Invest KOREA

Although foreign schools, foreign educational institutions, and Korea International School (Jeju Campus) have similar names, the classification, legal basis and entry qualifications are all different.

※ The Ministry of Education's general information site (www.isi. go.kr) has various information regarding foreign educational institutions, from foreign kindergartens to foreign schools, international schools, etc.

Foreigners residing in Korea can apply for credit card issuance, and the issuance criteria differs depending on the card company. ◎ Eligibility – Foreigners with an alien registration card employed in Korea ◎ Required documents – Document certifying income (for at least the past 3 months), labor contract, alien registration card ◎ Procedure for issuance – The credit card evaluation team conducts the document evaluation. When the applicant does not pass the evaluation, a credit card can be issued with a deposit as collateral. In the case of corporations, it is possible to apply for a credit card exclusively for foreign-invested companies (such cards are issued by Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank).

In general, childcare subsidies (for use of daycare centers) are provided by the local governments. Only children who are Korean nationals with a resident registration number are eligible for the subsidies. However, in some local government districts, children of foreigners can receive childcare subsidies according to the local ordinance. Childcare subsidies for foreigners in the city of Ansan (as of July 21, 2020) ◎ Eligibility – Qualification: Children of foreigners aged 0 to 5 years using the local daycare center, whose registered place of stay is Ansan City - Assistance period: Subsidy provided during period of stay (from the month following the first three-month stay in Ansan City) ◎ Details – Subsidy amount: KRW 220,000 per month (per person) – Method of payment: When payment is settled with the Children's Happiness Card, the subsidized amount is deposited into the daycare center’s account – How to apply: The child’s guardian submits the application form and required documents to the daycare center. ◎ Inquiries: Ansan City's Childcare Policy Division (031-481-2304) Childcare subsidies for pre-school children registered as foreigners in the city of Bucheon (as of July 21, 2020) ◎ Eligibility – Qualification for receiving assistance: Children of foreigners aged 3 to 5 years using the local daycare center, whose registered place of stay is Bucheon City (the guardian must also reside in Bucheon City) – Assistance period: Subsidy provided during period of stay (from the month following the first three-month stay in Bucheon City) ◎ Details – Subsidy amount: KRW 240,000 per month (per person) – Method of payment: When payment is settled with the Children's Happiness Card, the subsidized amount is deposited into the daycare center’s account – How to apply: The guardian submits the application form and required documents to the daycare center. ◎ Inquiries: Bucheon City's Childcare Policy Division (032-625-4810)

Alien registration card, documents that can replace family relations certificate when registering family members, and power of attorney when an agent is making the application are needed. ◎ Health insurance application: Submit to a nearby National Health Insurance office or Help Center for Foreigners. In the case of applying as an employee subscriber, the National Health Insurance office governing the location of the workplace provides assistance. ◎ Application procedure – When the foreigner is making the application in person: Submit alien registration card to have the application processed on the spot. – When registering family members: Bring documents that can confirm your family relations (Documents issued from home country require the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ verification or apostille received within nine months from the date of issuance. Korean translation must be included. Documents issued domestically have an effective period of three months.), as well as alien registration card of each family member to be registered. – When delegating application: Power of attorney, alien registration card of person delegating and person delegated, documents regarding cause of delegation (e.g., document proving that person cannot apply in person due to hospitalization) -> Delegation only possible to family members (bring documents proving family relations) ◎ For questions regarding national health insurance subscription – National Health Insurance webpage (www.nhis.or.kr) – National Health Insurance Service customer center: 1577-1000 – Foreign language operator: 033-811-2000

If a foreigner is a national health insurance subscriber or a dependent family member of a national health insurance subscriber, she can receive the same benefits for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth as Korean nationals. ◎ Benefits for medical expenses for pregnancy and childbirth under the national health insurance system (Article 50 of the National Health Insurance Act; Article 23 of the Enforcement Decree of the same Act) – In order to reduce the medical costs for pregnancy and childbirth, and to create a more pregnancy-friendly society, the government provides a voucher (National Happiness Card*) that can be used to pay for the medical costs for pregnancy and childbirth (expenses both covered/uncovered by insurance) when settling co-payment expenses (implemented on December 15, 2008) ◎ Eligibility – National health insurance subscriber or a subscriber’s dependent whose pregnancy or childbirth has been confirmed (including miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy) ◎ Payment amount – For each case of pregnancy, KRW 600,000 per fetus (KRW 1 million in the case of multiple fetuses) ◎ Pregnant women residing in a region without reliable delivery facilities* at the time of application with the residing period lasting at least 30 consecutive days receive additional payment of KRW 200,000. ◎ Period of use – Date of commencement: Voucher issuance date ※ If there is a National Happiness Card that has been issued previously, the voucher may be used from the date of application (date when credit points start to accumulate) with no additional issuance. – Date of expiration: One year from the date of childbirth (expected delivery date, date of miscarriage diagnosis) ※The amount that has not been used within the period shall automatically be eliminated. ◎ Scope of usage – When paying co-payment (not covered by insurance) for medical services from a pregnant woman's pregnancy/birth, and purchasing prescribed medicine and treatment – When paying co-payment (not covered by insurance) for medical services to infants of less than one year of age, and purchasing prescribed medicine and treatment ◎ How to use the card – Medical costs are paid at the medical/treatment agemcy witth the use of voucher (National Happiness Voucher) ◎ Method of application: Apply by visiting the National Health Insurance Service or its webpage. ※ For details, visit the webpage of the National Health Insurance Service (www.nhis.or.kr) ▶ Cyber Help Center.

The holder of a driver's license issued from an organization of authority from overseas can have the validity of the license confirmed through document submission, such as a confirmation notice from the Embassy. When the foreign driver’s license is confirmed to be valid, the license holder can have it exchanged with a Korean license by undergoing an aptitude test, or an aptitude test and a simplified written exam. – In the case of a license issued by a country that recognizes a Korean driver's license, the license holder only needs to take an aptitude test (physical examination). The list of countries that recognize the Korean driver's license can be viewed at the Road Traffic Authority's public website for safe driving (https://www.safedriving.or.kr). – The holder of a license that has been issued by a country that does not recognize the Korean driver's license must take an aptitude test and a simplified written exam. Foreign investors with status of stay of D-8, his/her spouse and his/her children younger than 19 (not married) are exempt from the written examination. They can have their license exchanged at KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. – Documents to be submitted: Original copy of foreign driver's license, original copy of passport, alien registration card, 3 sheets of color photo taken within 6 months (3.5cm x 4.5cm), Embassy‘s confirmation of validity of driver's license, certificate of entry and exit (from the date of birth to the application date for license issuance), issuance fee of KRW 8,000 ※There is no physical examination room in KOTRA’s Investment Consulting Center. A D-8 visa holder visiting the Investment Consulting Center in order to have his/her driver's license exchanged shall receive physical examination in the designated hospital, after which he/she shall submit the physical examination report. ※ In the case of foreign licenses, the effectiveness is acknowledged only for full licenses with the expiration period still remaining. Temporary, learner, provisional, probationary licenses or driver permits or certificates cannot be exchanged into a Korean license.

The process is different depending on the status of stay, but in most cases, if one holds an alien registration certificate, he/she can visit a local telecom store to subscribe to a cell phone plan.

KOTRA’s Foreign Investor Support Center (FISC) is comprised with government officials from the central and local governments, officials from relevant government agencies, and KOTRA staff members who are experts in various fields. In addition to general investment consulting, FISC provides various services ranging from foreign investment notification to administrative services required for operation of business. The following services are provided for walk-in visitors (refer to Table 3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Foreign Investment Promotion Act).

According to Article 7-2 of the Immigration Act (Prohibition of false invitations, etc.), it is prohibited to engage in the following acts in order to enter a foreigner into the country. – Recording false information, providing false guarantee of identity, or engaging in other illegal acts to invite a foreigner or mediating such an act – Applying for a visa or confirmation of visa issuance under false grounds, or mediating such an act ※Persons that engage in the above acts are subject to imprisonment of up to three years or fine of up to KRW 20 million.

In order to work as a masseur/masseuse in Korea, one must be visually-impaired and hold a qualification certificate as a masseur/masseuse. According to the Medical Service Act, only visually-impaired persons are allowed to be a masseur/masseuse. In order to receive a certificate for qualifying as a masseur/masseuse, one must complete the prescribed training and will then receive a qualification certificate from the city mayor or provincial governor. Therefore, if a foreign investor establishes a massage shop in Korea and hires foreigners as employees, it constitutes a violation of the law. ※ When a non-disabled person (including foreigners) engages in the massage business, he/she can be subject to up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 30 million for violating the Medical Service Act.