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How to open a bank account in Korea as a foreigner

You can open an account at any major bank with a passport, but until you show an Alien Registration Card and a reason for the account, most banks give you a limited account with small daily transfer caps. Here is the order that saves you a second trip.

What to bring

  • Passport
  • Alien Registration Card (ARC). Without it you usually get a limited account only — see below.
  • Proof of purpose: employment certificate or contract, student ID or enrollment certificate, or your housing contract.
  • A Korean mobile number in your name — needed for text verification and mobile banking.

Step by step

  1. 1.Choose a bank and go on a weekday

    Branches open roughly 9:00–16:00 on weekdays only. KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori and Hana have foreigner desks in Seoul and other big cities; smaller branches may ask you to come back with a Korean speaker.

    Say it in Korean

    • 은행 영업시간이 어떻게 돼요?eunhaeng yeongeopsigani eotteoke dwaeyoWhat are the bank's business hours?

  2. 2.Take a number and ask for an account plus a debit card

    Say you want to open an account (통장) and a check card (체크카드) in the same visit. The card works like a debit card and is issued on the spot at most banks.

    Say it in Korean

    • 안녕하세요. 통장을 만들고 싶어요.annyeonghaseyo. tongjangeul mandeulgo sipeoyoHello. I'd like to open a bank account.
    • 체크카드도 같이 만들 수 있어요?chekeukadeudo gachi mandeul su isseoyoCan I also get a debit card with it?

  3. 3.Fill in the forms and expect a limited account at first

    If you cannot prove the account's purpose, the bank opens a limited account (한도제한계좌): typically about 1,000,000 KRW per day at ATMs and online transfers, 3,000,000 KRW at the counter. It still receives salary and pays bills.

    Say it in Korean

    • 현금 50만 원만 인출할게요.hyeongeum osipman wonman inchulhalgeyoI'd just like to withdraw 500,000 won in cash.
    • 급여 이체용 통장과 적금 통장을 같이 개설하고 싶은데 어떤 상품이 좋을까요?geupyeo ichesyong tongjanggwa jeokgeum tongjangeul gachi gaeseolhago sipeunde eotteon sangpumi joeulkkayoI want to open both a salary account and a savings account — what products would you recommend?

  4. 4.Set up mobile banking before you leave

    Ask the clerk to install the bank app and issue your digital certificate while you are there. Doing it alone at home often fails on the identity check for foreigners.

    Say it in Korean

    • 공동인증서 갱신하려고 하는데 어떻게 해야 하나요?gongdongijeungseo gaengsinharyeogo haneunde eotteoke haeya hanayoI'd like to renew my joint certificate — how do I do that?
    • 월세 자동이체를 등록하고 싶은데 어떻게 신청해요?wolse jadongichereul deungrokago sipeunde eotteoke sincheonghaeyoI'd like to set up an auto-transfer for my monthly rent — how do I apply?

  5. 5.Register foreign-exchange use for overseas remittance

    To send money home you must register your remittance purpose and often a designated bank. Ask about fees and the yearly limit — overseas transfers are limited until you add documents.

    Say it in Korean

    • 친구한테 송금하고 싶어요. 어떻게 해요?chinguhante songgeumhago sipeoyo. eotteoke haeyoI'd like to send money to a friend. How do I do that?
    • 달러를 원화로 바꾸고 싶어요.dalleoreul wonhwaro bakkugo sipeoyoI'd like to exchange dollars into won.
    • 해외 송금을 하려고 하는데 수수료가 어느 정도 들어요?haeoe songgeumeul haryeogo haneunde susuryoga eoneu jeongdo deureoyoI'd like to send money overseas — about how much are the fees?

  6. 6.Lift the limits later

    Come back with an employment certificate or three months of salary deposits, or set up utility auto-payments. Credit cards are a separate application and usually need a steady income history.

    Say it in Korean

    • 신용카드를 발급받고 싶은데 외국인도 가능한가요?sinyongkadeureul balgeupbatgo sipeunde oegugindo ganeunghangayoI'd like to apply for a credit card — are foreigners eligible?
    • 외환 거래 한도가 제한된다고 들었는데 구체적으로 어떤 기준이 적용되나요?oehwan georae handoga jehandoendago deureonneunde guchejeogeuro eotteon gijuni jeogyongdoenayoI heard foreign exchange transactions have limits — what specific criteria apply?

Cost and time

Account and debit card
Free at most banks
Time at the branch
About 30–60 minutes
Limited-account caps
About 1,000,000 KRW per day (ATM, online); varies by bank

Watch out

  • Never lend your account or card to anyone. Accounts used by others are treated as fraud accounts and can get you blacklisted.
  • Keep the phone number on file active — most bank apps verify you by text message.
  • A passport-only account may not support online banking at all; upgrade it after you receive your ARC.

Steps, fees and deadlines were checked against the sources below on 2026-09-12. Rules change — confirm with the office or company you visit. Sources: KB국민은행 — 한도제한계좌 안내 · Seoulstart — Banking in Korea for foreign residents

Real questions from residents

Asked and answered by foreigners living in Korea on WeBring Connect.

Ask your own question

All 60 bank phrases

Daily life in Korea runs on small, specific phrases. These 60 bank expressions cover the situations residents face in practice, each with romanization and an English meaning (A2–C1). Examples include “체크카드도 같이 만들 수 있어요” and “현금 50만 원만 인출할게요”. These 60 phrases are graded A2 16 · B1 14 · B2 16 · C1 14 on the CEFR scale and run from 12 to 50 characters.

KoreanMeaning (EN)
안녕하세요. 통장을 만들고 싶어요.annyeonghaseyo. tongjangeul mandeulgo sipeoyoHello. I'd like to open a bank account.
체크카드도 같이 만들 수 있어요?chekeukadeudo gachi mandeul su isseoyoCan I also get a debit card with it?
친구한테 송금하고 싶어요. 어떻게 해요?chinguhante songgeumhago sipeoyo. eotteoke haeyoI'd like to send money to a friend. How do I do that?
현금 50만 원만 인출할게요.hyeongeum osipman wonman inchulhalgeyoI'd just like to withdraw 500,000 won in cash.
ATM에서 카드가 안 나와요.ATM-eseo kadeuga an nawayoMy card isn't coming out of the ATM.
달러를 원화로 바꾸고 싶어요.dalleoreul wonhwaro bakkugo sipeoyoI'd like to exchange dollars into won.
비밀번호를 잊어버렸어요.bimilbeonhoreul ijeobeoryeosseoyoI've forgotten my password.
은행 영업시간이 어떻게 돼요?eunhaeng yeongeopsigani eotteoke dwaeyoWhat are the bank's business hours?
번호표는 어디에서 뽑아요?beonhopyoneun eodieseo ppobayo?Where do I take a queue number ticket?
외국인등록증하고 여권 둘 다 필요해요?oegugin deungnokjeunghago yeogwon dul da piryohaeyo?Do I need both my alien registration card and my passport?
인터넷뱅킹을 신청하고 싶어요.inteonetbaengkingeul sincheonghago sipeoyo.I would like to sign up for internet banking.
카드를 잃어버렸어요. 분실 신고해 주세요.kadeureul ireobeoryeosseoyo. bunsil singohae juseyo.I lost my card. Please report it as lost and block it.
지금 계좌 잔액이 얼마예요?jigeum gyejwa janaegi eolmayeyo?How much is the balance in my account right now?
이 지로 용지로 전기 요금을 내고 싶어요.i jiro yongjiro jeongi yogeumeul naego sipeoyo.I would like to pay this electricity bill with this giro slip.
ATM에서 돈은 안 나왔는데 통장에서는 빠져나갔어요.ATM-eseo doneun an nawanneunde tongjangeseoneun ppajyeonagasseoyo.The ATM did not dispense the cash, but the amount was taken from my account.
영어 되는 직원분 계세요?yeongeo doeneun jigwonbun gyeseyo?Is there a staff member who speaks English?
급여 이체용 통장과 적금 통장을 같이 개설하고 싶은데 어떤 상품이 좋을까요?geupyeo ichesyong tongjanggwa jeokgeum tongjangeul gachi gaeseolhago sipeunde eotteon sangpumi joeulkkayoI want to open both a salary account and a savings account — what products would you recommend?
해외 송금을 하려고 하는데 수수료가 어느 정도 들어요?haeoe songgeumeul haryeogo haneunde susuryoga eoneu jeongdo deureoyoI'd like to send money overseas — about how much are the fees?
신용카드를 발급받고 싶은데 외국인도 가능한가요?sinyongkadeureul balgeupbatgo sipeunde oegugindo ganeunghangayoI'd like to apply for a credit card — are foreigners eligible?
예금 만기가 다음 주인데 자동 재예치보다 다른 상품으로 갈아타면 어떨까요?yegeum mangiga daeum juinde jadong jaeyechiboda dareun sangpumeuro garatamyeon eotteolkkayoMy deposit matures next week — what about switching to a different product instead of auto-renewing?
공동인증서 갱신하려고 하는데 어떻게 해야 하나요?gongdongijeungseo gaengsinharyeogo haneunde eotteoke haeya hanayoI'd like to renew my joint certificate — how do I do that?
월세 자동이체를 등록하고 싶은데 어떻게 신청해요?wolse jadongichereul deungrokago sipeunde eotteoke sincheonghaeyoI'd like to set up an auto-transfer for my monthly rent — how do I apply?
마이너스 통장은 어떻게 만들 수 있어요?maineoseu tongjangeun eotteoke mandeul su isseoyoHow can I open an overdraft account?
하루 이체 한도를 올리려면 어떤 서류를 가져와야 해요?haru iche handoreul olliryeomyeon eotteon seoryureul gajyeowaya haeyo?What documents do I need to bring to raise my daily transfer limit?
계좌가 한도제한계좌로 개설됐는데 어떻게 풀 수 있나요?gyejwaga handojehangyejwaro gaeseoldwaenneunde eotteoke pul su innayo?My account was opened as a transaction-limited account. How can I get the restriction lifted?
OTP를 새로 발급받으려는데 수수료가 얼마예요?OTP-reul saero balgeupbadeuryeoneunde susuryoga eolmayeyo?I want to get a new OTP token. How much is the fee?
본국 가족에게 매달 송금하려면 어떤 증빙 서류가 필요한가요?bonguk gajogege maedal songgeumharyeomyeon eotteon jeungbing seoryuga piryohangayo?What supporting documents do I need to send money to my family back home every month?
휴대폰 앱으로 비대면 계좌 개설이 외국인도 되나요?hyudaepon aebeuro bidaemyeon gyejwa gaeseori oegugindo doenayo?Can foreigners open an account remotely through the mobile app?
주택청약종합저축은 외국인도 가입할 수 있나요?jutaekcheongyakjonghapjeochugeun oegugindo gaipal su innayo?Can foreigners also open a housing subscription savings account?
예금자보호는 한 은행에 얼마까지 적용되나요?yegeumjabohoneun han eunhaenge eolmakkaji jeogyongdoenayo?Up to how much is deposit insurance covered per bank?
최근 금리 인상 흐름을 감안하면 변동금리보다 고정금리가 유리하지 않을까요?choegeun geumri insang heureumeul gamanhamyeon byeondonggeumriboda gojeonggeumriga yurihaji aneulkkayoGiven the recent trend of rate hikes, wouldn't a fixed rate be more advantageous than a variable one?
외환 거래 한도가 제한된다고 들었는데 구체적으로 어떤 기준이 적용되나요?oehwan georae handoga jehandoendago deureonneunde guchejeogeuro eotteon gijuni jeogyongdoenayoI heard foreign exchange transactions have limits — what specific criteria apply?
전세 자금 대출 한도를 늘리고 싶은데 추가 담보로 어떤 게 가능한지 알아보고 있어요.jeonse jageum daechul handoreul neulligo sipeunde chuga damboro eotteon ge ganeunghanji arabogo isseoyoI want to raise my jeonse loan limit and I'm exploring what could serve as additional collateral.
재테크 측면에서 ISA 계좌와 IRP를 비교하면 어느 쪽이 더 효율적일까요?jaetekeu cheungmyeoneseo ISA gyejwawa IRPreul bigyohamyeon eoneu jjogi deo hyoyuljeogilkkayoFrom an investment standpoint, which is more efficient — an ISA or an IRP?
최근 들어 정체불명의 자동이체 출금 내역이 발견됐는데, 정황을 좀 자세히 파악하고 싶습니다.choegeun deureo jeongchebulmyeongui jadongiche chulgeum naeyeogi balgyeondwaenneunde, jeonghwangeul jom jasehi pakahago sipseumnidaI recently noticed unidentified auto-debit transactions on my account, and I'd like to look into the situation in detail.
주식 양도소득세 신고 때문에 거래 명세서를 좀 발급받고 싶습니다.jusik yangdosodeukse singo ttaemune georae myeongseseoreul jom balgeupbatgo sipseumnidaI'd like to get a transaction statement for capital gains tax filing on my stocks.
법인 통장을 새로 개설할 때 보이스피싱 방지 규제로 추가 서류가 늘었다고 들었는데요.beobin tongjangeul saero gaeseolhal ttae boiseupising bangji gyujero chuga seoryuga neureotdago deureonneundeyoI heard that voice-phishing prevention rules now require extra documents when opening a new corporate account.
달러 약세장이 이어질 것 같은데, 분할 환전 전략을 추천해 주실 수 있나요?dalleo yakseijangi ieojil geot gateunde, bunhal hwanjeon jeollyageul chucheonhae jusil su innayoIt looks like the dollar will stay weak — could you recommend a phased exchange strategy?
출국을 앞두고 계좌를 정리하려는데 잔액을 해외 계좌로 보내는 절차가 궁금합니다.chulgugeul apdugo gyejwareul jeongniharyeoneunde janaegeul haeoe gyejwaro bonaeneun jeolchaga gunggeumhamnida.I am closing my accounts before leaving the country and would like to know the procedure for sending the remaining balance to an overseas account.
급여 계좌를 다른 은행으로 옮기면 기존 자동이체도 함께 이전되나요?geubyeo gyejwareul dareun eunhaengeuro omgimyeon gijon jadongichedo hamkke ijeondoenayo?If I move my salary account to another bank, will my existing automatic payments transfer as well?
신용대출을 알아보고 있는데 비자 종류에 따라 한도가 달라지나요?sinyongdaechureul arabogo inneunde bija jongnyue ttara handoga dallajinayo?I am looking into a personal loan. Does the limit change depending on my visa type?
해외에서 카드를 쓸 때 원화 결제와 현지 통화 결제 중 어느 쪽이 유리한가요?haeoeeseo kadeureul sseul ttae wonhwa gyeoljewa hyeonji tonghwa gyeolje jung eoneu jjogi yurihangayo?When I use my card abroad, is it better to pay in Korean won or in the local currency?
이자 소득에 원천징수된 세금을 본국에서 이중과세로 조정받을 수 있을까요?ija sodeuge woncheonjingsudoen segeumeul bongugeseo ijunggwasero jojeongbadeul su isseulkkayo?Can the tax withheld on my interest income be adjusted as double taxation relief back in my home country?
보이스피싱 예방을 위해 지연이체 서비스를 신청하려면 어떻게 해야 하나요?boiseupising yebangeul wihae jiyeoniche seobiseureul sincheongharyeomyeon eotteoke haeya hanayo?How do I sign up for the delayed transfer service to protect against phone scams?
오픈뱅킹으로 다른 은행 계좌까지 한 앱에서 보려면 무엇부터 해야 하나요?opeunbaengkingeuro dareun eunhaeng gyejwakkaji han aebeseo boryeomyeon mueotbuteo haeya hanayo?What is the first step to view my accounts at other banks in one app through open banking?
환율 우대를 더 받으려면 앱에서 미리 신청하고 오는 편이 나을까요?hwannyul udaereul deo badeuryeomyeon aebeseo miri sincheonghago oneun pyeoni naeulkkayo?To get a better exchange rate discount, is it better to apply in the app in advance before coming in?
포트폴리오 리밸런싱 주기를 분기로 줄이려고 하는데, 세금 비용 측면에서 권장하실 만한가요?poteupollio ribaelleonsing jugireul bungiro juriryeogo haneunde, segeum biyong cheungmyeoneseo gwonjanghasil manhangayoI'm thinking of shortening my portfolio rebalancing cycle to quarterly — would you recommend it considering tax costs?
외환 변동성이 심한 시기에 헤지 비율을 어떻게 설정하시나요?oehwan byeondongseongi simhan sigie heji biyureul eotteoke seoljeonghasinayoHow do you set the hedging ratio during periods of severe currency volatility?
주택담보대출 갈아타기를 검토 중인데, 중도상환 수수료를 고려한 실제 절감 효과가 궁금합니다.jutaekdambodaechul garatagireul geomto jungin de, jungdosanghwan susuryoreul goryeohan silje jeolgam hyogwaga gunggeumhamnidaI'm considering refinancing my mortgage — I'm curious about the real savings after accounting for prepayment fees.
ESG 펀드의 실질적 영향력에 대한 회의론이 있다고 들었는데, 어떻게 평가하시나요?ESG peondeuui siljjiljeok yeonghyangryeoge daehan hoeuironi itdago deureonneunde, eotteoke pyeonggahasinayoI heard there's skepticism about the actual impact of ESG funds — how do you evaluate it?
퇴직연금 디폴트 옵션 도입 이후 상품 선택 부담이 줄었다고 보십니까?toejigyeongeum dipeolteu opsyeon doip ihu sangpum seontaek budami juredtago bosimnikkaDo you think the burden of choosing pension products has decreased since the default option was introduced?
신탁 상품의 운용 보수가 펀드 대비 높은데도 권장되는 이유가 무엇인가요?sintak sangpumui unyong bosuga peondeu daebi nopeunde do gwonjangdoeneun iyuga mueosingayoWhy are trust products recommended despite their higher management fees compared with funds?
자녀 명의 적금에 비과세 한도를 활용하시는 분들이 늘고 있다고 하더군요.janyeo myeongui jeokgeume bigwasse handoreul hwaryonghasineun bundeuri neulgo itdago hadeogunyoI heard more parents are using tax-exempt limits on accounts in their children's names.
비거주자 계좌와 거주자 계좌의 구분이 세무 신고에 어떤 차이를 만드나요?bigeojuja gyejwawa geojuja gyejwaui gubuni semu singoe eotteon chaireul mandeunayo?What difference does the distinction between non-resident and resident accounts make for tax filing?
해외 금융 계좌 신고 의무 기준을 넘겼는지 확인하려면 어떤 자료를 봐야 할까요?haeoe geumnyung gyejwa singo uimu gijuneul neomgyeonneunji hwaginharyeomyeon eotteon jaryoreul bwaya halkkayo?Which records should I check to see whether I have crossed the reporting threshold for overseas financial accounts?
장기 체류 외국인의 신용점수는 어떤 요소로 산출되는지 궁금합니다.janggi cheryu oegugine sinyongjeomsuneun eotteon yosoro sanchuldoeneunji gunggeumhamnida.I am curious about which factors determine the credit score of a long-term foreign resident.
원리금 균등과 원금 균등 상환을 총이자 기준으로 비교하면 어느 쪽을 권하시겠습니까?wolligeum gyundeunggwa wongeum gyundeung sanghwaneul chongija gijuneuro bigyohamyeon eoneu jjogeul gwonhasigetseumnikka?Comparing equal total payment and equal principal repayment by the total interest paid, which would you recommend?
DSR 규제가 강화된 뒤 외국인 차주의 대출 심사 기준이 실질적으로 어떻게 달라졌나요?DSR gyujega ganghwadoen dwi oegugin chajuui daechul simsa gijuni siljiljeogeuro eotteoke dallajyeonnayo?Since the DSR rules were tightened, how have loan screening standards for foreign borrowers actually changed?
휴면 예금으로 넘어간 자금을 되찾으려면 어떤 절차를 밟아야 하는지 알고 싶습니다.hyumyeon yegeumeuro neomeogan jageumeul doechajeuryeomyeon eotteon jeolchareul balbaya haneunji algo sipseumnida.I would like to know the procedure for reclaiming funds that have been moved into a dormant deposit.
상속이나 증여로 받은 자금을 국내 계좌로 들여올 때 자금 출처 소명은 어디까지 요구되나요?sangsogina jeungyeoro badeun jageumeul gungnae gyejwaro deuryeool ttae jageum chulcheo somyeongeun eodikkaji yogudoenayo?When bringing funds received through inheritance or a gift into a Korean account, how far does the source-of-funds documentation have to go?

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Frequently asked questions

How many Korean bank phrases are on this page?
This page lists 60 bank phrases in Korean, each with romanization and an English meaning.
What level are these Korean bank phrases?
They span A2–C1 on the CEFR scale (A2 16 · B1 14 · B2 16 · C1 14), which suits intermediate to advanced learners.
Can I hear how these Korean phrases are pronounced?
Yes — every phrase on this page has a play button with audio. The free WeBring Korean app adds quizzes and spaced-repetition review.
How many of these bank phrases are questions?
42 of the 60 end in a question mark; the other 18 are statements.
What speech endings do these Korean phrases use?
52 end in the polite -요 form and 4 in the formal -습니다 form; the rest use other endings.