What to Do on Your First Day in Korea

first day in Korea checklist: This first day in Korea checklist starts at immigration and ends when you have a safe place to sleep and a confirmed plan for tomorrow.

first day in Korea checklist: It does not repeat the existing airport transport guide. It focuses on verified handover, accommodation safety, document control and the next-day meeting.

first day in Korea checklist: What you will finish on your first day

You will know who is collecting you, where you are staying, where your passport is, how to contact the person in charge and where to report the next morning.

Preview the official process, download the originals, and open the sources

Use the live government pages as the preview. The two Ministry of Justice PDFs stay on the official server; BSKorean does not mirror them. The e-Arrival Card is free, and the official navigator is the safest way to check whether you must submit it.

1. Official live preview
   • e-Arrival Card submission process
   • Incheon Airport arrival procedure
   • HRD Korea EPS/E-9 entry handover
2. Official original download

   Ministry of Justice e-Arrival Card leaflet PDF · 2 pages · 1,072,137 bytes
   Ministry of Justice implementation guide PDF · 12 pages · 1,113,210 bytes

3. Official source page

   e-Arrival Card multilingual user-guide library · Ministry of Justice announcement and attachments

The two official PDFs were fetched and checked on 25 August 2026 for PDF signature, byte length, page count, SHA-256 and first-page rendering. No PDF or page image is hosted by BSKorean.

Your eight-step first-day checklist

1. 1. Clear immigration correctly
2. 2. Resolve baggage before leaving
3. 3. Verify the pickup person
4. 4. Follow the EPS/E-9 handover only if it applies
5. 5. Check the accommodation handover
6. 6. Protect documents and connect your phone
7. 7. Send your safe-arrival status
8. 8. Confirm tomorrow before sleeping

24 Korean phrases for the first day

Use the learner-friendly pronunciation first and RR only as a reference. Confirm difficult sounds with Korean audio or a speaker.

1. Clear immigration correctly

Use only the official e-Arrival Card site. The service is free, and registered foreign nationals or valid K-ETA holders may be exempt; check the official navigator.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
1	입국심사장은 어디예요?	eep-kkook-sseem-sah-jahng-eun uh-dee-yeh-yoh? RR: Ipkkukssimsajangeun eodiyeyo?	Where is immigration?
2	전자입국신고서를 확인해 주세요.	juhn-jah-eep-kkook-sseen-goh-suh-reul hwah-geen-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Jeonjaipkkukssingoseoreul hwaginhae juseyo.	Please check my e-Arrival Card.
3	이 신고서는 무료인가요?	ee seen-goh-suh-neun moo-ryoh-een-gah-yoh? RR: I singoseoneun muryoingayo?	Is this declaration free?

2. Resolve baggage before leaving

Keep the baggage tag and report missing baggage at the airport desk before leaving the arrivals area.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
4	수하물이 나오지 않았어요.	soo-hah-moo-ree nah-oh-jee ahn-hah-ssuh-yoh. RR: Suhamuri naoji anhasseoyo.	My baggage did not arrive.
5	수하물 신고는 어디에서 해요?	soo-hah-mool seen-goh-neun uh-dee-eh-suh heh-yoh? RR: Suhamul singoneun eodieseo haeyo?	Where do I report baggage?
6	도착장으로 어떻게 가요?	doh-chahk-jjahng-eu-roh uh-ttuh-keh gah-yoh? RR: Dochakjjangeuro eotteoke gayo?	How do I get to the arrivals hall?

3. Verify the pickup person

Match the name, employer or institution and phone number against the contact you received. Do not follow an unknown person.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
7	제 이름을 확인해 주세요.	jeh ee-reu-meul hwah-geen-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Je ireumeul hwaginhae juseyo.	Please check my name.
8	어느 기관에서 나오셨어요?	uh-neu gee-gwah-neh-suh nah-oh-syuh-ssuh-yoh? RR: Eoneu gigwaneseo naosyeosseoyo?	Which organization are you from?
9	담당자에게 전화해 주세요.	dahm-dahng-jah-eh-geh juhn-hwah-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Damdangjaege jeonhwahae juseyo.	Please call the person in charge.

4. Follow the EPS/E-9 handover only if it applies

HRD Korea states that workers entering through the arranged EPS/E-9 route are handed over from the airport to an employment-training institution. This does not apply to every foreign worker.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
10	저는 EPS 절차로 입국했어요.	juh-neun EPS juhl-chah-roh eep-kkoo-keh-ssuh-yoh. RR: Jeoneun EPS jeolcharo ipkkukaesseoyo.	I entered Korea through the EPS procedure.
11	취업교육기관으로 가나요?	chwee-uhp-kkyoh-yook-kkee-gwah-neu-roh gah-nah-yoh? RR: Chwieopkkyoyukkkigwaneuro ganayo?	Are we going to the employment-training institution?
12	회사에서 데리러 왔나요?	hweh-sah-eh-suh deh-ree-ruh wahn-nah-yoh? RR: Hoesaeseo derireo wannayo?	Did the company come to pick me up?

5. Check the accommodation handover

Record the Korean address, key or entry method, emergency exit and manager contact. Episode 10 covers housing costs and deductions.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
13	이 숙소 주소가 맞나요?	ee sook-ssoh joo-soh-gah mahn-nah-yoh? RR: I suksso jusoga mannayo?	Is this the correct accommodation address?
14	방 열쇠는 어디에 있어요?	bahng yuhl-sweh-neun uh-dee-eh ee-ssuh-yoh? RR: Bang yeolsoeneun eodie isseoyo?	Where is the room key?
15	비상구는 어디예요?	bee-sahng-goo-neun uh-dee-yeh-yoh? RR: Bisangguneun eodiyeyo?	Where is the emergency exit?

6. Protect documents and connect your phone

Keep your passport and original documents under your control. Use temporary Wi-Fi and charge the phone; Episode 8 covers opening a phone line.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
16	여권과 서류를 어디에 보관해요?	yuh-gwuhn-gwah suh-ryoo-reul uh-dee-eh boh-gwahn-heh-yoh? RR: Yeogwongwa seoryureul eodie bogwanhaeyo?	Where should I keep my passport and documents?
17	제 서류는 제가 보관할게요.	jeh suh-ryoo-neun jeh-gah boh-gwahn-hahl-geh-yoh. RR: Je seoryuneun jega bogwanhalgeyo.	I will keep my documents myself.
18	와이파이를 사용할 수 있나요?	wah-ee-pah-ee-reul sah-yohng-hahl soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Waipaireul sayonghal su innayo?	Can I use the Wi-Fi?

7. Send your safe-arrival status

Send the Korean address and a reachable contact channel to family or a trusted person without publishing identity-document numbers.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
19	한국 주소를 문자로 보내 주세요.	hahn-gook joo-soh-reul moon-jah-roh boh-neh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Hanguk jusoreul munjaro bonae juseyo.	Please text me the Korean address.
20	무사히 도착했어요.	moo-sah-hee doh-chah-keh-ssuh-yoh. RR: Musahi dochakaesseoyo.	I arrived safely.
21	내일 몇 시에 어디로 가요?	neh-eel myuht see-eh uh-dee-roh gah-yoh? RR: Naeil myeot sie eodiro gayo?	What time and where do I go tomorrow?

8. Confirm tomorrow before sleeping

Write down the time, meeting place, contact and documents needed for the next morning.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
22	담당자 전화번호를 알려 주세요.	dahm-dahng-jah juhn-hwah-buhn-hoh-reul ahl-ryuh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Damdangja jeonhwabeonhoreul alryeo juseyo.	Please give me the contact person’s phone number.
23	내일 필요한 서류가 뭐예요?	neh-eel pee-ryoh-hahn suh-ryoo-gah mwuh-yeh-yoh? RR: Naeil piryohan seoryuga mwoyeyo?	Which documents do I need tomorrow?
24	다시 한 번 확인해 주세요.	dah-see hahn buhn hwah-geen-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Dasi han beon hwaginhae juseyo.	Please confirm that one more time.

20 words to recognize

Replies you may hear

• 등록외국인은 면제예요. – Registered foreign nationals are exempt.
• 수하물 서비스 데스크로 가세요. – Go to the baggage service desk.
• 이름표를 확인해 주세요. – Please check the name sign.
• 취업교육기관으로 이동합니다. – We are moving to the employment-training institution.
• 이 주소가 맞습니다. – This is the correct address.
• 비상구는 복도 끝에 있어요. – The emergency exit is at the end of the corridor.
• 내일 아침 여덟 시에 출발해요. – We leave at eight tomorrow morning.
• 여권은 본인이 보관하세요. – Keep your passport yourself.

Two handover dialogues

1

근로자: 제 이름을 확인해 주세요.

담당자: 네, 이름표와 여권 이름을 확인할게요.

근로자: 어느 기관에서 나오셨어요?

담당자: 취업교육기관에서 나왔습니다.

근로자: 담당자에게 전화해 주세요.

The worker verifies the name and institution before following the pickup person.

2

관리자: 내일 아침 여덟 시에 여기에서 출발해요.

근로자: 내일 몇 시에 어디로 가요?

관리자: 여덟 시에 회사로 갑니다.

근로자: 내일 필요한 서류가 뭐예요?

관리자: 여권과 근로계약서를 가져오세요.

The worker repeats tomorrow’s time, destination and required documents instead of relying on memory.

Before you sleep on the first night

• I checked e-Arrival eligibility only on the official site and paid no fee.
• I have my passport, baggage and baggage tag.
• I verified the pickup person’s employer or institution and contact.
• If I am on the EPS/E-9 arranged route, I confirmed the training-institution handover.
• I saved the accommodation’s exact Korean address offline.
• I know the key or entry method, emergency exit and manager contact.
• My passport and original documents remain under my control.
• My phone is charged and connected to a reachable channel.
• A trusted person received my safe-arrival message and address.
• I wrote down tomorrow’s time, place, contact and required documents.

What this episode intentionally leaves for later

• Use the existing airport-to-accommodation article for trains, buses, tickets and transfers.
• Episode 7 covers foreigner registration and stay reporting.
• Episode 8 covers choosing and opening a phone plan.
• Episode 9 covers opening a bank account.
• Episode 10 covers accommodation conditions, charges and deductions.
• Episode 11 begins workplace instructions and first-day work Korean.

If the pickup identity, destination or demand for your passport does not match the arrangement, stop and contact the employer, institution or 1345. In immediate danger call 112 for police or 119 for fire and medical emergencies.

Prepared by BSKorean Content Studio for foreign workers and new residents. Official links, Korean expressions and scope boundaries were reviewed on 25 August 2026. Procedures can differ by status and entry route.

Official sources checked

• Official e-Arrival Card home and eligibility navigator
• Official e-Arrival Card guide
• Ministry of Justice e-Arrival Card announcement and attachments
• Incheon Airport arrival procedures
• Incheon Airport immigration and e-Arrival Card information
• HRD Korea foreign worker entry and employment-training procedure
• Korea Immigration Contact Center 1345
• VISITKOREA emergency numbers

Five-minute practice

Say one phrase from each step, then practise the pickup and next-day dialogues without looking.

Practise these phrases in the BSKorean app →

View all 30 episodes