Living in Korea — a plain guide

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What Korea takes out of your pay — and why the pension line grows every year
Pay & work

What Korea takes out of your pay

and why the pension line grows every year

2026 employee rates: pension 5%, health 3.595%, care 0.4724%, employment 0.9%. Industrial accident costs you nothing. The pension rate rises yearly to 2029.

· 11 min read

Korean visa fees — the official table and the 20% online discount
Visa & residence

Korean visa fees

the official table and the 20% online discount

An extension of stay costs 60,000 won, or 30,000 for F-6 holders, and filing online through HiKorea takes 20% off. Full table from Article 72.

· 9 min read

Your payslip and unpaid wages — the document they must give you, and the 3-year clock
Pay & work

Your payslip and unpaid wages

the document they must give you, and the 3-year clock

Since 2021 employers must hand you an itemised payslip in writing every payday, and unpaid wages expire after three years.

· 13 min read

Getting your Korean pension back — three routes, and only one is about your visa
Pay & work

Getting your Korean pension back

three routes, and only one is about your visa

The Act excludes foreigners from lump-sum refunds, then reopens it three ways: reciprocity, treaty, or holding E-9 or H-2. Any one is enough.

· 13 min read

Sending money home from Korea — the rules that apply to foreigners, not Koreans
Money & banking

Sending money home from Korea

the rules that apply to foreigners, not Koreans

The famous 100,000 dollar allowance excludes foreign residents by its own wording. With proof of salary there is no separate cap; without it, 50,000.

· 14 min read

Severance pay in Korea — who gets it, how much, and when it must be paid
Pay & work

Severance pay in Korea

who gets it, how much, and when it must be paid

One year of service and 15 hours a week qualify you. The formula is 30 days of average wage per year, payable within 14 days of leaving.

· 15 min read

Unemployment benefit in Korea — who qualifies, how much, and the E-9 catch
Pay & work

Unemployment benefit in Korea

who qualifies, how much, and the E-9 catch

E-9/H-2 workers qualify only if they applied in advance — Article 10-2. You need 180 insured days in 18 months and a non-voluntary exit. 60% rate, 120–270 days.

· 9 min read

Which Korean visa lets you work — the one article that decides it
Visa & residence

Which Korean visa lets you work

the one article that decides it

Article 23 of the Immigration Decree settles it: E-1 to E-10 and H-2 may work within their status; F-5 and F-6 freely; D-2, D-4, F-1, G-1 need prior permission.

· 12 min read

Work injury compensation in Korea — the Act never asks your nationality
Pay & work

Work injury compensation in Korea

the Act never asks your nationality

Cover applies to every workplace with employees and has no nationality condition. The employer pays the whole premium; you get 70% of average wage.

· 17 min read