurance and pension refund.CalculatorKorea's 19% Flat Tax for Foreign WorkersForeigners in Korea can elect a 19% flat income tax (20.9% with local) instead of 6–45%. It only wins above ≈₩160M. Break-even calculator, 21% proposal.CalculatorKorean National Health Insurance for Foreigners (2026)NHIS for foreigners in 2026: employees pay 3.595% + long-term care; others join after 6 months at a ₩158,630/month minimum. Estimator, dependents, arrears.CalculatorHow to Buy Korean Stocks as a Foreigner (2026)Foreign residents with an ARC open Korean brokerage accounts like locals (mostly in-branch); non-residents use passport or omnibus routes. Hours, fees, costs.CalculatorISA and IRP for Foreigners in Korea (2026)Foreign residents can open Korea's ISA (₩20M/yr, gains tax-free to ₩2–4M then 9.9%) and IRP (16.5%/13.2% credit on ₩9M). Flat-tax electors get no IRP credit.CalculatorJeonse Explained for Foreigners (2026)Jeonse: a lease with a deposit of 50–80% of the home's value and no monthly rent. The 2026 math, jeonse-to-wolse at 5%, deposit protection, fraud checks.CalculatorTaxes on Korean Stocks for Foreign Residents (2026)Living in Korea, your Korean shares are taxed like a Korean's: 15.4% on dividends, no tax on gains unless you hold ₩5bn of one stock, comprehensive over ₩20M.CalculatorKorean Stock Taxes for Non-Residents (2026)Non-residents pay 22% on Korean dividends unless a treaty cuts it (most 15%, some 10%) via Form 29-12 and a residency certificate. Gains mostly exempt.CalculatorKorean Salary ExplainedKorean payslip deductions in 2026: pension 4.75%, health 3.595%, employment 0.9%, income tax (progressive or the foreigner 19% flat rate). Net-pay calculator.CalculatorKOSPI ETFsA Korean-listed KOSPI 200 ETF costs 0.05–0.15% a year with no capital gains tax for residents; EWY 0.59%, FLKR 0.09%, KORU 1.32% with embedded withholding.CalculatorKorea Minimum Wage 2026 for Foreign WorkersKorea's 2026 minimum wage: ₩10,320/hour = ₩2,156,880/month with weekly holiday pay (₩10,700 in 2027). Overtime 1.5×, probation 90%, E-9 housing caps.CalculatorNational Pension Refund for Foreigners Leaving Korea (2026)Korea refunds National Pension (yours + employer's, 9.5% in 2026) to 24 agreement countries, 26 reciprocity countries and E-8/E-9/H-2 visas. Checker inside.CalculatorSeverance Pay in Korea for Foreign Workers (2026)Every employee in Korea with 1+ year at 15+ hours a week gets severance: 30 days' average wage per year, paid within 14 days. Calculator incl. retirement tax.CalculatorTeaching English in Korea 2026E-2 teacher pay in 2026: EPIK ₩2.2–2.8M + housing, hagwons ₩2.3–2.5M, plus severance, flights and (some nationalities) a pension refund. Contract calculator.CalculatorUnemployment Benefits in Korea for Foreigners (2026)F-2/F-5/F-6 holders are insured automatically; E-7 and other E-visas only if enrolled; E-9/H-2 only with the unemployment option. 2026 benefit calculator.CalculatorYear-End Tax Settlement (연말정산) for Foreigners in KoreaHow Korea's Jan–Feb year-end tax settlement works for foreign employees: Hometax, the credits you can claim (rent, cards, pension savings) and refund timing.
Money & Work
Take-home pay, taxes, pension refunds, health insurance, severance and work visas — the numbers behind working in Korea as a foreigner.
- D-10 Job-Seeker and F-2-7 Points Visa in Korea (2026): How the Points Work, the 2025 D-10 Reform, and the Path from Work Visa to ResidencyKorea's points visas: D-10 job-seeker (60 of 190 points, up to 3 years since 2025) and F-2-7 residence (80 of 170), which frees you from employer sponsorship.
- Korea Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D) 2026: Income Thresholds by Age and Region, Insurance, the 3-Year Limit, and the Tax Question — Eligibility CheckerKorea's workation visa is permanent since June 30, 2026. Income needed: ₩52.4M–104.8M a year by age and region (Seoul area vs outside). Checker, documents.
- E-7 Visa Korea 2026: Minimum Salary Thresholds (₩31.12M / ₩25.89M / ₩26M), Qualification Rules, Employer Quotas, and the E-7-4 Skilled Worker RouteKorea's E-7 work visa in 2026: salary floors by subcategory (₩31.12M / ₩25.89M / ₩26M), degree rules, the 20% employer ratio, E-7-4 points. Threshold checker.
- E-9 (EPS) Workers in Korea 2026: Net Pay Calculator, Housing Deductions, Departure Insurance, Pension Refund, and the 4-Year-10-Month ClockWhat an E-9 worker takes home in 2026: ₩10,320 minimum wage, overtime, legal housing deductions, insurance, tax — plus departure insurance and pension refund.
- Korea's 19% Flat Tax for Foreign Workers: When It Beats the Progressive Rate (2026 Calculator, 20-Year Rule, 21% Proposal for 2027)Foreigners in Korea can elect a 19% flat income tax (20.9% with local) instead of 6–45%. It only wins above ≈₩160M. Break-even calculator, 21% proposal.
- Korean National Health Insurance for Foreigners (2026): Employee vs Regional Premiums, the ₩158,630 Minimum, the 6-Month Rule, and Visa Consequences of ArrearsNHIS for foreigners in 2026: employees pay 3.595% + long-term care; others join after 6 months at a ₩158,630/month minimum. Estimator, dependents, arrears.
Investing
Buying Korean stocks and ETFs as a foreigner, dividend and capital-gains tax, treaties, property purchase rules and crypto — with the 2026 regime explained.
- Buying Property in Korea as a Foreigner (2026): The Seoul/Gyeonggi Land-Permit Zone to August 2027, Acquisition Tax, Mortgages, Reporting — Cost CalculatorForeigners can buy Korean property, but since Aug 2025 all of Seoul and 30 Gyeonggi/Incheon areas need a permit (to Aug 25, 2027) with a 2-year live-in rule.
- Crypto in Korea for Foreigners (2026): Which Exchanges Accept You (Upbit Yes, Coinone/Gopax No), the Real-Name Bank Rule, the 2027 Tax at 22%, and the Travel RuleARC holders can trade on Upbit via K Bank; Coinone and Gopax take no new foreigners; non-residents are shut out. Tax from Jan 1, 2027: 22% above ₩2.5M.
- How to Buy Korean Stocks as a Foreigner (2026): Resident vs Non-Resident Routes, Which Brokers Open Accounts, Trading Hours, Fees and Taxes on a TradeForeign residents with an ARC open Korean brokerage accounts like locals (mostly in-branch); non-residents use passport or omnibus routes. Hours, fees, costs.
- ISA and IRP for Foreigners in Korea (2026): The Tax-Free Investment Account, the 16.5% Pension Credit, the Flat-Tax Catch, and What Happens When You Leave — CalculatorForeign residents can open Korea's ISA (₩20M/yr, gains tax-free to ₩2–4M then 9.9%) and IRP (16.5%/13.2% credit on ₩9M). Flat-tax electors get no IRP credit.
- Jeonse Explained for Foreigners (2026): How Korea's Deposit-Only Lease Works, Jeonse vs Wolse Cost Calculator, Deposit Protection (HUG), and the 5 Checks Before You SignJeonse: a lease with a deposit of 50–80% of the home's value and no monthly rent. The 2026 math, jeonse-to-wolse at 5%, deposit protection, fraud checks.
- Taxes on Korean Stocks for Foreign Residents (2026): 15.4% on Dividends, No Capital Gains Tax for Small Holders, the ₩20M Threshold, Overseas Shares at 22%Living in Korea, your Korean shares are taxed like a Korean's: 15.4% on dividends, no tax on gains unless you hold ₩5bn of one stock, comprehensive over ₩20M.