A practical summary for foreigners living in Korea (students, workers, accompanying family, working-holiday, and others) who have overstayed their period of stay: what the real problem is and who to consult first. Even a single day past your authorized stay can create an illegal-stay risk, and that goes beyond a fine—it can affect your future re-entry, visa, and residence history.
Why it matters
Under Korea's Immigration Act, certain violations can carry up to 3 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW, and if caught you may also face deportation and an entry ban. In practice many cases are resolved through a penalty notice (fine), but assuming "I'll just sort it out later" is the most dangerous choice. Your risk level ultimately depends on how long you overstayed and whether you committed further violations while overstaying (unauthorized work, out-of-status activity, failure to report an address change, and so on).
Penalty schedule by overstay length (summary)
- Under 1 month: 500,000 KRW
- 1–3 months: 1,000,000 KRW
- 3–6 months: 2,000,000 KRW
- 6 months–1 year: 5,000,000 KRW
- 1–2 years: 10,000,000 KRW
- 2–3 years: 15,000,000 KRW
- 3–5 years: 20,000,000 KRW
- 5–7 years: 25,000,000 KRW
- 7 years or more: 30,000,000 KRW
Leaving it as "just a few days" feels very different the moment it crosses one month.
Three steps to take today
- Recheck your expiry date: trust the stay period printed on your Alien Registration Card (ARC), passport, or permit—not your memory or calendar.
- Call for advice first: the 1345 Immigration Contact Center can confirm the options available for your visa type (extension, change, departure, voluntary departure), your competent immigration office, and required documents or reservations.
- Gather evidence: hospitalization or diagnosis records, flight cancellation or delay proof, accident or disaster documents, and official letters from your company or school can be key material for a reduced penalty or mitigating consideration.
1345 Immigration Contact Center
It operates weekdays 09:00–22:00 (Korean, English, and Chinese are the focus after 18:00), and from overseas you can reach it at +82-2-1345. Consultations are offered in 20 languages.
Even for the same overstay, the outcome varies with your individual circumstances, visa type, and the length of the violation, and the final decision rests with your competent immigration office. If you are unsure, don't leave it—call 1345 first.
Summary & source: Adapted from the original WeBring blog post. Open the full guide (in Korean)