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Living in Korea: utilities, phone and help at a glance
Home bills, phone and internet, health insurance and where to call for help, each from the utility, city or agency's official page.
The figures below are the headline numbers from each page, copied from that page's summary. Each page has the conditions, exceptions, official sources and any disagreement between sources — check it before you rely on a number.
| Page | Headline figures | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| National Health Insurance for foreign residents: who joins, premiums and family members | 7.19% Employee contribution rate, 2026 (half employee, half employer) ₩211.5 Value per point, regional subscribers, 2026 6 months Stay after which regional enrollment is mandatory | 2026-10-19 |
| Buying a SIM card or eSIM in Korea: where, what ID and what it costs | ₩6,500 KT data plan, 1 day (VAT included) ₩35,000 KT data plan, 7 days ₩71,500 KT data plan, 30 days | 2026-10-19 |
| Driving in Korea with a foreign licence: International Driving Permit or exchange | Drive on an IDP for 1 year after entry, or exchange your foreign licence at a Korean test site. | 2026-10-19 |
| Emergency and help numbers in Korea for foreigners: 112, 119, 1330 and 1345 | 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance, 1330 travel helpline, 1345 immigration line. | 2026-10-19 |
| Household electricity rates in Korea: KEPCO residential tiers, base charge per kWh and a bill estimator | KRW 120.0 per kWh, first tier (low voltage) KRW 910 base charge, first tier 300 / 200 kWh first-tier limit, summer / other months | 2026-10-19 |
| Free public Wi-Fi in Korea: Seoul's SEOUL_Secure and SEOUL networks, national Public WiFi, and how to connect | Free Official Seoul page title: "Seoul free Wi-Fi" SEOUL_Secure Seoul's recommended encrypted network (ID and password: seoul) 1 hour Session limit on the national "Public WiFi Free" network | 2026-10-19 |
| Korea public holidays in 2026: every date, the substitute holidays and whether private employers must give the day off | 16 Feb - 18 Feb Seollal (Lunar New Year), Mon to Wed 24 - 26 Sep Chuseok, Thu to Sat (no substitute listed) 4 substitute holidays in 2026: 2 Mar, 25 May, 17 Aug, 5 Oct | 2026-10-19 |
| Sending a parcel abroad from Korea: EMS and international air parcel rates, weight limits and what you need | ₩46,000 EMS parcel 1 kg to the United States ₩28,500 EMS parcel 1 kg to Japan 30 kg / 20 kg Maximum weight: US, Japan / Australia | 2026-10-19 |
| Lost something in Korea: where to ask (subway, taxi, airport, Lost112), how long items are kept and how to claim | 7 days At the station or centre before it goes to the police 6 months Police retention (Seoul Metro chart) 09:00 to 18:00 Subway lost-and-found centres, weekdays only | 2026-10-19 |
| Renting a home in Korea as a foreigner: protect your deposit with a move-in report and a fixed date (확정일자) | Next day protection starts the day after you take possession and complete the move-in report KRW 600 fixed-date fee per contract (+100 per extra 4 pages over 4) KRW 60 million / 300,000 lease-report thresholds: deposit above, or monthly rent above | 2026-10-19 |
| Garbage and recycling rules in Seoul: what goes in the volume-based bag, food waste rules and how to dispose of bulky items | Seoul household waste rules: an item-by-item sorting table, what must stay out of food waste, how to report and pay for bulky items, and why bag prices differ by district. | 2026-10-19 |
| City gas rates for homes in Seoul: the residential price per MJ, base charge and how your gas bill is calculated | KRW 22.5268 / MJ residential cooking and heating, Seoul City Gas table effective 2026-10-01 KRW 1,250 residential base charge, per household per month 10% VAT added in the bill formula | 2026-10-19 |
| KIIP (Korea Immigration and Integration Program): cost per level, hours, how to register and what it does for PR and naturalisation | KRW 100,000 per level for Levels 1 to 4 (100 hours each) 515 hours Levels 0 to 5 in total (derived arithmetic) KRW 500,000 all of Levels 1 to 5 at the full rate (derived arithmetic) | 2026-10-19 |
| Seoul water bill: tap water, sewage and water-use charge per cubic metre, meter base fees and a household bill estimator | 580 won tap water per m³, household, since 1 Jan 2023 480 won sewage per m³, household, 2026 (560 won in 2027) 170 won water-use charge per m³, all customer types | 2026-10-19 |
| How much does a doctor visit cost in Korea with National Health Insurance: co-payment rates for clinics, hospitals, inpatient stays and pharmacies | 30% clinic (uiwon) or pharmacy, outpatient 40% / 50% hospital / general hospital in a city district (dong) 60% of the bill other than the consultation fee at a tertiary general hospital | 2026-10-19 |
| Do I have to pay the TV licence fee in Korea: who must register a TV set, the 30-day rule, exemptions and what happens if you do not pay | 30 days to register a TV set after getting it 1 set charged per household in a home used only as a residence under 50 kWh monthly home electricity use that exempts that month | 2026-10-19 |
| How to get a driver's licence in Korea as a foreigner (not an exchange): test steps, fees and languages | KRW 10,000 written test registration (1st and 2nd class) KRW 25,000 practical test registration (ordinary licence) KRW 30,000 on-road test registration | 2026-10-19 |
| Domestic post in Korea: Korea Post letter and parcel prices by weight and size | KRW 470 standard letter up to 5 g (from 2026-07-01) KRW 4,000 registered parcel, counter, up to 3 kg and 80 cm KRW 2,700 general parcel, counter, up to 3 kg and 80 cm | 2026-10-19 |
| Using a pharmacy in Korea: finding a weekend or night pharmacy, and the 13 medicines sold at convenience stores | 13 items safe household medicines on the MFDS list 1 day's dose per purchase at a convenience store (2012 rule) 1330 Korea Travel Helpline, 8 languages | 2026-10-19 |
| What plug and voltage does South Korea use? 220 V, 60 Hz, two round holes, and a device-label check | 220 V standard voltage in Korea 60 Hz standard frequency 2 round holes shape of the outlet | 2026-10-19 |
| Seoul Global Center and the city's foreigner support centres: what they offer, phone numbers, hours and languages | 02-2075-4180 Seoul Global Center phone 15 centres counselling centres on the Seoul foreigner portal list 2008 year the Seoul Global Center was founded | 2026-10-19 |