⸻ 37.6 N, 127.0 E SOUTH KOREA / KR

South Korea

A dynamic destination known for its fast-paced cities, outdoors, world-class healthcare and connectivity, and growing appeal among remote earners.

C A P I T A L

Seoul

L A N G U A G E

Korean

C U R R E N C Y

South Korean Won

T I M E Z O N E

KST, UTC +9

For remote earners, it is now one of Asia’s most attractive options.

South Korea moved its workation visa (officially the F-1-D) out of pilot status on June 30, 2026, making it a permanent program with a maximum stay of three years.

Income requirements are now tiered rather than flat. Where the pilot required roughly double Korea’s per capita national income across the board, the new rules scale from one to two times that figure depending on your age and where in Korea you plan to live. Applicants aged 18 to 34 who settle outside Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Province can qualify at the lowest tier, around $37,000 in annual income based on 2025 figures, with additional reductions available in regions facing population decline. The tradeoff is geographic, and for anyone open to Busan, Jeju, or a smaller city, it is a favorable one.

The core conditions hold steady. You need at least a year with an overseas employer or ownership of a foreign business, work must stay with clients or employers outside Korea, and you will need private medical insurance and a clean criminal record. Spouses and dependent children can join you.

Two things to plan around. This visa does not lead to permanent residency, so it is a “live it before you commit” option rather than a Plan B passport. And because the income bands are brand new, consular practice is still settling, which means how your income is documented and which tier you fall into is not always obvious from the published rules.