Leaving Korea: Financial Checklist for Foreign Workers

Last verified: 2026-08-06

If you're permanently leaving Korea after working there, several money matters are worth checking before you go: your National Pension refund eligibility, any severance pay you're owed, your final payslip and taxes, and closing out your Korean bank accounts. This checklist is a starting point, not a complete legal or tax guide — use the links below to check each item in detail, and print this page to keep a copy.

Checklist

• Check whether you qualify for a National Pension lump-sum refund (반환일시금) and estimate the amount.
• Request your official NPS contribution record (국민연금 가입내역확인서) before you leave.
• Confirm whether you're entitled to severance pay (퇴직금) and estimate the amount.
• Review your final payslip to confirm all wages, allowances, and deductions are correct.
• Ask your employer about year-end tax settlement (연말정산) and whether you'll owe or be refunded any tax.
• Confirm the process for receiving your pension refund and any final pay by international remittance.
• Plan for closing or maintaining your Korean bank account, and cancel or transfer autopay arrangements.
• Keep copies of your employment contract, payslips, and any application receipts for your records.
• Confirm current application deadlines and required documents directly with NPS, your employer, and the National Tax Service.

Limitations

• This checklist does not cover visa/immigration procedures, healthcare, or housing matters — it focuses on pay-related items only.
• Specific requirements can vary by visa category, employer, and individual circumstances.