In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan after years of war, intimidation and political machinations; the country would be considered a part of Japan until 1945. In order to establish control over its new protectorate, the Empire of Japan waged an all-out war on Korean culture.

The politics of the Republic of Korea takes in place in the framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of state, and of a multi-party system. The government exercises Executive power and Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly.

There is still an Imperial royal family of Korea. His Imperial Highness King Yi Seok has lived his entire life in Korea. On October 6, 2018, His Imperial Highness King Yi Seok (77) of the Joseon dynasty, named Prince Andrew Lee (34) as his successor.

The Government of South Korea is a centralized democratic republic with the three primary branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial.

South Koreans work hard, are paid well and enjoy a stable currency and a high standard of living. The cost of living in South Korea is quite reasonable, in general, though capital city Seoul is quite expensive. Housing is typically South Korean residents’ biggest expense.

The average cost of living in South Korea is reasonable. It is not as cheap as living in some Asian countries like Laos or China, but it is also not as expensive as Japan or Singapore. In general, the most expensive living costs in the country will be found in the capital, Seoul.

A foreigner can stay in South Korea up to 3 months without a Visa. After 3 months they must leave the country, but can return. Many freelancers ‘stay’ in Seoul, spend the weekend in a neighboring country and then return. If you want to work and live in South Korea you legally will need a visa.

For US citizens you must have a valid passport to enter the Republic of Korea. Although obtaining a visa in advance can ease the entry process, as long as you have a valid U.S. passport, you can enter the Republic of Korea without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days if you are a tourist or on business.

Job Opportunities in South Korea for Foreigners In addition to teaching English, other sectors where expats will find a lot of opportunities are in IT, general office administration jobs, manufacturing, and careers related to health, science, research, and technology.

1. Surgeons / Doctors. Salary Range: from 7,090,000 KRW to 22,600,000 KRW.
2. Judges. Salary Range: from 5,950,000 KRW to 18,900,000 KRW.
3. Lawyers. Salary Range: from 4,820,000 KRW to 15,300,000 KRW.
4. Bank Managers.
5. Chief Executive Officers.
6. Chief Financial Officers.
7. Orthodontists.
8. College Professors.

Top 10

If you want to move to Korea without a job, you can apply for a D-10 Job Seeker Visa.

There is no minimum (or maximum) age to live in Seoul! Most people who live here (foreigners) come to either study or to work. Therefore, you’d most likely need to be a university student in order to get a study visa. Otherwise, you could get a work visa.

In general, moving to South Korea is easy as long as you are prepared before your arrival. Although the country has a long history of not preferring foreign migration, those sentiments have changed as Korea has started to welcome more and more international companies through its borders.