The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to South Korea (+ Korea's Digital Nomad Visa) 2024

A Digital Nomad Guide to South Korea & The Digital Nomad Visa 2024

South Korea is an excellent destination if you’re looking for a unique cultural experience as a digital nomad! With a fascinating history, popular pop culture, delicious food, and one of the best digital nomad visas, it’s the ideal place to work remotely.

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is an East Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its many large cities and coastal towns offer excellent opportunities for digital nomads.
In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of being a digital nomad in South Korea, its new digital nomad visa, and the best cities. We’ll also answer other common questions about working remotely in South Korea. Whether you’re a new digital nomad exploring your options or you’ve been doing it a while and want to see new places, this guide will help!

Can you be a digital nomad in South Korea?

South Korea is an excellent place to be a digital nomad. Not only is there a special digital nomad visa that welcomes remote workers, but there are many cities to choose from and many fun things to see and do.

Here are some of the best perks of being a digital nomad in South Korea:

Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa: Anyone who has worked for a foreign company or as a freelancer for more than a year can be a digital nomad in South Korea for up to two years (more details below)
Diverse cities: From vibrant cities to quiet beach towns, there are various places to work remotely, no matter the vibe you’re looking for.
Fun experiences: With a special culture, you can explore art, history, food, and fun activities. There are also mountains and beaches throughout South Korea to experience unique landscapes.
Digital nomad opportunities: South Korea’s high-speed internet, various workspaces, and digital nomad community make it easy to work remotely.
Easy travel: Depending on where you stay, it’s easy to travel throughout much of South Korea. There’s public transportation around and between larger cities. There are also several large airports.

South Korea Digital Nomad Visa

The South Korea Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Workation Visa, is relatively new as of January 1st, 2024. It allows you to work remotely in Korea for up to two years. If you have a spouse and/or children, they can also join you.

guide to south korea and digital nomad visa

To qualify for the South Korea Digital Nomad Visa, you must:

Be employed in a foreign country, including if you work for yourself/as a freelancer
Be 18 years or older
Earn more than twice the most recent Korean gross national income per capita or approximately $66,000 per year
Not have a criminal record
Have medical insurance that covers about $72,000 for medical treatment and return home in case of emergency
Not be employed in Korea at any time during your stay

For your application, you’ll need the following documents:

Visa application form
Valid passport
One passport photo taken within the last six months
Visa fee, which varies by citizenship but is usually less than $100
Letter for proof of 1-year employment record
Salary or income proof issued within the previous two weeks
Background check
Marriage and birth certificate if family is joining you

Read More: 5 Best Digital Nomad Visas in Asia

Best Places to Be a Digital Nomad in South Korea

Whether you’re interested in a vibrant, coastal, or budget-friendly destination, there’s something for all digital nomads in South Korea. Below, we’ll explore six of the best cities in South Korea for working remotely.

Seoul

Seoul is one of the most popular and developed cities in South Korea and Asia. It’s also the capital of the Republic of Korea. If you enjoy city life and are looking for modern conveniences, Seoul is an excellent place to live and work remotely.

The entire city is filled with rich history, a lively nightlife scene, coworking spaces, and cafes. There are also tons of unique neighbourhoods to live in and explore throughout Seoul.

Incheon

Incheon borders Seoul. Although it’s a bit smaller than Seoul, it’s one of South Korea’s most populous cities. It’s also on the coast, ideal if you enjoy beaches. It’s also famous as the hub for Korean Chinese restaurants where you can enjoy amazing dishes like jjajjangmyun.

Incheon is also conveniently located near the Incheon International Airport, making travel easy. It’s also a bit more affordable than Seoul, making a work-life balance more accessible.

While there aren’t coworking spaces in Incheon, many great cafes exist. You can also take the train to Seoul to find a coworking space.

Busan

Busan is a coastal destination and South Korea’s second-largest city. It’s about a three-hour train ride from Seoul, making it easy to travel around. It has a slower pace of life than Seoul, while offering. wealth of things to do.

If you enjoy cultural experiences, including delicious food, local attractions, and beautiful beaches, you’ll love Busan. There are also plenty of cafes and coworking spaces for working, some of which are on the coast and offer some of the best work views.

Daegu

Daegu is one of the best cities in South Korea for digital nomads who are also history buffs and nature lovers. With historic sites, templates, hiking trails, and a vibrant nightlife, there’s a lot to see and do in Daegu.

Although Daegu isn’t as built up as other big cities in South Korea, it has a unique charm. Digital nomads who like getting off the beaten path enjoy Daegu’s peaceful atmosphere. By train, it’s only an hour and a half from Seoul and two and a half hours from Busan, making it easy to explore outside of Daegu.

Suwon

Suwon is one of South Korea’s most unique cities. It’s home to the famous Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the annual Hwaseong Cultural Festival, and an incredible street food scene. It’s also the centre of politics, economy, and culture.

Suwon offers many opportunities for digital nomads, including workspaces and a lot to see and do. Like most larger cities in Seoul, it’s easy to travel from Suwon by train to other popular destinations.

Gwangju

If you’re looking for a lively atmosphere with trendy restaurants, shopping, clubs, and bars, you’ll love Gwangju. Mudeungsan National Park is also just outside the city, which is the perfect place to enjoy nature when you’re offline.

Many digital nomads also appreciate that Gwangju’s cost of living is less than other cities in South Korea and that it’s conveniently close to other major cities.

Cost of Living in South Korea

South Korea, especially Seoul, is one of the more expensive destinations for digital nomads. That said, it’s generally cheaper than most places in the US or UK.

While the higher prices can be worth it for the convenient transportation, unique experience, and high-quality healthcare, there are also free attractions, including museums, parks, and beaches.

Costs vary by city, but here’s an overview of the average costs for basic expenses in South Korea:

Accommodation: You can rent a 1-bedroom apartment in the city centre for about $493 per month or outside the city centre for about $364. That said, it seems these costs can be higher, especially in large cities like Seoul.
Dining: An inexpensive meal costs about $7, but there are many finer dining options that cost more.
Drinks: A beer or coffee costs about $4.
Transportation: A monthly train pass costs about $44.

Cafes and Coworking Spaces in South Korea

One of South Korea’s major perks for digital nomads is the strong internet connection, which you can find at many cafes and coworking spaces.

Some of the best places digital nomads in South Korea recommend working at include:

WeWork: A popular coworking space with various locations, events, and workspaces in Seoul and Busan
Terarosa: A spacious cafe with food, drinks, and ample seating in Seoul

Hollys Cafe: A beautiful coffee shop with good drinks and food in a park, perfect for a peaceful work setting in Incheon
Cafe Comma & Yann Couvreur: A unique bookstore and cafe in a quiet space in Incheon

How to Find Long-Term Accommodation in South Korea

When looking for long-term accommodations, we recommend booking a short-term Airbnb or Bookings.com rental first. Then, find your long-term option once you arrive. This lets you explore the city and look at different rental options to find the best one.

Here are some resources for finding a long-term rental for digital nomads in South Korea:

Rentberry: Website with rentals in various cities
Seoul Facebook page: Houses, rooms, and apartments for rent in Seoul
Hoppin’: Coliving spaces in Seoul, Busan, and other cities in South Korea

Downsides of Being a Digital Nomad in South Korea

The pros of being a digital nomad in South Korea far outweigh the cons. That said, there are some downfalls regarding the environment to be aware of.

South Korea, especially large cities like Seoul, struggles with pollution. Many people also smoke, although it’s prohibited in most public places.

South Korea also has four distinct seasons, so it can get quite warm in summer and cold in winter. So, this is something to be mindful of.

Is South Korea safe for LGBTQ+ people?

Overall, South Korea is safe for the LGBTQ+ community. There’s still a ways to go, but laws for LGBTQ+ people’s rights are progressing, and the younger local community is generally welcoming of all people. That said, many people aren’t very openly out in South Korea to avoid negative reactions. You may get stares if you’re openly gay in public.

Seoul, Busan, and Daegu are known to be the most gay-friendly cities, with gay clubs, bars, and other establishments. Seoul also has an annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival, usually starting in late May, to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, but there are usually protesters present around the area.

Do I need to learn Korean to live in South Korea?

While many people in larger South Korean cities speak some English, it’s best to learn some Korean. This can help you communicate throughout South Korea, especially when speaking to someone who doesn’t know English. Understanding basic Korean phrases is also a great way to show respect for the culture.

We hope you found this guide to being a digital nomad in South Korea helpful! The new South Korea digital nomad visa, unique culture, and fun activities make it a great place to work remotely. For more digital nomad tips, you might be interested in these articles:

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