Data-driven insights on living, working, and navigating Korea.
Capital gains tax in Korea is one of the more complex areas for foreign residents — the rules differ based on whether you’re selling Korean assets, foreign-held stocks, Korean real estate, or global ETFs. This guide explains what’s taxable, at what rate, and how to file. 1. Types of Capital Gains and Who Pays Korea … Read more
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up for Wise through our link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Yes, you have to file taxes in both countries. No, that doesn’t automatically mean you pay double. The US-Korea setup is one of the more manageable dual-filing situations … Read more
Korea’s tax rules for remote workers and digital nomads are frequently misunderstood — partly because Korea doesn’t have a formal “digital nomad visa” tax regime, and partly because the actual rules depend on whether you’re a tax resident, a visa holder, or passing through. This guide covers the real rules as they apply in 2026. … Read more
Korea’s tax system offers meaningful financial benefits to married couples and families — but claiming them requires knowing what exists, what forms are involved, and how to navigate the year-end settlement (연말정산) process. This guide covers the marriage and family deductions available to residents, including foreign workers, and explains how to actually claim them. 1. … Read more
연말정산 (Year-End Tax Settlement) is Korea’s annual income tax reconciliation process, typically run in January–February of the following year. It’s the mechanism by which taxes withheld from your monthly paycheck throughout the year are compared against your actual tax liability — and you either get a refund or pay the difference. For foreign workers, the … Read more
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you sign up for Wise through our link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A ₩67,000,000 (~$50,000 USD) annual salary puts you above the Korean median and in a comfortable tier for a single professional in Seoul. But after taxes, insurance deductions, … Read more
Foreign workers in Korea have a tax choice that Korean nationals don’t: elect a flat 19% income tax rate on earned income, bypassing the standard progressive bracket system. The decision matters because it can save or cost you several million won per year, and you can only elect it once. This guide explains how the … Read more
When someone offers you a job in Seoul, New York, London, or Tokyo, the instinct is to compare the numbers on the contract. But gross salary figures are close to meaningless for cross-city comparisons. After taxes, social insurance, and housing — the three variables that differ most dramatically between these cities — the ranking of … Read more
Korea income tax for foreigners follows the same progressive bracket system as Korean nationals — with one important exception: the 19% flat tax option available to foreign employees. Whether you’re on an E-7 visa, working at a chaebol, or employed by an MNC in Seoul, understanding exactly how Korean income tax is calculated will help … Read more