Move to South Korea
from the UK
A hyper-modern, extraordinarily safe country with the fastest internet on Earth. Around 2,000-5,000 Brits live here - most arrive to teach English, then quietly never leave, hooked on the food, the savings, and the sheer speed of everything.
At a Glance
- Capital
- Seoul
- UK Expats
- ~3,500
- Local Time
- Seoul
- Flight Time
- 11h direct
- Temperature
- 13°C now
GBP → KRW · 12 months
↑ +6.2%£1 = ₩1,972
48%
Cheaper than UK
cost of living
40%
English Spoken
6/10
Visa Ease
A
Safety
Small
Expat Community
Excellent
Healthcare
Overview
South Korea offers British expats something truly rare - a hyper-modern, extraordinarily safe country where your rent halves, your commute actually works, and a doctor’s visit costs less than a Pret lunch.
Everything about Korea just… works.
It’s faster, smoother, and more efficient than back home.
But it’s not a soft landing.
The language isn’t something you can blag your way through (Korean is exceptionally difficult to learn), the winters make Edinburgh feel mild - plunging to -15°C - and some of the work culture would make even a hardened City banker pause for thought…
We also can’t pretend that the British community is anything other than small - just 2,000-5,000 from recent estimates, a fraction of the American, Canadian, or Australian presence.
Most Brits cluster in Seoul, particularly Itaewon and Yongsan, with families gravitating toward Hannam-dong or the Pangyo/Bundang tech corridor. The British Association of Seoul (founded in 1974) is still the main social anchor in this part of the world.
Daily life feels like stepping a few years into the future.
It feels like everything runs through your phone - food, taxis, bills, even your heating. Deliveries turn up at 1am if you want them. The metro is spotless and relentless, and eating out is often cheaper than cooking.
Internet speeds are among the fastest on Earth, and once you get used to it, everywhere else just feels kinda… broken.
The parts that Brits struggle with are more often the cultural differences. Hierarchy matters a lot here - who speaks first, who pours drinks, how you address colleagues. There’s a whole language of social etiquette to learn.
And outside central Seoul, English drops off fast. Really fast. Your landlord, your doctor, government offices - they all expect Korean.
While you might feel lost at first, you are unlikely to feel unsafe.
The safety is almost unnerving - leave your phone on a café table and it’ll still be there an hour later!
Healthcare is faster and cheaper than the NHS, with specialist appointments in days rather than weeks or months.
Like many Asian hubs, it has a real air pollution problem - and the summers can be brutally humid.
Who is South Korea for? Young professionals looking for adventure. English teachers with degrees. Tech workers and engineers. K-culture enthusiasts willing to learn Korean. Couples without children looking for something well off the beaten path. Corporate transferees with relocation packages. Think twice if you have school-age teenagers, need English in every transaction, can't handle extreme temperatures, or you're expecting a plug-and-play move like Spain or Portugal.
Watch: Life in South Korea
Hand-picked videos from expats and creators on the ground.
Cost of Living in Seoul Breakdown
Truth About Living in Korea as a Foreigner
6 Reasons Expats Choose Korea
Visas & Immigration
As a British citizen, you can enter South Korea visa-free for 90 days as a tourist. The K-ETA (electronic travel authorisation) is normally required, but British nationals are exempt until 31 December 2026.
Note: You cannot work during this period.
If you will be staying more than 90 days, you must register as a foreigner within 90 days of entry
Beyond that, here are your options…
Visa-Free Tourist Entry
Visa-Free Tourist Entry
Valid passport only. K-ETA exempt for Brits until end of 2026. You can explore, job-hunt, and apartment-hunt on this. Don't overstay though - it blacklists you.
90 days
Free
H-1 Working Holiday
H-1 Working Holiday
Age 18-35 under the current UK-specific KVAC London checklist, minimum funds KRW 3,000,000, health insurance, and normally a return ticket or funds for one. The visa is usually granted for 1 year, and UK nationals can apply for an extension of up to 1 additional year. Work is capped at 25 hours a week.
1 year (+1 year extension for Brits)
Free for UK nationals
E-2 Foreign Language Instructor
E-2 Foreign Language Instructor
This is the classic teaching visa. It requires a qualifying university degree and employer sponsorship. A TEFL/TESOL/CELTA is not a universal visa requirement, although many employers and programmes (like EPIK) require it or use it to work out pay level. EPIK public schools pay around 2.05m to KRW 2.8m per month depending on region and level. Accommodation also provided. Private hagwons pay more but GOV.UK warns about poor conditions and contract breaches.
1 year (renewable)
~£35
E-7 Skilled Worker
E-7 Skilled Worker
Covers 87+ occupation codes from engineering to finance. It generally requires a degree plus 1-5 years' experience, Korean employer sponsorship, minimum salary ~£15,000–18,000/year. Job-changing requires immigration approval - so you are tied to the sponsor.
1–3 years (renewable)
~£35
F-1-D Digital Nomad (Workcation)
F-1-D Digital Nomad (Workcation)
Income threshold is steep: official requirements include annual income above twice the previous year’s GNI per capita (the current official example is KRW 84.96 million), at least one year of experience in the same industry, and personal medical insurance covering at least KRW 100 million. The visa is granted for 1 year and can be extended once. Employment or other profit-making activities in Korea are not allowed.
1 year (renewable once, 2 years max)
~£250 total
D-8 Corporate Investor
D-8 Corporate Investor
Minimum investment works out to around £50,000+ from abroad, you have to establish a Korean corporation, acquire 10%+ of voting shares. Real money required, but it's a viable path if you're starting a business. Leads to permanent residency after 3–5 years.
Up to 2 years (renewable)
Min. investment 100 million KRW
F-6 Marriage / Spouse
F-6 Marriage / Spouse
Legally registered marriage to Korean national, basic Korean proficiency, income/accommodation proof. Gives unrestricted work rights. Path to permanent residency in 2 years. You'll need to prove the relationship is genuine.
Initially 90 days, extended to 1-3 years
~£35
Permanent residency (F-5) isn’t something you casually stumble into… you’re earning it the long way round. You can expect to wait five+ years living in Korea, and you’ll need a solid income (roughly double the GNI), passing a Korean language and culture test, and keeping your record clean.
Realistically, you’re looking at 5–7 years from arrival and that’s if everything goes smoothly.
Most people don’t jump straight there. The usual stepping stone is the F-2-7 points visa… a slightly gamified system where you need 80 out of 170 points based on your age, education, income, and Korean ability.
Naturalisation is another level again. You’ll need F-5 first, several more years in-country, proof of assets (around £34k), and another round of language/culture testing. Then you wait… typically 12–18 months for processing.
Korea is not big on dual citizenship. In most cases, becoming Korean means giving up your British passport.
All in, you’re looking at a 7=10+ year journey from arrival to citizenship - longer if you take a few wrong turns along the way.
In reality, very few British expats choose to pursue this path.
Visa best practices: If you're under 36, the H-1 Working Holiday visa is hard to beat - two years, zero fees, and generous for Brits. Use it to test-drive Korea, network, learn Korean, and line up an E-2 or E-7 sponsorship for the long term. If you're over 35 with a professional career, you'll need an employer willing to sponsor an E-7… start the job hunt before you arrive.
Cost of Living
Living in South Korea can be very affordable.
Alcohol is cheap, and eating out in restaurants is also very low cost compared to UK standards, although international restaurants and goods come at a higher price.
As with most countries, living costs in the city are significantly higher to those in rural areas. That said however, the average cost of living in South Korea’s capital city Seoul is still much lower than London.
Rent in Seoul is roughly 60% below London and 35% below the UK national average. Besides this, eating out, transport, and utilities deliver the biggest savings.
The numbers below are crowdsourced from the latest South Korea Numbeo data:
| Category | South Korea | UK avg | London |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-bed flat, city centre | £431/mo | £1,019/mo | £2,367/mo |
| 3-bed flat, city centre | £1,061/mo | £1,680/mo | £3,810/mo |
| Meal out (for 2, mid-range) | £31 | £65 | £80 |
| Beer (pint, restaurant) | £2.55 | £5.00 | £6.50 |
| Monthly transport pass | £33 | £75 | £200 |
| Utilities (85m², monthly) | £131 | £240 | £286 |
| Gym membership (monthly) | £39 | £35 | £60 |
| International school (annual) | £16,270 | £16,590 | £22,600 |
Source: Numbeo, March 2026. Exchange rate: £1 = 1,960 KRW.
Where Korea saves you serious money
Rent is the big one. Compared to the UK - especially London - it feels like someone’s quietly knocked a chunk off your biggest monthly expense.
You get more space, better buildings, and often a shorter, easier commute.
A one-bed city centre flat apartment at £431 is 58% below the UK average and 82% below London.
Eating out is the other game-changer. It’s not just cheaper - it’s easier. Grabbing dinner is often less hassle (and sometimes less money) than cooking, and once you get into Korean food properly, your weekly shop shrinks fast. A mid-range meal for two at £31 is less than half the UK price, and street food can be picked up easily at £2-4 per dish. Tasty, too!
A monthly transport pass at £33 covers Seoul's entire metro, bus, and bike network. Utilities at £131 are 45% below the UK.
Where Korea costs more
Groceries for a Western-style diet are the main premium.
Korean beef can be particularly expensive at £18/kg, cheese £10/kg, and fruit is significantly more expensive.
A basket averaged family-of-four weekly shop is roughly £110 versus £90 in the UK - but remember that's for a Western-style basket.
A Korean-style diet (rice, vegetables, tofu, kimchi) costs much less.
International school fees at £16,000-35,000/year per child are the other major expense - and arguably the biggest of all.
Realistic monthly budgets
These budgets are based on Numbeo pricing and they are for illustrative purposes only.
Your own monthly outgoings will vary based on your lifestyle (and living arrangements).
- Single person, Seoul: £1,100-1,400/month - one-bed flat, eating Korean food most days, transport pass, utilities
- Single person, outside Seoul: £700-950/month - Busan, Daejeon, or similar
- Couple, Seoul: £1,500-2,200/month - eating out regularly, weekend trips
- Family of four, Korean daycare (Seoul): £2,200-3,000/month - without international school fees
- Family of four, international school (Seoul): £4,200-8,000/month - school fees add £2,000-5,000/month depending on school
- English teacher with free housing: £400-700/month savings on a ₩2.3M salary - achievable while still enjoying yourself
Looking at the bigger picture, South Korea is brilliant value for singles, couples, and corporate expats with relocation packages.
On a teacher's salary with free housing, you can save more than you ever did in Britain.
But for self-funding families with school-age children, international school fees largely cancel out the cost-of-living savings - and can end up costing you even more.
Your lifestyle creep matters: Korea is great value day-to-day - cheaper rent, cheap transport, and eating out is often easier than cooking. But if you try to live a Western lifestyle (or pay school fees), those savings disappear fast.
Climate
Weather data for Seoul, South Korea. 30-year averages from Open-Meteo (1991–2020).
Average Monthly Temperature (°C)
Average Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Right Now in Seoul
Overcast
Feels Like
12°C
Humidity
98%
Wind
7 km/h
Hottest Month
Aug (29°C)
Coldest Month
Jan (-7°C)
Wettest Month
Jul (307mm)
Driest Month
Jan (14mm)
Annual Rainfall
1,163mm
Avg Temperature
8–16°C
Where to Live
Sensational Seoul is where the vast majority of British expats end up - a vibrant, dynamic capital which has the best of cosmopolitan living, history and tradition, and entertainment, where sumptuous palaces and temples sit proudly next to glittering skyscrapers.
Buzzing at any time of day or night, Seoul is South Korea’s premier destination for expats, who are drawn to the fabulous restaurants and gigantic malls, electric nightlife, large and welcoming expat community, cute café culture, and excellent job opportunities.
This is a city that never sleeps, where you can get your hands on almost anything you want at any time of day or night.
Beyond Seoul, the expat community thins out dramatically.
Busan
South Korea's second city offers something Seoul can't — beaches. Haeundae and Gwangalli provide genuine coastal living alongside big-city amenities, with rent 20–30% cheaper than the capital and noticeably milder winters.
3.4M
£1,000–1,600/mo
Daejeon
Korea's science hub, home to KAIST and numerous government research institutes. Significantly cheaper than Seoul, under an hour by KTX, and surrounded by mountains. Ideal for researchers and academics.
1.5M
£850–1,400/mo
Incheon (Songdo)
Korea's experiment in building a city from scratch — eco-design, tech infrastructure, wide boulevards, and a growing cluster of international schools. Connected to Seoul by metro. Good for families wanting a quieter environment near the airport.
3M (Incheon) / Songdo ~180K
£1,000–1,500/mo
Jeju Island
The mildest climate in Korea — rarely below freezing, rarely insufferable in summer. A UNESCO-listed volcanic island with stunning landscapes and a growing digital nomad scene. You'll need a car, and mainland trips mean flights.
680K
£1,000–1,500/mo
Pangyo / Bundang
Korea's Silicon Valley — headquarters of Kakao, NHN, Nexon, and NCsoft. Just south of Seoul with modern apartments and excellent international schools. Where tech-industry expat families land.
~500K (Bundang district)
£1,200–1,800/mo
Seoul
The only serious option for most British expats — where the jobs, schools, English-language services, and social life cluster. World-class metro at £33/month, 1Gbps broadband, and Korean BBQ that ruins you for British food. Summers are brutal; winters are Siberian.
9.6M city / 26M metro
£1,400–2,200/mo
Healthcare
South Korea possesses an excellent healthcare system with modern facilities and well qualified medical staff providing a high level of care.
By most metrics, it is better than the NHS - we’re talking faster, more technologically advanced, and astonishingly affordable.
That is not to say that it is free at the point of use - it’s not; you will pay co-payments - but a GP visit that costs £3-11 versus a three-week wait for a free one back home? That’s a trade most Brits accept cheerfully.
Korea ranked 2nd globally in the 2025 CEOWORLD Health Care Index and has over four times more hospital beds per capita than the UK.
National Health Insurance (NHI)
National Health Insurance (NHI) is what makes Korean healthcare work - and yes, you’ll almost certainly be in it.
If you’re employed, you’re enrolled automatically through your employer.
Contributions are based on your salary, with the current rate at just over 7% split between you and your employer - so you’ll personally pay roughly half of that. If you’re not employed, you’ll be brought into the system after around six months, with contributions calculated based on income, assets, and household factors.
What you get for that… is excellent.
NHI covers GP visits, specialists, hospital stays, prescriptions, emergency care, maternity, and even some traditional Korean medicine.
No, it’s not free at the point of use like the NHS - instead, you pay a share of the cost. Inpatient care is typically around 20%, while outpatient visits vary depending on where you go (clinics are cheaper, major hospitals cost more). In practice, though, most routine care still feels really affordable.
A typical GP visit might cost less than a takeaway, prescriptions are heavily subsidised, and even more complex treatment is far cheaper - and faster - than most Brits are used to.
Ambulances (dial 119) are free.
Private health insurance
Private health insurance in Korea is optional - but a lot of people have it, around 77% of the population by some reports.
Most Koreans carry some form of supplemental cover on top of NHI, and many expats follow the same approach. The idea isn’t to replace the system (which is already good), but to smooth out the gaps… so things like higher-tier hospitals, faster access, or extra reimbursement on bigger bills.
Costs vary a lot depending on what you want. A basic supplemental plan is usually pretty affordable - think somewhere in the tens of pounds per month for an individual.
Full international health insurance is a different story: more comprehensive, globally portable, and priced accordingly — typically low hundreds per month for an individual, and significantly more for families.
We generally suggest: use NHI for everyday care, and layer a supplemental policy on top for peace of mind.
Full international cover tends to make more sense if you want treatment flexibility across countries, or you’re on a corporate expat package.
The big providers operating in Korea include Cigna, Bupa Global, Allianz, and AXA - but the exact plan matters far more than the brand.
Mental health
English-speaking mental health services exist in Seoul - Seoul Global Center offers five counselling sessions for about £29, and private practices accept international insurance.
But if we look outside Seoul, English-language mental health support is basically non-existent.
Incidentally, South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the OECD, and there is still a lot of cultural stigma around mental health that is not helping this trend. Budget for private support if this matters to you.
Pharmacies are easy to find and identified by green cross signs. Hospitals cannot dispense prescriptions - you take your script to a nearby pharmacy.
Prescription costs with NHI are heavily subsidised.
The headline numbers: GP visit: £3–11. MRI with specialist consultations: ~£90. Dental checkup: £17–23. Ambulance: free. Monthly NHI contribution: £40–90 (employee share). Korea's healthcare is not free at the point of use like the NHS, but the speed, quality, and cost make it genuinely superior for most routine and specialist care. No reciprocal healthcare agreement exists between the UK and South Korea.
Tax
South Korea's tax system is surprisingly expat-friendly… if you know about the flat tax option.
The Korean tax year runs January to December, with filing due by 31 May.
Korean income tax
Korea runs a standard progressive system, with rates from 6% up to 45%, plus a 10% local surtax on top. That puts the true top rate just under 50% - but you only hit that at very high income levels.
Most expats land somewhere in the middle brackets, where the effective rate typically feels closer to the mid-20s to mid-30s depending on your salary and deductions.
The flat tax for foreign workers
There’s a second option: a flat tax designed specifically for foreign workers.
Instead of the progressive system, you can elect a flat 19% national rate (with local tax added on top), which usually lands just over 20% all-in. It’s available for up to 20 years from when you start working in Korea.
The idea is that you give up all deductions, credits, and allowances… in exchange for a clean, predictable rate.
For higher earners (starting from around 80K+, this can be a big win. For mid-range salaries, it’s worth running the numbers both ways - because the “best” option isn’t always obvious.
(Note: the scheme is currently extended to the end of 2028, but always double-check before relying on it.)
On top of income tax, you’ll also see standard deductions for social contributions.
As an employee, expect roughly:
- National Pension: 4.5% (matched by your employer)
- Health Insurance: 3.6% (your share)
- Employment Insurance: 0.9%
All in, your share usually lands just under 9% of salary.
UK-Korea Double Taxation Agreement
The UK-South Korea tax treaty is there to stop you being taxed twice on the same income - but it doesn’t mean you get to pick and choose where you pay.
In general:
- Employment income is taxed where the work is physically done
- If you’re in Korea long enough to become tax resident, Korea takes primary taxing rights
- Short stays (under 183 days, paid from abroad with no Korean presence) may be exempt… but this is very fact-specific and you should seek professional advice.
Pensions are where things get more nuanced. Again, it’s worth seeking out specialist expat tax advice.
Remote workers earning GBP
If you’re living in Korea and working remotely for a UK employer, the key number is 183 days.
Cross that, and you’re generally treated as a Korean tax resident… meaning Korea expects to tax income tied to work performed there, regardless of where you’re paid.
There is one useful wrinkle to this system in that, for your first five years (within a 10-year window), foreign-source income is typically only taxed if you bring it into Korea.
This can be advantageous if structured properly, but it does require careful planning to avoid any costly mistakes.
Pension sting
This is one of the reasons why British expats in Korea skew towards the younger demographics…
Your UK State Pension is still paid in South Korea - but it’s frozen. There are no annual increases, and no triple lock.
Whatever rate you leave with is what you keep.
Meaning… over time, inflation quietly eats away at it.
On the Korean side, you’ll contribute to the National Pension - but as a British citizen, you generally can’t reclaim those contributions as a lump sum when you leave, unlike some other nationalities.
If you’re thinking long-term, it’s worth looking at voluntary UK National Insurance contributions - but check the current rules and rates before acting, as they do change.
Budget £500-1,000 for a cross-border tax consultation before you move - the interaction between Korean flat tax, UK SRT, pension freezing, and the social security convention requires professional advice beyond the scope of this guide.
Families & Schools
South Korea is a fantastic place to raise kids… if someone else is picking up the school bill.
All in all, you’re getting world-renowned safety, excellent healthcare, and some of the best international schools in Asia. Day-to-day life is clean, efficient, and family-friendly.
Kids can take public transport safely, walk around at night, and generally have a level of independence that would feel unusual in the UK….
So what is the catch?
The biggest expense of them all:
International school fees.
International schools
- Dulwich College Seoul: Part of the London-founded network. British curriculum (IGCSE to IB), ages 3–18. Popular with UK families and corporate expats. Annual fees start from around ₩40,700,000 (over £20,000).
- Seoul Foreign School (SFS): Widely regarded as Korea's best international school. A dedicated British School alongside an American track. Current 2026/27 tuition is ₩27,285,000 + $13,500 for Years 1-6; Years 6-8 are ₩27,930,000 + $14,625; Years 9-12 are ₩33,370,000 + $14,955. Annual round-trip bus fee is ₩4,200,000. Expensive? Yes!
- Korea International School (KIS): Gangnam and Pangyo campuses. American curriculum. K-5 at ₩21,090,000 + $10,430; Grades 6-8 at ₩22,860,000 + $11,030; Grades 9-12 at ₩26,590,000 + $12,060.
- Yongsan International School (YISS): More affordable, starting from ₩31,297,418 (around £15/16K)
All prices are indicative only, based on our 2026 research. Check the respective websites of each school for the latest fees - or the Intentional Schools Database.
Also: expect registration and enrolment fees of £1,700-5,700 on top, plus 10-30% above tuition for uniforms, transport, trips, and activities.
Most corporate expat packages cover school fees - without that, the sums are eye-wateringly high.
State schools
Are state schools feasible for skirting the private school cost?
Technically, yes.
Realistically… rarely.
Foreign children with an ARC can attend Korean public schools for free. But everything is taught in Korean, and there’s very limited structured support for non-Korean speakers.
Younger children (under 8–9) can adapt surprisingly quickly if you’re staying long-term. Beyond that, it gets tough - really tough - especially as academic pressure ramps up (which it certainly does in Korea).
By secondary school, students are studying long hours, often with additional evening hagwon (cram school). Dropping into that system as a non-Korean speaker is extremely challenging for even the most gifted of kids.
Most expat families either go international or don’t go at all.
Childcare
Daycare is widely available, safe, and well-run. Public and subsidised options can be very affordable, while private nurseries are still reasonable by UK standards. Costs vary by region and eligibility, but they’re generally far lower than British equivalents.
Keep in mind though… the daycare is almost entirely in Korean.
For younger children, that’s rarely a problem - most adapt quickly. For older kids, it can be more of a barrier.
There are also international kindergartens, but these are priced much closer to international schools than local daycare.
As a general rule, South Korea is one of the safest countries in the world for children. Violent crime is exceptionally rare. Streets are well-lit, left belongings are routinely returned, and public transport is stroller-friendly.
The expat family social world (and it’s a small one) revolves heavily around school communities.
Practicalities
Transport
Seoul’s public transport is one of those things you stop thinking about - because it just works.
Engineering works shutting down the whole line on the weekend? Nope, not here!
Seoul's metro has 23 lines, English on every sign, trains every 2-5 minutes, and runs from 5:30am to midnight. Get a T-money card (around £1.50 from any convenience store) - many single rides cost under a pound with free transfers within 30 minutes.
The Climate Card gives unlimited metro, bus, and bike hire for £35+/month. KTX high-speed rail connects Seoul to Busan in 2 hours 15 minutes for the equivalent of about £30.
As for driving, British licences can be exchanged for Korean ones with a health check only - no test required. However, Korean driving is aggressive, road fatality rates are high, and foreigners are often blamed in accidents.
Most expats don't bother with a car.
Kakao Taxi (Korea's Uber-inspired equivalent) has an English interface and is easy to use. Google Maps doesn't function properly in Korea - use KakaoMap or Naver Map instead.
Phone and internet
We’re not exaggerating about those fast Internet speeds.
Korea is home to some of the world’s fastest Internet connections.
Home broadband (100Mbps to 1Gbps) is available for around £12-25/month. Mobile plans from SK Telecom, KT, or LG U+ cost £27-45/month for unlimited data on postpaid contracts (but requires ARC and Korean bank account).
Budget MVNOs like Chingu Mobile offer unlimited 3Mbps data from around £14/month.
Prepaid SIMs are available at airports with just a passport.
Banking
You'll need a Korean bank account for almost everything.
Hana Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Woori Bank have English-language services and international desks. Once again, the general requirements are a passport, ARC, Korean phone number, proof of address.
We suggest you visit a branch in person when getting set-up - it takes about 30 minutes. For moving money from the UK, Wise is our preferred choice - it usually offers the best mid-market rates.
Language issues
You can survive in Seoul's expat areas with zero Korean.
You cannot comfortably live anywhere else without it.
That’s just the way it is in Korea.
Hangul (the Korean alphabet) can be learned in two hours - at a real push - and dramatically improves daily life - you can read menus, signs, and addresses. Korean itself is a Category 4 language requiring, which roughly equates to 2,200 hours to reach proficiency.
In other words… a serious commitment.
Naver Papago (a Korean-specific translation app) is far more accurate than Google Translate and verging on essential for daily life.
Property
Renting in Korea works very differently to the UK. There are two systems, and you need to understand both before you even start looking.
Wolse is what most expats use. It’s closest to a normal rental - you pay a deposit (usually in the thousands of pounds equivalent), plus monthly rent. The bigger your deposit, the lower your monthly rent tends to be.
Jeonse is the unusual one. Instead of paying monthly rent, you hand over a huge lump-sum deposit - often 50–80% of the property’s value - and live rent-free for the duration of the contract. At the end, you get the deposit back.
In theory, it’s a nice flexible system. But it comes with real risk.
Foreigners almost always stick to wolse. Jeonse requires a large amount of capital, and there have been well-publicised cases of landlords defaulting or deposits being tied up in disputes.
Whichever route you take:
- Use a registered estate agent
- Register your lease (this gives you legal protection over your deposit)
- Don’t rush - and don’t rely on verbal agreements
Pets
Bringing a pet to South Korea is very doable - but it’s admin-heavy, and potentially a long flight for your best friend.
At a minimum, your pet will need:
- An ISO-compliant microchip
- A valid rabies vaccination
- A FAVN rabies antibody titre test (taken at least 30 days after vaccination)
You’ll also need an APHA Export Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel.
If everything is done correctly, pets are usually released the same day at Incheon Airport with no quarantine. If anything is missing or incorrect, delays - and in some cases quarantine - are very much on the table.
Costs vary depending on your vet and airline, but expect:
- Vet work and paperwork: typically a few hundred pounds
- Crates and airline fees: anything from a couple of hundred to well over a thousand, depending on size and route
We recommend investing in the services of a specialist pet export agency to avoid any costly mistakes.
The country changes. The expat questions don't.
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