Government support centers
Free foreign-resident support centers in Korea
Publicly funded centers offering free Korean classes, counseling, visa and immigration help, and legal and labor consultations, in your language.
These are free, and underused. Every center here offers services at no cost, often including free legal and labor consultations that private firms charge for. If you are new, the Seoul Global Center (or your city's equivalent) is the single best first stop for almost any question about living in Korea.
Seoul
9 listedSeoul Global Center
서울글로벌센터
38 Jongno, 5F, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jonggak Station Exit 6)
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Uzbek, Filipino
Free Korean classesCounselingVisa & immigration helpInterpretationLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving supportBusiness start-up support
Seoul's flagship one-stop center for all foreign residents: free counseling in multiple languages, legal and labor consultations, and start-up visa (D-8) support.
Seoul Foreign Resident Center
서울외국인주민지원센터
40 Dosin-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (Daerim)
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese
Free Korean classesCounselingVisa & immigration helpInterpretationLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
Serves the high-density foreign community around Daerim and Yeongdeungpo. Free psychological counseling, legal and labor consultations, and early-settlement programs.
Itaewon Global Village Center
이태원글로벌빌리지센터
B1, 54-14 Itaewon-ro 27ga-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Korean, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLegal counselingLiving support
Community hub for the English-speaking Itaewon-Hannam corridor: free legal consultations, Korean classes, and cultural events.
Ichon Global Village Center
이촌글로벌빌리지센터
224 Ichon-ro, Hangang Shopping Center Room 304, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Korean, Japanese, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLiving support
Focused on the large Japanese community in Ichon (Seoul's Little Tokyo), with a Japanese-language library and Japan-facing programs.
Seorae Global Village Center
서래글로벌빌리지센터
28 Seorae-ro 3F, Seocho-gu, Seoul (Banpo)
Korean, French, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLiving support
Serves the French-speaking community in Seorae Village, including a French-Korean language exchange.
Yeonnam Global Village Center
연남글로벌빌리지센터
219 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Korean, Chinese, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLiving support
Serves the overseas Chinese community in Mapo and Yeonnam, with Chinese-language services emphasized.
Seongbuk Global Village Center
성북글로벌빌리지센터
134 Seongbuk-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Korean, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLiving support
Settlement support and community-integration programs for the Seongbuk-gu area.
Geumcheon Global Village Center
금천글로벌빌리지센터
116 Gasan-ro 3F, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese
Free Korean classesCounselingLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
Serves the industrial-zone worker community in Gasan, with legal and labor counseling alongside Korean, computer, and cooking classes.
Gangnam Global Village Center
강남글로벌빌리지센터
Korean, English
Free Korean classesCounselingLiving support
Serves the foreign community in the Gangnam (Yeoksam) area with Korean classes, counseling, and settlement support. See the Seoul Foreign Portal page for the current address and hours.
Incheon
1 listedIncheon Help Center for Foreigners
40 Yesul-ro 192beon-gil 3F, Namdong-gu, Incheon
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino
Free Korean classesCounselingLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
City-run center with counseling in five languages and TOPIK prep classes. Weekdays 9am-5pm.
Busan
3 listedBusan Global City Foundation
부산글로벌도시재단
1000 Jungang-daero, 13F National Pension Service Building, Yeonje-gu, Busan
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Indonesian, Uzbek
CounselingInterpretationLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
Busan's main multilingual counseling center for immigration, wages, legal, and housing questions. Weekdays 9am-8pm; KakaoTalk support too.
Busan Foreign Residents Center
부산외국인주민지원센터
448 Sasang-ro 3F, Sasang-gu, Busan
Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese
Free Korean classesCounselingLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
Walk-in center for counseling, Korean classes, and a multicultural library. Open weekdays plus Sunday; closed Saturday.
Busan Support Center for Foreign Workers
부산외국인근로자지원센터
86 Yeonsu-ro B1, Yeonje-gu, Busan
Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese
CounselingLabor counselingLiving supportFree Korean classes
Labor-ministry-commissioned center for E-9 and H-2 workers, with free medical consultation and Korean classes on Sundays.
Daejeon
1 listedDaejeon Support Center for Foreign Residents
대전외국인주민 통합지원센터
841 Daejeon-ro 2-3F, Dong-gu, Daejeon
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese
Free Korean classesCounselingVisa & immigration helpLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
Labor, legal, and driver's-license support, plus job consulting. Open Tuesday to Saturday (closed Monday and Sunday); late hours Wednesday and Thursday.
Gwangju
1 listedGwangju International Residents Center
광주외국인주민지원센터
82 Poongyeong-ro 145-gil, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju
Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, French
Free Korean classesCounselingLegal counselingLabor counselingLiving support
One-stop center for the Gwangsan-gu foreign-resident cluster, with website content in many languages. Open daily except public holidays.