●●🟧 3. Required Administrative Steps After Arriving in Korea
●🟦✓ Apply for a Foreigner Registration Card (ARC)
💊 You must apply within 90 days of arrival at your local Immigration Office (Immigration·Foreigners Office).
▶ The Foreigner Registration Card is an official ID used in Korea.
The Foreigner Registration Number issued with it is required to open a bank account and sign up for apps and websites.
→ If you are in Korea as a tourist,
sign-ups for delivery apps, online shopping (e.g., Coupang, Baedal Minjok, etc.), and some financial/lifestyle services may be restricted.
→ This is because you do not have a Korean personal identification number.
▶ After you apply for the Foreigner Registration Card,
it usually takes about 20–30 days to be issued.
💊 After entering Korea, it is recommended to first book a “local immigration office visit appointment” on HiKorea (wait times can be long).
●🟦 Q. Do I have to report a change of address (residence) if I move?
▶ Yes. If you move and your residence changes,
you must report the address change within the required time period.
▶ In general, within 15 days of moving in,
you can report it at your local Immigration·Foreigners Office or a Community Service Center (eup·myeon·dong),
and you can also report it online (Government24).
→ In most cases, not reporting an address change does not result in immediate disadvantages.
→ However, for foreigners, this can be understood as a procedure to manage stay information and provide guidance or help when needed.
→ Korean nationals are also required to report address changes,
and in many cases, not reporting does not lead to immediate disadvantages.
●🟦✓ Activate a Phone Number Under Your Name in Korea After Receiving Your Foreigner Registration Card (ARC)
▶ In Korea, for foreigners,
services that allow sign-up with email verification only are very limited.
▶ Most apps and online services
require mobile phone identity verification to create an account.
→ Because personal data protection standards are very strict,
this may feel inconvenient for foreigners,
but under Korea’s current system, it is a required step.
▶ If you use an MVNO (budget carrier),
some add-on services from major carriers may be limited,
but plans are about 30% cheaper, making them more cost-effective.
→ In Korea, major telecom companies have strong brand recognition,
so many people prefer major carriers,
but MVNO service quality is nearly the same,
so most foreigners notice little difference.
●🟦 Q. Can a short-term SIM (prepaid SIM) activated with a passport be used for online identity verification?
▶ No. A short-term SIM (prepaid SIM) activated with passport information
cannot be used for online identity verification.
→ For online identity verification,
you must have a mobile phone number with a domestic carrier
that is linked to your Foreigner Registration Card (ARC) information.
●🟦✓ Open a Korean Bank Account
▶ If you visit a nearby bank branch with your Foreigner Registration Card (ARC), you can usually open a bank account in about 20 minutes.
→ If you also sign up for mobile banking,
you can transfer money and make payments anytime, anywhere, which is very convenient.
→ Even if you lose your phone,
Korea’s security systems are relatively secure.
→ You can also apply for a debit card,
and some banks can issue it immediately on the spot.
(If you add the transit card function, it takes about 5–7 days.)
→ In Korea, there is no separate fee to open a bank account.
→ You can also open a foreign currency account (USD account),
and depending on exchange rate movements, it may be advantageous or not.
→ When opening an account,
you can also sign up for a text alert service for deposits and withdrawals,
which is convenient and costs about KRW 900 per month.
▶ If you install the bank’s app on your phone,
you can easily check your card usage, transfer money, and view your balance.
→ In Korea, especially among college students and younger people,
cash is rarely used,
and many people link their cards and transit cards to their phones
and pay while carrying only their phone.
▶ Major banks include
KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and IBK (Industrial Bank of Korea),
and there are also online-only banks such as Toss and KakaoBank that operate without branches.
→ In general, 1–2 accounts are enough for most people.
💊 Many foreigners who use Korean banking services for the first time
are often impressed by the overall convenience, low costs, fast processing, and reliable security systems.
●●🟧 Korea’s National Health Insurance Process
●🟦✓ When You Are Enrolled
▶ D-4 visa (language training visa)
▶ D-2 visa (student visa)
You are enrolled in National Health Insurance immediately after entry.
(Monthly premium: about KRW 76,390)
▶ Work visas (E-series, etc.)
You are enrolled through your employer when you start work,
and the premium depends on your salary level.
●🟦✓ Benefits of Health Insurance
▶ Once you are enrolled,
at a primary care clinic (local neighborhood clinic),you typically pay only about 30% of the medical cost
(around KRW 3,000 / approx. USD 2.1)
to receive treatment.
▶ Health insurance also applies when you buy medicine at a pharmacy,
and in Korea, covered and non-covered medicines are clearly separated.
💊 Korea’s health insurance system
is relatively affordable compared to the U.S. or many European countries,
and hospital appointments are relatively easy to get,
so walk-in visits without reservations are often possible.
●🟦✓ If You Do Not Have Health Insurance
▶ Even if you do not have health insurance,
you can always use 119 (emergency services) in an emergency,
and you can still receive medical treatment at hospitals without restrictions.
However, in this case, you must pay the full cost out of pocket.
●🟦 This guide is continuously updated based on the questions most commonly asked by foreigners visiting Korea for the first time.
▶ If you haven’t finished preparing before entering Korea
→ Korea Entry and Settlement Guide (2026) | Part 1 – Preparation Before Entry
https://www.koreavisa.guide/2026/01/en-korea-entry-guide-part-1.html
▶ If you want to know the process from arriving in Korea to finding housing
→ Korea Entry and Settlement Guide (2026) | Part 2 – From Arrival to Housing
https://www.koreavisa.guide/2026/01/en-korea-entry-guide-part-2-1.html
▶ If you’re wondering what to do next after completing the administrative steps
→ Korea Entry and Settlement Guide (2026) | Part 4 – Living in Korea
(Coming soon)
→ Korea Life & Settlement Guide
https://www.koreavisa.guide/2025/11/korea-transportation-guide-1-1-en.html