Every guide, in the order you need it
Living in Korea as a foreigner is a sequence, not a category tree. This index follows that sequence — from the day you land to the day you leave — so a new arrival can read it top to bottom and a returning reader can skip to the row that fits.
Two statuses. Guides marked Verified were checked against a named office on a stated date. Guides marked Reference draft are compiled from the issuing agency's published regulations and forms but have not yet been re-confirmed at a counter — useful for preparation, not a substitute for the office's own guidance. The difference is explained in the editorial policy.
Week one — before anything else works
D+0
Book a HiKorea appointment, and arrive on time
하이코리아 방문예약 · haikoria bangmun yeyak
The reservation system works well. What loses people the appointment is the drive in, the car park, and a queue already running late. Checked in person at Daejeon.
Verified
D+0
Get a Korean phone number
휴대폰 개통 · hyudaepon gaetong
Almost every other step needs one for identity verification. Prepaid opens on a passport; postpaid usually waits for your residence card.
Do first
D+0–14
Report your address at the community office
전입신고 · jeonip singo
Filed once you have a lease. It is also the step that gives your deposit priority if the landlord runs into trouble.
Deadline
D+0–90
Register as a resident and collect your ID card
외국인등록증 · oegugin deungnokjeung
Booked online, rarely walk-in. Slots at the busy immigration offices disappear weeks ahead, so reserve before the documents are gathered.
Deadline
Month one — money and shelter
M1
Open a bank account that can transfer abroad
은행 계좌 개설 · eunhaeng gyejwa gaeseol
New accounts open with a daily transfer ceiling. What lifts it is documented proof of income or study, not a friendly conversation.
Bring documents
M1
Read a Korean lease before you sign it
임대차계약서 · imdaecha gyeyakseo
A clause-by-clause walkthrough plus the property registry check that tells you whether your deposit is exposed.
Money at risk
M1
Set up utilities, internet and building fees
공과금 · gonggwageum
Which bills arrive separately, which are folded into the monthly maintenance charge, and how to pay without a Korean credit card.
Routine
Month six — the system starts billing you
M6
National health insurance begins
국민건강보험 · gungmin geongang boheom
Enrolment is automatic for most long-stay residents. What it covers, what it does not, and how the premium is worked out.
Mandatory
M6
Convert your foreign driving licence
운전면허 교환 · unjeon myeonheo gyohwan
Some countries convert straight across, others require a written test. Which list your country sits on matters more than the paperwork.
Optional
Year one and beyond
Y1
Get through year-end tax settlement
연말정산 · yeonmal jeongsan
Foreign employees can often choose between a flat rate and the standard brackets. Choosing without running both numbers is the most expensive mistake in Korean paperwork.
Money at risk
Y1
Extend your stay before it lapses
체류기간 연장 · cheryu gigan yeonjang
The application window opens well ahead of expiry. Filing late is a fine; filing after expiry is a different conversation entirely.
Deadline
EXIT
Claim your pension back when you leave
국민연금 반환일시금 · banhwan ilsigeum
Whether you receive the lump sum depends on the agreement between Korea and your country of nationality. Start the claim before you fly, not after.
Claim it