Mobile Banking in Korea in English: Setting Up and Using a Korean Banking App

Before you start: what you need

Korean mobile banking requires a Korean bank account first. The account-opening process — what branches ask for, and the limited-transaction accounts new customers get — is covered in our opening a bank account in Korea guide. In most cases you will also need your alien registration card (ARC) and a Korean mobile number registered in your own name, because banking apps verify your identity through that line.

If identity verification fails at registration, the cause is usually a mismatch between the name on your phone plan and the name on your ARC — a common blocker for foreign residents. Our Korean mobile identity verification guide explains the cause and the fix.

Which apps are in English

The major Korean banks — including KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NongHyup — provide mobile banking in English through either a dedicated English-language app or an English mode inside the main app. Which option a bank offers, and how complete the English coverage is, changes frequently, so the reliable move is to check the bank’s official English page or ask at your branch rather than assume a specific app.

Internet-only banks also serve foreign residents, but eligibility depends on identity verification working smoothly for your case. If you already have an ARC and a registered line, they are worth trying after the account is open.

Setting up the app

The setup flow is similar across banks, with details differing by app:

1. Download the bank’s app and switch to the English interface if it is not already in English.
2. Register with your account number and your personal details, then complete identity verification. Banks typically verify through your registered mobile line, an issued certificate, or a code sent to your registered method.
3. Set a login password and, if offered, biometric login.

For some services the bank requires you to verify your identity at a branch or through a video call before the account is fully usable on mobile — check what the app asks for rather than assuming the process is entirely online.

If your name on the phone plan does not exactly match the name on your ARC, registration will stall. Correcting the carrier record first — the process in our mobile identity verification guide — is usually the fastest fix.

What you can do, and the limits to expect

In English mode you can generally check balances and transactions, transfer money domestically, pay bills, and send money abroad or exchange currency through the bank’s overseas remittance service. Some functions — certain e-document requests, or government-adjacent services — may only be in Korean, so plan around that.

Two things to expect on a new account:

• Transfer limits — new accounts are opened with limited daily transfer caps as an anti-fraud measure. The limit is raised when you show evidence of regular activity, such as salary deposits or a lease contract. See opening a bank account in Korea for how to request a review.
• Transfer fees — domestic transfers usually carry a small fee, which the app displays before you confirm. Overseas remittance has its own fee and exchange-rate structure, so compare the app’s quote against other channels before sending.

Keep your app updated and review the fee schedule in the app, since banks revise fees and features periodically.