Staying Safe in Korea as an Aspiring Trainee from Overseas
Visas
Refuse requests to hand over your passport or 외국인등록증 (Alien Registration Card), get conditions in writing before entering Korea, keep track of your stay, and contact 1345 for advice in multiple languages.
1. Keep your passport with you
No one may take or demand a foreign national’s passport or 외국인등록증 (Alien Registration Card) as a way to enforce an employment contract or secure a debt (출입국관리법 (Immigration Control Act)). If someone tries to take your passport, saying they’ll “keep it safe,” refuse. If needed, provide only a copy.
2. Get the details in writing before entering Korea
- The inviting company’s name, address, and contact person, plus an official invitation letter or audition notice
- Whether accommodation is provided, its address, and who will pay for it
- The type of 체류 자격 (status of stay/visa) and who will prepare the application
If they won’t tell you the conditions and say, “We’ll talk when you get here,” postpone your trip.
3. Length of stay and permitted activities
- You cannot engage in paid work on a short-term visit or visa-free entry.
- If you overstay, you may face a fine, a departure order, or restrictions on re-entry. If you need an extension, apply at an 출입국·외국인관서 (immigration office) before your stay expires.
4. Save these contact numbers in advance
- Immigration Contact Center 1345: advice on stays, visas, and daily life (support in multiple languages)
- Police 112, fire and ambulance 119
- Emergency contact details for your country’s embassy or consulate
- One trusted person in Korea
5. Ask for help in these situations
If someone prevents you from going out or contacting others, stops you from leaving because of a debt, or makes you do work that isn’t in your contract, contact 1345, 112, or your embassy.
Source: 법무부 출입국·외국인정책본부
Translated from Korean by StagePass. The Korean original is authoritative.