Koreanomics

Koreanomics https://koreanomics.com/ 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. en Buying Property in Korea as a Foreigner (2026): The Seoul/Gyeonggi Land-Permit Zone to August 2027, Acquisition Tax, Mortgages, Reporting — Cost Calculator https://koreanomics.com/buying-property-korea-foreigner/ https://koreanomics.com/buying-property-korea-foreigner/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. 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 Rule https://koreanomics.com/crypto-korea-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/crypto-korea-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. 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 Residency https://koreanomics.com/d10-f27-visa-korea-points/ https://koreanomics.com/d10-f27-visa-korea-points/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Korea'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 Checker https://koreanomics.com/digital-nomad-visa-korea/ https://koreanomics.com/digital-nomad-visa-korea/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Korea'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 Route https://koreanomics.com/e7-visa-korea-2026/ https://koreanomics.com/e7-visa-korea-2026/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Korea'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 Clock https://koreanomics.com/eps-e9-worker-pay-korea/ https://koreanomics.com/eps-e9-worker-pay-korea/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 What 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) https://koreanomics.com/flat-tax-19-percent-korea-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/flat-tax-19-percent-korea-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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 Arrears https://koreanomics.com/health-insurance-korea-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/health-insurance-korea-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. 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 Trade https://koreanomics.com/how-to-buy-korean-stocks-foreigner/ https://koreanomics.com/how-to-buy-korean-stocks-foreigner/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Foreign 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 — Calculator https://koreanomics.com/isa-irp-korea-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/isa-irp-korea-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. 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 Sign https://koreanomics.com/jeonse-korea-explained/ https://koreanomics.com/jeonse-korea-explained/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. 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% https://koreanomics.com/korean-stock-taxes-foreign-residents/ https://koreanomics.com/korean-stock-taxes-foreign-residents/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. Korean Stock Taxes for Non-Residents (2026): 22% Dividend Withholding, Treaty Rates by Country (US 15%, China 10%…), Form 29-12, Capital Gains Rules — Treaty Calculator https://koreanomics.com/korean-stock-taxes-nonresidents-treaty/ https://koreanomics.com/korean-stock-taxes-nonresidents-treaty/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. Korean Salary Explained: Take-Home Pay Calculator for Foreigners (2026) — the 4 Insurances, Income Tax, Flat 19% Option https://koreanomics.com/korean-take-home-pay-calculator/ https://koreanomics.com/korean-take-home-pay-calculator/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Korean 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. KOSPI ETFs: Buy in Korea (KODEX 200, TIGER 200) or at Home (EWY, FLKR, KORU)? Fees, Withholding and Tax Compared (2026 Calculator) https://koreanomics.com/kospi-etf-korea-vs-abroad/ https://koreanomics.com/kospi-etf-korea-vs-abroad/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 A 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. Leaving Korea: The Money Checklist (2026) — Pension Refund, Severance, Final Tax, IRP Withdrawal, Health Insurance, Bank Transfers, Deposit, ARC https://koreanomics.com/leaving-korea-money-checklist/ https://koreanomics.com/leaving-korea-money-checklist/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Your last month in Korea, in order: pension refund, severance, mid-year tax settlement, IRP withdrawal, NHIS closure, sending money home, deposit, ARC return. Korea Minimum Wage 2026 for Foreign Workers: ₩10,320/hour, Weekly Holiday Pay, Overtime, Probation, and the Legal Housing Deductions for E-9 — Calculator https://koreanomics.com/minimum-wage-korea-2026-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/minimum-wage-korea-2026-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 Korea'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. National Pension Refund for Foreigners Leaving Korea (2026): Who Qualifies by Nationality, How Much You Get Back, How to Claim https://koreanomics.com/national-pension-refund-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/national-pension-refund-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. Severance Pay in Korea for Foreign Workers (2026): The 1-Year Rule, the Formula, Retirement Income Tax, and the E-9 Departure Insurance https://koreanomics.com/severance-pay-korea-foreigners/ https://koreanomics.com/severance-pay-korea-foreigners/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 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. Teaching English in Korea 2026: What an E-2 Contract Is Really Worth — EPIK vs Hagwon Pay, Housing, Severance, Pension Refund, Tax Treaty — Package Calculator https://koreanomics.com/teaching-english-korea-pay-2026/ https://koreanomics.com/teaching-english-korea-pay-2026/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0900 E-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.