Living in Korea, explained properly.
Visas, banking, phone plans, taxes and housing — written for people who actually have to do it, and sourced from the published criteria.
Car Insurance in Korea for Foreigners: What Is Mandatory and How to Buy It
Car insurance in Korea — the mandatory liability cover, how premiums are set, what foreign residents need to buy it, and why comparing quotes matters.
korea car insurance — Read guideWhat's in this guide
- Automotive insurance is mandatory for anyone driving in Korea, covering liability for injury and property damage, and it is enforced with the vehicle.
- Premiums are set per driver — your driving history, age and the vehicle all factor in — so foreign residents who compare quotes can pay significantly less.
- Foreign residents can buy from the same insurers as Korean drivers; the documents and visa conditions accepted can differ by insurer, so check before you sign.
- Car insurance has several parts — liability, damage to your own car, and personal injury cover — and the level of cover you choose changes the price.
Recently updated
- Visa
Visiting the Korea Immigration Office: Services, Appointments and Documents
What the immigration office in Korea handles — alien registration, visa extensions and status changes — how to book an appointment on Hi Korea, and what to bring.
- Visa
Starting a Business in Korea as a Foreigner: Company Setup, Registration and the D-8 Visa
What it takes to start a business in Korea as a foreigner — the D-8 investor/startup visa, incorporating a company, business registration and the practical steps to operate legally.
- Living
Childcare in Korea for Foreign Families: Daycare, Kindergartens and Fee Support
How childcare works in Korea for foreign families — enrolling a child in daycare or kindergarten, the difference between public and private centres, and the fee support that Seoul and Gyeonggi offer for foreign children.
- Banking
Insurance in Korea for Foreigners: NHI, Car Insurance and Private Cover
What insurance foreign residents in Korea need and how it works — the national health insurance tied to employment, the mandatory car insurance, and the private health, travel and life cover options.
- Living
Korean Language Classes for Foreigners: Free City Programmes, Universities and Private Options
Where foreigners in Korea can learn Korean — free city-run classes at foreign resident centres, university Korean language programmes, and private academies, plus what to expect on cost and scheduling.
- Living
Annual Leave in Korea: How Many Days You Get and the Rules Around Using Them
Korean annual leave under the Labor Standards Act — 15 paid days after one year of service, how leave accrues in the first year, the seniority increase to 25 days, and what happens to unused leave.
- Living
Taking the Korean Driving Test as a Foreigner: Written, Course and Road Stages
How to get a Korean driver's licence by taking the test from scratch — the written test (40 questions, English available), the closed-course test and the on-road test, with fees and pass scores.
- Living
T-money and Public Transport Cards in Korea: Buying, Charging and Using Them
How public transport cards like T-money work in Korea — where to buy one, how to top it up, the tap-on/tap-off rule and transfer discounts, and how refunds work for visitors.