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  • Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

    Korea License Exchange Countries: The List and What Changed

    Since 6 April 2026, licenses from seven more U.S. states count as recognized in Korea: Oregon, Idaho, Ohio, Kentucky, Utah, Nevada and Kansas. The same update took 11 countries off the list, including Australia and Sri Lanka, and added five new ones.

    The list decides one thing when you exchange a foreign license: whether you take the written test. It does not change which Korean license you get. Here is the full list, how U.S. states and other regions count, exactly what changed in April 2026, and which countries’ licenses Korea keeps after an exchange.

    What this guide covers
    01 What the list decides
    02 Which countries are on the list
    03 How U.S. states and other regions count
    04 What changed in April 2026
    05 Which countries’ licenses Korea keeps

    What the list decides

    List verified October 2026 · Korean National Police Agency Notice 2026-6 · Enforcement Decree, Article 52 and Annex 3

    The list is a notice from the Korean National Police Agency on countries that recognize Korean licenses (국내면허 인정국가 고시). A country goes on it when it gives a Korean license holder its own license without any test except a physical check. The Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act (도로교통법 시행령) sets the process. Article 52 asks the Minister of Foreign Affairs to survey these countries at least once a year.

    What the list changes, and what it does not
    Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, Annex 3
    On the list Not on the list
    Physical check Yes Yes
    Written test No Yes, 40 questions
    Skills test and road test No No
    Korean license you get Class 2 ordinary Class 2 ordinary

    So a country missing from the list does not block the exchange. It adds one test to your visit. Your status of stay can also remove that test, whatever your country. The FAQ at the end lists those statuses.

    Which countries are on the list

    The April 2026 notice names 133 countries and regions. KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) shows the same list in Korean on its foreign license page. The names below are in English and sorted alphabetically inside each region.

    Countries and regions on the list · 133
    Korean National Police Agency Notice 2026-6 · in effect from 6 April 2026
    Region Countries and regions
    Asia and the Pacific
    25    		 Bhutan, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong, India (listed states only), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam
    The Americas
    22    		 Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Canada (listed provinces only), Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico (Nuevo León only), Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, United States (listed states only), Uruguay
    Europe
    36    		 Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom
    Middle East
    12    		 Bahrain, Iran, Iraq (Erbil only), Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
    Africa
    38    		 Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe

    If your country is not in this table, plan for the written test. Mainland China, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Mongolia and Nepal, for example, are not on the list. The notice counts places with their own license system, such as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as separate entries.

    How U.S. states and other regions count

    For four countries the list names parts of the country, not the whole of it. Your license counts only if the state or province that issued it is named. A license from an unnamed state is treated as a license from a country not on the list.

    States and provinces on the list
    Korean National Police Agency Notice 2026-6
    Country Listed states or provinces
    United States
    29 states    		 Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
    Canada
    10 provinces    		 Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan
    India
    5 states    		 Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana
    Mexico
    1 state    		 Nuevo León

    California, New York and Illinois, for example, are not among the 29 U.S. states, and none of Canada’s territories is listed. Washington here is the state, not Washington, D.C. Georgia appears twice in this guide: once as a U.S. state, and once as the country in the Europe row.

    Four listed states still take the written test
    KoROAD’s Korean page names Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. Applicants with a license from these states take the written test, even though the states are on the list. All four joined the list in April 2026.

    If your license is from one of these four states, prepare for the written test anyway. It has 40 multiple-choice questions, and you can take it in Korean, English, Chinese or Vietnamese.

    What changed in April 2026

    Comparison verified October 2026 · Notice 2023-7 (22 November 2023) and Notice 2026-6 (6 April 2026)

    The previous notice took effect on 22 November 2023 and named 139 countries and regions. The April 2026 notice names 133. The notice itself only says that the recognized countries changed. The table below comes from comparing the two lists line by line.

    Changes between the 2023 and 2026 lists
    Korean National Police Agency Notices 2023-7 and 2026-6
    Region Taken off the list Added to the list
    United States None Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Utah (22 states became 29)
    Asia and the Pacific Australia, Sri Lanka Myanmar
    The Americas Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago None
    Europe None Estonia
    Africa Eritrea, Namibia, Zambia Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa
    Middle East None None

    The Canadian provinces, the Indian states and Nuevo León stayed the same. If you read an older guide, check which notice it uses. A guide based on the 2023 list will show Australia as recognized and will miss the seven new U.S. states.

    The new notice took effect on the day it was issued, 6 April 2026. An Australian license holder who applies now takes the written test, unless their status of stay waives it.

    Which countries’ licenses Korea keeps

    Rules verified October 2026 · Road Traffic Act, Article 84(3) · Enforcement Decree, Article 52(5)

    This is a separate list, and it answers a different question: whether you leave the test site with your foreign license. Article 84(3) of the Road Traffic Act lets KoROAD keep a foreign license only for a reason set by decree. Article 52(5) of the Enforcement Decree names two. The issuing country asks for its licenses to be collected, or that country keeps Korean licenses when it exchanges them.

    KoROAD’s page sorts countries into these groups, based on information from Korean embassies abroad. The table shows countries that many foreign residents in Korea come from.

    Whether your foreign license is kept · selected countries
    KoROAD, countries where foreign licenses are kept or not kept
    Group Countries
    Not kept
    You keep your license    		 Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India (KoROAD lists 27 states, including Maharashtra), Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
    Kept
    The issuing country asks    		 Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Czech Republic, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
    Kept
    Reciprocity    		 Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Poland, Spain, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

    The two lists do not move together. Japan is on the recognized list and its licenses are kept. China is not on the recognized list and its licenses are not kept. Check both lists for your country.

    U.S. states and Canadian regions
    KoROAD, countries where foreign licenses are kept or not kept
    Group States, provinces and territories
    Not kept Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington, D.C.
    Kept
    The issuing state asks    		 Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming · Canada: Northwest Territories, Yukon
    Kept
    Reciprocity    		 Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin · Canada: all 10 provinces

    Ohio, Kentucky, Utah and Nevada are left out of this table. KoROAD’s page names them in the kept group and also adds them to the not-kept group. If your license is from one of these states, ask at the counter before you hand it over.

    For a country not shown here, open KoROAD’s foreign license page and select 외국면허 회수 국가 · 미회수 국가 보기 (view countries where licenses are kept or not kept). If your license is kept, KoROAD returns it in three cases. You leave Korea, you cancel your Korean license, or a diplomatic mission asks for it.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use a US driver’s license in South Korea?
    Not by itself. KoROAD states that a foreign license alone does not let you drive in Korea. You can drive with an International Driving Permit for up to one year from the day you enter Korea (Road Traffic Act, Article 96). To exchange, a license from one of the 29 listed states skips the written test, except Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.
    Can I use an Australian driver’s license in Korea?
    Not by itself, for the same reason. You can still exchange it. Since 6 April 2026 Australia is not on the recognized list, so you take the written test unless your status of stay waives it. KoROAD’s page lists Australia among the countries whose licenses are not kept.
    Can I have a driver’s license in two countries?
    On the Korean side, it depends on the country that issued your license. KoROAD keeps it only for countries in the kept groups above. Whether your home country still treats its license as valid is a question for your home licensing authority.
    Is there another way to skip the written test?
    Yes. Article 52 of the Enforcement Decree waives it for certain statuses of stay, whatever your country. They are A-1, A-2, A-3, D-7, D-8, D-9, E-1, E-3, E-4, E-7 and F-4. The waiver also covers a spouse, and unmarried children under 19.

    Official sources

    The lists in this guide come from the pages below. Lists change, so open the current version before you go.

    · Korean National Police Agency, notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses (Korean) · the 2023 version is under the notice’s revision history (연혁)
    · KoROAD, foreign license exchange · Korean (both lists open from buttons on this page) · notes (Korean) · English
    · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 84 · Article 96 · Enforcement Decree Article 52
    Information verified as of October 2026. The lists change when Korea’s survey of other countries changes. Confirm your country 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.
  • Medical Records in Korea: How to Get Copies or Send Them

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

    Since 21 June 2025, a patient who moves to another hospital in Korea can ask the first hospital to send the records there. The hospital cannot refuse without a valid reason. Unless there are special circumstances, it has five days to send them.

    The right to see and copy your own records is older. This guide covers who can collect copies, including someone you name after you leave Korea. It also covers scans on a CD, what each copy costs, and how long hospitals keep records.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who can get a copy
    02 What the consent form asks
    03 How to send your records to a new hospital
    04 How to get your scans on a CD
    05 How much paper copies cost
    06 How long hospitals keep records
    07 What to say at the counter
    08 Frequently asked questions

    Who can get a copy

    Article 21 of the Medical Service Act lets you see your own records and get copies of all or part of them. A hospital cannot refuse without a valid reason. Anyone else needs papers that prove your consent or a family tie.

    Who can collect your records
    Medical Service Act, Article 21 · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 13-3
    Who What they bring
    You Your ID. The hospital must confirm that you are the patient
    Your spouse, parent, child, or spouse’s parent A copy of their own ID, a paper that proves the family tie, such as a family relation certificate, and a consent form signed by you
    A person you name A copy of their own ID, a consent form and a letter of authorization both signed by you, and a copy of your ID

    If you have already left Korea, a person you name can collect the records for you. You sign the consent form and the letter of authorization by hand. The official authorization form has a box for the date of birth or alien registration number of both of you.

    A sibling can apply as family only when none of the relatives in the second row exist. For a patient under 14, a parent completes the papers as the legal representative and adds a paper that proves it.

    What the consent form asks

    The consent form is Form 9-2 (별지 제9호의2서식) of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act. One form covers viewing, copies and transfers. Seoul National University Hospital, for example, offers it for download.

    The boxes on the consent form
    Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Form 9-2
    Korean box What to write
    환자 본인 — 성명 · 생년월일 · 연락처 · 주소 The patient’s name, date of birth, phone, email and address
    신청인 — 환자와의 관계 The applicant’s details and relationship to the patient
    동의 내용 — 01 열람 · 02 사본 발급 · 03 다른 의료기관에 대한 전송ㆍ송부 Tick what you agree to: viewing, copies, or sending to another hospital
    전송ㆍ송부 받을 의료기관 명칭 The receiving hospital, for a transfer only
    진료기간 The treatment period the records cover
    발급(전송ㆍ송부) 사유 The reason for the request
    발급(전송ㆍ송부) 범위 Which records. The form says the patient writes this box personally

    The form gives examples for the last box. They include medical charts (진료기록부), prescriptions, surgery records and test results. They also include X-rays and other images (방사선 사진), nursing records and copies of medical certificates. Name each record you need.

    How to send your records to a new hospital

    Rules verified October 2026 · Medical Service Act, Article 21-3 · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 13-5

    Article 21-3 of the Medical Service Act took effect on 21 June 2025. When you move to another hospital, you can ask for all or part of your records to be sent there. The hospital cannot refuse without a valid reason.

    Article 13-5 of the Enforcement Rule sets the time limit. The hospital sends the records within five days of the request, unless there are special circumstances. A family member or a person you name can make the request with the same papers used for copies. Tick box 03 on the consent form and write the receiving hospital’s name.

    Copies that you collect yourself can go anywhere, including to a hospital outside Korea.

    How to get your scans on a CD

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

    X-rays, CT and MRI scans count as medical records. On the consent form, list them in the last box as X-rays and other images (방사선 사진, 영상물 포함). Hospitals copy them onto film, a CD or a DVD.

    Fee caps for copies of images
    Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34)
    Format Korean name Cap
    Film 진료기록영상(필름) 5,000 KRW
    CD 진료기록영상(CD) 10,000 KRW
    DVD 진료기록영상(DVD) 20,000 KRW

    The ministry’s notice includes scans, endoscopy photos and photos taken during treatment in the CD and DVD items. Hospitals must keep X-rays and other images, together with the reading, for five years. If you need the radiologist’s reading as well, list it in the same box.

    How much paper copies cost

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

    The ministry caps the price of each page. A hospital can charge less, but not more.

    Fee caps for paper copies
    Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34)
    Item Korean name Cap
    Pages 1 to 5 진료기록사본 (1~5매) 1,000 KRW per page
    Page 6 onward 진료기록사본 (6매 이상) 100 KRW per page
    Copy of a certificate already issued 제증명서 사본 1,000 KRW

    So a 12-page copy costs at most 5,700 KRW: five pages at 1,000 KRW and seven pages at 100 KRW. The caps do not include a consultation fee.

    How long hospitals keep records

    Article 15 of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act sets how long each record must be kept.

    How long each record is kept
    Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 15
    Record Korean name Kept for
    Medical charts 진료기록부 10 years
    Surgery records 수술기록 10 years
    Test results and readings 검사내용 및 검사소견기록 5 years
    X-rays and other images, with readings 방사선 사진(영상물 포함) 및 그 소견서 5 years
    Nursing records 간호기록부 5 years
    Midwifery records 조산기록부 5 years
    Patient register 환자 명부 5 years
    Duplicates of certificates 진단서 등의 부본 3 years
    Prescriptions 처방전 2 years

    For most requests, three rows matter. Medical charts are kept for 10 years. Test results are kept for 5 years. X-rays and other images, with their readings, are also kept for 5 years.

    A hospital may extend a period once when the records are needed for ongoing care. After the period ends, ask the hospital whether the record still exists.

    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 medical records or certificate desk.

    진료기록 사본을 발급받고 싶어요.
    Jil-lyo-gi-rok sa-bo-neul bal-geup-bat-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like copies of my medical records.”
    Say this first at the desk.
    검사 기록도 포함해 주세요.
    Geom-sa gi-rok-do po-ham-hae ju-se-yo.
    “Please include the test records.”
    Say this when you list what you need.
    영상 CD도 같이 받을 수 있나요?
    Yeong-sang ssi-di-do ga-chi ba-deul su in-na-yo?
    “Can I get the scans on a CD too?”
    Use this if you need X-ray, CT or MRI images.
    다른 병원으로 진료기록을 보내 주실 수 있나요?
    Da-reun byeong-wo-neu-ro jil-lyo-gi-ro-geul bo-nae ju-sil su in-na-yo?
    “Could you send my records to another hospital?”
    Use this when you move to a new hospital.
    동의서와 위임장 양식을 주시겠어요?
    Dong-ui-seo-wa wi-im-jang yang-si-geul ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
    “Could I have the consent and authorization forms?”
    Use this when someone else will collect the records.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I get hospital records from 20 years ago?
    It depends on the record. The law sets 10 years for medical charts and surgery records, and shorter periods for others. A hospital may extend a period once for ongoing care, so ask the hospital whether older records remain.
    Can you transfer medical records from one doctor to another?
    Yes. When you move to another hospital, you can ask the first hospital to send your records there (Article 21-3). A hospital also sends records when the new hospital asks for them, with your consent (Article 21-2).
    How to request medical records internationally?
    Name a person in Korea to collect them. Sign the consent form and the letter of authorization by hand. That person brings both forms, a copy of your ID and a copy of their own ID.
    What if the clinic has closed?
    A clinic that closes must hand its records to the local public health center (보건소), unless it gets permission to keep them itself. This is Article 40-2 of the Medical Service Act. Contact the public health center for the area where the clinic was.
    Hospital documents
    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.
    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.

    Official sources

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

    · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 13-3, papers for family and agents · Article 13-5, five-day transfer · Article 15, how long records are kept
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps
    · Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · 진단서발급, consent and authorization forms
    Information verified as of October 2026. Fees and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital and the official source before you go, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Foreign Driver’s License Exchange in Korea: Rules and Steps

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

    It is easy to assume that any valid foreign driver’s license can be swapped for a Korean one. The Road Traffic Act adds a condition first. Your license must have been issued while you stayed in that country for more than 90 days. It also cannot be a temporary or learner license.

    If you meet that condition, the rest depends on two things: the country that issued your license, and your status of stay. Some people only take an eye test. Others also take a 40-question written test. Here is who can apply, which test you take, what to bring, what it costs, and what happens to your foreign license.

    What this guide covers
    01 Who can exchange a foreign license
    02 Which tests you take
    03 Which Korean license you get
    04 What documents you need
    05 How much it costs
    06 How to exchange your license, step by step
    07 What happens to your foreign license
    08 What to say at the counter

    Who can exchange a foreign license

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

    Article 84 of the Road Traffic Act (도로교통법) lets people who hold a foreign license skip part of the Korean driving test. It names four groups of people.

    You can apply if you are one of these
    ✓ A registered foreign resident (등록외국인), or a person exempt from foreign registration
    ✓ A recognized refugee (난민인정자)
    ✓ An overseas Korean with a domestic residence report (국내거소신고)
    ✓ A person with a Korean resident registration (주민등록)

    Foreign registration comes first. Article 82 says a foreign national who has not registered cannot get a Korean license at all, unless they are exempt from registration. If you arrived recently, finish your Alien Registration Card (외국인등록증) before you plan the exchange.

    The license itself must also pass three checks. Article 84 defines a foreign license as one you obtained while you stayed in the issuing country for more than 90 days. It excludes temporary and learner licenses. KoROAD (한국도로교통공단, the Korea Road Traffic Authority) adds that the license must be a full license that has not expired.

    These licenses cannot be exchanged
    KoROAD lists temporary licenses, learner licenses (learner, provisional, probationary) and driving permits or certificates (permit, certificate). A license you obtained during a stay of 90 days or less in the issuing country does not qualify either.

    KoROAD checks the 90 days with your passport stamps and your Certificate of Entry and Exit. If those do not show the stay, KoROAD accepts other proof. The list includes a certificate of enrollment or employment, a tax invoice, and a permanent resident card such as a U.S. green card. A citizenship certificate or a long-term visa of more than one year also works. Prepare this proof if your license comes from a country that is not your country of citizenship.

    Which tests you take

    Rules verified September 2026 · Enforcement Decree, Article 52 and Annex 3 · Korean National Police Agency Notice 2026-6

    The answer depends on one list. The Korean National Police Agency publishes the countries that exchange a Korean license without any test except a physical check. The official name is the notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses (국내면허 인정국가 고시). The current version took effect on 6 April 2026 and names 133 countries and regions. It replaced the version dated 22 November 2023.

    Tests by where your license is from
    Enforcement Decree of the Road Traffic Act, Annex 3 · KoROAD foreign license exchange page
    Where your license is from You take You skip
    A country or region on the list Physical check only (적성검사) Written test, skills test, road test
    A country or region not on the list Physical check + written test (학과시험) Skills test, road test

    Neither group takes a driving test on a course or on the road. The only difference is the written test, so the list decides how long your visit to the test site will be.

    Exceptions to check on the list
    01 Some countries count state by state. For the United States, Canada, India and Mexico, the list names states or provinces, not the whole country. A license from an unlisted state counts as not on the list.
    02 Four U.S. states still take the written test. KoROAD’s Korean page names Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada. They are on the list, but applicants with these licenses take the written test.
    03 New Zealand has two conditions. A restricted license holder must pass the written test. A full license holder must also pass it if the license was issued less than two years ago.
    04 Regions count as countries. The notice treats places with their own license system, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, as countries on the list.

    To check your country, open KoROAD’s foreign license page and select 국내면허 인정 국가 보기 (view recognized countries). Mainland China, Australia and Singapore, for example, are not on the April 2026 list, while Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are.

    When your status of stay removes the written test

    There is a second route to skipping the written test, and it does not depend on the list. Article 52 of the Enforcement Decree treats a license held by certain residents as if it came from a listed country. KoROAD writes these out as status codes.

    No written test for these statuses of stay
    ✓ A-1 (외교) · A-2 (공무) · A-3 (협정)
    ✓ D-7 (주재) · D-8 (기업투자) · D-9 (무역경영)
    ✓ E-1 (교수) · E-3 (연구) · E-4 (기술지도) · E-7 (특정활동)
    ✓ F-4 (재외동포)
    ✓ The spouse of a person above, and their unmarried children under 19

    If your status is on this list, the written test is waived even when your license comes from a country that is not on the list. Check the code on your Alien Registration Card, because the waiver follows the status, not the job title.

    Which Korean license you get

    An exchange gives you a Class 2 ordinary license (제2종 보통면허). KoROAD’s page states this, and Annex 3 of the Enforcement Decree lists Class 2 ordinary as the license for foreign license holders. The type of license you held at home does not change this.

    What a Class 2 ordinary license lets you drive
    Enforcement Rules of the Road Traffic Act, Annex 18
    Vehicle Limit
    Passenger car (승용자동차) No limit
    Van or minibus (승합자동차) Up to 10 seats
    Truck (화물자동차) Up to 4 tons of load
    Special vehicle (특수자동차) Up to 3.5 tons total weight, not tow or recovery trucks
    Moped (원동기장치자전거) Included

    If you drove a large bus or a heavy truck at home, the exchange does not carry that over. It stops at Class 2 ordinary.

    Five countries are different. KoROAD’s page states that licenses from Belgium, Poland, Spain, Italy and Ireland can be exchanged for the matching class. Korea has a mutual recognition agreement with each of them. Annex 3 also covers car licenses only. It excludes motorcycle and moped licenses, so a motorcycle-only license is not exchanged this way.

    What documents you need

    KoROAD lists the same core documents for every foreign resident. Bring originals, not copies.

    Documents for a foreign resident
    KoROAD foreign license exchange page, Korean version
    Document Korean name What to check
    Your foreign license 외국면허증 원본 A full license that has not expired
    Your passport 여권 원본 It must show your departure from the issuing country and your entry to Korea
    Your Alien Registration Card 외국인등록증 원본 Overseas Koreans bring the domestic residence report card (국내거소신고증)
    Three color photos 컬러사진 3매 Passport style, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, taken within six months
    Embassy certificate or apostille for your license 대사관 확인서 또는 아포스티유 Issued within one year of your application, in Korean or English
    Certificate of Entry and Exit 출입국사실증명서 It must cover your records from your year of birth to the present

    The embassy certificate or apostille is the document that proves your license is real. Get it last, close to your visit, because a certificate older than one year is not accepted.

    KoROAD accepts two kinds. The first is a certificate in Korean or English from your country’s embassy in Korea, or from the Korean embassy in your country. The second is an apostille issued in your country, if it is a member of the Apostille Convention. Some countries have no embassy in Korea and are not apostille members. For them, KoROAD allows a certificate from their embassy in a nearby country, such as Japan.

    Country notes on the certificate
    KoROAD, notes on foreign license exchange (교환발급 시 유의사항)
    Your case What KoROAD asks for
    The embassy no longer issues certificates: the British Embassy, the Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong, the Finnish Embassy, the Dutch Embassy in Korea, the Colombian Embassy in Korea, the Korean Embassy in Austria, the Russian Embassy in Korea, the Ukrainian Embassy in Korea, the Korean Embassy in China, and others An apostille for your license
    Colombia An apostille and a General Driver Report, both
    Canada, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Singapore, Colombia, and others A driving record certificate (운전경력증명서) as well
    A Chinese license Notarize both the main page and the supplementary page (정본 · 부본), and submit both
    Your license shows no issue date or expiry date A driving record certificate or similar paper from the issuing authority that shows the date
    Your apostille has a copy of your license attached The copy must show both the front and the back

    KoROAD tells applicants to ask the embassy before they go. An embassy can stop issuing certificates at any time. Keep the certificate in one piece as well. KoROAD may ask for more documents, or reject the application, if the paper shows marks from removed staples or a cut binding.

    The Certificate of Entry and Exit (출입국에 관한 사실증명) comes from Korean offices, not from your embassy. Government24 (정부24) lists immigration offices and city, county and community service centers as places where a foreign resident can request it. The fee is 2,000 KRW per copy in person.

    How much it costs

    Fees verified September 2026 · KoROAD fee notice under Road Traffic Act, Article 139

    Article 139 of the Road Traffic Act lets KoROAD set the fees for tests and license cards, with approval from the National Police Agency. The fees below are the ones KoROAD’s exchange page shows.

    Fees at the test site
    KoROAD foreign license exchange page, Korean version
    Item Fee Who pays
    Physical check at the test site (신체검사) 7,000 KRW Everyone who has the check at the site
    Written test (학과시험 응시료) 10,000 KRW Only those who take the written test
    License card, standard, Korean and English (일반) 10,000 KRW Choose one card
    License card, mobile IC, Korean and English (모바일IC) 15,000 KRW Choose one card

    With a standard card, the visit costs 17,000 KRW if you only take the physical check. It costs 27,000 KRW if you also take the written test. The 7,000 KRW physical check fee is the rate at the test site’s own check room. The cost of the certificate or apostille depends on your country and is not part of these fees.

    How to exchange your license, step by step

    The exchange is done in one visit if your documents are complete. The steps below follow KoROAD’s order: document review, physical check, written test if needed, and then the new license.

    Step 1 — Get the embassy certificate or apostille

    Do this first, because it can take the longest and may involve your home country. Check that it will still be less than one year old on the day you apply.

    Step 2 — Get your Certificate of Entry and Exit

    Request it at an immigration office or a community service center. Ask for the full record from your year of birth, because that is the range KoROAD asks for.

    Step 3 — Go to a driver’s license test site in person

    KoROAD lists driver’s license test sites (운전면허시험장) nationwide as the place to apply. You must go yourself. KoROAD does not accept an application by an agent, except for holders of an ID card issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The online visit reservation service covers renewals, new licenses and reissues only, so there is no booking step for an exchange.

    Arrive by 17:00, or by 16:00 for the written test
    KoROAD states that an exchange takes time, so the application must be made at least one hour before closing, by 17:00. If you need the written test, KoROAD recommends arriving before 16:00. The monthly evening hours at test sites do not handle foreign license exchanges.

    Step 4 — Hand in your documents for review

    The staff check your documents first. If something is missing or unclear, they can ask for more papers before the tests start.

    Step 5 — Take the physical check

    The physical check (적성검사) is mainly an eye test. For a Class 2 license, Article 45 of the Enforcement Decree requires a vision of 0.5 or better with both eyes open. Glasses and contact lenses count. KoROAD names six test sites without a check room: Mungyeong, Gangneung, Taebaek, Gwangyang, Chungju and Chuncheon. If you apply at one of them, have the check at a nearby hospital first.

    Step 6 — Take the written test, if it applies to you

    The written test (학과시험) has 40 multiple-choice questions. You can take it in Korean, English, Chinese or Vietnamese. Article 50 of the Enforcement Decree sets the pass mark for a Class 2 license at 60 out of 100. You do not need the one-hour pre-test safety course first. KoROAD’s page on that course lists foreign license holders who are exchanging among the people it does not apply to.

    Step 7 — Pay and receive your Korean license

    Pay the card fee and choose a standard or mobile IC card. If your country is one where KoROAD keeps foreign licenses, you hand yours over as part of the exchange. The next section explains when that happens.

    What happens to your foreign license

    Your foreign license is not always taken. Article 84(3) of the Road Traffic Act lets KoROAD keep it only when a reason set by presidential decree applies. Article 52(5) of the Enforcement Decree names two reasons.

    KoROAD keeps your license when
    01 The country that issued it asks for it to be collected
    02 That country itself keeps a Korean license when it exchanges one for its own

    KoROAD’s Korean page lists which countries fall into each group, under 외국면허 회수 국가 · 미회수 국가 보기 (countries where licenses are kept or not kept). The list comes from Korean embassies abroad and is separate from the list that decides your written test.

    If your license is kept, KoROAD returns it in three cases. You leave Korea and show proof such as a departure ticket. You cancel your Korean license by choice. Or a diplomatic mission asks for it. A license that nobody collects within 10 years of the exchange can be destroyed, under the disposal consent form KoROAD uses for exchanges.

    What to say at the counter

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

    외국 운전면허증 교환 발급 받으러 왔습니다.
    Oe-guk un-jeon-myeon-heo-jeung gyo-hwan bal-geup ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here to exchange my foreign driver’s license.”
    Say this first at the counter.
    학과시험 면제 대상인지 확인해 주시겠어요?
    Hak-gwa-si-heom myeon-je dae-sang-in-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
    “Could you check whether I am exempt from the written test?”
    When you hand in your documents.
    신체검사는 어디서 받나요?
    Sin-che-geom-sa-neun eo-di-seo ban-na-yo?
    “Where do I take the physical check?”
    After the document review.
    학과시험을 영어로 볼 수 있나요?
    Hak-gwa-si-heo-meul yeong-eo-ro bol su in-na-yo?
    “Can I take the written test in English?”
    Only if you take the written test. Replace 영어 (English) with 중국어 (Chinese) or 베트남어 (Vietnamese) if needed.
    외국 면허증은 돌려받을 수 있나요?
    Oe-guk myeon-heo-jeung-eun dol-lyeo-ba-deul su in-na-yo?
    “Can I get my foreign license back?”
    Before you receive your Korean license.

    Frequently asked questions

    How to exchange driver’s license in Korea?
    Register as a foreign resident first. Then go to a driver’s license test site with your foreign license, passport, Alien Registration Card and three photos. Add an embassy certificate or apostille issued within one year, and a Certificate of Entry and Exit. You take a physical check, and a written test if your country is not on the recognized list.
    Can I drive in Korea with my US driver’s license?
    Not with the license card alone. KoROAD states that a foreign license by itself does not allow you to drive in Korea. You can drive with an International Driving Permit for up to one year from the day you enter Korea (Road Traffic Act, Article 96). After that, you need a Korean license, for example through an exchange. A license from a listed U.S. state skips the written test, except Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.
    Can you take a driving test in a different language?
    For an exchange, the only test in a language is the written test. KoROAD offers it in Korean, English, Chinese and Vietnamese.
    Do I get my foreign license back?
    It depends on the country that issued it. KoROAD keeps a license only when that country asks for it, or when that country keeps Korean licenses in the same situation. A kept license is returned when you leave Korea, when you cancel your Korean license, or when a diplomatic mission asks for it.

    Official sources

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

    · KoROAD, foreign license exchange · Korean · notes (Korean) · English
    · KoROAD, pre-test safety education (Korean)
    · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Road Traffic Act Article 84 · Article 82 · Article 96 · Article 139
    · Korea Ministry of Government Legislation · Enforcement Decree Article 52 · Article 50 · Enforcement Rules Article 53 and Annex 18
    · Korean National Police Agency, notice on countries that recognize Korean licenses (Korean)
    · Government24, Certificate of Entry and Exit (Korean)
    Information verified as of September 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.
  • Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?

    Does Your Child Need to Read Korean Before First Grade?

    Both of my children started first grade able to read every Korean syllable without a final consonant, and many with one. Korean elementary schools are required to teach Hangul from the start, so your child does not have to read before school begins. In my experience, though, a child who can already read simple syllables has a much easier first semester.

    This guide sets two national curricula side by side: what preschools are asked to teach, and what first grade is told to teach. Then it explains, from a Korean parent’s side, why the gap between them matters and how to close it at home.

    What this guide covers
    01 What preschools are asked to teach
    02 What first grade teaches from the first letter
    03 Why reading simple syllables before school still helps
    04 Why a home workbook still needs you beside it
    05 How to practice reading aloud at home
    06 Frequently asked questions

    What preschools are asked to teach

    Curriculum checked October 2026 · 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum, Ministry of Education Notice No. 2024-12

    Korea has one national curriculum for children aged 3 to 5, called the Nuri Curriculum (누리과정). Kindergartens (유치원) and daycare centers (어린이집) both follow it. Its current content comes from the 2019 revision. Since June 27, 2024, it has been issued as Ministry of Education Notice No. 2024-12.

    The 2019 version describes itself as child-centered and play-centered. In its communication area, it does not list reading and writing as skills to learn. It lists showing interest in reading and writing.

    Two phrases from the 2019 Nuri Curriculum
    The official Korean wording, and what it means in English
    Korean wording In English What it tells you
    유아 중심 · 놀이 중심 Child-centered, play-centered The core idea of the 2019 revision
    읽기와 쓰기에 관심 가지기 Showing interest in reading and writing The goal is interest, not reading and writing itself

    A policy paper from the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, a government research institute, gives the reason. The wording was chosen so that preschool would connect with the elementary school curriculum.

    In practice, centers handle this differently. My older child’s daycare center spent more time on Hangul, with worksheets. My younger child’s kindergarten was play-based, and Hangul there meant drawing with letters and writing a name.

    Both were working under the same national curriculum. So children can arrive at first grade at very different levels, and that is common.

    What first grade teaches from the first letter

    Curriculum checked October 2026 · National Education Commission Notice No. 2024-3

    Korea’s current national curriculum for elementary schools is the 2022 revision. Since 2024, the National Education Commission (국가교육위원회) issues it. It tells every school to run an early program for new first graders. The program covers adjusting to school life and learning to read Hangul (한글 해득).

    Korean lessons in grades 1 and 2
    2022 Revised National Curriculum, general guidelines
    Item What the curriculum says
    Korean (국어) lessons 482 lessons across grades 1 and 2
    Length of one lesson 40 minutes, as a rule
    Basis for the count 34 school weeks a year, over two years
    Roughly per week About 7 Korean lessons (482 ÷ 68 weeks)

    The weekly figure is a simple division of the official numbers. It is not written in the curriculum, and each school sets its own timetable.

    This focus on Hangul in first grade is not new. In 2019, the Ministry of Education (교육부) announced that schools would take responsibility for teaching Hangul. Hangul lessons had grown from 27 hours under the 2009 curriculum to 68 hours under the 2015 curriculum, and 51 lessons in the first-semester textbook were set aside for them. The same announcement asked schools to avoid heavy dictation, notice-book (알림장) writing and diary writing in the first semester of first grade.

    In my children’s classes, Hangul came a few letters a week: ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ and ㄹ one week, then ㅁ, ㅂ, ㅅ and ㅇ the next. How long this stage lasts differs from school to school. Each letter was taught step by step, first how to write it and then how to read it, but no lesson covered just one letter. There was almost no homework. The learning stayed at school.

    That suits a child who already knows the letters. For a child meeting them for the first time, the only practice happens in class, and you have little at home to show you how it is going. A short review at home after school makes the next letter easier.

    Why reading simple syllables before school still helps

    My advice to foreign parents is this: before school starts, help your child read every syllable without a final consonant.

    Korean is written in syllable blocks. Some blocks end with a consonant at the bottom, called batchim (받침). 가 has no batchim. 각 has one. Syllables without batchim are the easiest place to start.

    Without batchim, and with batchim
    ✓ Without batchim · 나무 (namu, tree) · 우유 (uyu, milk) · 여우 (yeou, fox) · 아기 (agi, baby)
    ✓ With batchim · 강 (gang, river) · 물 (mul, water) · 책 (chaek, book) · 꽃 (kkot, flower)

    Why bother, if school teaches it anyway? Because the first textbook pages are written in Korean too. A page might say “Let’s write and read ㄱ” (기역을 쓰고 읽어 봅시다). A child who cannot read that line has to rely on the pictures and on the teacher’s voice.

    In my experience, attention matters as much as reading. Children who already know a letter often react with “I know that one!” and lean in. Children who know nothing yet can lose interest before the lesson gets going.

    As I see it, there is a reason this is hard. For a young child, letters start as pictures. Reading means seeing them as symbols that stand for sounds, and symbols are less fun than pictures. Children that age focus on what is fun or interesting to them.

    Both of my children are boys, and neither was very interested in letters. My older child still does not enjoy reading books. For children like mine, a head start keeps the first lessons on the interesting side.

    Why a home workbook still needs you beside it

    Before my children started school, I thought hard about signing up for a home study program (학습지). It is a workbook subscription with a set amount of work for each day.

    The catch is that a workbook does not sit with your child. A parent does. I think every parent knows this feeling: teaching your own child is hard. Children listen to their teacher, but not always to their parent.

    Making my own worksheets at home was even harder. It took time, energy and patience I did not always have. So in the end, I signed up.

    My older child did a paper program with a teacher who visited once a week, for about 20 minutes. The daily pages were still mine to manage: making sure they got done, and checking that they were done right. Honestly, one short visit a week was not enough.

    How much the visits help depends on the teacher. Some things did not sit well with me, and having someone come into our home every week felt like a burden.

    My younger child used a tablet-based program instead, for the two years before first grade. We had signed a two-year contract, and he kept it up steadily the whole time. I was told he was one of the most consistent users, and that most children on such programs do not keep going for two years.

    Either way, a parent still checks the daily work. If you cannot read Korean yourself, that part is harder still. Some of the practice in the next section works even so, such as listening for a pause at each space.

    How to practice reading aloud at home

    My older child found the start of school hard. It was my first time sending a child to school, and because of COVID, he spent about a year learning at home before first grade.

    So I bought picture books written only with syllables without batchim. Throughout the day, I sat him next to me and had him read the books aloud.

    I came across the books in videos online and bought them on the internet. Public libraries have books like these too, but each library holds different titles, so search its catalog before you go. The same books later helped my younger child learn Hangul, and I have since passed them on to a friend’s family whose child starts school next year.

    Three mistakes came up again and again. All three examples below come from one short sentence, 여우가 가요 (yeouga gayo, “The fox is going”).

    Three common reading mistakes
    All from reading 여우가 가요 aloud
    Mistake What it sounds like What helped
    Skipping the small word after a noun 여우 가요 Read it again, slowly, one syllable at a time
    Mixing up similar syllables 여우가 사요 Read it again, slowly, one syllable at a time
    Pausing in the wrong place 여우가가 요 Pause briefly at each space: 여우가 (pause) 가요

    The first mistake makes sense once you know how Korean spaces work. The 가 in 여우가 is a particle (조사), a small word that marks who is doing the action. The Korean spelling rules say each word in a sentence is written with a space between it and the next. But a particle has no independence, so it is attached to the word before it. A child reading word by word may drop it because it does not look like a word of its own.

    The same rule explains the third tip. A space marks the end of a word and its particle, so a short pause at each space keeps the sentence in the right pieces. You can check this even if you cannot read Korean: listen for a pause wherever you see a space.

    My younger child picked all this up faster. People often say second children do, and I felt that was true for us.

    Frequently asked questions

    Do daycare centers and kindergartens in Korea follow the same curriculum?
    For children aged 3 to 5, yes. Both follow the Nuri Curriculum. How each center teaches day to day still differs.
    How long is a class in a Korean elementary school?
    40 minutes, as a rule. The national curriculum lets schools adjust it for things like the season or the students’ development.
    What is batchim in Korean?
    Batchim (받침) is a consonant written at the bottom of a syllable block, as in 각. Syllables without it, such as 가, are easier for beginners to read.
    Will my child get Korean homework in first grade?
    In my children’s classes, there was almost none for Hangul. The Ministry of Education’s 2019 Hangul policy also asks schools to avoid heavy dictation, notice-book writing and diary writing in the first semester. Practice still depends on the school and the teacher, so ask at the start of the year.

    Official sources

    The curriculum and policy figures here come from the pages below. Curricula are revised every few years, so open the page before you rely on it.

    · Ministry of Education (교육부) · 2022 Revised National Curriculum announcement · General guidelines, Notice No. 2022-33
    · National Education Commission (국가교육위원회) · current general guidelines, Notice No. 2024-3 · National Curriculum Information Center
    · Ministry of Education (교육부) · 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum announcement
    · Ministry of Education (교육부) · Hangul education policy announcement, October 2019
    · Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (육아정책연구소) · policy forum paper on the 2019 Nuri Curriculum
    · National Institute of Korean Language (국립국어원) · Korean spelling rules (한글 맞춤법), Article 2
    Information verified as of October 2026. Curricula are revised every few years, and each school sets its own timetable. Ask your child’s school how Hangul is taught in their class.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Renting in Korea as a Foreign Resident, Stage by Stage

    Renting in Korea as a Foreign Resident, Stage by Stage

    A home lease in Korea runs through five stages, and the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) sets a rule or a deadline at each one. The same rules cover foreign residents. One article of the Immigration Act connects them to you.

    This page is the map. It puts every stage on one table, explains the foreign-resident link once, and sends you to the guide that covers each stage in full. Read the stage you are in now, then come back for the next.

    What this guide covers
    01 What happens at each stage of a lease
    02 How the rules apply to a foreign resident
    03 What to check before and at signing
    04 What to do after you move in
    05 What changes when the lease comes up for renewal
    06 What to do when the deposit does not come back
    07 Where to get help with a lease problem
    08 Frequently asked questions

    What happens at each stage of a lease

    Deadlines and fees verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act and the rules under it

    Each row is one stage. The numbers are the ones you will need at that stage, and each guide shows where they come from.

    A Korean home lease, stage by stage
    Housing Lease Protection Act · Act on Report on Real Estate Transactions · tax collection acts
    Stage What the law sets Numbers to know Full guide
    Before signing The landlord must present fixed-date and tax records, or consent to your looking them up After signing, tax records open without consent until the lease starts, if the deposit is over 10 million KRW Before you sign
    Signing The standard contract is used first, unless both sides agree otherwise Translated into English, Chinese and Vietnamese on 10 March 2026 The standard contract in English
    Moving in Handover plus registration protects you from the next day. A fixed date puts you ahead of later creditors Change-of-residence report within 15 days. Fixed date 600 KRW, or 500 KRW online. Lease report within 30 days of the contract date if the deposit is over 60 million KRW or rent over 300,000 KRW Fixed date and move-in
    Renewal Silent renewal for two years, or one renewal request that the landlord can refuse only for listed reasons Notice window six to two months before the end. Each increase capped at 5%, and no more than once a year Renewal and rent increases
    End The lease continues until the deposit is repaid. A lease registration order keeps your rights if you move Registration order stamp 2,000 KRW. Mediation finished within 60 days, extendable by 30 Deposit not returned

    The moving-in row has the most deadlines, and they run on different clocks. The change-of-residence report counts from the day you move in. The lease report counts from the day the contract was made.

    How the rules apply to a foreign resident

    Rule verified September 2026 · Immigration Act, Article 88-2

    The Housing Lease Protection Act and the standard contract are written in terms of resident registration (주민등록) and the move-in report (전입신고). Article 88-2 of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법) translates them for you.

    Article 88-2 in two lines
    ✓ Paragraph (2): registration as a foreign national (외국인등록) and the change-of-residence report (체류지 변경신고) take the place of resident registration and the move-in report
    ✓ Paragraph (1): where a procedure asks for a resident registration card or certificate, your ARC or a certificate of foreign registration (외국인등록 사실증명) stands in

    So the report you file when you move is the step that starts your protection as a tenant. How to file it, and the 15-day deadline, are in How to Report a Change of Address or ARC Details in Korea. Overseas Koreans with a domestic residence report follow the same path through Article 10 (4) of their own Act.

    What to check before and at signing

    Before signing, three records matter: the register certificate, the landlord’s unpaid taxes, and earlier fixed dates on the house. Since April 2023 the landlord must present the last two, or consent to your looking them up. Before You Sign a Lease in Korea shows where each record comes from and what to hand in.

    At signing, the Ministry of Justice’s standard contract now comes in English, Chinese and Vietnamese, each paired line by line with the Korean. Korean Standard Lease Contract in English walks through the first page, the 13 articles, the special terms and both annexes.

    What to do after you move in

    Three records protect a deposit: living in the home, the change-of-residence report, and a fixed date on the contract. The first two make the lease count against third parties from the next day. The fixed date decides your place in line if the home is sold. Fixed Date in Korea for Foreign Tenants covers where to get it and what the office checks. It also shows how the lease report can stand in for it.

    What changes when the lease comes up for renewal

    If neither side gives notice in time, the lease renews on the same terms for two years. If you ask for a renewal, the landlord can refuse only on nine listed grounds, and any increase stays within 5%. Lease Renewal in Korea also covers the separate cap on turning a deposit into monthly rent, which moves with the Bank of Korea base rate.

    What to do when the deposit does not come back

    The lease is treated as continuing until the deposit is repaid. If you must move before that, a lease registration order keeps the rights you already had. Mediation and a court action deal with the money itself. What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit covers all three. It also covers the part of a small deposit that is paid first in an auction.

    That last guide also notes a 2026 change. Gwangju Metropolitan City became part of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on 1 July 2026. A special act sets which rules apply there until each law is amended.

    Where to get help with a lease problem

    Housing Lease Dispute Conciliation Committees (주택임대차분쟁조정위원회) hear lease disputes for a fee that starts at 10,000 KRW, as listed on the MyHome portal. For advice before it reaches that point, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation answers on 132. Free Legal Advice in Korea sets 132 next to two other free routes and shows who each is for.

    For questions about your stay, including the change-of-residence report, the Immigration Contact Center is on 1345.

    Frequently asked questions

    How does Korean rent work?
    The standard contract offers three types: a deposit only (전세), monthly rent only (월세), or both (보증금 있는 월세). The deposit is paid in stages and returned when you hand back the home. A lease under two years is treated as two years, unless the tenant chooses the shorter term.
    Can foreigners rent in South Korea?
    The lease rules are written with foreign tenants in view. Article 88-2 of the Immigration Act lets your registration and change-of-residence report stand in for a Korean resident’s steps. The fixed-date rule accepts an alien registration card as ID, and the lease report asks for a foreign registration number.
    What are the rights of tenants in South Korea?
    A two-year minimum term, one renewal request, and a 5% cap on increases. With registration, possession and a fixed date, you are repaid ahead of later creditors. A small deposit is partly paid first in an auction. Any term that breaks the Act to the tenant’s disadvantage is void.
    Where can I get free help with a lease problem?
    The Korea Legal Aid Corporation answers on 132. Dispute conciliation committees handle lease disputes for a small fee, and may waive it for a tenant who qualifies for the small-deposit priority. For questions about your stay, call 1345.
    Renting a home in Korea
    Renting in Korea as a Foreign Resident, Stage by Stage
    The whole cluster on one page: each stage of a lease, its deadline, and how the rules apply to foreign residents.
    Korean Standard Lease Contract in English: What Each Part Says
    The official translation in three languages, and what each page, article and annex asks you to fill in.
    Before You Sign a Lease in Korea: What the Landlord Must Show
    The records the landlord must present, the landlord’s unpaid taxes, and how to read the register certificate.
    Fixed Date in Korea for Foreign Tenants: Protect Your Deposit
    Why your change-of-residence report is the move-in report, and where to get a fixed date for 600 KRW or less.
    Lease Renewal in Korea: The 2-Year Request and the 5% Cap
    When a lease renews on its own, the one renewal request you get, and how far rent can rise.
    What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit
    The lease registration order, dispute mediation, and the part of a small deposit the law pays first.

    Official sources

    Every rule on this page comes from the sources below. Each guide linked above lists the exact articles.

    · Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) · full text
    · Immigration Act (출입국관리법) · Article 88-2
    · Act on the Immigration and Legal Status of Overseas Koreans · Article 10
    · MyHome portal, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport · mediation fees
    Information verified as of September 2026. Laws, fees and deadlines are amended from time to time. Confirm the details with the official source before you act. For questions about your stay, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get

    Medical Insurance Claim in Korea: Which Papers to Get

    Most medical insurance claims in Korea use three papers. The first is the medical bill receipt (진료비 계산서·영수증), and the second is the itemized bill (진료비 세부산정내역). The third is a paper that shows your diagnosis, if the insurer asks for one. The receipt has no box for the diagnosis, so that third paper comes from the doctor.

    If you are covered by National Health Insurance, the hospital must give you the itemized bill when you ask. This guide shows what each paper proves and which boxes on the receipt matter. It then covers claims to Korean private insurance and to an insurer abroad.

    What this guide covers
    01 Which paper proves what
    02 Which three boxes to check on the receipt
    03 How to get an itemized bill
    04 How to get the papers in English
    05 How to claim Korean private medical insurance
    06 How to claim from an insurer abroad
    07 What to say at the counter
    08 Frequently asked questions

    Which paper proves what

    Each paper answers one question for an insurer: what was charged, what it was for, or what illness you had. Only some of them carry the diagnosis.

    Hospital papers for an insurance claim
    Rules on the Standards for National Health Insurance Care Benefits, Article 7 · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Articles 9 and 12
    Paper Korean name What it proves Diagnosis on it
    Medical bill receipt 진료비 계산서·영수증 What was charged and what you paid No
    Itemized bill 진료비 세부산정내역 Each item, with its unit price, number of times and total No
    Prescription 처방전 The medicines the doctor prescribed A disease code, unless you asked the doctor to leave it out
    Medical certificate 진단서 The diagnosis, treatment and dates, written by the doctor Yes
    Outpatient visit confirmation 통원확인서 The dates you visited No
    Admission and discharge confirmation 입퇴원확인서 The dates of your hospital stay No

    When an insurer asks for proof of the illness, the receipt and the itemized bill are not enough. Send a medical certificate, or ask the insurer whether the disease code on a prescription will do. The doctor must give you two copies of a prescription, so keep one.

    Related guide
    Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis
    Which hospital papers show your diagnosis, what each one costs, and what to ask the doctor.

    Ask for every paper at one visit to the desk. If you need two copies of the same certificate, the fee cap for the second copy is 1,000 KRW.

    Which three boxes to check on the receipt

    Form verified October 2026 · Rules on the Standards for National Health Insurance Care Benefits, Article 7 and Form 6

    For National Health Insurance care, hospitals issue a receipt on a standard form. Smaller clinics may use a short version of it. The form has many boxes, and these three show what you paid and why.

    Three boxes on the medical bill receipt
    Form 6, 진료비 계산서·영수증
    Box Korean label What it shows
    ① Your share of covered care 본인부담금 The part of covered care that you pay. The note on the form gives 30% to 60% for outpatient care, by type of hospital, and 20% for a hospital stay
    ④ Not covered 비급여 Care that National Health Insurance does not cover. You pay all of it
    ⑪ Amount paid 납부한 금액 What you actually paid, split into card, cash receipt and cash

    The receipt shows totals by category, such as tests or medicines. It does not list each test or the diagnosis, so add the itemized bill and, if needed, a medical certificate.

    How to get an itemized bill

    Article 7 (3) of the same rules says that a hospital must provide the itemized bill when an insured patient asks for it. The bill lists each covered and non-covered item with its unit price, the number of times, the period and the total. For covered items, it also separates your share from the share paid by the National Health Insurance Service.

    The back of the receipt says the same thing: you can ask the hospital for the details of the receipt. Ask at the desk where you paid. At Seoul National University Hospital, for example, outpatients ask at a payment desk or the certificate desk, and inpatients ask at the inpatient office.

    This duty covers people insured by National Health Insurance. If you are not covered, ask the hospital whether it issues one.

    How to get the papers in English

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

    The English medical certificate (영문 진단서) is on the ministry’s fee list. Its cap is 20,000 KRW, the same as the Korean one. Ask the doctor for it during the consultation.

    The ministry defines it as the official medical certificate form written in English. The instructions on that form say that a disease name written in English is written with the Korean name beside it.

    For receipts and itemized bills in English, ask the hospital. Seoul National University Hospital, for example, issues receipts and itemized bills in English at its international payment desk.

    How to claim Korean private medical insurance

    Rules verified October 2026 · Insurance Business Act, Article 102-6 · Financial Services Commission, 23 October 2025

    Korean private medical insurance that pays back your actual costs is called 실손의료보험 (sil-son insurance). You can ask the hospital to send your claim papers straight to your insurer. Article 102-6 of the Insurance Business Act says the hospital must do so unless it has a valid reason.

    This started on 25 October 2024 at hospitals and public health centers. It reached clinics and pharmacies on 25 October 2025. The service runs through Silson24 (실손24), an app and website at silson24.or.kr, and it sends three papers.

    Papers Silson24 sends to your insurer
    ✓ The medical bill receipt (진료비 계산서·영수증)
    ✓ The itemized bill (진료비 세부산정내역서)
    ✓ The prescription (처방전)
    A medical certificate is not on the list
    If your insurer asks for a medical certificate, get it from the doctor separately.

    Not every hospital is linked to Silson24 yet. The app has a search for linked hospitals and a button to ask a hospital to join. On timing, Article 662 of the Commercial Act states that the right to claim insurance money expires if it is not used for three years.

    How to claim from an insurer abroad

    An insurer outside Korea, including a travel insurer, sets its own list of papers. Get that list first. Then match each item to its Korean name below, and show the Korean name at the desk.

    Matching an insurer’s list to Korean papers
    Korean names as written on the official forms and in the ministry’s fee notice
    On your insurer’s list Korean paper Where to ask
    Receipt, invoice, proof of payment 진료비 계산서·영수증 Payment desk
    Itemized bill, detailed statement of charges 진료비 세부산정내역 Payment desk or certificate desk
    Medical certificate, medical report, diagnosis 진단서 The doctor, during the consultation
    Prescription 처방전 The doctor
    Proof of outpatient visits 통원확인서 Hospital office
    Proof of hospital stay 입퇴원확인서 Hospital office

    If the list asks for English, ask for the English versions at the same visit. The lines below cover each request.

    What to say at the counter

    A hospital runs in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud. The fourth line is for the doctor, and the others are for the desk.

    보험 청구할 서류가 필요해요.
    Bo-heom cheong-gu-hal seo-ryu-ga pi-ryo-hae-yo.
    “I need papers for an insurance claim.”
    Say this first at the payment desk.
    진료비 세부내역서도 발급해 주세요.
    Jil-lyo-bi se-bu-nae-yeok-seo-do bal-geu-pae ju-se-yo.
    “Please issue an itemized bill too.”
    Say this next, after you ask for the receipt.
    영문으로도 발급되나요?
    Yeong-mu-neu-ro-do bal-geup-doe-na-yo?
    “Can you issue it in English?”
    Ask this if your insurer needs English papers.
    보험사에 낼 영문 진단서를 써 주실 수 있나요?
    Bo-heom-sa-e nael yeong-mun jin-dan-seo-reul sseo ju-sil su in-na-yo?
    “Could you write an English medical certificate for my insurer?”
    Ask the doctor during the consultation.
    입퇴원확인서도 발급해 주세요.
    Ip-toe-won-hwa-gin-seo-do bal-geu-pae ju-se-yo.
    “Please issue an admission and discharge confirmation too.”
    Use this after a hospital stay.

    Frequently asked questions

    Do hospitals have to give you an itemized bill if requested?
    Yes, if you are covered by National Health Insurance. Article 7 (3) of the Rules on the Standards for National Health Insurance Care Benefits says the hospital must provide it when you ask.
    Where can I get an itemized hospital bill?
    At the desk where you paid, or at the hospital’s certificate desk. A hospital linked to Silson24 can also send it to a Korean insurer for you.
    What documents are needed for a travel insurance claim?
    Your insurer decides, so ask it for the list. Then match each item with the table in the section on insurers abroad. A paper that shows the diagnosis comes from the doctor, not from the payment desk.
    How to ask for a receipt in Korean?
    Say 영수증 주세요 (yeong-su-jeung ju-se-yo), which means “Please give me the receipt.” For the itemized bill, use the second line in the counter section above.
    Hospital documents
    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.
    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.

    Official sources

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

    · Rules on the Standards for National Health Insurance Care Benefits (국민건강보험 요양급여의 기준에 관한 규칙) · Article 7 and Form 6, receipts and itemized bills
    · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 12, prescriptions · Article 9 and Form 5-2, medical certificates
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps
    · Insurance Business Act (보험업법) · Article 102-6, sending claim papers · Commercial Act (상법) · Article 662, time limit
    · Financial Services Commission (금융위원회) · 실손보험 청구 전산화 확대 시행, 23 October 2025
    · Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · 진단서발급, receipts and itemized bills · Issuance Service (English)
    Information verified as of October 2026. Claim rules and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital, your insurer and the official source before you claim, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit

    What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit

    Since July 2023, a court can register your lease on the property before the landlord has even received the court’s decision. That registration is the core of the lease registration order (임차권등기명령). The Housing Lease Protection Act gives this tool to a tenant whose lease has ended without the deposit coming back.

    The order lets you move out without losing the protection you built up. This guide covers how the order works and how to apply for it. It also covers the mediation committees that settle deposit disputes, and the part of a small deposit the law pays out first. It also shows where a foreign resident’s papers differ from the Korean forms.

    What this guide covers
    01 What the law already gives you when the lease ends
    02 How a lease registration order works
    03 How to apply for the order, step by step
    04 How dispute mediation works
    05 How much of a small deposit is paid first
    06 What to say at the counter
    07 Frequently asked questions

    What the law already gives you when the lease ends

    Two rules protect you on the day the lease ends. Article 4 (2) of the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) says the lease is treated as continuing until you get the deposit back. Article 9 of the standard contract says the landlord returns the deposit at the same time you hand back the home.

    The catch is what keeps your protection alive. Protection against third parties rests on living in the home and keeping your registration there (Article 3 (1)). For a foreign resident, that registration is the change-of-residence report (체류지 변경신고), under Article 88-2 (2) of the Immigration Act. Moving out, or reporting a new address, can end that protection unless the lease is registered first.

    Three routes when the deposit does not come back
    Housing Lease Protection Act
    Route What it does Rule
    Lease registration order Registers the lease so you keep your rights after moving out Article 3-3
    Dispute mediation A committee proposes a settlement. If both accept with an enforcement clause, it can be enforced like a judgment Articles 14 to 27
    Court action A suit for the deposit, with small-claims procedure rules applied Article 13

    The routes are not either-or. A registration order protects your position while mediation or a lawsuit deals with the money.

    How a lease registration order works

    Rules verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 3-3 · Supreme Court rule on lease registration orders

    Article 3-3 (1) sets the condition: the lease has ended and the deposit has not been returned. You apply to the district court, branch court, or city or county court for the area where the home is. The Supreme Court rule on the procedure sets the stamp duty at 2,000 KRW (Article 2 (3)).

    What the registration does
    ✓ Keeps what you had. Protection against third parties and repayment priority you already held stay in place, even after you move out or change your registration (Article 3-3 (5))
    ✓ Or gives it to you. If you did not hold them before, you gain them when the registration is complete
    ✓ Takes effect early. For a housing lease, the court may register it before the landlord receives the decision. The order takes effect on service or registration (rule, Articles 4 and 5, since 19 July 2023)
    ✓ Blocks later small-deposit priority. A tenant who rents the same space after the registration cannot use the small-deposit priority (Article 3-3 (6))
    ✓ Costs go to the landlord. You can claim the costs of the application and registration from the landlord (Article 3-3 (8))

    The first line is the reason to wait. Until the registration is complete, keep living there and keep your registration at that address.

    How to apply for the order, step by step

    The Supreme Court rule lists what goes into the application and what goes with it. The steps below follow that list.

    Step 1 — Get a register certificate for the home

    The rule asks for the register certificate (등기사항증명서) of a home registered in the landlord’s name. Anyone can get one from a registry office or the Internet Registry Office.

    Step 2 — Gather the lease contract and the fixed-date stamp

    Attach the lease contract. If you already hold repayment priority, the contract must carry the fixed date, or be a notarized deed.

    Step 3 — Prove your move-in and registration dates

    The application must state the date you started living there and the date your registration was complete, with documents that show them. The Korean form speaks of resident registration. Article 88-2 (1) of the Immigration Act fills that gap. Your ARC or a certificate of foreign registration (외국인등록 사실증명) stands in where a resident registration certificate is required.

    Step 4 — Complete the application

    It names you, the landlord and the home, with a floor plan if you rented only part of it. It also states the unpaid deposit and rent, and the reason. The reason covers the contract, its terms, why it ended, and your move-in, registration and fixed-date dates. You or your agent signs it.

    Step 5 — File at the court for the home’s area, with the 2,000 KRW stamp

    The court decides by written decision and serves it on both sides. If it refuses, you can appeal (Article 3-3 (4)).

    Step 6 — Move only after the registration is complete

    The court asks the registry office to enter the lease, and the registry reports back to the court when the entry is done. The register certificate will then show the lease registration.

    How dispute mediation works

    Fees verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Articles 21 to 27 · Decree Schedule 2 via MyHome portal

    Housing Lease Dispute Conciliation Committees (주택임대차분쟁조정위원회) sit at branches of three public bodies. They are the Korea Legal Aid Corporation, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation and the Korea Real Estate Board. Provinces and metropolitan cities may set up their own. You apply to the committee for the area where the home is (Article 21 (1)).

    Mediation in one table
    Housing Lease Protection Act · Enforcement Decree
    Point Rule
    What it covers Rent and deposit increases or cuts, the lease term, return of the deposit or the home, repairs, and more listed in Enforcement Decree Article 22
    How to apply In writing, including electronic documents, or orally to the committee staff (Decree Article 30)
    Time limit 60 days from the application. The committee may extend it by up to 30 days (Article 23)
    If the landlord will not take part The application is dismissed if the respondent says it will not join (Article 21 (3) 5)
    Accepting the proposal Each side has 14 days to accept in writing. Silence counts as refusal (Article 26 (2))
    Enforcement If both agree to allow compulsory enforcement, the settlement can be enforced like a judgment (Articles 26 (4) and 27)
    Application fees
    Enforcement Decree Schedule 2 · amount at stake in the mediation
    Amount at stake Fee
    Under 100 million KRW 10,000 KRW
    100 million to under 300 million KRW 20,000 KRW
    300 million to under 500 million KRW 30,000 KRW
    500 million to under 1 billion KRW 50,000 KRW
    1 billion KRW or more 100,000 KRW
    Amount cannot be worked out 10,000 KRW

    The committee may waive the fee for a tenant who qualifies for the small-deposit priority below (Decree Article 33 (2) 1). If you withdraw before the committee meets, half the fee comes back.

    How much of a small deposit is paid first

    Amounts verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 8 · Enforcement Decree, Articles 10 and 11

    Article 8 lets a tenant with a small deposit take part of it ahead of mortgage holders when the home is auctioned. Two conditions apply. The deposit must be at or under the limit for the area, and you must have moved in and registered before the auction was registered.

    Small-deposit priority by area
    Enforcement Decree Articles 10 and 11 · amended 21 February 2023
    Area Deposit must be at or under Amount paid first, up to
    Seoul 165,000,000 KRW 55,000,000 KRW
    Overcrowding control zones of the capital region outside Seoul, Sejong, Yongin, Hwaseong, Gimpo 145,000,000 KRW 48,000,000 KRW
    Metropolitan cities (outside those zones and their counties), Ansan, Gwangju in Gyeonggi-do, Paju, Icheon, Pyeongtaek 85,000,000 KRW 28,000,000 KRW
    Everywhere else 75,000,000 KRW 25,000,000 KRW

    The amount paid first cannot exceed half the value of the home. If several small-deposit tenants share one house, the half is split among them in proportion (Decree Article 10 (2) and (3)).

    One area changed status in 2026. Gwangju Metropolitan City became part of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City on 1 July 2026. Article 11 (10) of the Special Act covers laws that treat metropolitan cities and provinces differently. Until each such law is amended, the former Gwangju districts follow the metropolitan-city rules. The former South Jeolla cities and counties follow the province rules.

    What to say at the counter

    Court and committee counters run in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud.

    임차권등기명령 신청하러 왔습니다.
    Im-cha-gwon-deung-gi-myeong-nyeong sin-cheong-ha-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here to apply for a lease registration order.”
    Say this at the civil filing counter of the court.
    보증금을 반환받지 못했습니다.
    Bo-jeung-geu-meul ban-hwan-bat-ji mo-tae-sseum-ni-da.
    “I have not received my deposit back.”
    Say this next, to explain why you are there.
    주택임대차 분쟁조정 신청하러 왔습니다.
    Ju-taek-im-dae-cha bun-jaeng-jo-jeong sin-cheong-ha-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here to apply for housing lease dispute mediation.”
    Say this at the committee office.
    수수료 면제 대상인지 확인해 주시겠어요?
    Su-su-ryo myeon-je dae-sang-in-ji hwa-gin-hae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
    “Could you check whether I qualify for a fee waiver?”
    Ask this if your deposit is within the small-deposit limits.
    외국인등록 사실증명 발급해 주세요.
    Oe-gu-gin-deung-nok sa-sil-jeung-myeong bal-geu-pae ju-se-yo.
    “Please issue a certificate of foreign registration.”
    Ask this when you need proof of your registration date.

    Frequently asked questions

    What can I do if my landlord doesn’t return my deposit?
    The Housing Lease Protection Act gives three routes. They are a lease registration order to protect your position, mediation by a dispute conciliation committee, and a court action. The first protects your rights; the other two deal with the money. They can run side by side.
    How long does a landlord have to pay back a deposit?
    The standard contract ties the deposit to the handover. Article 9 says the landlord returns it at the same time you hand back the home. Until then, Article 4 (2) of the Act treats the lease as continuing.
    Can I move out before I get my deposit back?
    Your protection rests on living there and keeping your registration. Once a lease registration order is registered, Article 3-3 (5) keeps the rights you already had, even after you move. Moving before that point risks them.
    Do I need a lawyer to apply for a lease registration order?
    The Supreme Court rule lets the tenant sign the application, or an agent. The stamp duty is 2,000 KRW. For free legal advice, the Korea Legal Aid Corporation runs the 132 line.
    Can a foreign tenant get the small-deposit priority?
    The priority requires the Article 3 (1) conditions: living in the home and completing registration before the auction is registered. For a foreign resident, Article 88-2 (2) of the Immigration Act makes the change-of-residence report count as that registration.
    Renting a home in Korea
    Renting in Korea as a Foreign Resident, Stage by Stage
    The whole cluster on one page: each stage of a lease, its deadline, and how the rules apply to foreign residents.
    Korean Standard Lease Contract in English: What Each Part Says
    The official translation in three languages, and what each page, article and annex asks you to fill in.
    Before You Sign a Lease in Korea: What the Landlord Must Show
    The records the landlord must present, the landlord’s unpaid taxes, and how to read the register certificate.
    Fixed Date in Korea for Foreign Tenants: Protect Your Deposit
    Why your change-of-residence report is the move-in report, and where to get a fixed date for 600 KRW or less.
    Lease Renewal in Korea: The 2-Year Request and the 5% Cap
    When a lease renews on its own, the one renewal request you get, and how far rent can rise.
    What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit
    The lease registration order, dispute mediation, and the part of a small deposit the law pays first.

    Official sources

    Every rule here comes from the pages below. Laws and fees change, so open the page before you act on it.

    · Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) · Article 3-3 · Article 4 · Article 8 · Article 13 · Article 21 · Article 26 · Article 27
    · Enforcement Decree of the Housing Lease Protection Act · Article 10 · Article 11 · Article 33
    · Supreme Court rule on lease registration orders (임차권등기명령 절차에 관한 규칙) · full text
    · Immigration Act (출입국관리법) · Article 88-2
    · Special Act on the Establishment of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City (전남광주통합특별시 설치를 위한 특별법) · Article 11
    · MyHome portal, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (마이홈포털) · mediation fees
    Information verified as of September 2026. Laws, fees and area rules are amended from time to time. Confirm the details with the court or committee before you apply. For questions about your stay, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis

    Medical Certificate in Korea: Which Paper Has the Diagnosis

    In English, “medical certificate” can mean two different papers in Korea. One is the health certificate (보건증) for food workers. The other is the medical certificate (진단서) that a doctor writes after examining you. When you miss work or school because you are ill, you need the second one, or one of the smaller papers below.

    A hospital can issue several papers after a visit. Some show your diagnosis, and some show only dates. This guide sorts them, gives the fee caps set by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and shows what a company and a school accept.

    What this guide covers
    01 Which paper shows your diagnosis
    02 What a medical certificate must include
    03 How to get one, step by step
    04 How much each paper costs
    05 What your employer may ask for
    06 What your child’s school accepts
    07 What to say at the counter
    08 Frequently asked questions

    Which paper shows your diagnosis

    The papers fall into two groups. A doctor writes the first group. The hospital office issues the second group from its records, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare defines each one by what it records.

    Papers a hospital issues after a visit
    Medical Service Act Article 17 · Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34
    Paper Korean name Shows the diagnosis Issued by
    Medical certificate 진단서 Yes. The law requires the disease name and code The doctor who examined you
    Doctor’s opinion letter 소견서 Only if the doctor includes it The doctor
    Treatment confirmation 진료확인서 No. Personal details and a specific treatment, such as a test or medicine Hospital office
    Outpatient visit confirmation 통원확인서 No. Personal details and visit dates Hospital office
    Admission and discharge confirmation 입퇴원확인서 No. Personal details and hospital stay dates Hospital office

    A confirmation proves that you came on those dates. It does not say what illness you had. If the paper has to show the illness, ask the doctor for a medical certificate, or for an opinion letter that states the diagnosis.

    What a medical certificate must include

    The content of a medical certificate is fixed by law. Article 9 of the Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act sets the items, and Form 5-2 (별지 제5호의2서식) sets the layout. These are the boxes on that form.

    The boxes on the medical certificate form
    Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act, Article 9 and Form 5-2
    Korean box What it records
    환자의 성명 · 주민등록번호 · 주소 Your name, registration number and address
    병명 — 임상적 추정 / 최종 진단 The disease name, marked as a clinical estimate or a final diagnosis, with main and secondary conditions
    질병분류기호 The disease code from the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases
    발병 연월일 · 진단 연월일 The date the illness started and the date of diagnosis
    치료 내용 및 향후 치료에 대한 소견 The treatment given and the doctor’s opinion on further treatment
    입원 · 퇴원 연월일 Hospital admission and discharge dates, if any
    용도 What the certificate is for
    비고 Remarks
    의료기관 명칭 · 면허번호 · 성명 The hospital, the doctor’s license number, name and signature

    The instructions printed on the form add two points. The doctor checks your identity against an official ID, and the list includes a valid passport and an Alien Registration Card. The disease name is written in Korean. If the doctor writes it in English, the Korean name goes beside it.

    How to get one, step by step

    Article 17 of the Medical Service Act lets only the doctor who examined you write your medical certificate. The same article says the doctor cannot refuse your request without a valid reason.

    Step 1 — Ask the doctor during your visit

    Make the request in the consultation room. Seoul National University Hospital, for example, asks patients to request a certificate from the doctor during the consultation. A request after the visit can mean another consultation.

    Step 2 — Say what it is for

    The form has a box for its purpose. Tell the doctor where you will hand it in, such as your company or your child’s school. If the paper must show the illness or the treatment period, say so now.

    Step 3 — Show your ID

    Bring your passport or your Alien Registration Card. For a child, the form also allows other papers, such as a student ID.

    Step 4 — Pay at the desk

    Collect the certificate when you pay after the consultation. The fee for the paper is separate from the consultation fee.

    Step 5 — Ask for every copy at once

    If both a company and a school need one, ask for two at the same visit. The second copy is capped at 1,000 KRW.

    How much each paper costs

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

    The Ministry of Health and Welfare sets a maximum fee for each certificate. A hospital chooses its own fee between zero and that cap.

    Fee caps for certificates
    Standard for certificate fees at medical institutions (Ministry of Health and Welfare Notice No. 2021-34)
    Paper Korean name Cap
    Medical certificate 진단서 20,000 KRW
    English medical certificate · insurance claim guide (coming soon) 영문 진단서 20,000 KRW
    Doctor’s opinion letter 소견서 Not on the list. Each hospital sets its own fee
    Treatment confirmation 진료확인서 3,000 KRW
    Outpatient visit confirmation 통원확인서 3,000 KRW
    Admission and discharge confirmation 입퇴원확인서 3,000 KRW
    Extra copy of the same certificate 제증명서 사본 1,000 KRW

    The caps do not include the consultation fee. The notice also requires every hospital to post its certificate fees where patients can see them. That includes the fee it sets for an opinion letter, so ask at the desk before the doctor writes one.

    What your employer may ask for

    Rules verified October 2026 · Ministry of Employment and Labor, 2026 model work rules, Article 41

    Sick leave and the papers it needs come from your company’s work rules (취업규칙). Under Article 93 of the Labor Standards Act, a company with 10 or more regular workers must write and report these rules.

    The Ministry of Employment and Labor publishes model work rules (표준 취업규칙) that companies can follow. In the 2026 model, Article 41 covers sick leave:

    Sick leave in the 2026 model work rules
    ✓ Up to 60 days a year for an illness or injury that is not work-related
    ✓ Unpaid
    ✓ A medical certificate from the examining doctor for an absence of one week or more in a row

    The ministry marks this article as optional and notes that each workplace can set it differently. Your own company’s rules decide the number of days and the paper. Ask the person in charge of personnel which paper the company accepts before you see the doctor.

    What your child’s school accepts

    Rules verified October 2026 · 2026 school records guidelines (학교생활기록부 기재요령), Ministry of Education and 17 provincial education offices

    Elementary, middle and high schools follow the national guidelines for school records. The 2026 editions for all three levels use the same rule for an absence due to illness.

    Papers for an absence due to illness
    2026 school records guidelines, elementary, middle and high school
    Absence Paper to attach to the absence report
    Two days or less, and not repeated often A parent’s statement (학부모 의견서), a prescription (처방전), a homeroom teacher’s confirmation (담임교사 확인서) or similar
    Any other absence A doctor’s medical certificate or opinion (의사의 진단서 또는 의견서) that records the diagnosis and the treatment period

    Hand the absence report (결석 신고서) to the school within five days, counted from the first day of absence. The principal approves it. A treatment confirmation counts only if it records the diagnosis and the treatment period, so check the paper before you leave the hospital.

    Universities do not use these guidelines. A university student follows the attendance rules of that university.

    What to say at the counter

    A hospital runs in Korean. Show the Korean line on your phone, or read the romanized line aloud. The first two lines are for the doctor, and the last three are for the reception desk.

    진단서도 써 주실 수 있나요?
    Jin-dan-seo-do sseo ju-sil su in-na-yo?
    “Could you also write a medical certificate?”
    Ask the doctor during the consultation.
    회사에 낼 진단서가 필요해요.
    Hoe-sa-e nael jin-dan-seo-ga pi-ryo-hae-yo.
    “I need a medical certificate for my company.”
    Say this next. For a school, say 학교에 (hak-gyo-e) instead of 회사에.
    병명이 들어간 서류가 필요해요.
    Byeong-myeong-i deu-reo-gan seo-ryu-ga pi-ryo-hae-yo.
    “I need a paper that shows the diagnosis.”
    Use this at the desk if you are offered a confirmation with dates only.
    소견서는 비용이 얼마예요?
    So-gyeon-seo-neun bi-yong-i eol-ma-ye-yo?
    “How much is a doctor’s opinion letter?”
    Ask before the doctor writes one. Each hospital sets this fee.
    같은 걸로 한 부 더 발급해 주시겠어요?
    Ga-teun geol-lo han bu deo bal-geu-pae ju-si-ge-sseo-yo?
    “Could you issue one more copy of the same paper?”
    Use this when you pay, if you need more than one.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I get a medical certificate in Korea?
    Ask the doctor during your visit and say what it is for. Show your passport or Alien Registration Card, then collect the certificate when you pay. Only the doctor who examined you can write it.
    How much is a medical certificate?
    The Ministry of Health and Welfare caps a medical certificate at 20,000 KRW, and an English one also at 20,000 KRW. The consultation fee is charged separately. A hospital can charge less than the cap, but not more.
    Can I get a Dr. note without going to the Dr.?
    No. Article 17 of the Medical Service Act lets only the doctor who examined you write a medical certificate. A confirmation from the hospital office covers only visits you already made.
    Can I get a copy of my medical certificate later?
    Hospitals must keep a duplicate of each certificate for three years. Seoul National University Hospital reissues certificates within that period. A family member or a person you appoint needs a copy of your ID and a consent form that you sign. An appointed person also needs a letter of authorization.
    Hospital documents
    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.
    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.

    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, medical certificates
    · Enforcement Rule of the Medical Service Act (의료법 시행규칙) · Article 9 and Form 5-2, items on a medical certificate · Article 15, keeping records · Article 13-3, requests by family and agents
    · Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부) · 의료기관의 제증명수수료 항목 및 금액에 관한 기준, fee caps
    · Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부) · 2026 model work rules (표준 취업규칙) · Labor Standards Act, Article 93
    · Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) · 진단서발급, how to request and reissue certificates · Issuance Service (English)
    Information verified as of October 2026. Fees and hospital procedures change. Confirm details with the hospital and the official source before you go, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Lease Renewal in Korea: The 2-Year Request and the 5% Cap

    Lease Renewal in Korea: The 2-Year Request and the 5% Cap

    Whether your lease continues, and at what price, depends on who gives notice and when. If neither side speaks up in time, the lease renews on the same terms for two years. If you ask for a renewal in time, the landlord can refuse only on grounds the law lists, and any increase is capped at 5%.

    This guide covers both routes under the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) and the grounds for refusal. It also covers the cap on increases and the separate limit on converting a deposit into monthly rent. The rules here come from the Act and its Enforcement Decree, with the Korean terms that appear on the standard contract.

    What this guide covers
    01 How a lease renews when nobody says anything
    02 How your renewal request works
    03 When the landlord can refuse a renewal
    04 How much the rent or deposit can go up
    05 What limits turning a deposit into monthly rent
    06 What paperwork follows a renewal
    07 Frequently asked questions

    How a lease renews when nobody says anything

    Rules verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 6 · Article 6-2

    Article 6 sets two notice windows. The landlord must give notice between six months and two months before the lease ends. The tenant must give notice by two months before the end. If neither does, the lease is treated as renewed on the same terms. This is called an implied renewal (묵시적 갱신).

    Implied renewal in one table
    Housing Lease Protection Act, Articles 6 and 6-2
    Point Rule
    Landlord’s notice window Six months to two months before the end: refuse, or offer changed terms
    Tenant’s notice deadline Two months before the end
    If nobody gives notice Renewed on the same terms, for two years
    Tenant leaving early Notice at any time. It takes effect three months after the landlord receives it
    Landlord leaving early Not by notice alone. Annex 1 of the standard contract requires an Article 7 ground, such as rent arrears of two payments, or the tenant’s agreement
    Who is excluded A tenant who let rent arrears reach two payments, or seriously broke a tenant’s duties

    The three-month rule is the one to plan around. Annex 1 of the standard contract says only that a tenant may end an implied renewal at any time. Article 6-2 (2) of the Act adds that the notice takes effect three months after the landlord receives it.

    How your renewal request works

    Article 6-3 gives the tenant a right to request a renewal (계약갱신요구권). You make the request in the same window as the landlord’s notice: six months to two months before the lease ends. The Act sets no special form for the request.

    What the renewal request gives you
    ✓ Once only. You can use it one time for the same lease
    ✓ Two more years. The renewed lease runs for two years
    ✓ Same terms. Everything carries over, except that rent and deposit may change within the Article 7 limits
    ✓ An early exit. You can still end the renewed lease with three months’ notice, as under Article 6-2
    ✓ Refusal only for listed reasons. The landlord cannot refuse without one of the nine grounds below

    An implied renewal or a new contract by agreement does not use up the request. Annex 1 of the standard lease contract states this directly, so the right stays available for a later lease period.

    When the landlord can refuse a renewal

    Article 6-3 (1) lists nine grounds. Annex 2 of the standard contract prints the same nine as tick boxes on a refusal notice (계약갱신 거절통지서). The notice takes effect when it reaches you.

    The nine grounds for refusal
    Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 6-3 (1)
    No. Ground
    1 Rent arrears have reached two payments
    2 The tenant got the lease by lying or other fraud
    3 Both sides agreed, and the landlord paid fair compensation
    4 The tenant sublet all or part of the home without consent
    5 The tenant damaged the home on purpose or through gross negligence
    6 All or part of the home was destroyed, so the lease cannot serve its purpose
    7 Demolition or rebuilding, if it was explained at signing, if the building is unsafe, or if another law requires it
    8 The landlord, or a lineal ascendant or descendant of the landlord such as a parent or child, will actually live there
    9 Another serious breach, or a serious reason the lease cannot go on

    Ground 8 carries a check. Suppose the landlord refuses on this ground, then leases the home to someone else without a just reason. If that happens before the renewed term would have ended, the landlord must pay damages (Article 6-3 (5)).

    Unless the two sides agreed an amount in advance, Article 6-3 (6) sets the damages as the largest of three sums. The first is three months of converted rent at the time of refusal. The second is two years of the gap between the new converted rent and the old one. The third is your actual loss.

    You can check whether the home was leased again. Under Articles 5 and 6 of the Enforcement Decree, a former tenant refused on ground 8 may ask a fixed-date office for the lease record. The record covers the period the renewal would have run. The landlord’s and new tenant’s names are included; other personal details are not.

    How much the rent or deposit can go up

    Rule verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 7 · Enforcement Decree, Article 8

    Article 7 lets either side ask for a change in rent or deposit when taxes, charges or economic conditions make it unfair. An increase has two limits, and the same limits apply when you renew through your request.

    Limits on an increase
    Housing Lease Protection Act Article 7 · Enforcement Decree Article 8
    Limit Rule Example
    Size No more than 1/20 (5%) of the current rent or deposit Deposit 100,000,000 KRW: up to 5,000,000 KRW more. Rent 500,000 KRW: up to 25,000 KRW more
    Timing Not within one year of the contract or the last increase An increase agreed in March cannot be followed by another before the next March
    Local rule Seoul, a metropolitan city or a province may set a lower cap by ordinance Check the ordinance of your city or province

    If you already paid more than the limits allow, Article 10-2 lets you claim the excess back. Article 10 also voids any term that breaks the Act to the tenant’s disadvantage. A term that goes past the cap falls under that rule.

    What limits turning a deposit into monthly rent

    Rate verified September 2026 · Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 7-2 · Enforcement Decree, Article 9 · Bank of Korea base rate

    When all or part of a deposit is turned into monthly rent, Article 7-2 caps the rate used for the conversion. The rate is the lower of two numbers set in Article 9 of the Enforcement Decree.

    The conversion cap
    Housing Lease Protection Act Article 7-2 · Enforcement Decree Article 9
    Measure Rate
    Fixed rate 10% a year
    Bank of Korea base rate plus 2 percentage points 3.00% + 2% = 5.00% a year (base rate 3.00% since 27 August 2026)
    Cap in use now 5.00% a year, the lower of the two

    Worked through: converting 10,000,000 KRW of deposit at 5% gives 500,000 KRW a year. Divided by 12, that is about 41,666 KRW a month at most.

    The Bank of Korea reviews the base rate eight times a year. When it changes, the cap moves with it, so check the rate on the day of the conversion.

    What paperwork follows a renewal

    A renewal is not only a matter between you and the landlord. Two records may need updating.

    After a renewal
    Act on Report on Real Estate Transactions · standard contract Annex 1
    If Then Rule
    Only the term is extended, money unchanged No lease report is needed Reporting Decree, Article 4-3 (1)
    Deposit or rent changes, in a reporting area, over the reporting amounts Report within 30 days. The report states whether the renewal request was used Reporting Act, Article 6-2 · Rule, Article 6-2 (1) 5
    The deposit goes up Get a new fixed date for the added amount Standard contract, Annex 1

    The standard contract has a box for this situation too. On page one, one of the contract types is a renewal through the tenant’s request under Article 6-3. It comes with space for the previous term, deposit and rent.

    Frequently asked questions

    How much maximum landlord can increase rent?
    5% of the current rent or deposit, under Article 7 of the Housing Lease Protection Act and Article 8 of its Enforcement Decree. No increase may come within one year of the contract or the last increase. Seoul, a metropolitan city or a province may set a lower cap by ordinance.
    Does a tenancy agreement automatically renew?
    Yes, if neither side gives notice in time. The landlord’s window is six to two months before the end, and the tenant’s deadline is two months before the end. The lease then continues on the same terms for two years.
    How to get out of automatic lease renewal?
    After an implied renewal, you can give notice at any time. Under Article 6-2 of the Act, it takes effect three months after the landlord receives it. The landlord does not have the same option.
    Does an implied renewal use up my renewal request?
    No. Annex 1 of the standard contract says an implied renewal or a renewal by agreement does not count as using the request. You keep it for a later period.
    Can the landlord refuse because a relative will move in?
    Yes, if the landlord or a lineal relative will actually live there. If the landlord instead leases the home to someone else without a just reason, damages may follow. That applies before the renewed term would have ended (Article 6-3 (5)).
    Renting a home in Korea
    Renting in Korea as a Foreign Resident, Stage by Stage
    The whole cluster on one page: each stage of a lease, its deadline, and how the rules apply to foreign residents.
    Korean Standard Lease Contract in English: What Each Part Says
    The official translation in three languages, and what each page, article and annex asks you to fill in.
    Before You Sign a Lease in Korea: What the Landlord Must Show
    The records the landlord must present, the landlord’s unpaid taxes, and how to read the register certificate.
    Fixed Date in Korea for Foreign Tenants: Protect Your Deposit
    Why your change-of-residence report is the move-in report, and where to get a fixed date for 600 KRW or less.
    Lease Renewal in Korea: The 2-Year Request and the 5% Cap
    When a lease renews on its own, the one renewal request you get, and how far rent can rise.
    What to Do When a Landlord in Korea Keeps Your Deposit
    The lease registration order, dispute mediation, and the part of a small deposit the law pays first.

    Official sources

    Every rule here comes from the pages below. Laws and rates change, so open the page before you act on it.

    · Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법) · Article 6 · Article 6-2 · Article 6-3 · Article 7 · Article 7-2 · Article 10-2
    · Enforcement Decree of the Housing Lease Protection Act (주택임대차보호법 시행령) · Article 5 · Article 6 · Article 8 · Article 9
    · Bank of Korea (한국은행) · base rate history
    · Act on Report on Real Estate Transactions (부동산 거래신고 등에 관한 법률) · Article 6-2 · Enforcement Decree Article 4-3 · Enforcement Rule Article 6-2
    Information verified as of September 2026. Laws and the base rate change from time to time. Confirm the details with the official source before you act. For questions about your stay, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.
  • Yellow Fever Vaccine in Korea: Where to Get It and the Cost

    Yellow Fever Vaccine in Korea: Where to Get It and the Cost

    Older guides give the yellow fever vaccine a 10-year term. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) now states that one dose is valid for life. Protection takes about 10 days to build. In Korea, you get the shot only at a designated hospital. National quarantine stations issue and reissue the certificate, but they do not vaccinate.

    The paper you carry is the international certificate of vaccination (국제공인예방접종증명서), often called the yellow card. Some countries ask for it at the border. This guide covers who needs it and the 49 designated hospitals. It also covers the cost, what happens on the day, and how to replace a lost card.

    What this guide covers
    01 What the yellow card is and how long it lasts
    02 Who needs the yellow fever vaccine
    03 Where to get the shot in Korea
    04 How much it costs and how to pay
    05 What happens on the day
    06 How to replace a lost or old card
    07 What to say at the counter
    08 Frequently asked questions

    What the yellow card is and how long it lasts

    Rules verified October 2026 · Quarantine Act Article 28-2 · Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act, Form 32

    The Quarantine Act calls this paper the international certificate of vaccination. The form is set by the Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act and follows the World Health Organization (WHO) model.

    The yellow card at a glance
    Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act, Form 32 · KDCA vaccination guide
    Item What the rules say
    Korean name 국제공인예방접종증명서
    Language Filled in English or French
    Format Paper only. It is not issued electronically
    What it records Yellow fever and cholera vaccinations. This guide covers yellow fever
    Signature The clinician’s signature and the official stamp of the institution
    Vaccine Valid only for a vaccine approved by WHO
    Valid From 10 days after the shot, for life

    The 10-day wait is the part that catches travelers. KDCA tells you to get the shot at least 10 days before you visit a risk area. A shot taken the week before you fly may leave you short at the border.

    Who needs the yellow fever vaccine

    Country counts verified October 2026 · KDCA, citing the CDC Yellow Book of September 2026

    KDCA keeps two lists on its travel health site. One names 42 countries with yellow fever risk in Africa and Central and South America. The other names 21 countries that ask every arriving traveler for the certificate, wherever they come from. Other countries ask for it only if you have visited or passed through a risk country.

    These lists change with each country’s policy. This guide does not copy them. Open the KDCA yellow fever page for the current version, and check with the embassy of your destination before you travel.

    Who KDCA says can get the shot
    ✓ Age 9 months to 59. This is the standard range for the vaccine.
    ✓ Age 60 or older. Talk with the doctor first. The risk of side effects is higher.
    ✓ Cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. Ask for an exemption certificate instead. It is covered in the last section.

    KDCA also lists people who handle material that may carry the virus, such as lab workers. For most readers, the deciding question is the travel route.

    Where to get the shot in Korea

    List verified 10 October 2026 · KDCA, international vaccination institutions (국제공인예방접종지정기관)

    KDCA lists 49 designated hospitals across Korea, and all of them give the yellow fever shot. Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon have 21 of them. The Korean names and booking phone numbers below are from the KDCA list. The English names are added to help you find each hospital.

    Designated hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon
    KDCA list as of 10 October 2026 · 21 of 49
    Hospital Korean name Area Booking phone
    National Medical Center 국립중앙의료원 Jung-gu, Seoul 1588-1775
    Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital 순천향대학교서울병원 Yongsan-gu, Seoul 02-709-9114
    Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital 이화여자대학교목동병원 Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 02-2650-5114
    Kangbuk Samsung Hospital 강북삼성병원 Jongno-gu, Seoul 02-2001-1130
    Seoul National University Hospital 서울대학교병원 Jongno-gu, Seoul 1588-5700
    Chung-Ang University Hospital 중앙대학교병원 Dongjak-gu, Seoul 1800-1114
    Korea University Guro Hospital 고려대학교구로병원 Guro-gu, Seoul 02-2626-1114
    Severance Hospital (Yonsei University) 연세대학교세브란스병원 Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 1599-1004
    Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital 가톨릭서울성모병원 Seocho-gu, Seoul 1588-1511
    Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong 강동경희대학교병원 Gangdong-gu, Seoul 02-440-7000
    Konkuk University Medical Center 건국대학교병원 Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 1588-1533
    Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital 한림대학교강남성심병원 Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 1577-5587
    Hanyang University Seoul Hospital 한양대학교병원 Seongdong-gu, Seoul 02-2290-8114
    Seoul National University Bundang Hospital 분당서울대병원 Seongnam, Gyeonggi 1588-3369
    NHIS Ilsan Hospital 건강보험공단일산병원 Goyang, Gyeonggi 1577-0013
    Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital 인제대학교일산백병원 Goyang, Gyeonggi 031-910-7000
    Hanyang University Guri Hospital 한양대구리병원 Guri, Gyeonggi 1644-9118
    Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital 가톨릭의정부성모병원 Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi 1661-7500
    Bucheon Sejong Hospital 부천세종병원 Bucheon, Gyeonggi 1599-6677
    Incheon Medical Center 인천광역시의료원 Jemulpo-gu, Incheon 032-580-6570
    Inha University Hospital 인하대병원 Jemulpo-gu, Incheon 032-890-2219

    Outside these three areas, the list has 28 more. Busan, Gwangju and South Jeolla, and South Gyeongsang have four each. Daejeon and Gangwon have three each. North Chungcheong and Jeju have two each. Sejong, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla, Ulsan, North Gyeongsang and Daegu have one each. The KDCA institution page shows them by region.

    Call before you go. Booking methods differ by hospital. Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, for example, takes yellow fever bookings by phone only.

    How much it costs and how to pay

    Fees verified October 2026 · KDCA vaccination guide · Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act, Annex 3

    The Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act sets the structure. You pay the actual cost of the vaccine, an administration fee, and 1,000 KRW for the certificate. KDCA publishes the amounts.

    What the yellow fever shot costs
    KDCA, international vaccination guide (designated hospitals)
    Item Fee
    Vaccine 38,250 KRW
    Certificate 1,000 KRW
    Administration fee, under age 1 22,380 KRW
    Administration fee, age 1 to 5 20,750 KRW
    Administration fee, age 6 or older 19,610 KRW

    For an adult, the three KDCA amounts add up to 58,860 KRW. KDCA asks you to buy a revenue stamp before the visit to pay for the vaccination. The type is an electronic revenue stamp for paper documents (종이문서용 전자수입인지). Banks, post offices and the e-revenue stamp website sell it.

    Ask the hospital what to buy
    Seoul National University Bundang Hospital asks for a 39,250 KRW revenue stamp. That is the vaccine plus the certificate. It also charges its own consultation fee. Hospitals word these items in different ways, so ask about the stamp and any fee when you book.

    Bring your passport as well. The certificate is filled in English, so the name on it should match your passport.

    What happens on the day

    Step 1 — Check your route and book

    Check whether your destination, or a country you pass through, asks for the certificate. Then call a designated hospital at least 10 days before departure.

    Step 2 — Buy the revenue stamp

    Buy the electronic revenue stamp for paper documents for the amount the hospital gives you.

    Step 3 — See the doctor and get the shot

    KDCA asks you to talk with the doctor before the shot. Afterwards, stay at the hospital for 20 to 30 minutes so staff can watch for a serious allergic reaction. Avoid heavy drinking and hard exercise that day.

    Step 4 — Collect the certificate on the spot

    The designated hospital issues the certificate at the same visit. Check the spelling of your name against your passport before you leave. Do not donate blood for 14 days.

    The yellow card is not the only vaccination paper in Korea.

    Related guide
    Vaccination Certificate in Korea: School Entry and English
    Need a record of routine vaccinations for school or a job? That is a different paper, issued free online or at a health center.

    That paper comes from the national vaccination record. It does not replace the yellow card at a border, and the yellow card does not replace it at a school.

    How to replace a lost or old card

    Reissue rules verified October 2026 · KDCA certificate guide · Gov24

    KDCA lists four reasons for a reissue: loss, damage, a change in personal details, and a change of the validity period. The last one matters if your old card shows an end date. A reissue costs 1,000 KRW per copy.

    Where to get a reissue
    KDCA, certificate guide · Gov24, 국제공인예방접종 증명서 재발급
    Where How you receive it Notes
    The designated hospital that gave your shot In person It can reissue only its own records
    National quarantine station In person Incheon Airport Quarantine Station (Terminal 1, 3rd floor) and Incheon Quarantine Station
    Gov24 online Pick up at a quarantine station or by mail Not open to foreign nationals or minors

    So a foreign resident who lost the card goes in person. Bring the old certificate if you still have it, your ID, and papers for any change in personal details. A proxy needs a letter of authorization. The airport desk is open on weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00, except public holidays.

    If you cannot get the shot
    ✓ Exemption certificate (예방백신접종 면제 확인서). For people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, and for babies under 9 months.
    ✓ Issued on a doctor’s note. The note comes from a designated hospital.
    ✓ Not accepted everywhere. Some countries may still screen you or refuse it, so ask the embassy first.

    The exemption certificate is a separate paper from the yellow card. It does not show a vaccination.

    What to say at the counter

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

    황열 예방접종 예약하고 싶어요.
    Hwang-nyeol ye-bang-jeop-jong ye-ya-ka-go si-peo-yo.
    “I would like to book a yellow fever shot.”
    Use this when you call the hospital.
    황열 예방접종 받으러 왔습니다.
    Hwang-nyeol ye-bang-jeop-jong ba-deu-reo wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I am here for a yellow fever shot.”
    Say this first at the reception desk.
    수입인지 가져왔습니다.
    Su-i-bin-ji ga-jyeo-wat-seum-ni-da.
    “I brought the revenue stamp.”
    Hand it over with this line.
    증명서 이름은 여권과 같게 써 주세요.
    Jeung-myeong-seo i-reu-meun yeo-gwon-gwa gat-ge sseo ju-se-yo.
    “Please write my name on the certificate as it is in my passport.”
    Show your passport when you say this.
    증명서를 잃어버려서 재발급받고 싶어요.
    Jeung-myeong-seo-reul i-reo-beo-ryeo-seo jae-bal-geup-bat-go si-peo-yo.
    “I lost my certificate and would like a reissue.”
    Use this at a quarantine station or the hospital that gave the shot.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is yellow fever vaccine for life now?
    Yes. KDCA states that one dose is valid for life. The certificate takes effect 10 days after the shot. If your old card shows an end date, KDCA lists a change of the validity period as a reason for a reissue.
    Where can I get my yellow fever vaccine from?
    In Korea, only at one of the 49 designated hospitals on the KDCA list. National quarantine stations, including the one at Incheon Airport, issue and reissue certificates but do not give the shot.
    How much will a yellow fever vaccine cost?
    KDCA lists 38,250 KRW for the vaccine, 1,000 KRW for the certificate, and 19,610 KRW to administer it from age 6. That is 58,860 KRW for an adult. A hospital may add its own consultation fee.
    What do I need to get the yellow fever vaccine?
    A booking at a designated hospital, the revenue stamp, and your passport. Go at least 10 days before you travel.
    Do I really need a yellow fever vaccine?
    It depends on your route. KDCA lists 21 countries that ask every arriving traveler for the certificate. Others ask only if you have been in a risk country. Check with the embassy of your destination.
    Daily life documents
    Health Documents in Korea: Which One for Work or School
    The whole cluster in one page — which paper fits which situation, and how the three differ.
    Health Certificate in Korea: Who Needs One and How to Get It
    Three tests, a one-year term, and a 30-day renewal window for anyone working with food.
    E-2 Medical Check in Korea: Who Needs It and What It Covers
    Who must submit it, who is exempt, and what each box on the official form checks.
    Vaccination Certificate in Korea: School Entry and English
    When schools check the record themselves, and how to get the paper in English.
    TB Test for a Korea Visa: Who Needs It and Where to Get It
    Who the 35-country rule covers, what the test involves, and what a health center charges.
    Yellow Fever Vaccine in Korea: Where to Get It and the Cost
    Where to get the shot, what it costs, and how to replace a lost certificate.

    Official sources

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

    · Enforcement Rule of the Quarantine Act (검역법 시행규칙) · Article 23 and Form 32, the certificate · Article 29 and Annex 3, fees
    · KDCA travel health (질병관리청 해외감염병NOW) · 황열 예방접종 안내 · 황열, 콜레라 증명서 발급 안내 · 국제공인예방접종기관 안내
    · KDCA (질병관리청) · 해외여행 전, lifetime validity
    · Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항) · vaccination and reissue desk
    · Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (분당서울대병원) · travel clinic, an example of one hospital
    Information verified as of October 2026. Designated hospitals, fees and country requirements change. Confirm the details with the hospital, the embassy of your destination, or the KDCA call center at 1339 before you go.
    This site is not affiliated with the Korean government. Always confirm details with the official source.