Open a Korean Bank Account Using Official Bank Guides

Korean bank account foreigners: A Korean bank account for foreigners requires more than an ID: the branch can check address, job, transaction purpose, source of funds and supporting documents.

Korean bank account foreigners: This episode compares official bank guides for a salary and daily-use account. It does not cover investments, loans, overseas remittance limits or choose the best bank.

Korean bank account foreigners: What you will finish

You will choose a branch, prepare identity and salary-purpose evidence, ask about account limits, add a card and mobile banking, and protect the account.

Compare official bank-by-bank guides and open the sources

Account opening is a branch decision based on identity, residence, transaction purpose and customer verification. The live official pages below show different banks’ current public guidance; call the exact branch because extra documents and available services can differ.

1. Official bank guide preview
   • Woori Bank guide for foreign customers
   • KB customer verification and required information
   • Hana Bank first-visit and internet-banking guide
   • Financial Services Commission mobile foreign ID rollout
2. Official original

   There is no universal account-opening form to download. Complete the bank’s own form at the branch and keep the issued account and application records.

3. Source pages

   Woori Bank official guide · KB official customer-verification guide · Hana Bank official first-visit guide · Financial Services Commission official notice

Verified on 25 August 2026: Woori, KB, Hana and Financial Services Commission pages were reachable. Product terms, limits and accepted identity methods can change; confirm them with the chosen branch.

Your eight-step bank-account plan

1. 1. Choose a bank and call the exact branch
2. 2. Prepare identity and Korean address
3. 3. Explain the salary-account purpose
4. 4. Check a limited account and transfer limits
5. 5. Apply for a debit card
6. 6. Add internet and mobile banking
7. 7. Register salary payment and get account proof
8. 8. Set your own password and protect the account

24 Korean phrases at a bank

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

1. Choose a bank and call the exact branch

Compare Woori, KB and Hana public guidance, then call the branch you will visit. Foreign-language support, appointments and documents can differ by branch.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
1	외국인 계좌 개설이 가능한가요?	weh-goo-geen gyeh-jwah geh-suh-ree gah-neung-hahn-gah-yoh? RR: Oegugin gyejwa gaeseori ganeunghangayo?	Can a foreigner open an account?
2	예약 없이 방문해도 되나요?	yeh-yahk uhp-see bahng-moon-heh-doh dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Yeyak eopsi bangmunhaedo doenayo?	May I visit without an appointment?
3	외국어 상담이 가능한 지점이 있나요?	weh-goo-guh sahng-dah-mee gah-neung-hahn jee-juh-mee een-nah-yoh? RR: Oegugeo sangdami ganeunghan jijeomi innayo?	Is there a branch with foreign-language support?

2. Prepare identity and Korean address

Bring the residence card and passport if the bank asks. Banks can request Korean address, contact, occupation and other customer-verification information.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
4	외국인등록증과 여권을 가져왔어요.	weh-goo-geen-deung-rohk-jjeung-gwah yuh-gwuh-neul gah-jyuh-wah-ssuh-yoh. RR: Oegugindeungrokjjeunggwa yeogwoneul gajyeowasseoyo.	I brought my residence card and passport.
5	추가로 필요한 서류가 있나요?	choo-gah-roh pee-ryoh-hahn suh-ryoo-gah een-nah-yoh? RR: Chugaro piryohan seoryuga innayo?	Are additional documents required?
6	체류지 주소를 어떻게 증명해요?	cheh-ryoo-jee joo-soh-reul uh-ttuh-keh jeung-myuhng-heh-yoh? RR: Cheryuji jusoreul eotteoke jeungmyeonghaeyo?	How do I prove my Korean address?

3. Explain the salary-account purpose

For a salary account, prepare an employment certificate or contract and employer details. Woori notes that proof of employment, pay or income and other documents may be requested.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
7	급여를 받을 계좌가 필요해요.	geu-byuh-reul bah-deul gyeh-jwah-gah pee-ryoh-heh-yoh. RR: Geubyeoreul badeul gyejwaga piryohaeyo.	I need an account to receive my salary.
8	재직증명서와 근로계약서를 가져왔어요.	jeh-jeek-jjeung-myuhng-suh-wah geun-roh-gyeh-yahk-ssuh-reul gah-jyuh-wah-ssuh-yoh. RR: Jaejikjjeungmyeongseowa geunrogyeyaksseoreul gajyeowasseoyo.	I brought an employment certificate and employment contract.
9	거래목적을 어떻게 작성해요?	guh-reh-mohk-jjuh-geul uh-ttuh-keh jahk-ssuhng-heh-yoh? RR: Georaemokjjeogeul eotteoke jaksseonghaeyo?	How do I write the transaction purpose?

4. Check a limited account and transfer limits

A bank may initially restrict transfers until the transaction purpose is sufficiently verified. Ask for the written daily limits and the exact evidence needed for review.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
10	한도제한계좌로 개설되나요?	hahn-doh-jeh-hahn-gyeh-jwah-roh geh-suhl-dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Handojehangyejwaro gaeseoldoenayo?	Will this be opened as a limited account?
11	이체한도는 얼마예요?	ee-cheh-hahn-doh-neun uhl-mah-yeh-yoh? RR: Ichehandoneun eolmayeyo?	What is the transfer limit?
12	한도를 늘리려면 어떤 서류가 필요해요?	hahn-doh-reul neul-ree-ryuh-myuhn uh-ttuhn suh-ryoo-gah pee-ryoh-heh-yoh? RR: Handoreul neulriryeomyeon eotteon seoryuga piryohaeyo?	Which documents are needed to raise the limit?

5. Apply for a debit card

Check debit-card issuance, delivery, transportation function, fees and whether a separate card application is required. Never let someone else choose the PIN.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
13	체크카드도 신청하고 싶어요.	cheh-keu-kah-deu-doh seen-chuhng-hah-goh see-puh-yoh. RR: Chekeukadeudo sincheonghago sipeoyo.	I would also like to apply for a debit card.
14	교통카드 기능을 넣을 수 있나요?	gyoh-tohng-kah-deu gee-neung-eul nuh-heul soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Gyotongkadeu gineungeul neoheul su innayo?	Can the card include transportation?
15	카드는 언제 받을 수 있어요?	kah-deu-neun uhn-jeh bah-deul soo ee-ssuh-yoh? RR: Kadeuneun eonje badeul su isseoyo?	When can I receive the card?

6. Add internet and mobile banking

Apply for internet/mobile banking at the branch if required. Confirm authentication, transfer limits, foreign-language support and whether your registered phone is needed.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
16	인터넷뱅킹을 신청하고 싶어요.	een-tuh-neht-ppehng-keeng-eul seen-chuhng-hah-goh see-puh-yoh. RR: Inteonetppaengkingeul sincheonghago sipeoyo.	I would like to apply for internet banking.
17	모바일뱅킹을 사용할 수 있나요?	moh-bah-eel-behng-keeng-eul sah-yohng-hahl soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Mobailbaengkingeul sayonghal su innayo?	Can I use mobile banking?
18	해외에서도 본인인증이 가능한가요?	heh-weh-eh-suh-doh boh-nee-neen-jeung-ee gah-neung-hahn-gah-yoh? RR: Haeoeeseodo bonininjeungi ganeunghangayo?	Can I authenticate while overseas?

7. Register salary payment and get account proof

Ask whether salary-transfer registration is necessary. Get an account-copy document for the employer and check the name and account number before sending it.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
19	급여이체로 등록할 수 있나요?	geu-byuh-ee-cheh-roh deung-roh-kahl soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Geubyeoichero deungrokal su innayo?	Can I register it for salary transfers?
20	통장 사본을 발급해 주세요.	tohng-jahng sah-boh-neul bahl-geu-peh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Tongjang saboneul balgeupae juseyo.	Please issue a copy of my bankbook/account.
21	계좌번호를 문자로 받을 수 있나요?	gyeh-jwah-buhn-hoh-reul moon-jah-roh bah-deul soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Gyejwabeonhoreul munjaro badeul su innayo?	Can I receive the account number by text?

8. Set your own password and protect the account

Enter the password yourself, keep cards and security media, and never lend the account. Woori warns that lending an account or card to another person can be punishable regardless of monetary motive.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
22	비밀번호는 제가 직접 입력할게요.	bee-meel-buhn-hoh-neun jeh-gah jeek-jjuhp eep-ryuh-kahl-geh-yoh. RR: Bimilbeonhoneun jega jikjjeop ipryeokalgeyo.	I will enter the password myself.
23	제 계좌와 카드는 제가 보관할게요.	jeh gyeh-jwah-wah kah-deu-neun jeh-gah boh-gwahn-hahl-geh-yoh. RR: Je gyejwawa kadeuneun jega bogwanhalgeyo.	I will keep my account and card myself.
24	다른 사람에게 계좌를 빌려주면 안 되죠?	dah-reun sah-rah-meh-geh gyeh-jwah-reul beel-ryuh-joo-myuhn ahn dweh-jyoh? RR: Dareun saramege gyejwareul bilryeojumyeon an doejyo?	I must not lend my account to another person, correct?

20 words to recognize

Replies you may hear

• 지점에서 서류를 확인해야 합니다. – The branch must check your documents.
• 거래목적 증빙서류가 더 필요해요. – More proof of the transaction purpose is required.
• 급여계좌로 신청하시면 됩니다. – Apply for a salary account.
• 먼저 한도제한계좌로 개설됩니다. – It will first be opened as a limited account.
• 체크카드는 별도로 신청해 주세요. – Please apply for the debit card separately.
• 모바일뱅킹을 함께 등록해 드릴게요. – We will register mobile banking together.
• 통장 사본을 출력해 드리겠습니다. – I will print an account copy.
• 계좌와 카드를 다른 사람에게 빌려주면 안 됩니다. – Do not lend your account or card to another person.

Two bank-counter dialogues

1

고객: 외국인 계좌 개설이 가능한가요?

직원: 신분증과 거래목적 서류를 확인하겠습니다.

고객: 급여를 받을 계좌가 필요해요.

직원: 재직증명서나 근로계약서를 보여 주세요.

고객: 한도제한계좌로 개설되나요?

The customer explains the salary purpose and submits identity plus employment evidence before asking about limits.

2

고객: 체크카드도 신청하고 싶어요.

직원: 카드와 모바일뱅킹 신청을 함께 확인할게요.

고객: 급여이체로 등록할 수 있나요?

직원: 회사에 제출할 통장 사본을 드리겠습니다.

고객: 비밀번호는 제가 직접 입력할게요.

The customer adds a card and mobile banking, receives account proof, and enters the password personally.

Before leaving the branch

• I called the exact branch and checked foreign-language support
• My identity name and Korean contact details are consistent
• I brought residence/address proof requested by the branch
• I brought salary-purpose evidence
• I wrote down the account and transfer limits
• I know what evidence can trigger a limit review
• I checked card fees and transportation function
• Mobile banking and authentication work on my phone
• The employer account copy has the correct name and number
• Only I know the password and control the account/card

What this episode intentionally leaves for later

• Episode 8 covers the Korean phone used for bank authentication
• Episode 10 covers housing deductions
• Episode 16 covers reading a payslip
• This episode does not rank banks or guarantee account approval
• Loans, investments, foreign exchange and international remittance require separate current rules and bank review

Never lend, sell or transfer an account, card, password, security token or verification code. Use only the bank’s official branch and app, and stop if another person asks you to receive or forward money through your account.

Prepared by BSKorean Content Studio for foreign workers and new residents. Woori, KB, Hana and Financial Services Commission pages and scope boundaries were reviewed on 25 August 2026. Branch requirements can change.

Official sources checked

• Woori Bank — Banking Guide for Foreign Customers
• KB Kookmin Bank — customer verification (CDD/EDD) and required information
• KB Kookmin Bank — Financial Transactions Guide for Foreigners source page
• KB Kookmin Bank — first-visit internet-banking documents
• Hana Bank — first visit and internet-banking signup
• Hana Bank — branch identity-document FAQ
• Financial Services Commission — mobile foreign residence card bank rollout

Five-minute practice

Say one phrase from each step, then practise explaining salary purpose and checking account limits.

Practise these phrases in the BSKorean app →

View all 30 episodes