Move to South Korea
Everything a future South Korea settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
South Korea at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
Visa routes we know about
5 years
to permanent residency
5 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires passing the Korean Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP) exam and renouncing other citizenships.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Dependents may reside in Korea but are not permitted to work under the F-1-D visa.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in South Korea
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$871
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$61,051
GDP per capita
24%
Corporate tax
2.7%
Unemployment
2.3%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
7.75/10
🏚️ Flawed democracy
83
/100Freedom House score
#41 of 163
Global Peace Index
#61
Press freedom rank
Is South Korea safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Boringly safe. Your biggest danger is cycling accidents.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Korean
Primary language
Moderate
English proficiency (#48 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Korean isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to South Korea — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in South Korea?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Seoul ranks #1 in South Korea with a score of 81/100. City-centre rent starts around $871/month.
How much does it cost to live in South Korea?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $871 to $871/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $1,385.
How do I get permanent residency in South Korea?▾
The path to permanent residency in South Korea typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 5 years. Note: Requires passing the Korean Immigration & Integration Program (KIIP) exam and renouncing other citizenships.
Is South Korea a democracy?▾
South Korea scores 7.75/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Flawed democracy." It ranks #41 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is South Korea safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.