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Which Immigration Office in Korea? Find Yours by Address

On 19 October 2026, the Seoul Immigration Office moved from Mokdong to a new building at 55 Jeongui-ro, Songpa-gu. The old Mokdong building no longer takes applications. The districts the office serves are the same as before.

Your immigration office is set by the address you register, not by distance and not by where you work. A Ministry of Justice rule assigns every city and district in Korea to one office. Here is how to find yours, the full map for Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, and what changes when you move.

What this guide covers

01 Why your address decides your office

02 How to find your office on Hi Korea

03 Which office covers Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do

04 Which office covers the rest of Korea

05 What changed since 2022

06 Which other counters can take your case

07 What happens when you move

Why your address decides your office

Korean immigration law calls your address your place of stay (체류지). The Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법 시행령) sends several applications to the office “with jurisdiction over the place of stay” (체류지 관할).

Applications the decree sends to your own office

✓ Alien registration, and the first card at age 17 (Articles 40 and 41)

✓ A replacement card, or a re-issued permanent residence card (Articles 42 and 42-2)

✓ A report that your registration details changed (Article 44)

✓ Returning your card, for example when you become a Korean national (Article 46)

The decree does not use the word jurisdiction for an extension of stay. Hi Korea’s Korean guide to extensions still tells you to apply at the immigration office with jurisdiction over your address (주소지 관할).

Your workplace and your school do not change this. Neither does the distance from your home. The office for each address is fixed in Annex 4 of the Ministry of Justice rules on its own organization (법무부와 그 소속기관 직제 시행규칙). Hi Korea’s office search uses the same areas.

How to find your office on Hi Korea

Hi Korea has a search page for this, and it works in English. You do not need an account or a login. The English page is called Office Directory, and the Korean page is 관할 출입국·외국인관서 조회.

Finding your office

01 Open Hi Korea and go to Other Services, then Office Directory.

02 Choose your province or city under Category Area, and press Search.

03 Read the Jurisdiction area column, not the Address column. Find your city, county or district there.

04 Write down the office name and its address. This is the office you choose when you book a visit.

The Address column only shows where the building is. The Jurisdiction area column is the one that decides. The list also shows counters called Multicultural Immigrants Centers, which are covered further down.

Which office covers Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do

Areas verified October 2026 · Ministry of Justice organization rules, Annex 4 (amended 30 June 2026) · Seoul office address from Hi Korea notice (6 October 2026)

Seoul is split among three offices. Go by the district you live in, not by the office that is closest. Look for your own district in the table.

Seoul · three offices

Find your district in the first column

Your district	Your office	Where it is
Gangnam, Gangdong, Gwanak, Gwangjin, Dongjak, Seocho, Seongdong, Songpa, Yongsan	Seoul Immigration Office 서울출입국·외국인청	55 Jeongui-ro, Songpa-gu (Munjeong-dong) From 19 October 2026 · Munjeong Station Exit 4, about 10 minutes on foot
Eunpyeong, Jongno, Jung, Dongdaemun, Seongbuk, Gangbuk, Dobong, Nowon, Jungnang	Sejongno Branch of the Seoul office 세종로출장소	Seoul Global Center, 38 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu
Gangseo, Guro, Geumcheon, Mapo, Seodaemun, Yeongdeungpo, Yangcheon	Seoul Southern Immigration Office 서울남부출입국·외국인사무소	48 Magokseo 1-ro, Gangseo-gu (Magok)

Hi Korea’s English pages call the third office Seoul Nambu. Nambu (남부) means southern, so Seoul Nambu and Seoul Southern are the same office. It is in Magok.

Some maps, blogs and older letters still give the Seoul office address as 151 Mokdongdong-ro, Yangcheon-gu. That is the old building. Since 19 October 2026, the office works only at the new address in Songpa-gu.

Incheon and Gyeonggi-do

Every city and county, by office

Office	Cities and counties it serves
Incheon Immigration Office 인천출입국·외국인청	All of Incheon except the airport · Bucheon, Gimpo
Seoul Immigration Office 서울출입국·외국인청	Gwacheon, Seongnam, Hanam
Suwon Immigration Office 수원출입국·외국인청	Suwon, Yongin, Hwaseong, Icheon, Gwangju-si, Yeoju, Uiwang, Yangpyeong
Pyeongtaek Branch of the Suwon office 평택출장소	Pyeongtaek, Anseong, Osan
Ansan Immigration Office 안산출입국·외국인사무소	Ansan, Siheung, Anyang, Gunpo, Gwangmyeong
Yangju Immigration Office 양주출입국·외국인사무소	Uijeongbu, Dongducheon, Guri, Namyangju, Yangju, Pocheon, Yeoncheon
Goyang Branch of the Yangju office 고양출장소	Goyang, Paju
Chuncheon Immigration Office 춘천출입국·외국인사무소	Gapyeong

Three rows catch people out. Gapyeong goes to Chuncheon, in Gangwon-do. Gwangmyeong goes to Ansan, not to Seoul. And Gwangju-si in this table is the city in Gyeonggi-do, not the city of Gwangju in the southwest.

Which office covers the rest of Korea

Outside the capital area, most regions have one main office and a few branches. The right-hand column lists the places that go to a branch or another office.

Other regions · main office and exceptions

Ministry of Justice organization rules, Annex 4 (amended 30 June 2026)

Region	Main office	Exceptions
Busan	Busan Immigration Office 부산출입국·외국인청	Also serves Yangsan in Gyeongsangnam-do
Ulsan	Ulsan Immigration Office 울산출입국·외국인사무소	Also serves Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do
Daegu, Gyeongsangbuk-do	Daegu Immigration Office 대구출입국·외국인사무소	Gumi Branch: Gumi, Gimcheon, Sangju, Chilgok, Mungyeong · Pohang Branch: Pohang, Ulleung, Yeongdeok, Uljin · Gyeongju: Ulsan office
Gyeongsangnam-do	Changwon Immigration Office 창원출입국·외국인사무소	Gimhae, Miryang: Gimhae Branch of the Busan office · Yangsan: Busan office · Tongyeong, Geoje: their own branches · Sacheon, Namhae, Hadong: Sacheon Branch
Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheongnam-do	Daejeon Immigration Office 대전출입국·외국인사무소	Cheonan Branch: Cheonan, Asan, Yesan · Seosan Branch: Seosan, Taean, Hongseong · Dangjin Branch: Dangjin
Chungcheongbuk-do	Cheongju Immigration Office 청주출입국·외국인사무소	Yeongdong, Okcheon: Daejeon office
Jeonbuk	Jeonju Immigration Office 전주출입국·외국인사무소	Gunsan Branch: Gunsan
Jeonnam-Gwangju	Gwangju Immigration Office 광주출입국·외국인사무소	Mokpo Branch: Mokpo, Muan, Sinan, Jindo, Haenam, Wando, Yeongam · Yeosu Immigration Office: Yeosu, Suncheon · Gwangyang Branch: Gwangyang
Gangwon	Chuncheon Immigration Office 춘천출입국·외국인사무소	Donghae Branch: Donghae, Gangneung, Samcheok, Taebaek, Jeongseon · Sokcho Branch: Sokcho, Goseong, Yangyang · Cheorwon: Yangju office
Jeju	Jeju Immigration Office 제주출입국·외국인청	—

If your city or county appears in the right-hand column, that line applies instead of the main office. Branch addresses are on the Hi Korea search page.

What changed since 2022

Lists of immigration offices are easy to find in English, and many carry no date. Two changes decide whether a list is current.

Two changes to check a list against

› March 2022 — Ansan got its own immigration office (안산출입국·외국인사무소). It serves five cities: Ansan, Siheung, Anyang, Gunpo and Gwangmyeong.

› June 2026 — Annex 4 was amended on 30 June 2026. It now names Gwangju and Jeollanam-do together as Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City (전남광주통합특별시). The Gwangju and Yeosu offices and their branches keep their names.

So a list that shows Ansan as a branch of the Incheon office predates March 2022. Use Hi Korea’s search instead. It matches the current Annex 4.

Which other counters can take your case

The Hi Korea list includes counters that are not offices in Annex 4. Most are Multicultural Immigrants Centers (다문화이주민플러스센터). Each one serves the same area as an office.

Extra counters in Hi Korea’s list

Each serves the same area as the office on the right

Counter	Same area as
Gimpo Multicultural Immigrants Center 김포다문화이주민플러스센터	Incheon Immigration Office
Yeongdeungpo center 영등포 출입국민원센터	Seoul Southern Immigration Office
Ansan and Siheung Multicultural Immigrants Centers 안산·시흥다문화이주민플러스센터	Ansan Immigration Office
Cheonan and Asan Multicultural Immigrants Centers 천안·아산다문화이주민플러스센터	Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon office
Eumseong Multicultural Immigrants Center 음성다문화이주민플러스센터	Cheongju Immigration Office
Iksan Multicultural Immigrants Center 익산다문화이주민플러스센터	Jeonju Immigration Office
Andong center 안동 출입국 센터	Andong, Yeongju, Bonghwa, Yeongyang, Yecheon, Uiseong, Cheongsong

What each center handles differs by center, and some tasks stay with the main office. Take the Ansan area as an example. The Ministry of Justice lists registration and stay permits at its two centers. Visa work stays at the main office near Gojan Station.

Visa work in the Ansan area goes to the Gojan Station office, not to the two centers. This guide shows which address handles which task.

Annex 4 also gives the Seoul Immigration Office a wider reach for some people. It can handle registration and stay permits for residents of Seoul and Gyeonggi-do such as foreign investors, professors and scientists invited by the government.

What happens when you move

Deadline verified October 2026 · Immigration Act, Article 36 · Enforcement Decree, Article 45

Your office follows your address. When you move into another office’s area, the new office becomes your office.

You must report the move within 15 days of moving in. You can report it at the community service center (읍·면·동) of your new address. The city, county or district office there also takes it, and so does your new immigration office. You can also report online. After the report, your old office sends your registration record to the new one.

A move has to be reported within 15 days, and a late report can bring a fine. This guide covers the proof of residence to bring and filing online on Hi Korea.

From then on, choose the new office when you book a visit on Hi Korea.

Frequently asked questions

Which Seoul immigration office should I go to?

It depends on the district you live in, not on where you work. Nine districts, including Gangnam and Yongsan, go to the Seoul Immigration Office in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu. Nine districts in the north, including Jongno and Nowon, go to the Sejongno Branch. Seven districts in the west, including Mapo and Yangcheon, go to Seoul Southern in Magok.

Can I go to any immigration office in Korea?

Not for registration, a replacement card, or a report of changed details. The Enforcement Decree sends these to the office with jurisdiction over your place of stay. In some areas a Multicultural Immigrants Center serves the same area as your office. A change of address is different: your community service center can take it.

Can I go to the immigration office without an appointment in Korea?

For most tasks, no. Every office has required a visit reservation on Hi Korea since 1 April 2021, and the earliest date you can book is tomorrow. A short list of counter services is exempt. How to book an immigration appointment on Hi Korea covers the booking and the exempt services.

What is an immigration office called in Korean?

The larger offices are 출입국·외국인청 (chu-rip-guk oe-gu-gin-cheong). The others are 출입국·외국인사무소 (chu-rip-guk oe-gu-gin-sa-mu-so), and branches are 출장소 (chul-jang-so). All three start with 출입국 (chu-rip-guk), which means entry and exit.

Official sources

The office areas in this guide come from the pages below. Areas change when the rules are amended, so check the current version before you book.

· Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Ministry of Justice organization rules (Korean) · Annex 4 is under 별표 · Enforcement Decree Article 40 · Article 45 · Immigration Act Article 36

· Hi Korea, office search · English · Korean

· Hi Korea, extension of stay guide (Korean)

· Hi Korea, notice on the Seoul office move (Korean, 6 October 2026)

· Ministry of Justice, Ansan Immigration Office · office introduction (Korean)

Information verified as of October 2026. Office areas change when the Ministry of Justice amends its rules. Confirm your office on Hi Korea before you book, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 22, 2026

Korean Classes in Siheung: Where to Study and What You Pay

Siheung has eight centers that run the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP). It also has a free Korean class every Sunday at the Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center. KIIP charges 100,000 KRW for each 100-hour stage after a free first stage. The Sunday classes cost nothing apart from the textbook.

The two are separate programs. KIIP is run by the Ministry of Justice and is booked online through Socinet. The Sunday classes are a city program for foreign residents. This guide covers where each one runs, what it costs, and how to sign up.

What this guide covers

01 Which Korean classes Siheung offers

02 Where to study KIIP in Siheung

03 How KIIP stages and fees work

04 When the free welfare center classes run

05 Where marriage migrants can study

06 What to say at the counter

07 Frequently asked questions

Which Korean classes Siheung offers

Four kinds of class are open to adults in Siheung. They differ in who runs them, what they cost, and how you apply.

Korean classes for adults in Siheung

Children and teenagers have separate programs

Class	Run by	Cost	How to apply
KIIP 사회통합프로그램	Ministry of Justice, at 8 centers	Stage 0 free, then 100,000 KRW per 100-hour stage	Online at Socinet only
Sunday Korean classes 일요일반	Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center	Free, textbook bought separately	Online, or at the center
Weekday Korean classes 평일반	Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center	Free	At the center, or by phone
Marriage migrant classes 결혼이민자 한국어교육	Siheung City, with the Siheung Family Center	—	Contact the family center or the city

If you need Korean for a visa, permanent residence or naturalization, KIIP is the program whose completion the Ministry of Justice counts. If you want free lessons on a day off, the Sunday classes are the ones built for that.

Where to study KIIP in Siheung

Centers verified September 2026 · Socinet, list of operating institutions

Socinet lists eight KIIP centers with a Siheung address. Tech University of Korea is the hub center, and the other seven are listed under it.

KIIP centers in Siheung

All eight are filed under the Ansan Immigration Office

Center	Phone	Address
Tech University of Korea 한국공학대학교 · hub center	031-8041-1459	237 Sangidaehak-ro 산기대학로 237
Tech University of Korea 한국공학대학교 · local learning center	031-8041-1459	237 Sangidaehak-ro 산기대학로 237
Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center 시흥시외국인복지센터	031-434-0411	5 Gongdan 1-daero 259beon-gil 공단1대로259번길 5
Siheung Family Center 시흥시가족센터	031-319-7997	51 Jeongwangcheon-ro 449beon-gil 정왕천로449번길 51
Dochang Education and Welfare Center 도창교육복지센터	031-315-4482	97 Maehwa-ro, Room 302 매화로 97, 302호
Gyeonggi University of Science and Technology 경기과학기술대학교 산학협력단	031-496-4626	270 Gyeonggigwagidae-ro 경기과기대로 270
Gyeonggi University of Science and Technology 경기과학기술대학교 · local learning center	031-496-4681	Library 2F, 269 Gyeonggigwagidae-ro 경기과기대로 269 도서관 2층
Siheung ABC Happy Learning Town 시흥시평생교육원 ABC행복학습타운	031-310-2503	11 Soraesan-gil 소래산길 11

You choose a center in Socinet, not at the door. Socinet asks you to pick a center in the district of your registered address, and a center outside it needs permission from the immigration office. An application is also rejected if you still owe a change-of-address report, so file that first.

How KIIP stages and fees work

Fees verified September 2026 · Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 48(5) and Ministry of Justice Notice 2024-434

KIIP has the same stages and the same fee at every center in Korea. Stages 0 to 4 teach Korean language and culture. Stage 5 teaches Korean society.

KIIP stages and fees

Set by the Ministry of Justice · the same at all eight Siheung centers

Stage	Hours	Fee
Stage 0	15	Free
Stage 1 to stage 4	100 each	100,000 KRW each
Stage 5 basic	70	70,000 KRW
Stage 5 advanced	30	30,000 KRW
Stage 0 to stage 5	415	500,000 KRW

Pay in My Page on Socinet before the test application for your stage closes. A student who has not paid by then cannot sit the test, even with full attendance. Full attendance for a stage, or a teacher’s recommendation for effort, halves that stage’s fee.

A TOPIK grade lets you skip stages. Grade 1 places you at stage 2, and grades 4 to 6 place you at stage 5. The guide below covers the tests and the TOPIK shortcut in full.

How the stage tests work, how a TOPIK grade moves you up, and what finishing KIIP counts for.

The rules there apply in Siheung unchanged. Only the list of centers is different.

When the free welfare center classes run

Schedule verified September 2026 · Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center, education programs

The Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center runs its own Korean classes for foreign residents who live in Siheung. They are free, and you buy the textbook yourself.

Free Korean classes at the welfare center

5 Gongdan 1-daero 259beon-gil · 2026 schedule

Class	Day and time	Places
Sunday classes Basic, beginner, intermediate, TOPIK II · 8 classes	Sunday, 09:30–14:30 Basic and TOPIK II 3 hours, others 2 hours	15 per class
Weekday daytime	Tuesday and Thursday, 2 hours	10
Weekday evening	Twice a week, 2 hours	10

The Sunday classes run in two terms. In 2026, applications opened in February for February to June, and in July for July to December. Apply on the center’s website or at the center, and call 070-4047-3987 with questions. A class with fewer than half its places filled may be cancelled.

Where marriage migrants can study

Marriage migrants have classes of their own, run by Siheung City with the Siheung Family Center (시흥시가족센터).

· Korean classes for marriage migrants. Four levels, from first steps to advanced. A test after the first half of the year decides whether you move up.

· Home-visit Korean lessons. For marriage migrants within five years of first entering Korea. Apply at your community service center (행정복지센터). Free for households at or below 150 percent of the median income.

· KIIP at the family center. The family center is one of the eight KIIP centers above.

For questions, the family center answers on 031-319-7997, and the city’s marriage migrant Korean classes on 031-310-3011.

What to say at the counter

The welfare center and the family center run in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

한국어교육 신청하러 왔습니다.

Han-gu-geo-gyo-yuk sin-cheong-ha-reo wat-seum-ni-da.

“I am here to apply for Korean classes.”

한국어교육 is the name the center uses for its classes.

일요일반 신청할 수 있나요?

I-ryo-il-ban sin-cheong-hal su in-na-yo?

“Can I apply for the Sunday class?”

일요일반 means the Sunday class.

교재는 어디서 사나요?

Gyo-jae-neun eo-di-seo sa-na-yo?

“Where do I buy the textbook?”

The classes are free, but the textbook is bought separately.

사회통합프로그램 신청은 어떻게 하나요?

Sa-hoe-tong-hap-peu-ro-geu-raem sin-cheong-eun eo-tteo-ke ha-na-yo?

“How do I apply for KIIP?”

사회통합프로그램 is the Korean name for KIIP.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find free Korean classes in Korea?

In Siheung, the Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center runs free Korean classes on Sundays and on weekdays for foreign residents of the city. You pay only for the textbook. KIIP stage 0 is also free at every center.

Can I take KIIP at the welfare center?

Yes. Socinet lists the welfare center as one of the eight KIIP centers in Siheung. KIIP places are assigned through Socinet, separately from the center’s own Sunday classes.

Is KIIP cheaper at some centers?

No. The Ministry of Justice sets one fee for every center: 100,000 KRW for each 100-hour stage, with stage 0 free.

Do I need to live in Siheung to join the Sunday classes?

The center lists the classes for foreign residents who live in Siheung. Check with the center before you apply if your address is elsewhere.

Are there Korean classes for children?

Yes, but they are separate programs for children and teenagers with a migrant background, run through the city and its schools.

Official sources

Every figure here comes from the pages below. Centers, fees and class schedules change, so open the page before you apply.

· Socinet, Ministry of Justice · list of KIIP operating institutions · program information and application

· Siheung Foreigners’ Welfare Center · education programs · how to use the center

· Siheung City · support programs for multicultural families and foreign residents

· Siheung Family Center · programs

· Korea Law Information Center · Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act, Article 48

Information verified as of September 2026. Class schedules change every term, so check the welfare center’s page before you apply, and Socinet for KIIP centers and fees.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 21, 2026

Korean Driver’s License for Foreigners: A Guide by Situation

A foreign resident can drive in Korea in one of two ways. One is an International Driving Permit, for up to one year from entry. The other is a Korean license. A foreign license card on its own is not enough. KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) states this on its foreign license page.

Which route you take depends on where you are now. This page sorts the situations, shows the numbers that matter in each, and sends you to the guide that covers your case in full.

What this guide covers

01 Which situation you are in

02 What you need before a Korean license

03 What changed in 2026

04 Which numbers to remember

Which situation you are in

Find the row that matches you, then open the guide behind it.

Your situation and your next step

Road Traffic Act, Articles 84, 87 and 96

If you	What applies	Guide
Just arrived and want to drive now	A Geneva or Vienna permit works for one year from entry	International Driving Permit
Hold a foreign license and will stay	Exchange it for a Korean Class 2 ordinary license	License exchange
Want to know whether you take the written test	It depends on the 133-place list and your status of stay	Exchange countries
Already hold a Korean license	Renew every 10 years, within six months of your birthday	License renewal
Are leaving Korea, or driving abroad	Get back a kept foreign license, and choose a Korean permit or the English card	Leaving Korea

The first two rows often apply to the same person, one after the other. A permit covers your first year, and that year is the time to prepare the exchange. Driving on a permit after the year ends counts as unlicensed driving, and it can delay your Korean license by another year.

What you need before a Korean license

Rules verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 82 · Article 84

Foreign registration comes first. Article 82 of the Road Traffic Act (도로교통법) bars a foreign national who has not registered from getting a Korean license. People exempt from registration are the exception. Overseas Koreans need a domestic residence report (국내거소신고) instead.

So the order is fixed. Register within 90 days of entry and receive your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증), then apply for the exchange or a new license. The registration deadline and the other immigration dates are in the checklist of immigration deadlines for foreign residents.

The exchange also has a condition of its own. Article 84 accepts only a license you obtained while you stayed in the issuing country for more than 90 days. A temporary or learner license does not count.

What changed in 2026

Two changes this year affect almost every foreign driver in Korea. Guides written before 2026 will show the old rules.

Two changes in 2026

01 1 January 2026 · renewal window. A Korean license is now renewed within six months either side of your birthday, in place of the whole calendar year. Cards issued before 2026 may show the old period.

02 6 April 2026 · exchange list. Seven U.S. states joined the list: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon and Utah. Eleven countries left it, including Australia and Sri Lanka, and five joined, including South Africa and Estonia. The total went from 139 to 133.

If you plan to exchange an Australian license, the second change adds a written test, unless your status of stay waives it. If your license is from one of the seven new U.S. states, check the exchange countries guide. Four of them still take the written test.

Which numbers to remember

Figures verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act and its Enforcement Decree · KoROAD

These are the figures that come up across the five guides. The guide for each situation explains the rule behind its figure.

Driving in Korea at a glance

Road Traffic Act · Enforcement Decree · KoROAD fee pages

What	Figure	Source
Driving on a foreign permit	1 year from entry	Act, Article 96
Stay needed in the issuing country	More than 90 days	Act, Article 84
Places on the exchange list	133, including 29 U.S. states	Police Agency Notice 2026-6
Written test, if you take it	40 questions, pass mark 60, four languages	Decree, Article 50 · KoROAD
Exchange fees	Physical check 7,000 KRW · written test 10,000 KRW · card from 10,000 KRW	KoROAD
Renewal	Every 10 years under 65 · 10,000 KRW for a Class 2 standard card	Act, Article 87 · KoROAD
Missed renewal	Fine of 20,000 KRW for Class 2	Decree, Annex 6
Korean permit for driving abroad	9,000 KRW, valid 1 year	Act, Article 98 · Rules, Annex 36
Driving without a valid license or permit	Up to 1 year in prison or 3 million KRW	Act, Article 152

Fees set by KoROAD change more often than the figures in the law. Before you visit a test site, check the fee line in the guide for your case, which shows when it was last verified.

Frequently asked questions

What are the requirements for driving in Korea as a foreigner?

You need either a valid International Driving Permit, within one year of your entry, or a Korean license. To get a Korean license, you first need foreign registration, or a domestic residence report as an overseas Korean.

Can I drive in South Korea with an international driver’s license?

Yes, for one year from the day you enter Korea. An official body must have issued it under the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna convention, or under an agreement with Korea. Permits from mainland China are not accepted.

How much does a driver’s license cost in Korea?

For an exchange, KoROAD lists 7,000 KRW for the physical check and 10,000 KRW for a standard card. Add 10,000 KRW if you take the written test. A Class 2 renewal costs 10,000 KRW for a standard card.

Do I need an Alien Registration Card to get a Korean license?

Yes, unless you are exempt from registration or hold a domestic residence report. Article 82 of the Road Traffic Act bars an unregistered foreign national from getting a license.

Driving in Korea

Korean Driver’s License for Foreigners: A Guide by Situation

Start here: a permit for your first year or a Korean license, and which guide fits you.

Foreign Driver’s License Exchange in Korea: Rules and Steps

The 90-day rule, the April 2026 country list, and who takes the written test.

Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

All 133 countries and the 29 U.S. states, what changed in April 2026, and whether your license is kept.

International Driving Permit in Korea: The One-Year Rule

One year from your entry, which permits count, and what driving after that year costs you.

Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window

Six months either side of your birthday since 2026, and what to do if you will be abroad.

Leaving Korea With a Korean Driver’s License: What to Do

Get back a foreign license KoROAD kept, and choose a permit or the English card for driving abroad.

Official sources

The rules on this page come from the pages below. Each guide in the table above lists its own sources in full.

· KoROAD · foreign license exchange · International Driving Permit · renewal (all Korean) · exchange (English)

· Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 82 · Article 84 · Article 87 · Article 96 · Article 152

· Korean National Police Agency, notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses (Korean)

Information verified as of October 2026. Lists, rules and fees change. Confirm the details on KoROAD’s official page before you visit a test site. KoROAD’s customer center is 1577-1120, and it offers chat in foreign languages through its KakaoTalk channel.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 21, 2026

Hospital Documents in Korea: Which Paper and What It Costs

Which hospital paper you need depends on why you need it. Time off work or school, an insurance claim, your records, a new baby and a death in the family each need a different paper. The Ministry of Health and Welfare caps the fee for most of them.

The ministry’s notice lists 30 papers, each with a maximum fee. This page sorts the papers by situation, puts every cap in one table, and links to the full guide for each situation.

What this guide covers

01 Start here: which paper for which situation

02 Which papers show the diagnosis

03 The fee cap for every paper

04 What the hospital must post, and if it charges more

05 Who can ask for your records and papers

06 Papers people mix up with these

07 Frequently asked questions

Start here: which paper for which situation

Find your situation in the first column. Each row links to a guide that covers the papers, the fees and the next step in full.

Hospital papers by situation

Fee caps from Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34

Your situation	Paper to ask for	Fee cap	Full guide
You missed work or school because you were ill	Medical certificate (진단서), or a visit confirmation (통원확인서) if the diagnosis is not needed	20,000 KRW · 3,000 KRW	Medical certificate guide
You are claiming medical insurance	Receipt (진료비 계산서·영수증) and itemized bill (진료비 세부산정내역), plus a medical certificate if the insurer asks for the diagnosis	20,000 KRW for the medical certificate	Insurance claim guide
A family member has died	Death certificate (사망진단서) or postmortem examination certificate (시체검안서)	10,000 KRW · 30,000 KRW	Death certificate guide
You need your records or are moving to another hospital	Copies of medical records (진료기록 사본), or scans on a CD	1,000 KRW a page for pages 1 to 5 · 10,000 KRW a CD	Medical records guide
Your baby was born in a Korean hospital	Birth certificate (출생증명서)	3,000 KRW	Birth certificate guide

The caps are the most a hospital can charge for the paper itself. The consultation fee is separate.

Which papers show the diagnosis

The most common mix-up is between a paper that names the illness and a paper that only shows dates. A doctor writes the first kind. The hospital office issues the second kind from its records.

Does the paper show the diagnosis?

Medical Service Act, Article 17 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34

Paper	Korean name	Shows the diagnosis
Medical certificate	진단서	Yes. The disease name and code
Doctor’s opinion letter	소견서	Only if the doctor includes it
Treatment confirmation	진료확인서	Not in the notice’s definition. It lists a specific treatment, such as a test or medicine
Outpatient visit confirmation	통원확인서	No. Visit dates only
Admission and discharge confirmation	입퇴원확인서	No. Hospital stay dates only

A confirmation costs much less than a medical certificate. If the paper has to show the illness, though, a confirmation will not do. Ask the doctor for a medical certificate instead.

The fee cap for every paper

Fee caps verified October 2026 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34

Article 45-3 of the Medical Service Act has the Minister of Health and Welfare set these caps. A hospital sets its own fee between zero and the cap. The table lists all 30 papers on the notice, grouped by use.

All 30 fee caps

Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34), table

Group	Paper	Korean name	Cap
Medical certificates	General medical certificate	일반진단서	20,000 KRW
	English general medical certificate	영문 일반진단서	20,000 KRW
	Health certificate for a job, school, study or license	건강진단서	20,000 KRW
	Injury certificate, under 3 weeks	상해진단서 (3주 미만)	100,000 KRW
	Injury certificate, 3 weeks or more	상해진단서 (3주 이상)	150,000 KRW
	Permanent disability certificate	후유장애진단서	100,000 KRW
	Disability assessment certificate, physical	장애 정도 심사용 진단서 (신체적 장애)	15,000 KRW
	Disability assessment certificate, mental	장애 정도 심사용 진단서 (정신적 장애)	40,000 KRW
	National Pension disability assessment certificate	국민연금 장애심사용 진단서	15,000 KRW
	Work ability assessment certificate	근로능력평가용 진단서	10,000 KRW
	Military service certificate	병무용 진단서	20,000 KRW
Confirmations	Admission and discharge confirmation	입퇴원확인서	3,000 KRW
	Admission confirmation	입원사실증명서	3,000 KRW, same as above
	Outpatient visit confirmation	통원확인서	3,000 KRW
	Treatment confirmation	진료확인서	3,000 KRW
Birth and death	Birth certificate	출생증명서	3,000 KRW
	Death certificate	사망진단서	10,000 KRW
	Postmortem examination certificate	시체검안서	30,000 KRW, travel costs separate
	Stillbirth certificate	사산(사태)증명서	10,000 KRW
Records and copies	Copy of medical records, pages 1 to 5	진료기록사본 (1~5매)	1,000 KRW a page
	Copy of medical records, from page 6	진료기록사본 (6매 이상)	100 KRW a page
	Medical images on film	진료기록영상 (필름)	5,000 KRW
	Medical images on CD	진료기록영상 (CD)	10,000 KRW
	Medical images on DVD	진료기록영상 (DVD)	20,000 KRW
	Copy or reissue of a certificate	제증명서 사본	1,000 KRW
Other papers	Pre-employment medical check, general	채용신체검사서 (일반)	30,000 KRW, basic tests included
	Pre-employment medical check, public servants	채용신체검사서 (공무원)	40,000 KRW, basic tests included
	Estimate of future treatment costs, under 10 million KRW	향후진료비추정서 (1천만원 미만)	50,000 KRW
	Estimate of future treatment costs, 10 million KRW or more	향후진료비추정서 (1천만원 이상)	100,000 KRW
	Disability certificate for a tax deduction	장애인증명서	1,000 KRW

The caps do not include consultation or test fees. The two pre-employment checks are the exception, because their caps include the basic tests. A paper that is not on this list has a fee set by the hospital. A doctor’s opinion letter (소견서) is one example. So is an English version of any paper other than the general medical certificate.

What the hospital must post, and if it charges more

Rules verified October 2026 · Medical Service Act, Articles 45 and 63 · Enforcement Rule, Article 42-2

Under Article 45 of the Medical Service Act, every hospital must post its certificate fees. It cannot charge more than the amount it posted.

What the rules require of a hospital

✓ Post the fees where patients can see them, such as the reception desk. Enforcement Rule, Article 42-2 (3)

✓ Show them online as well, if the hospital runs a website. Enforcement Rule, Article 42-2 (4)

✓ Stay within the cap when it sets each fee. Notice No. 2021-34, Article 5 (1)

✓ Give 14 days’ notice before it changes a fee, with the old and new amounts. Notice No. 2021-34, Article 5 (6)

Check the posted list at the desk before you pay. If a hospital breaks Article 45, it can be ordered to correct the problem. Under Article 63, the order comes from the Minister of Health and Welfare or the head of the city, county or district.

Who can ask for your records and papers

Rules verified October 2026 · Medical Service Act, Articles 17 and 21 · Enforcement Rule, Article 13-3

A medical certificate is written for the patient. Copies of your records go to you. A family member or a person you name must also bring a consent form you signed. If the patient has died or cannot consent, the family brings other papers instead.

Who can ask, and what they bring

Medical Service Act, Articles 17 and 21 · Enforcement Rule, Article 13-3

Who	What they bring
You	Your ID
Your spouse, parent, child, or spouse’s parent	A copy of their ID, a paper that proves the family tie, and a consent form you signed
A person you name	A copy of their ID, a consent form and a letter of authorization you signed, and a copy of your ID
Family, after a death	Proof of the family tie and of the death. The family also receives the death certificate

A sibling counts as family only when none of the relatives in the second row exist. The records guide and the death certificate guide explain each case in full.

Papers people mix up with these

Some papers for work or school share an English name with hospital papers. The food health certificate (보건증) is not a medical certificate (진단서). The pre-employment medical check is on the fee table above, but your job or visa decides when you need it. The vaccination certificate follows its own rules. The guide to health documents for work and school sorts those three by situation.

Frequently asked questions

How to get a medical certificate in Korea?

Ask the doctor who examined you. If that doctor cannot, another doctor at the same hospital can write it from your records. The fee cap for a general medical certificate is 20,000 KRW. If you only need to prove the dates of your visits, a 3,000 KRW confirmation may be enough.

How can I get my medical records quickly?

Ask at the hospital with your ID. A hospital cannot refuse without a valid reason. If you are moving to another hospital in Korea, the first hospital must send the records within five days unless there are special circumstances.

How long can you get medical records from a hospital?

Hospitals must keep medical charts and surgery records for 10 years, test results and X-rays for 5 years, and prescriptions for 2 years. Ask within those periods.

Hospital documents

Hospital Documents in Korea: Which Paper and What It Costs

Every hospital paper by situation, and the fee cap for all 30 papers on the ministry’s list.

Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis

Which hospital papers show your diagnosis, what each one costs, and what employers and schools accept.

Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get

The receipt, the itemized bill, which papers show your diagnosis, and how claims work in Korea and abroad.

Death Certificate in Korea: Who Gets It and What to File Next

Who can get a death certificate, what it costs, and the next step for a Korean citizen or a registered foreigner.

Medical Records in Korea: How to Get Copies or Send Them

Who can collect your records, the five-day transfer rule, scans on CD, and how long records are kept.

Birth Certificate in Korea: Hospital Paper and Next Steps

What the hospital birth certificate shows, and the next step for Korean and foreign parents.

Official sources

Every figure here comes from the pages below. Rules change, so open the page before you act on it.

· Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps and table

· Medical Service Act (의료법) · Article 17, certificates · Article 21, records · Article 45, posted fees · Article 63, correction orders

· Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 13-3, who can ask · Article 13-5, sending records to a new hospital · Article 15, how long records are kept · Article 42-2, posting fees

· Medical Service Act (의료법) · Article 21-3, sending records to another hospital

Information verified as of October 2026. Rules, fees and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital and the official source before you act.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 20, 2026

Leaving Korea With a Korean Driver’s License: What to Do

What you need to drive outside Korea depends on where you are going and how long you will stay. For a short trip, a Korean International Driving Permit or the Korean and English license card may be enough. For a long stay, most countries expect you to get their own license.

There is a second question if you exchanged a foreign license here. KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) may be holding your original license, and leaving Korea is one of the times you can get it back. Here is how to get it back, which document to use abroad, how to get each one, and what to carry when you drive.

What this guide covers

01 How to get your foreign license back

02 Which document to use abroad

03 How to get a Korean International Driving Permit

04 How to get the Korean and English license card

05 What to carry when you drive abroad

06 What happens to your Korean license while you are away

07 What to say at the counter

How to get your foreign license back

Rules verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 84(3) · KoROAD notes on foreign license exchange

When you exchanged your license, KoROAD kept the original only if your country falls in one of two groups. Either the issuing country asks for its licenses to be collected, or it keeps Korean licenses in the same situation. If your country is in neither group, you already have your license.

KoROAD returns a kept license in three cases

01 You are leaving Korea. KoROAD names a departure ticket as proof.

02 You choose to cancel your Korean license.

03 A diplomatic mission of your country asks for it to be sent.

Do not leave this until the airport. A license that nobody collects within 10 years of the exchange may be destroyed, under the disposal consent form KoROAD uses for exchanges. Contact KoROAD before your departure date to arrange the return.

Which document to use abroad

KoROAD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describe three documents. Which one works depends on the country you visit and how long you stay there.

Three ways to drive outside Korea

KoROAD · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Safety Travel (0404.go.kr)

Document	Where it works	For how long
Korean International Driving Permit (국제운전면허증)	Members of the 1949 Geneva convention, plus Taiwan and Vietnam under agreements with Korea	The permit lasts one year. The country you visit may allow less
Korean and English license card (영문운전면허증)	Places that accept it without a notarized translation. The ministry lists 69 countries, 109 places in total, as of April 2026	Short stays. The ministry states most allow about three months
A local license exchanged from your Korean one	Countries that exchange a Korean license without tests other than a physical check	A long stay, under that country’s rules

The third row covers the same 133 places as Korea’s own recognized list. That list is built from countries that exchange a Korean license this way. Conditions still differ by country. The ministry notes, for example, that New Zealand applies this only to licenses held for two years or more. Check with that country’s embassy before you rely on it.

The English-language card is a one-sided courtesy, not an agreement. The ministry asks drivers to confirm with the embassy before they leave. In the United States, for example, its list names 17 states, such as New York, Illinois and Michigan, and not California.

How to get a Korean International Driving Permit

Fee verified October 2026 · Enforcement Rules of the Road Traffic Act, Article 98 and Annex 36 · Road Traffic Act, Article 98

A foreign national with a Korean license can get a Korean permit. KoROAD lists the documents separately for foreign nationals.

Bring these for a Korean permit

✓ Your passport · 여권

✓ Your Korean driver’s license · 운전면허증

✓ Your Alien Registration Card, or domestic residence report card · 외국인등록증 또는 국내거소신고증

✓ One passport photo, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, taken within six months. KoROAD sets the head height at 3.2 to 3.6 cm and accepts passport-style photos only

✓ The fee: 9,000 KRW

You can apply at any driver’s license test site or police station, or at the permit centers at Incheon and Gimhae airports. KoROAD also issues permits online, with a limit of 450 a day. For a police station, KoROAD asks you to check first that it issues permits. Bring a credit or debit card.

The law sets four limits. The permit lasts one year from the day it is issued (Article 98). It stops working if your Korean license is cancelled, and pauses while your license is suspended. The police can refuse a permit while you have unpaid traffic fines (Article 98-2). A moped or learner license does not qualify (Enforcement Rules, Article 98).

Your permit shows the classes your Korean license covers. KoROAD’s table gives class B for a Class 2 ordinary license, which is the license most foreign residents hold after an exchange.

How to get the Korean and English license card

Fees verified October 2026 · KoROAD, English-language license (영문운전면허증)

The card is your normal Korean license with English printed on it. You can switch to it at a driver’s license test site or a police station. KoROAD notes that Gangnam Police Station does not take these applications.

English-language card fees

KoROAD, English-language license page

When you get it	Standard	Mobile IC
With a renewal, a reissue or a new license	10,000 KRW	15,000 KRW
With an aptitude test	16,000 KRW	21,000 KRW

Bring your current license. A new photo is needed only if you want to change it. KoROAD states that a reissued card keeps your existing renewal period, so switching does not reset the date. If you exchanged a foreign license recently, check whether your card is already the English version before you pay for a new one.

What to carry when you drive abroad

KoROAD’s permit page gives clear rules for drivers using a Korean permit abroad.

Carry three documents together

KoROAD states that in most countries, including the United States, a permit alone is not enough. Driving without your Korean license and passport can count as unlicensed driving. Carry the permit, your Korean license and your passport every time.

The English name on your permit must match your passport, or the permit may not be recognized. KoROAD also warns that a country may stop honoring a permit after you have been there for a year. This can happen before the permit’s own expiry date.

In the United States and Canada, KoROAD notes that each state or province decides how it treats a permit. Ask the embassy about the specific state before you drive there. The same applies to the English-language card, which the ministry describes as a short-term measure.

What happens to your Korean license while you are away

Your Korean license keeps its renewal date while you are abroad. If the renewal window falls during your stay, Article 55 of the Enforcement Decree lets you renew early before you leave, or postpone the renewal. A postponement must be filed before the window closes, and KoROAD accepts it online from people leaving Korea.

If you exchange your Korean license in another country, that country may keep it and send it back to Korea. KoROAD runs a lookup service, 외국반환면허증 조회 (returned licenses from abroad), that shows where such a license is stored. You need your name, date of birth and license number to use it.

What to say at the counter

Five sentences for a test site or police station counter. Show the screen if it is easier than speaking.

맡겨 둔 외국 면허증을 돌려받고 싶습니다.

Mat-gyeo dun oe-guk myeon-heo-jeung-eul dol-lyeo-bat-go sip-seum-ni-da.

“I would like to get back the foreign license that was kept.”

If KoROAD kept your license at the exchange.

출국 항공권 가져왔습니다.

Chul-guk hang-gong-gwon ga-jyeo-wat-seum-ni-da.

“I brought my departure ticket.”

As proof that you are leaving Korea.

국제운전면허증 발급받으러 왔습니다.

Guk-je-un-jeon-myeon-heo-jeung bal-geup-ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.

“I am here to get an International Driving Permit.”

With your passport, license, Alien Registration Card and photo.

영문 겸용 면허증으로 재발급해 주세요.

Yeong-mun gyeom-yong myeon-heo-jeung-eu-ro jae-bal-geu-pae ju-se-yo.

“Please reissue my license as the Korean and English card.”

If your card is Korean only.

미납 과태료가 있는지 확인해 주시겠어요?

Mi-nap gwa-tae-ryo-ga in-neun-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?

“Could you check whether I have any unpaid fines?”

Unpaid fines can block a permit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my Korean driver’s license in the USA?

The United States is a member of the 1949 Geneva convention. So the main route is a Korean International Driving Permit, carried with your Korean license and passport. Some states also accept the Korean and English card for short stays. KoROAD notes that each state sets its own rules, so check with the embassy for the state you will visit.

Can I use my Korean driver’s license in California?

California is not among the 17 U.S. states on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list for the Korean and English card. For California, plan on a Korean International Driving Permit with your Korean license and passport, and confirm with the embassy before you go.

How do I change to an international license?

You do not give up your Korean license. You get an International Driving Permit in addition to it, at a test site, a police station, an airport permit center or online. It costs 9,000 KRW and lasts one year.

Can I get my foreign license back if I am not leaving Korea?

KoROAD names two other cases: you cancel your Korean license by choice, or a diplomatic mission of your country asks for it. Outside those cases and a departure, KoROAD keeps it.

Driving in Korea

Korean Driver’s License for Foreigners: A Guide by Situation

Start here: a permit for your first year or a Korean license, and which guide fits you.

Foreign Driver’s License Exchange in Korea: Rules and Steps

The 90-day rule, the April 2026 country list, and who takes the written test.

Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

All 133 countries and the 29 U.S. states, what changed in April 2026, and whether your license is kept.

International Driving Permit in Korea: The One-Year Rule

One year from your entry, which permits count, and what driving after that year costs you.

Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window

Six months either side of your birthday since 2026, and what to do if you will be abroad.

Leaving Korea With a Korean Driver’s License: What to Do

Get back a foreign license KoROAD kept, and choose a permit or the English card for driving abroad.

Official sources

Every rule in this guide comes from the pages below. Rules abroad change, so confirm with the embassy of the country you will visit.

· KoROAD · International Driving Permit · English-language license · notes on foreign license exchange · returned licenses from abroad (all Korean)

· Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mutual recognition of driver’s licenses (Korean)

· Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 84 · Article 98 · Article 98-2 · Enforcement Rules Article 98 · Enforcement Decree Article 55

Information verified as of October 2026. Rules in Korea and abroad change. Confirm the details with KoROAD before you apply, and with the embassy of the country you will visit before you drive there. KoROAD’s customer center is 1577-1120, and it offers chat in foreign languages through its KakaoTalk channel.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 20, 2026

Death Certificate in Korea: Who Gets It and What to File Next

When someone dies in Korea, a doctor issues a death certificate (사망진단서). If no doctor was treating the person, a doctor examines the body and fills in the same form as a postmortem examination certificate (시체검안서). The family attaches this paper to every step that follows.

The next step depends on who died. A Korean citizen’s death must be reported within one month. A registered foreigner’s residence card must be returned within 30 days. Cremation also needs the certificate. This guide explains the paper, its cost and each step.

What this guide covers

01 Death certificate or postmortem certificate

02 What the form shows

03 Who can get it

04 How much it costs

05 If the person was a Korean citizen

06 If the person was a registered foreigner

07 Cremation and burial

08 What to say at the counter

09 Frequently asked questions

Death certificate or postmortem certificate

Both papers use one form, Form 6 (별지 제6호서식) of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act. The title at the top shows which one it is. Under Article 17 of the Medical Service Act, only a doctor who examined the person can write either paper.

Two papers on one form

Medical Service Act, Article 17 · Enforcement Rule, Article 10 and Form 6

Paper	Korean name	Who writes it
Death certificate	사망진단서	A doctor who was treating the person
Postmortem examination certificate	시체검안서	A doctor who examined the body after death

If a patient dies within 48 hours of the last treatment, the doctor can issue the certificate without a new examination. The doctor cannot refuse a request without a valid reason.

What the form shows

The form is in Korean only. Check the name, the dates and the place before you leave the hospital. Every later step copies these details.

The boxes on the death certificate

Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Form 6

Korean box	What it records
① 성명 ② 성별 ③ 주민등록번호 ④ 실제생년월일	Name, sex, resident registration number and actual date of birth
⑤ 직업 ⑥ 주소	Occupation and address
⑦ 발병일시	When the illness began
⑧ 사망일시	The date and time of death, in 24-hour time
⑨ 사망장소	Where the death happened: home, hospital, care facility, public place, road, business, workplace, farm, on the way to hospital or other
⑩ 사망의 원인	The direct cause of death, the conditions that led to it, and how long each lasted. Surgery and autopsy findings go here too
⑪ 사망의 종류	The kind of death: illness (병사), external cause (외인사), or other and unknown (기타 및 불상)
의료기관 · 면허번호 · 성명	The hospital, and the doctor’s license number, name and signature

If the death was not from illness, a final box (⑫ 외인사 사항) records the type of accident and when and where it happened.

Who can get it

Article 17 of the Medical Service Act lists the family members who can receive the certificate after a death.

Who can receive a death certificate

✓ The spouse (배우자)

✓ Parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren (직계존속 · 비속)

✓ The spouse’s parents and grandparents (배우자의 직계존속)

✓ Brothers and sisters (형제자매), only if there is no one in the groups above

Hospitals check who you are. Seoul National University Hospital, for example, asks for your ID and a paper that shows the family relationship. A family relation certificate (가족관계증명서) or a resident registration copy (주민등록등본) works there.

Family members can also ask for the person’s medical records. Article 21 of the same act allows this with proof of the relationship and of the death. The guide to medical records explains how copies and costs work.

How much it costs

Fee caps verified October 2026 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34

The Ministry of Health and Welfare caps the fee for each paper. A hospital chooses its own fee between zero and the cap.

Fee caps for death papers

Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34)

Paper	Korean name	Cap
Death certificate	사망진단서	10,000 KRW
Postmortem examination certificate	시체검안서	30,000 KRW. Travel costs are separate
Copy or reissue of a certificate	제증명서 사본	1,000 KRW

Each step below can use the certificate as its attachment. Count your steps and ask the hospital for enough copies at once.

Where the certificate goes

Each office asks for the certificate with the report

Step	Who it applies to	Law
Death report (사망신고)	A Korean citizen	Family Relationship Act, Article 84
Returning the residence card	A registered foreigner	Immigration Act Enforcement Decree, Article 46
Cremation report (화장신고)	Anyone who is cremated	Funeral Act Enforcement Rule, Article 2

If the person was a Korean citizen

Rules verified October 2026 · Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationships, Articles 84, 85 and 122

A Korean citizen’s death goes into the family register through a death report (사망신고). File it within one month of learning of the death. Attach the death certificate or the postmortem certificate.

Death report for a Korean citizen

✓ Deadline: within one month of learning of the death. Article 84

✓ Who files: a relative who lived with the person. Other relatives, people who lived with them, and the manager of the place of death can also file. Article 85

✓ Where: the city hall, district office, or town or neighborhood office

✓ Late or missing report: a fine of up to 50,000 KRW. Article 122

The note printed at the bottom of the certificate describes this report. It applies to Korean citizens, because the family register covers Korean nationals only.

If the person was a registered foreigner

Rules verified October 2026 · Immigration Act, Articles 37 and 100 · Enforcement Decree, Articles 46 and 47

A registered foreigner is not in the family register. The Immigration Act sets a different step: returning the residence card (외국인등록증).

After a registered foreigner dies

✓ Deadline: within 30 days of learning of the death. Enforcement Decree, Article 46

✓ Who returns it: the spouse or a parent. A person who supported them, a sibling, their guarantor or another person who lived with them can also return it

✓ What to attach: the death certificate, the postmortem certificate, or another paper that proves the death

✓ Where: the immigration office for the area where the person lived

✓ Not returned: a fine of up to 1,000,000 KRW. Immigration Act, Article 100

Once the office confirms the death from the certificate, it can cancel the registration. For records in the person’s own country, contact that country’s embassy in Korea.

Cremation and burial

The Act on Funeral Services sets the reports for cremation and burial. The cremation report needs the death certificate or the postmortem certificate attached. A confirmation from the head of the local eup, myeon or dong office (읍·면·동장의 확인서) can be used instead.

Cremation and burial reports

Act on Funeral Services, Article 8 · Enforcement Rule, Article 2

Step	When	Where
Cremation report (화장신고)	Before the cremation	The local government of the area where the crematorium is
Burial report (매장신고)	Within 30 days after the burial	The local government of the area of the grave

After the cremation report, the office issues a report certificate. This guide does not cover funeral customs or costs.

Which step applies to you

A summary of the rules above

Who died	Step	Deadline	Where	Fine
A Korean citizen	Death report	1 month	City, district or neighborhood office	Up to 50,000 KRW
A registered foreigner	Return the residence card	30 days	Immigration office	Up to 1,000,000 KRW
Anyone cremated	Cremation report	Before cremation	Local government of the crematorium	—

Both deadlines count from the day the family learns of the death, not from the date on the certificate.

What to say at the counter

Hospitals and offices work in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

사망진단서 떼러 왔어요.

Sa-mang-jin-dan-seo tte-reo wa-sseo-yo.

“I am here for the death certificate.”

Say this at the hospital certificate desk.

세 통 필요해요.

Se tong pi-ryo-hae-yo.

“I need three copies.”

Change the number to the copies you need.

저는 배우자예요.

Jeo-neun bae-u-ja-ye-yo.

“I am the spouse.”

Say this with your ID and the family paper.

사망신고 하러 왔어요.

Sa-mang-sin-go ha-reo wa-sseo-yo.

“I am here to report a death.”

Use this at the office if the person was a Korean citizen.

외국인등록증 반납하러 왔어요.

Oe-gu-gin-deung-nok-jjeung ban-na-pa-reo wa-sseo-yo.

“I am here to return a residence card.”

Use this at the immigration office.

Frequently asked questions

What happens when someone dies in Korea?

A doctor issues a death certificate or a postmortem examination certificate. The family then reports the death within one month for a Korean citizen, or returns the residence card within 30 days for a registered foreigner. Cremation also needs the certificate.

What is the easiest way to get a copy of a death certificate?

Ask the hospital that issued it. A copy of an existing certificate is capped at 1,000 KRW. The cap covers extra copies at the same time and a reissue later.

Can you get a death certificate if someone dies overseas?

If the person died in Korea, the Korean certificate comes from the doctor here. Ask the embassy of the person’s country how it records a death abroad.

Hospital documents

Hospital Documents in Korea: Which Paper and What It Costs

Every hospital paper by situation, and the fee cap for all 30 papers on the ministry’s list.

Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis

Which hospital papers show your diagnosis, what each one costs, and what employers and schools accept.

Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get

The receipt, the itemized bill, which papers show your diagnosis, and how claims work in Korea and abroad.

Death Certificate in Korea: Who Gets It and What to File Next

Who can get a death certificate, what it costs, and the next step for a Korean citizen or a registered foreigner.

Medical Records in Korea: How to Get Copies or Send Them

Who can collect your records, the five-day transfer rule, scans on CD, and how long records are kept.

Birth Certificate in Korea: Hospital Paper and Next Steps

What the hospital birth certificate shows, and the next step for Korean and foreign parents.

Official sources

Every figure here comes from the pages below. Rules change, so open the page before you act on it.

· Medical Service Act (의료법) · Article 17, death certificates · Article 21, records · Enforcement Rule (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 10 and Form 6

· Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps

· Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationships (가족관계의 등록 등에 관한 법률) · Article 84, death reports · Article 85, who files · Article 122, fines

· Immigration Act (출입국관리법) · Article 37, returning the card · Article 100, fines · Enforcement Decree (출입국관리법 시행령) · Article 46 · Article 47

· Act on Funeral Services (장사 등에 관한 법률) · Article 8, reports · Enforcement Rule (장사 등에 관한 법률 시행규칙) · Article 2, cremation report

· Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · 진단서발급, papers when the patient has died (Korean)

Information verified as of October 2026. Rules, fees and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital, the local office and the immigration office before you act. For the residence card, you can also call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 19, 2026

Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window

Since 1 January 2026, a Korean driver’s license is renewed within six months either side of your birthday. Before that date, the window was the whole calendar year in which the renewal fell. The cycle itself is still ten years for most drivers.

The change matters most if your card was issued before 2026, because the period printed on it may not match the law now. Here is when you must renew, who needs a physical check, and how to renew. It also covers the cost, what to do if you will be abroad, and what happens if you miss the window.

What this guide covers

01 When you must renew

02 Who needs a physical check

03 How to renew, step by step

04 How much it costs

05 What to do if you will be abroad

06 What happens if you miss the window

07 What to say at the counter

When you must renew

Rules verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 87 · Addendum to Act No. 21016 (14 August 2025)

Article 87 of the Road Traffic Act (도로교통법) sets two things: how many years until your renewal, and the window around that date. The first renewal counts from the day you passed the license test. Each later renewal counts from your last renewal.

Renewal cycle by age

Road Traffic Act, Article 87(1) · age on the day of the test or the last renewal

Your age then	Next renewal falls after
Under 65	10 years
65 to 74	5 years
75 or older	3 years

The window opens six months before your birthday in the year the cycle ends, and closes six months after it. For example, take a driver under 65 who passed the test in March 2026 and has a birthday on 10 July. The cycle ends in 2036, so the window runs from about 10 January 2036 to about 10 January 2037.

A card issued before 2026 may show the old period

The old rule used the full calendar year, from 1 January to 31 December. The addendum to the 2025 amendment covers licenses issued before 1 January 2026. For the first renewal after that date, the holder can use either the new window or the old one. KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) states that the period printed on such a card may differ from the legal one.

To see your exact window, KoROAD points to two places. One is the My Page section of its own website. The other is the driver’s license menu of the National Police Agency’s traffic service at efine.go.kr. Check one of them rather than counting from the card.

Who needs a physical check

Article 87(2) adds a periodic aptitude test (정기 적성검사) for some drivers. It is a physical check, mainly of eyesight, done in the same window as the renewal.

Renewal only, or renewal with a physical check

Road Traffic Act, Article 87(2) · KoROAD renewal page

Your license	What you do in the window
Class 2, under 70 (제2종)	Renewal only (면허갱신). No physical check
Class 2, 70 or older	Periodic aptitude test with the renewal
Class 1, any age (제1종)	Periodic aptitude test with the renewal

A license you got by exchanging a foreign license is usually Class 2 ordinary, so most foreign residents only renew. Drivers who exchanged a license from Belgium, Poland, Spain, Italy or Ireland may hold a matching Class 1 license. They take the physical check each time.

How to renew, step by step

KoROAD lists three routes for a Class 2 renewal. You can go to a driver’s license test site or a police station civil affairs office, or apply online on KoROAD’s website. Gangnam Police Station does not handle renewals, so KoROAD sends applicants there to Gangnam test site.

Step 1 — Check your window

Look it up on KoROAD’s My Page or on efine.go.kr. You can renew only inside the window, unless you apply for early renewal or a postponement.

Step 2 — Prepare a photo

You need one color photo, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, taken within the last six months. A Class 1 aptitude test needs two.

Step 3 — Apply in person or online

In person, bring your current license and your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증). The Enforcement Rules list the Alien Registration Card as an accepted identity document. With your consent, KoROAD checks your registered place of stay from immigration records, instead of asking for a separate certificate.

For a Class 2 renewal, someone else can apply for you. They bring your license, your photo, their own ID, and a letter of delegation (위임장) that you wrote.

Step 4 — Pay the fee

Choose a standard card or a mobile IC card. Both come in a Korean and English version for the same fee.

Step 5 — Collect the new card and return the old one

KoROAD’s renewal page states that only you can collect the new card, even if someone else applied. Article 83-3 of the Enforcement Rules does allow an agent to collect it in some cases, such as when you are staying abroad. The Enforcement Rules also require you to hand back your old license when you receive the renewed one.

How much it costs

Fees verified October 2026 · KoROAD renewal and postponement pages

KoROAD sets these fees with approval from the National Police Agency, under Article 139 of the Road Traffic Act.

Renewal fees

KoROAD renewal page, Korean version

Item	Standard card	Mobile IC card
Class 2 renewal (2종 갱신)	10,000 KRW	15,000 KRW
Aptitude test and renewal (적성검사)	16,000 KRW	21,000 KRW
Physical check at a test site	7,000 KRW (8,000 KRW for Class 1 large or special)
Postponement application (연기신청)	3,000 KRW

A Class 2 driver under 70 pays only the first row. The physical check fee applies only to drivers who take the aptitude test, and only at a test site’s own check room. For a Class 1 ordinary license or a Class 2 driver over 70, KoROAD accepts a national health checkup result from the past two years instead.

What to do if you will be abroad

Article 55 of the Enforcement Decree names a stay abroad as a reason to renew early or to postpone. Both are useful if you go home for a long period around your renewal.

Two options for a stay abroad

Enforcement Decree, Article 55 · KoROAD early renewal and postponement pages

	Early renewal (사전 갱신)	Postponement (연기)
When	Before your window opens, before you leave	Before your window closes
Where	Test site or police station civil affairs office	Test site, police station, or online on KoROAD’s website if you are leaving Korea
Proof	A departure ticket, or a document such as a school admission letter or a job abroad	A passport and departure ticket, or a Certificate of Entry and Exit
Photos	2	None listed
Fee	The normal renewal fee	3,000 KRW
After	Nothing more for this cycle	Renew within 3 months of returning

A postponement can last up to three years under Article 55(2). Once the reason ends, you have three months to renew. When you come back to Korea, bring your Certificate of Entry and Exit to show the return date. KoROAD asks you to call the test site before an early renewal visit.

What happens if you miss the window

Fines verified October 2026 · Enforcement Decree, Article 88 and Annex 6

Missing a renewal is a fine, not the end of your license, for most foreign residents. Annex 6 of the Enforcement Decree sets the amounts.

Missed renewal and missed aptitude test

Class 2 renewal not done. A fine of 20,000 KRW. KoROAD states that license suspension or cancellation for a missed renewal was abolished on 9 December 2011.

Aptitude test not done. A fine of 30,000 KRW. KoROAD states that a Class 1 license is cancelled once one year passes after the end of the window. The same applies to a Class 2 license of a driver over 70 whose card shows an aptitude test period.

Fine not paid. KoROAD states that a 3% surcharge is added after the due date, then 1.2% each month, up to 75%.

Renew as soon as you notice, even if the window has passed. The fine is fixed, but the surcharge grows every month you leave it unpaid.

What to say at the counter

Five sentences for a test site or police station counter. Show the screen if it is easier than speaking.

운전면허증 갱신하러 왔습니다.

Un-jeon-myeon-heo-jeung gaeng-sin-ha-reo wat-seum-ni-da.

“I am here to renew my driver’s license.”

Say this first at the counter.

제 갱신 기간이 언제인지 확인해 주시겠어요?

Je gaeng-sin gi-ga-ni eon-je-in-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?

“Could you check when my renewal period is?”

If your card was issued before 2026.

사진 한 장 가져왔습니다.

Sa-jin han jang ga-jyeo-wat-seum-ni-da.

“I brought one photo.”

With your license and Alien Registration Card.

영문 겸용 면허증으로 해 주세요.

Yeong-mun gyeom-yong myeon-heo-jeung-eu-ro hae ju-se-yo.

“Please make it the Korean and English card.”

When you choose the card.

해외 출국 때문에 갱신 연기를 신청하고 싶습니다.

Hae-oe chul-guk ttae-mu-ne gaeng-sin yeon-gi-reul sin-cheong-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.

“I would like to postpone my renewal because I am leaving Korea.”

Bring your ticket or other proof of the trip.

Frequently asked questions

How to renew a driver’s license in Korea?

Go to a driver’s license test site or a police station civil affairs office within your window. That is six months either side of your birthday in your renewal year. Bring your license, your Alien Registration Card and one photo. A Class 2 renewal costs 10,000 KRW for a standard card. KoROAD also takes Class 2 renewals online.

Can someone else renew my license for me?

For a Class 2 renewal, yes. The person brings your license, your photo, their own ID and a letter of delegation from you. KoROAD’s page states that you collect the new card yourself.

Can I renew while I am outside Korea?

KoROAD gives two options for a stay abroad. Renew early before you leave, or apply for a postponement before your window closes. KoROAD accepts postponement applications online from people leaving Korea. You then have three months after you return to renew.

Is my license cancelled if I forget to renew?

Not for a Class 2 license under 70. You pay a fine of 20,000 KRW and renew late. A Class 1 license can be cancelled one year after a missed aptitude test window.

Driving in Korea

Korean Driver’s License for Foreigners: A Guide by Situation

Start here: a permit for your first year or a Korean license, and which guide fits you.

Foreign Driver’s License Exchange in Korea: Rules and Steps

The 90-day rule, the April 2026 country list, and who takes the written test.

Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

All 133 countries and the 29 U.S. states, what changed in April 2026, and whether your license is kept.

International Driving Permit in Korea: The One-Year Rule

One year from your entry, which permits count, and what driving after that year costs you.

Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window

Six months either side of your birthday since 2026, and what to do if you will be abroad.

Leaving Korea With a Korean Driver’s License: What to Do

Get back a foreign license KoROAD kept, and choose a permit or the English card for driving abroad.

Official sources

Every figure in this guide comes from the pages below. Rules and fees change, so open the page that matters to your case before you go.

· KoROAD, renewal · Korean · early renewal (Korean) · postponement (Korean) · English

· Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 87 · Enforcement Decree Article 55 · Article 88 and Annex 6 · Enforcement Rules Article 81

· National Police Agency, traffic civil service (efine.go.kr) · renewal period lookup (Korean)

Information verified as of October 2026. Rules and fees change. Confirm your renewal period on KoROAD’s official page before you visit. KoROAD’s customer center is 1577-1120, and it offers chat in foreign languages through its KakaoTalk channel.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 19, 2026

Korean Spelling Mistakes: Why Even Korean Kids Get It Wrong

Many parents assume Korean is written exactly the way it sounds. It is not. The official spelling rules say to write words as they sound, but in a way that keeps the grammar visible, and that second half is why Korean children keep misspelling the same words for years.

My two sons are now in fourth and second grade, and they still mix up words that sound identical. This guide uses the official rules to show where those traps are, and what has actually worked in our house to fix them.

What this guide covers

01 Why Korean is not spelled the way it sounds

02 Which final consonants children mix up

03 Why 갖다, 갔다 and 같다 sound the same

04 How 안 and 않 differ

05 Why spacing comes last

06 What actually fixes a spelling mistake

07 Frequently asked questions

Why Korean is not spelled the way it sounds

Rules checked October 2026 · Korean spelling rules (한글 맞춤법), Article 1

Article 1 of the Korean spelling rules (한글 맞춤법) is a single sentence: write standard Korean as it sounds, but in a way that fits the grammar.

The National Institute of Korean Language, which publishes the rules, explains this with one word: 꽃 (kkot, flower). Its sound changes depending on what comes after it.

One word, three sounds

From the official explanation of Article 1

Written	Sounds like	Final sound
꽃이 · 꽃을	[꼬치] · [꼬츨]	ㅊ
꽃만 · 꽃나무	[꼰만] · [꼰나무]	ㄴ
꽃과 · 꽃밭	[꼳꽈] · [꼳빧]	ㄷ

If Korean were spelled purely by sound, the same flower would be written three different ways. So the spelling keeps one shape, 꽃, and lets the sound change around it. That makes meaning easy to see for readers. It also means a child cannot always spell a word just by listening to it.

Which final consonants children mix up

Rules checked October 2026 · Standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법), Articles 8 to 11

Many letters can sit at the bottom of a Korean syllable as batchim (받침), the final consonant. But under the standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법), only seven sounds are actually pronounced there: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ and ㅇ.

Every other batchim borrows one of those seven sounds at the end of a word or before a consonant. When a syllable has two batchim, only one of them is heard.

What children hear, and what they must write

Pronunciations follow Articles 9 to 11 of the standard pronunciation rules

Word	Sounds like	What the ear misses
꽃 (flower)	[꼳]	ㅊ sounds like ㄷ
있다 (to be, to have)	[읻따]	ㅆ sounds like ㄷ
깊다 (deep)	[깁따]	ㅍ sounds like ㅂ
넓다 (wide)	[널따]	Two batchim, only ㄹ is heard
밝다 (bright)	[박따]	Two batchim, only ㄱ is heard

These are the words my children got wrong: 깊다, 꽃, 넓다, 밝다. The sound gives no clue which batchim to write, and words with two batchim are the hardest.

So if your child writes 깁다 for 깊다, it is not carelessness. Your child wrote exactly what they heard.

Why 갖다, 갔다 and 같다 sound the same

These three common words end in different batchim, ㅈ, ㅆ and ㅌ, but all three are pronounced [갇따]. The same pronunciation rule is at work: ㅈ, ㅆ and ㅌ at the end of a word or before a consonant all sound like ㄷ.

Same sound, three meanings

All three are pronounced [갇따]

Written	Meaning	Example
갖다	To have (short for 가지다)	꿈을 갖다 · to have a dream
갔다	Went (past of 가다)	학교에 갔다 · went to school
같다	To be the same	키가 같다 · are the same height

My older son is in fourth grade and still mixes these three up.

Because the sound is identical, listening will never settle it. The only clue is the meaning, so each word has to be learned as a written shape.

How 안 and 않 differ

Checked October 2026 · National Institute of Korean Language, Q&A

The mistake my children make most often is 안 versus 않, such as writing 않 먹어 instead of 안 먹어.

The National Institute of Korean Language gives a clear rule. 안 is an adverb meaning “not”, and it goes in front of a verb or adjective. 않 is part of 않다, the short form of 아니하다, and it comes in front of an ending, as in 먹지 않아.

안 or 않

Both mean “not”

Form	Where it goes	Example
안	Before the verb, with a space after it	안 먹어 · not eating
않	After -지, joined to the ending that follows	먹지 않아 · not eating

The same answer adds a simple check. Except in a few compound words, 안 always has a space after it, and 않 is always joined to what follows. So if a word could stand alone with a space after it, it is 안.

Why spacing comes last

In first grade, my children could hardly use spaces at all. Dictation at that stage was mostly single words, not sentences, so there was little chance to practice.

Now my second grader takes dictation in a notebook with squares instead of lines, one syllable to a square. Even so, some days a whole sentence comes home with no spaces.

The rule itself is short. Article 2 of the Korean spelling rules says each word in a sentence is written with a space between it and the next. Article 41 adds that small particles attach to the word before them. Knowing where one word ends is the hard part for a young child.

A squared notebook helps because each square holds one syllable, and an empty square is a space your child can see.

What actually fixes a spelling mistake

In my experience, the kind of mistake does not change as children move up through the grades. What changes is how many words they know, so the number of mistakes grows too. They never fully mastered the earlier words, and new ones add to the confusion.

Recently my second grader wrote 애벌래 instead of 애벌레 (caterpillar). He already knew 벌레, which means bug. The word only got one syllable longer, and it went wrong.

Sound is part of the reason. ㅔ and ㅐ are separate vowels, but the National Institute of Korean Language notes that the difference between them has become hard to hear in recent years.

What works best for us is writing the word out several times. My children dislike it. But if they only say a word aloud, the sound leads them back to the wrong spelling later. That is Article 1 again: sound and spelling do not always match, so the hand has to learn the shape.

Both of my sons made the same kinds of mistakes, but my younger son fixed them faster. He had read and written more Hangul before school. Even before first grade, he read aloud smoothly, like a person talking, while his older brother read like a robot.

Frequently asked questions

Is Korean spelled the way it sounds?

Not always. Article 1 of the Korean spelling rules says to write words as they sound but in a way that fits the grammar, so a word keeps one spelling even when its sound changes.

How many final consonant sounds are there in Korean?

Seven: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ and ㅇ. Every other batchim is pronounced as one of these at the end of a word or before a consonant.

What is the difference between 안 and 않?

안 goes before a verb and has a space after it, as in 안 먹어. 않 comes after -지 and is joined to what follows, as in 먹지 않아.

Why does my child write Korean without spaces?

For my children, spacing was the last skill to arrive. In their classes, early dictation was mostly single words, so writing whole sentences with spaces came later.

Hangul at school

Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?

What preschools and first grade are told to teach, and how a Korean parent prepared two boys for school.

Korean Spelling Mistakes: Why Even Korean Kids Get It Wrong

Why Korean is not spelled the way it sounds, and the words Korean children still mix up in fourth grade.

Official sources

The rules quoted here come from the National Institute of Korean Language. Open the pages below to read them in full.

· National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Korean spelling rules (한글 맞춤법), Articles 1, 2 and 41

· National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Standard pronunciation rules (표준 발음법), Articles 8 to 11

· National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Q&A on 안 and 않

· National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Q&A on the vowels ㅔ and ㅐ

Information verified as of October 2026. Korean spelling and pronunciation rules are published by the National Institute of Korean Language. Ask your child’s teacher how spelling is checked in their class.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 18, 2026

International Driving Permit in Korea: The One-Year Rule

An International Driving Permit lets you drive in Korea for one year from the day you enter the country. After that year, driving on it counts as driving without a license under the Road Traffic Act (도로교통법).

Not every permit works, either. It must come from a member of the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna road traffic convention. A place with a separate agreement with Korea also counts. Here is how long a permit lasts, which permits Korea accepts, what you can drive on one, and what happens when the year runs out.

What this guide covers

01 How long a permit works in Korea

02 Which permits Korea accepts

03 Which permits Korea does not accept

04 What you can drive on a permit

05 What happens if you drive after the year ends

06 How the permit compares with a license exchange

How long a permit works in Korea

Rules verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 96 · Article 152

Article 96 of the Road Traffic Act sets the period. A person with a valid International Driving Permit (국제운전면허증) may drive in Korea for one year from the day they entered Korea. Article 152 then treats a permit that has passed its own expiry date as no permit at all. So two dates apply, and the earlier one ends your driving.

You can drive on a foreign permit while all of these are true

✓ Less than one year has passed since you entered Korea

✓ The permit itself has not expired

✓ Police have not banned you from driving on it (Article 97)

✓ You are not in a period where Korean law bars you from getting a license (Article 96(3))

Write down the date you entered Korea. Your passport stamp or your Certificate of Entry and Exit shows it. Article 92 also requires you to carry the permit while you drive.

The one year does not depend on your visa. A student, a worker and a tourist all have the same period. If you will live in Korea longer than that, you need a Korean license to keep driving.

Which permits Korea accepts

Article 96 lists four kinds of agreements. The first two are international conventions, and most permits come under one of them.

A permit is accepted if it was issued under

01 The 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Korea is a member, so this is the main route.

02 The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. KoROAD states that Korea has accepted Vienna permits since 1 January 2002, for the same one year.

03 An agreement between Korea and another country to accept each other’s international permits. KoROAD names Taiwan and Vietnam.

04 An agreement to accept each other’s national licenses. The law calls these mutually recognized foreign licenses (상호인정외국면허증).

KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) publishes the member lists for both conventions. The table shows where common home countries fall.

Which agreement covers your permit · selected countries

KoROAD, Geneva and Vienna convention member lists

Agreement	Countries and regions
Geneva 1949	Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
Vienna 1968	Brazil, Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Agreement with Korea	Taiwan, Vietnam

Some countries appear in both conventions, such as France, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand and the United Kingdom. That makes no difference in Korea, since both give the same one year. For a country not shown here, open KoROAD’s International Driving Permit page and select 제네바 협약국 보기 or 비엔나 협약국 보기 (view Geneva or Vienna members).

Which permits Korea does not accept

Two groups are outside Article 96. KoROAD’s International Driving Permit page names both.

A document titled “International Driving License” is not a permit

KoROAD states that Korea accepts only an International Driving Permit from an official issuing body. Look-alike documents from unofficial issuers cannot be used, and KoROAD gives the U.S. IAA as an example. These documents often print INTERNATIONAL DRIVING LICENSE on the cover.

The second group is countries outside both conventions with no agreement with Korea. KoROAD states that mainland China is not a member of either convention. Permits from Hong Kong and Macau are still valid, under the one country, two systems policy. Indonesia and Nepal do not appear on KoROAD’s member lists either.

If your country is in this group, a permit from home will not let you drive in Korea. Your route is a Korean license, either by exchange or by taking the full test. KoROAD also offers sample images of permits from 65 countries on the same page, if you want to compare yours.

What you can drive on a permit

Article 96 limits you to the vehicle types written on your permit. If your permit covers only cars, you cannot drive a motorcycle on it.

What a foreign permit allows

Road Traffic Act, Article 96 and Article 156

Vehicle	Allowed?
Your own car or a friend’s car	Yes, within the types on your permit
A rental car (대여사업용 자동차)	Yes, Article 96(2) allows it
A commercial vehicle, such as a taxi, bus or delivery truck for a business (사업용 자동차)	No
An e-scooter or other personal mobility device (개인형 이동장치)	Only if your permit lists mopeds (원동기장치자전거)

The law allows rental cars, but it does not set a rental company’s own booking conditions. Check those with the company before you book. The e-scooter rule comes from Article 156, which fines riders who have no license or permit that covers mopeds.

What happens if you drive after the year ends

Penalties verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 152 · Article 82 · Article 97

Driving on a permit after the year, or after the permit expires, is treated the same as driving with no license. Three consequences follow from the law.

Driving on an expired permit is unlicensed driving

A criminal penalty. Article 152 sets up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 3 million KRW for driving a car without a license or a valid permit. A permit past its expiry, or one you are banned from using, counts as no permit.

A wait before a Korean license. Article 82 says a person who drove without a license cannot get a Korean license for one year from the day of the violation. The wait does not apply if the case ends with a penalty below a fine, a suspension of sentencing (선고유예), or a suspension of prosecution (기소유예).

A ban on the permit. Under Article 97, police can ban you from driving on a foreign permit for up to one year. The reasons include a traffic accident and a breach of traffic law. You must hand the permit to the police, and you can ask for it back when the ban ends or when you leave Korea.

For residents, the waiting period matters most. A single drive on an expired permit can delay your Korean license by a year, as long as the permit lasted in the first place. Plan the switch before the year ends, not after.

How the permit compares with a license exchange

The permit and the license exchange use two different lists. Being on one list says nothing about the other. The permit depends on the Geneva and Vienna conventions. The exchange depends on the Korean National Police Agency notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses, last revised on 6 April 2026.

Two lists, side by side · selected countries

KoROAD convention lists · Korean National Police Agency Notice 2026-6

Your license is from	Permit accepted for one year	Exchange without the written test
United States	Yes (Geneva)	Only the 29 listed states, and not Oregon, Idaho, Utah or Nevada
Australia	Yes (Geneva)	No, since 6 April 2026
United Kingdom	Yes (Geneva and Vienna)	Yes
Germany	Yes (Vienna)	Yes
Vietnam	Yes (Vienna, and an agreement with Korea)	Yes
Philippines	Yes (Geneva and Vienna)	Yes
Singapore	Yes (Geneva)	No
Mainland China	No	No
Indonesia	No	No

“No” in the last column does not block an exchange. It means one extra written test at the test site, unless your status of stay waives it. If you live in Korea and your permit is accepted, the year on the permit is the time you have to prepare that exchange.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an international license to drive in South Korea?

Yes, unless you hold a Korean license. KoROAD states that a foreign license by itself does not let you drive in Korea. An International Driving Permit from a Geneva or Vienna member, or from Taiwan or Vietnam, lets you drive for one year from your entry.

Is IDP valid in South Korea?

Yes, if an official body issued it under the Geneva or Vienna convention, or under an agreement with Korea. A document titled International Driving License from an unofficial issuer is not valid. Permits from mainland China are not accepted, while permits from Hong Kong and Macau are.

Can I rent a car in Korea with a US license?

Not with the U.S. license alone. Article 96(2) of the Road Traffic Act allows rental cars on an International Driving Permit, and the United States is a Geneva member. Rental companies may add their own conditions, so check with the company.

Can I ride an e-scooter on an International Driving Permit?

Only if the permit lists mopeds (원동기장치자전거). Article 156 of the Road Traffic Act fines riders of personal mobility devices who have neither a license nor a permit that covers mopeds.

Driving in Korea

Korean Driver’s License for Foreigners: A Guide by Situation

Start here: a permit for your first year or a Korean license, and which guide fits you.

Foreign Driver’s License Exchange in Korea: Rules and Steps

The 90-day rule, the April 2026 country list, and who takes the written test.

Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

All 133 countries and the 29 U.S. states, what changed in April 2026, and whether your license is kept.

International Driving Permit in Korea: The One-Year Rule

One year from your entry, which permits count, and what driving after that year costs you.

Korean Driver’s License Renewal: The New Birthday Window

Six months either side of your birthday since 2026, and what to do if you will be abroad.

Leaving Korea With a Korean Driver’s License: What to Do

Get back a foreign license KoROAD kept, and choose a permit or the English card for driving abroad.

Official sources

Every rule in this guide comes from the pages below. Lists change, so open the current version before you drive.

· KoROAD, International Driving Permit (Korean) · Geneva and Vienna member lists, and permit samples, open from this page

· Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 96 · Article 97 · Article 82 · Article 92 · Article 152 · Article 156

· Ministry of Government Legislation, Easy Law, driving in Korea on a foreign International Driving Permit (Korean)

· Korean National Police Agency, notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses (Korean)

Information verified as of October 2026. Convention memberships and Korean rules change. Confirm the details on KoROAD’s official page before you drive. KoROAD’s customer center is 1577-1120, and it offers chat in foreign languages through its KakaoTalk channel.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 18, 2026

Birth Certificate in Korea: Hospital Paper and Next Steps

When a baby is born in a Korean hospital, the doctor or midwife who delivered the baby issues a birth certificate (출생증명서). What you do next depends on the parents. If a parent is Korean, you file a birth report within one month and attach the certificate. If both parents are foreign, the baby needs a status of stay from the immigration office within 90 days of birth.

The certificate carries a printed note about filing a birth report within one month. That note follows the Korean family register, which covers Korean nationals only. This guide explains the certificate, its cost and both routes.

What this guide covers

01 What the birth certificate shows

02 How much it costs

03 What to do if a parent is Korean

04 What to do if both parents are foreign

05 What the Constitutional Court decided in 2026

06 What to say at the counter

07 Frequently asked questions

What the birth certificate shows

The form is Form 7 (별지 제7호서식) of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act. Under Article 17 of the Medical Service Act, only the doctor, Korean medicine doctor or midwife who delivered the baby can issue it. They cannot refuse a request without a valid reason.

The boxes on the birth certificate

Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 11 and Form 7

Korean box	What it records
출생아의 부모 — 부 · 모 (성명 · 연령 · 직업)	Each parent’s name, age and occupation
산모의 주소	The mother’s address
출생 장소	Where the baby was born: home, hospital, clinic, maternal and child health center, midwifery clinic or other
출생일시	The date and time of birth, in 24-hour time
출생아 — 성별 · 임신기간 · 성명	The baby’s sex, the length of pregnancy in weeks, and the baby’s name
다태 · 출산 순위	For twins or more, the number of babies and this baby’s birth order
산모의 산아 수	How many children the mother has given birth to
출생아의 신체 상황 — 몸무게 · 신장	The baby’s weight and length
출생아의 건강 상황	The baby’s health
의료기관 · 면허번호 · 성명	The hospital, and the license number, name and signature of the person who delivered the baby

Check every name, date and time on the certificate before you leave the hospital. The next step, whichever route you take, starts from this paper.

How much it costs

Fee cap verified October 2026 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34

The Ministry of Health and Welfare caps the fee for a birth certificate. A hospital chooses its own fee between zero and the cap.

Fee caps for the birth certificate

Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34)

Paper	Korean name	Cap
Birth certificate	출생증명서	3,000 KRW
Extra copy of the same certificate	제증명서 사본	1,000 KRW
English birth certificate	영문 출생증명서	Not on the list. Each hospital sets its own fee

Seoul National University Hospital, for example, lists its English birth certificate at 20,000 KRW. The caps do not include a consultation fee.

What to do if a parent is Korean

Rules verified October 2026 · Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationships, Articles 44 and 122

Article 44 of the Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationships sets the birth report (출생신고). File it within one month of the birth, and attach the birth certificate written by the doctor or midwife. The report has room for a foreign parent’s name, date of birth, nationality and alien registration number.

For a child born within a marriage, either the father or the mother files the report. The note on the certificate says to file at the district office, city hall, or town or neighborhood office of your address. Missing the deadline without a valid reason can bring a fine of up to 50,000 KRW under Article 122.

This guide does not cover questions about the child’s nationality.

What to do if both parents are foreign

Rules verified October 2026 · Immigration Act, Articles 23, 31 and 33 · Enforcement Rule of the Immigration Act, Article 72

Article 1 of the same act limits the family register to Korean nationals. A baby whose parents are both foreign follows the Immigration Act instead.

A baby born in Korea to two foreign parents

✓ Within 90 days of birth, get a status of stay (체류자격 부여) at the immigration office. Article 23

✓ At the same time, register the baby as a foreign resident (외국인등록) if the baby will stay longer than 90 days. Article 31 (3)

✓ Fee: 80,000 KRW for the status of stay. Enforcement Rule, Article 72

✓ Card: the office may choose not to issue a residence card to a child under 17. At 17, apply for the card within 90 days. Article 33

The documents depend on the status the baby will hold, which follows the family’s situation. Check the list on Hi Korea or call 1345 before you go. For the baby’s records in your own country, contact that country’s embassy.

Your baby’s registration is the same foreign resident registration. This guide covers the immigration office visit and the documents.

The 90 days count from the day of birth, not from the day you leave the hospital.

What the Constitutional Court decided in 2026

On 27 August 2026, the Constitutional Court decided case 2022Hun-Ma255. It ruled that the lack of a law on birth registration for foreign children born in Korea is unconstitutional. The steps above follow the laws in force as of October 2026.

What to say at the counter

A hospital runs in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud at the ward or the certificate desk.

출생증명서 발급해 주세요.

Chul-saeng-jeung-myeong-seo bal-geu-pae ju-se-yo.

“Please issue a birth certificate.”

Say this first.

영문 출생증명서도 받을 수 있나요?

Yeong-mun chul-saeng-jeung-myeong-seo-do ba-deul su in-na-yo?

“Can I also get an English birth certificate?”

Ask this if your embassy or family needs English.

두 부 발급해 주시겠어요?

Du bu bal-geu-pae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?

“Could you issue two copies?”

Use this if you need more than one.

아이 이름은 아직 안 정했어요.

A-i i-reu-meun a-jik an jeong-hae-sseo-yo.

“We have not chosen the baby’s name yet.”

Say this if the name box is still empty.

출생증명서에 적힌 내용을 확인하고 싶어요.

Chul-saeng-jeung-myeong-seo-e jeo-kin nae-yong-eul hwa-gin-ha-go si-peo-yo.

“I would like to check what is written on the certificate.”

Use this before you leave the hospital.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a birth certificate from South Korea?

For a baby born in a Korean hospital, ask the hospital where the baby was born. The doctor or midwife who delivered the baby issues it, and the fee cap is 3,000 KRW.

What happens if a foreigner has a baby in Korea?

The hospital issues a birth certificate. If both parents are foreign, the baby needs a status of stay within 90 days of birth and is registered at the same time. If a parent is Korean, the birth report is due within one month.

Does a baby have to be registered?

Yes, by one of two routes. A child with a Korean parent goes into the family register through a birth report within one month. A baby with two foreign parents who stays longer than 90 days is registered as a foreign resident with the status of stay.

What’s the difference between a birth certificate and a hospital certificate?

In Korea, the birth certificate (출생증명서) is the hospital’s paper. Korean nationals also get certificates from the family register, such as the basic certificate (기본증명서). A baby with two foreign parents is not entered in that register.

Hospital documents

Hospital Documents in Korea: Which Paper and What It Costs

Every hospital paper by situation, and the fee cap for all 30 papers on the ministry’s list.

Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis

Which hospital papers show your diagnosis, what each one costs, and what employers and schools accept.

Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get

The receipt, the itemized bill, which papers show your diagnosis, and how claims work in Korea and abroad.

Death Certificate in Korea: Who Gets It and What to File Next

Who can get a death certificate, what it costs, and the next step for a Korean citizen or a registered foreigner.

Medical Records in Korea: How to Get Copies or Send Them

Who can collect your records, the five-day transfer rule, scans on CD, and how long records are kept.

Birth Certificate in Korea: Hospital Paper and Next Steps

What the hospital birth certificate shows, and the next step for Korean and foreign parents.

Official sources

Every figure here comes from the pages below. Rules change, so open the page before you act on it.

· Medical Service Act (의료법) · Article 17, birth certificates · Enforcement Rule (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 11 and Form 7

· Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps

· Act on the Registration, etc. of Family Relationships (가족관계의 등록 등에 관한 법률) · Article 44, birth reports · Article 122, fines

· Immigration Act (출입국관리법) · Article 23, status of stay at birth · Article 31, registration · Article 33, cards · Enforcement Rule, Article 72, fees

· Constitutional Court (헌법재판소) · 27 August 2026 decisions, 2022헌마255

· Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · Issuance Service (English) · Hi Korea (하이코리아) · hikorea.go.kr

Information verified as of October 2026. Rules, fees and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital, the immigration office and the official source before you act, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.

This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.

October 17, 2026