I lost my ARC — what is the re-issuance process, fee, and how do I handle daily life while waiting?

I lost my ARC once too, so I know the panic. First, go to your nearest immigration office to apply for reissuance; a separate police report is not strictly required, but if it was stolen, filing one helps prevent identity misuse. You book a visit through HiKorea, then submit the application, your passport, a photo, and the fee (usually around 30,000 won), and reissuance typically takes two to three weeks. When you apply they give you a receipt, and that receipt works as proof of identity while you wait. In the meantime, hospitals accept your health insurance card or passport, banks may handle some business with your passport and the receipt, and commuting to work is generally fine. Things with strict identity verification, like opening a bank account or activating a phone, may be limited until reissuance, so if something is urgent, take the receipt and check with that institution first. Carry your passport with you in the meantime to be safe.