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.
New on Koreanomics
NEWTravel · 11 min readK-Tour Pass Busan (2026)The ₩15,000 K-Tour Pass for foreigners: 40% off KTX or bus to Busan, 50% off AREX, 1 free Busan attraction of 35. Regular prices and how to stack savings.
Korean Sunscreen 2026Top Korean sunscreens cost ₩15,000–27,900 at Olive Young; the Global Mall charges 50–80% more and no longer ships to the US. Filters, labels, prices.Beauty · 6 min read
Getting Around Gyeongju 2026Gyeongju buses: ₩1,450 by card, ₩1,500 cash. T-money and WOWPASS work, Seoul's Climate Card doesn't. Buses 10/11 loop to Bulguksa; taxis start at ₩4,500.Travel · 8 min read
Gyeongju 2-Day Itinerary 2026Two days in Gyeongju between Seoul and Busan: KTX in ₩44,500, on to Busan ₩10,100. Hanok vs Bomun hotels, rated restaurants, ssambap ₩18,000–24,000.Travel · 9 min read
Gyeongju Day Trip From Busan 2026Gyeongju from Busan in a day: Nopo bus ₩7,700 or KTX ₩10,100 each way, Bulguksa and Daereungwon free. Timed plans, about ₩60,000–91,000 per person.Travel · 9 min read
Gyeongju Sights Free vs Paid 2026Bulguksa, Seokguram and Daereungwon are free since May 2023. Donggung and Wolji ₩3,000 (to 22:00), Cheonmachong ₩3,000, Yangdong ₩4,000. 2026 hours, closures.Travel · 9 min read
Latest guides
Travel · 9 min readGyeongju Travel Guide 2026
Travel · 7 min readHow to Get to Gyeongju From Seoul, Busan and the Airports (2026)
Travel · 13 min readBusan Fireworks Festival 2026 (Sat, Nov 7)
Travel · 14 min readChristmas and New Year's Eve 2026 in Korea
Travel · 15 min readKorea Autumn Foliage 2026
Travel · 14 min readKorea Festival Calendar 2026–2027
Travel · 15 min readKorea Winter Festivals 2027
Travel · 14 min readSeoul Winter Festa & Lantern Festival 2026–27Step-by-step courses
13 partsWorking in Korea: Money BasicsYour payslip → income tax (19% flat vs progressive) → pension refund → severance → health insurance → visas → leaving Korea. 13 parts, in the order you will meet them.
8 partsInvesting 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.
8 partsSettling in Korea: The First 90 DaysResidence card → bank account → phone → hospital → sending money home → trash, address and utilities → driver's licence → what it all costs. 8 parts, in the order a new arrival needs them.
9 partsPlanning a Korea TripEntry rules (K-ETA, e-Arrival Card) → transit cards and passes → tax refund and duty-free → Busan in 2–3 days → beyond Seoul → weather and packing by month → jjimjilbang → luggage → the K-Tour Pass for Busan. 9 parts.
6 partsEating in Korea: Order, Buy, CookKorean BBQ decoded → what eating out costs → convenience stores and instant ramen → grocery shopping, a Korean pantry and five recipes → delivery apps → vegetarian, halal and allergies. 6 parts.
7 partsStudying in Korea: Visas, Money, JobsTOPIK explained → GKS scholarship 2027 → the D-2 student visa → part-time work rules → tuition and living costs → Korean language institutes → what to do after graduation. 7 parts.
8 partsKorean Culture DecodedKorean age → tipping and service → dining and drinking manners → names and honorifics → 90 survival phrases → public holidays 2026–2027 → noraebang, PC bang and 'bang' culture → concert and sports tickets. 8 parts.
9 partsShopping in Korea: Olive Young to CoupangOlive Young and the tax refund → pharmacies and over-the-counter medicine → skin-clinic prices → Coupang and WOW membership → Korean clothing and shoe sizes → the 2026 sale calendar → phones and electronics → returns, refunds and secondhand → Korean sunscreen, Korea vs the Global Mall. 9 parts.
6 partsKorea Festivals 2026–2027: Dates and Real CostsThe festival calendar with a cost chart for each → Busan Fireworks → autumn foliage → Seoul Winter Festa and the Lantern Festival → Christmas and New Year's Eve → Hwacheon and the January ice festivals. 6 parts, each priced per person from Seoul.
6 partsGyeongju 2026: Routes, Costs, Where to StayWhy Gyeongju now → getting there from Seoul, Busan and the airports → buses and taxis in town → the day trip from Busan → a 2-day plan with rated places to eat and sleep → what is free and what is paid. 6 parts.
Recently updated
After Graduation in Korea 2026Merged in the D-10 and F-2-7 points guide: the D-10 points card and money rules for E-7 holders between jobs, the full F-2-7 points card, and the path from E-7 to F-5.Study
Grocery Shopping in Korea (2026)Merged in the Korean pantry guide: the twelve staples with 2026 prices and shelf life, five home dishes costed per serving, and the cost-per-serving calculator.Food
Korean Health Insurance for Foreigners 2026Merged in the student NHIS guide: a Students (D-2, D-4) section with the ₩79,320 premium, enrolment from ARC registration or month 7, no opt-out, payment, and the student premium and arrears estimator.Money
Korean Convenience Store and Ramen Guide (2026)Merged in the Korean instant ramen guide: heat scale, 2026 prices and price cuts, how to cook it, what to bring home and the ramen picker.Food
Money & Work
Korea 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. · 5 min read
E-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. · 5 min read
E-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. · 6 min read
Investing
Buying 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. · 7 min read
Crypto 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. · 6 min read
How 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. · 5 min read
ISA 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. · 6 min read
Living
Cost of Living in Korea for a Foreigner (2026)A single foreigner in Seoul spends about ₩1.5M a month before rent; a one-room averages ₩820,000. Busan and regional cities run 20–35% lower on rent. · 5 min read
Opening a Korean Bank Account as a Foreigner (2026)With a Residence Card any major bank opens an account, but it starts limited (₩1M/day online) until you show a job. Toss takes foreigners; KakaoBank does not. · 6 min read
Driving in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)An IDP is valid one year from entry. To exchange: 5 countries swap outright, recognised countries skip the written test, others sit a 40-question exam. · 6 min read
Going to the Doctor in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)Korea's system starts small: a clinic (의원) costs a few thousand won with NHIS at 30% co-pay; big hospitals charge 60% and need a referral. Costs and English. · 6 min read
Travel
K-Tour Pass Busan (2026)The ₩15,000 K-Tour Pass for foreigners: 40% off KTX or bus to Busan, 50% off AREX, 1 free Busan attraction of 35. Regular prices and how to stack savings.NEW · 11 min read
Food
What Eating Out Costs in Korea (2026)Kimchi stew ₩8,769, cold noodles ₩12,692, gimbap ₩3,869 in Seoul (2026); Busan 5–15% cheaper. No tipping, free refills, delivery dual pricing. Budget tool. · 4 min read
Food Delivery Apps in Korea for Foreigners (2026)Baemin takes overseas cards since May 2026; Coupang Eats delivers free for WOW members (₩7,890); Baemin Club ₩3,990. Fees, minimums, dual pricing, pickup. · 5 min read
Shopping & Beauty
Coupang for Foreigners (2026)Overseas Visa/Mastercard works via Coupay. WOW ₩7,890: free Rocket Delivery, Rocket Fresh, Eats ₩0 delivery, Coupang Play. Non-members free over ₩19,800 net. · 5 min read
Buying Electronics in Korea (2026)Galaxy S26 256 GB is ₩1,254,000 in Korea vs US$899 in the US. Unlocked + MVNO plan vs carrier contract over 24 months. Samsung Store, Hi-Mart, tax refund. · 5 min read
Korea Shopping Sale Calendar 2026Olive Young sales Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec, department stores late March, Korea Sale Festa Oct 29–Nov 15, Korea Grand Sale Dec–Feb, Musinsa Black Friday mid-November. · 5 min read
Study
D-2 Student Visa Korea Guide 2026D-2 and D-4-1 visas in 2026: bank balance ₩20M/₩16M for degrees, ₩10M/₩8M for language study, 181 certified universities, 20 restricted, ARC in 90 days. · 8 min read
GKS Scholarship 2027 GuideGKS-U 2027 is open Sep 15–30, 2026 (286 places, under 25, GPA 80%); GKS-G 2027 expected Feb–Mar. All-inclusive allowance ₩1.13M–1.74M a month plus tuition. · 8 min read
Korean Language Institutes 2026University Korean programs cost ₩1,710,000–1,860,000 per 10-week term in Seoul (PNU ₩1,400,000) plus ₩120,000 to apply; 200 hours a term, 4 terms a year. · 7 min read
Culture
Concert and Sports Tickets in Korea for Foreigners (2026)K-pop seats ₩154,000–198,000 (BTS to ₩264,000), KBO ₩8,000–50,000. Book on NOL World in your passport name; ID-verified shows add ₩8,000 a ticket. Calculator. · 9 min read
Korea Public Holidays 2026–20272027 has 13 holidays plus 7 substitute days: Seollal Feb 6–9, Chuseok Sep 14–16, Buddha's Birthday May 13. No election in 2027. What closes, long weekends. · 8 min read
Korean Age Calculator (2026)Since 2023-06-28 Korea uses international age by law. Alcohol, tobacco, military and school still use year-age: born 2007 can drink in 2026. Calculator. · 9 min read
Korean Dining and Drinking Etiquette (2026)Elders start first, never pour your own glass, turn away to drink, no chopsticks upright in rice. Soju is 15.7% (Chamisul, June 2026), ₩5,000–6,000 a bottle. · 7 min read