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.
Korea Local Income Tax: The 10% Surtax, Who Pays It, and How to File
What Korea's local income tax (jibang sodeukse) is, how the 10% surtax on your national income tax is calculated, who withholds it, and how to file it through Wetax.
korea local income tax — Read guideWhat's in this guide
- Local income tax is 10% of your national income tax — not 10% of your income — paid to the city or province where you are registered.
- For salaried employees it is withheld in payroll alongside the national tax; the local portion goes through a separate filing system.
- The local income tax is easy to miss because it is administered separately from the national tax, so check it at year-end settlement and when filing a May return.
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- Visa
Korea Work Visa: How the System Works — E-Series, Sponsorship and the Employer-Driven Process
A map of Korea's work visa system: which visa fits which job, how employer sponsorship works through the Certificate of Confirmation of Visa Issuance, and what you must do after arrival.
- Visa
The Alien Registration Number in Korea: What It Is and Where It Appears
The 13-digit foreigner registration number printed on your ARC functions as your identity number in Korea. What the digits mean, where you find it, and what opens only once you have it.
- Tax
Taxes in Korea for Foreigners: The Taxes That Apply and What Opens Them
The taxes a foreigner actually meets in Korea — income tax by residency, local income tax, VAT on spending, and the property taxes that arrive with ownership — with the 183-day rule and the flat 19% option explained.
- Visa
How Can I Get a Visa to South Korea? The First-Timer's Path, Step by Step
The practical path to a Korean visa for a first-time applicant: whether you need a visa at all, short-stay vs long-stay, sponsored vs direct, the documents to gather, and where to apply. A step-by-step decision route.
- Tax
Is There a Tax Treaty Between the US and South Korea? What the Rates Are
Yes — the US and South Korea have had an income tax convention since 1979. Here is what it caps: dividend, interest and royalty withholding, the permanent establishment rule, and how double taxation is relieved.
- Visa
Is South Korea Visa-Free? Who Can Enter Without a Visa in 2026
Whether you can enter South Korea without a visa depends on your nationality and the K-ETA requirement. Here is who qualifies for visa-free entry in 2026, how long they can stay, and what the K-ETA exemption actually covers.
- Tax
Seoul Tax Refund for Tourists: How the VAT Refund Actually Works
How to get your VAT refund as a tourist in Seoul — the minimum purchase, the three refund routes (immediate, downtown, airport), and the customs step that determines whether you actually get the money.
- Visa
How Long Is a Korean Visa Valid? Visa Validity vs Stay Period
The two 'validity' concepts that confuse people — how long a Korean visa lets you enter, and how long you may actually stay. Single vs multiple entry, the 90-day limit, the ARC stay period and K-ETA.