I lived in Korea previously and am planning to return after a long absence?
I lived in Korea previously and am planning to return after a long absence. What has changed, what do I need to know, and what steps should I take to re-establish my life there?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Welcome back, and yes, a fair amount may have changed depending on how long you were away. The first things to sort are your status and ID. If you no longer hold a valid visa or ARC, you will need to re-enter on the appropriate visa and reapply for an Alien Registration Card once you are staying long-term, since a lapsed ARC does not reactivate. Check the current visa category that fits your situation through the Hi Korea site or the 1345 immigration hotline, which has English support.
For daily life, Korea has gone almost entirely cashless and app-based, so plan to set up a Korean bank account, a local phone number, and apps like KakaoTalk (essential, and it carries Kakao Pay), Naver Map, Coupang, and Baemin for delivery. Many services now require identity verification tied to a Korean phone, so getting a SIM and bank account early unlocks everything else. Housing prices and deposits for jeonse and wolse have shifted in many areas, so research your target neighborhood fresh. Your old National Pension and health insurance records still exist under your registration number, and reconnecting National Health Insurance matters since long-term residents must enroll. Rebuilding banking and credit history takes a little time, so keep some funds accessible at first.