1. Understanding the Procedure for obtaining Student Visa:

To arrange entry into Korea, all international students must obtain a valid student visa from the nearest office of Embassy of Republic of Korea or Consulate General of Republic of Korea. Once offered a place at Kyung Hee University, details of how to apply for a student visa will be sent with the offer of acceptance. While it is possible for visitor visa holders from certain countries to obtain ‘student visa’ within Korea, it is advisable to confirm this possibility in advance with the Korean diplomatic post in your home country.

2. Understanding Student Visa Conditions:

International students are granted a student visa to cover the duration of their programs of study. However, student visas are granted subject to a number of conditions. Failure to comply with the condition of the visa may result in cancellation or refusal of the visa. If the student visa is cancelled, the student will be required to leave Korea.

3. Notices:

students are strongly advised to read and understand the conditions of the visa. For a list of the terms of individual visas, please contact the nearest office of Embassy of Republic of Korea or Consulate general of Republic of Korea. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that the requirements of these visa conditions are satisfied.

All new international students are strongly advised to arrive at least one month before the commencement of classes in order to find suitable accommodation, become acquainted with the campus and surrounding area, and attend the orientation sessions. For those students who have been assigned to one of the school dormitories, three to five days arrival in advance will be adequate.


+ Medical Insurance

Since Korea has a government-operated health program only available for Korean citizens, all foreigners must have their own health insurance through private insurance companies in Korea. There are internationally well-known companies, like AIG or New York Life, that can meet this need. It is totally your choice which company you would like to go with.

However, Kyung Hee University strongly urges all international students to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm that whether their policy applies overseas and the costs generated by emergency such as a medical evacuation are also covered.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, all foreign students should consider that most doctors and hospitals in Korea require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the students’ home countries may cost well in excess of USD $50,000. Uninsured foreign students who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting insurers prior to travel, please ascertain whether the payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or whether students will be reimbursed later for expenses incurred. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

+ Other Health Information
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the website of  the World Health Organization. Further information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/iht.

+ Health Service on Kyung Hee Campus
Kyung Hee University has its own university hospital with specialists in every medical field. All students can use the hospital services upon a valid prescription from the University Health Center called Campus Clinic (Seoul Campus: +82-2-961-0145, Suwon Campus: +82-31-201-3118~9). It is strongly recommended that students bring an interpreter when they visit or call the Campus Clinic. The medical service charges from the university hospital will be the regular fees with no special discounts for international students.

It is advised that students bring enough funds to cover your expenses for a month. Apart from paying for temporary accommodation upon arrival, students need to have sufficient money to cover the cost of living. These expenses may include a deposit for your accommodation and utilities (electricity, gas, telephone, hydro, etc.), food, transportation, stationery, books, etc. The usual amount is about 1 million Won (about 1,000 USD).

Upon arrival, students will probably find it convenient to open an account with the Woori Bank or Hana Bank located on Campus. Passports are required to open a new account at the bank. For wire transfers, deposits, withdrawals and other banking, please consult the bank staff.

As the network system of every bank is connected to a central banking network, students may conduct transactions with any ATM regardless of the bank. Note that transaction fees apply when using an ATM not of a students’ own bank. In addition, personal checks are rarely used in Korea. Almost every ATM supports a display in English, but students may need to find out certain ATMs which support cash/debit/credit cards issued outside of Korea. If an ATM displays the logo of a company such as Maestro, Cirrus or Visa Plus, international cards may be accepted.

+ What to wear
On campus, students usually dress informally. During summer, jeans or trousers with a casual shirt or blouse and sneakers or running shoes are commonly worn. In winter, it is very cold in Korea. A jacket / sweater /pullover or sweat shirt and winter coat or raincoat will be sufficient.

+ Additional Items
A spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses, a current optical prescription and prescriptions for any regular medication should be prepared.

Temporary visitors including students can bring such personal items as desktop or laptop computer and similar electronic equipment into Korea, as long as those items are taken back when you leave Korea. For further inquiries, please contact  the Korea Customs Service.

* NOTICE *
The standard voltage for electrical appliances in Korea is 220 volts (220v). Electric plugs have two round pins. Therefore, students may need to get an adapter or change the plug when they arrive. Check whether appliances work with 220v of electricity before departure. Electric devices that work with 110v of electricity can be used with 220v-to-110v transformer. These devices may be purchased in nearby local convenience stores or wholesaler’s marts and are readily available.

+ Unaccompanied goods
Unaccompanied baggage does not receive the same duty / tax concessions as items you bring with you. These items may be subject to duty / tax unless you have documentary evidence (i.e. a receipt) to show that you have both owned and used them for 12 months or more. This also applies to items mailed to Korea.

+ Quarantine regulation
You need to be careful about what you can bring with you. Due to strict quarantine
regulations, you must declare all foodstuffs (including fruit and nuts), animal or plant
products you bring into Korea. Items you do not declare may be confiscated; your luggage may be quarantined for several weeks and, in some cases, may be disposed or incinerated. The best way to avoid such hassle is not to bring any plants / animals and unprocessed foods.

+ Emotional preparation
Living and studying in a foreign country means more than leaving your family and friends, familiar foods, climate, customs and language of home environments. It presents many new exciting and tough challenges as you experience a greater sense of independence and personal responsibility. You need to make adjustments and accomplishments in the following areas:

- Make personal lifestyle resulting from increased personal independence and    responsibility
- Make sense of different Korean attitudes, values, lifestyle and ways of thinking
- Understand and fulfill Kyung Hee Univ. academic expectations and culture
- Enhance your fluency and mastery in the usage of English, especially in academic work
- Develop and participate in new friendships and social networks

New international students often experience an initial period of adjustment of emotional
highs and lows. It is a perfectly natural experience for almost anyone when they try to a new country and culture. If you find yourself confused and disoriented in the initial period, try to remember that it is a passing phase. As you become more familiar with the new surroundings, you will feel more at ease with yourself and others. The excitement of making new friends and exploring the Korean way of life will start to grow. The key to managing new experience is to be prepared as much as possible and expect the ‘unfamiliarity.’ If you feel you are caught in an emotional low at any stage, please speak with the International Student Advisors who will be able to offer you support and advice.

+ Customs regulations
Korea Customs Service may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or exportation from Korea of items such as firearms, explosives, narcotics and prescription drugs, non-prescription health supplements, radio equipments, gold, books or other printed material, as well as video or audio recordings, that might be considered subversive to national security, obscene, or in any way harmful to the public interest and cultural property.

Further, the related customs law clause and regulations to prevent the spread and
contagion of hoof-and-mouth disease. Beef and pork products must de declared to
Korea Customs Service officials upon arrival. It is advisable to contact the Embassy or
Consulate General of Republic of Korea adjacent to your local community. Customs
officials encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire / Temporary Admission)
Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples,
and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes.

It is extremely important for you to pay close attention to your non-immigrant visa status
and ask the CIE. You should be aware of the restrictions imposed upon you by your
particular visa status. The staff of the CIE will assist you with most aspects of your
immigration status. Please do not hesitate to contact the CIE should you have any
questions regarding your immigration status.


If you want to stay in Korea more than 90 days, you are required to register at a local
immigration office having the jurisdiction over the place of your stay within 90 days from the date of your entry.

* It is punishable that you stay in Korea more than 90 days without being registered.

To register, you should make an application to a local or district Immigration Office having jurisdiction over the place of your stay by visiting in person.
Document requirements are as follows:

> Application forms  (downloadable)
> A travel document ex) passport
> Three color photos (3cm × 4cm)
> Other documents in each category of visa may be required additionally

> Fees (10,000 won)

If your application is accepted, the Immigration officer in charge will stamp your passport and issue an Alien Registration card to you. It usually takes three or four days for the applicant to get the Alien Registration card.



If you want to stay longer than the period of stay given, you are required to apply for
permission to a local or district Immigration office before the period of your stay expires.

* It is punishable that you stay longer than the period of stay given without the permission.

The application for the extension permit is acceptable, only when the period of your stay given expires in two months. Only one exception to this rule is for the occasions you are temporarily leaving Korea on business. In this case, you can apply even earlier by presenting clarifications.

To apply for the permission, you should make an application to a local or district
Immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of your stay by visiting in person.

+ Document requirements are as follows:

> A travel document ex) passport
> An alien registration card, if applicable
> Application forms (downloadable)
> Clarifications on why to extend stay
> Other documents each category of visa may require additionally

> Fees (30,000 won)

If your application is accepted, the Immigration officer in charge will stamp your passport and record the amendments on the back of your alien registration card.

Please visit this web site for more information.
<Suwon Office> Phone: +82-31-278-3311~5

+ The Way to the Suwon Immigration Office, Republic of Korea:
Take bus number 5, 7, or 7-2 at the bus stop across the Kyung Hee University's main gate and get off at Suwon Station (수원역). It takes approximately 30 minutes. From Suwon Station (수원역), take bus number 36,37, or 39 for Guwun-dong intersection (구운동 사거리) and get off at the Gang Nam Apartment (강남아파트) bus stop. This part of the journey will take about 10 minutes. The immigration office is very close to the Gang Nam Apartment (강남아파트) bus stop. A large sign for the direction to the immigration office is visible. It should take about 5 minutes on foot. Or, you may take a taxi from Suwon Station (수원역) directly to the immigration office.


According to the Immigration Law of Korea, it is illegal for foreign nationals with a student or tourist visa to have a job. But six months after entrance into the school, students are allowed to work part-time up to 20hours per week (working hours are not limited during vacation seasons). Those who desire to work part-time should inform the branch office of immigration by submitting a recommendation letter from their advisor. The recommendation letter forms could be obtained from the Office of International Affairs (OIA). Failure to abide by this law could be ground for deportation.