Money & Costs
What things actually cost in Korea — rent, tax, health insurance, daily spending — and how to move money in and out of the country without overpaying.
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Korea Freelance Tax: Getting the 3.3% Back in May
The 3.3% withheld from freelance pay in Korea is a deposit, not your tax. Most people paid this way are owed a refund, and a missed May stays open five years.
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Moving Out in Korea: The Refund Hidden in Your Bills
Every English guide says claim the long-term repair reserve when you leave. In most flats foreigners rent, there is nothing to claim — here is how to tell.
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Korean Pension Refund: Your Passport Decides, Not Your Visa
Three years of payslips, and whether any of it comes back is decided by your passport. Ireland and New Zealand sit on the wrong list. Here's the map.
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The Real Cost of Living in Seoul, Month by Month
Rent, food, transport, and the deposit nobody warns you about. A realistic monthly budget for living in Seoul, with the one-off costs separated out.
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Korean Health Insurance for Foreigners: What You Pay
National Health Insurance is mandatory for foreign residents in Korea, and it is the best financial deal in the country. What it costs and what it covers.
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Income Tax in Korea for Foreign Workers
Korean income tax is withheld monthly and reconciled every February. What gets deducted, what the flat-rate option is, and what year-end settlement means.
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Sending Money Out of Korea: What It Costs
Bank wires, transfer apps, and the paperwork Korean banks require from foreigners. What each route actually costs and which one fits your situation.