Trusted by the Ethiopian community in Korea.
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K-Habesha Thrive in Korea
Visa guides, real jobs that hire foreigners, scholarships, and the info Korea never explains — all in one place, in your language.
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Posted by members — not verified. Confirm before acting.
Built by one of us.
K-Habesha was built by an Ethiopian who has lived every part of life in Korea. The founder is a verified grandson of an Ethiopian Korean War veteran — Ethiopia and Korea have been bound together since 1951.
Connect · Empower · ThriveFrom your first day to your best year
The guides, jobs, scholarships and people that make living here simple.
Survive Korea
Visa, ARC, banking, utilities, taxes, housing — clear guides for everything Korea makes confusing.
Read guides →Jobs that hire you
Hand-picked, foreigner-friendly jobs with F-visa and no-Korean tags. Linked to the source.
Find work →Scholarships
Study in Korea fully funded — the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and more, with deadlines and official links.
Browse →Korean Classes (KIIP)
The government KIIP program — points toward F-2-7 and F-5, and a path that can exempt the naturalization test.
Learn how →Immigration info
Plain-language visa cards (F-2, F-4, F-5, F-6, D-2, E-7, E-9, D-10), ARC, and official channels.
Open hub →Lawyers & scriveners
Find legal and admin help — free government centers first, then lawyers (변호사) and scriveners (행정사).
Find help →Money & Remittance
Live KRW↔ETB rates and the best licensed apps to send money home, safely.
Compare →Your community
Restaurants, churches, groceries, and the people who make Korea feel like home.
Explore →Events
Enkutatash, Timkat, meetups and more — never miss what's happening near you.
See what's on →Places to go
Explore Korea — famous spots and day-trip ideas, with directions.
Explore →News & updates
Timely tips and what's trending for Ethiopians in Korea.
Read news →New in Korea, or been here years?
K-Habesha has your back.ኮሪያ × ሀበሻ
Join the community that helps each other navigate life in Korea — for free.
Jobs that actually hire you
Every listing is hand-checked for foreigners.
Part-time jobs
Full pay, hours and a real contact number for every listing — everything you need is right here.
Scholarships to study in Korea
A directory of funded scholarships, anchored by the fully-funded Global Korea Scholarship (GKS/KGSP).
Korean Classes — KIIP
The Korea Immigration & Integration Program: six stages of Korean language and society, recognized across immigration.
KIIP (사회통합프로그램) is the Korean government's program that teaches Korean language and Korean society in six stages (Level 0 to 5). Finishing it earns a certificate recognized across the immigration system.
Why it matters
KIIP adds major points toward the F-2-7 visa, supports F-5 permanent residency, and completing Level 5 can exempt you from the naturalization written test and interview. A KIIP level also counts as an equivalent TOPIK level.
How to apply
1) Create an account on Socinet (socinet.go.kr) using your ARC. 2) Take the placement test (사전평가) to get your level. 3) Register for a class when registration opens — online or offline. Popular classes fill within minutes, so set an alarm for registration day.
Cost
Since 2025, KIIP charges partial tuition, with exemptions for some groups (including national-merit/veteran families, basic-living recipients, and certain minors). Tests are paid separately. Confirm current fees on Socinet.
Registration fills in minutes — be ready
- Placement test (사전평가): held in waves through the year — book early on Socinet.
- Class registration: opens on set dates — log in the moment it opens.
- Confirm the current schedule and fees on Socinet before you plan.
Immigration information
A plain-language hub that links to official sources — we never copy their text. Use the visa cards as a starting point.
Common visa types
D-2 · Student
For international students enrolled in a Korean university or degree program.
D-10 · Job Seeker
For graduates staying in Korea to look for work; can be converted to a work visa once hired.
E-7 · Skilled Worker
For professionals in designated skilled occupations sponsored by a Korean employer.
E-9 · Non-professional
For workers under the Employment Permit System, mainly manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries.
F-2 · Resident
Long-term residence, including the F-2-7 points-based track for those who qualify.
F-4 · Overseas Korean
For ethnic Koreans with foreign citizenship.
F-5 · Permanent Residence
Permanent residency; KIIP completion strongly supports eligibility.
F-6 · Marriage
For spouses of Korean nationals.
Official channels
Apply, book appointments and check your status online at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr). For multilingual phone help, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345.
F-2-7 · Points explainer
The F-2-7 visa uses a points system based on age, income, education, Korean ability and more. KIIP and TOPIK both add points — see the Korean Classes page.
ARC, extensions & change of status
Register for your Alien Registration Card (ARC) within 90 days of arrival, apply for extensions before your status expires, and file any change of status (e.g. D-10 → E-7) with immigration. Book the appointment and submit documents through HiKorea, or call 1345 for guidance in your language.
Lawyers & scriveners
Start with the free official services below. The directory of lawyers (변호사) and administrative scriveners (행정사) lists only verified entries.
Free help (official public services)
Korea Legal Aid Corporation · 대한법률구조공단
Migrant Worker Support Centers
Directory · lawyers & scriveners
The guides Korea never gives you
Written from real experience living in Korea. Pick a topic.
The Habesha community map
Restaurants, groceries, churches and orgs across Korea.
Send money home — the smart way
Today's live exchange rate, and the licensed apps that get your money home safely.
| App | Licensed | Speed | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentbe | ✅ | Minutes | Low flat fee | Open → |
| GME Remit | ✅ | Minutes | Referral bonus | Open → |
| Hanpass | ✅ | Same day | Wide coverage | Open → |
| Wise | ✅ | 1–2 days | Transparent FX | Open → |
How to buy stocks
Two markets, two very different situations right now — pick your tab.
Foreign residents with an ARC can legally open a Korean securities account and trade KOSPI/KOSDAQ-listed stocks. Most brokers now let you do the whole process from your phone.
What you need
The steps
- Choose a broker that supports foreign residents — common options include Toss Securities, Samsung Securities, Mirae Asset Securities, and Kiwoom Securities.
- Open a securities account through the broker's app, verifying with your ARC, your Korean bank account, and your Korean phone number.
- ⚠️ Make sure the name on your securities account, your bank account, and your ARC match exactly — even a small mismatch can get your application rejected.
- Your broker issues you an IRC (Investment Registration Certificate) as part of account opening — this is what allows you, as a foreign investor, to trade.
- Link your bank account and transfer funds into your new securities account.
- Place your order in the broker's app — a market order buys at the best current price, a limit order lets you set your own price.
Since March 2026, Ethiopia has its own stock exchange (ESX), and you can invest from your phone using the official Neway app (iOS/Android). Listed so far: Awash Bank, Wegagen Bank, Gada Bank, Abay Bank, and Ethio Telecom (TELE), plus government T-bills.
What you need
Some brokers also ask for your TIN or proof of residence.
The steps
- Download the Neway app, tap Create Account, and verify with the 6-digit OTP sent to your email.
- Practice first in Simulated Mode — trade with virtual money at real prices before using real money.
- Tap "Become an Investor" and choose a licensed broker (about six are currently available) — they'll open your CSD (Central Securities Depository) account.
- Once your broker confirms your CSD account is ready, fund your account.
- Place a Buy order — a Market order buys at the best current price, a Limit order lets you set your own price.
- Remember T+2 settlement: your shares only officially become yours 2 business days after the trade.
Community events
Holidays, meetups and gatherings across Korea.
Explore Korea
Famous spots and day-trip ideas across Korea — tap a card for directions.
What's trending
Timely tips and updates for Ethiopians in Korea.
FAQ · ጥያቄዎች
Plain-language answers. For anything visa or legal, always confirm with 1345 or the official source before acting.
Stuck on Korean paperwork? We'll handle it
Trusted help from someone who's done it all — in Amharic, English and Korean.
📄 Document translation
Amharic / English ↔ Korean. Official letters, contracts, forms.
🧾 Tax filing help
종합소득세 on HomeTax, done right — no third-party fees.
🪪 Visa & paperwork
ARC, extensions, utility transfers — guided step by step.
📝 Resume + cover letter
Korea-ready CV that gets you interviews.
🏠 Settle-in setup
Phone, bank, utilities — get set up fast, the right way.
Or use the form
When you need help right now
Save these numbers. Many have interpretation in your language.
Emergency numbers
🆘 119
🚓 112
🛂 1345
🌐 1330
⚕️ 1339
🏥 129
Your rights at work
💼 Unpaid wages · 1350
🩹 Workplace injury · 1588-0075
Free help
Korea Legal Aid Corporation
Danuri Helpline
Migrant Worker Support Centers
Healthcare, even without insurance
Emergency numbers, free clinics, and government funds — for everyone, regardless of visa status.
TIER 1 🚨 Emergency — call right now
TIER 2 🏥 Free clinics, by city
Raphael Clinic
Migrant Hospital
Good Neighbor Clinic (Kyungdong Church)
Seongnam Migrant Clinic
Together ASIA
Healthy Neighbor Centers
Gwangju Migrant Health Center
TIER 3 🏛 Government medical funds
Ministry of Health — Medically Underserved Support
Emergency Welfare Aid (긴급복지)
Gyeonggi Province Uninsured Care Program
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Built by one of us
K-Habesha was built by an Ethiopian who has lived every part of life in Korea — the visa runs, the tax forms, the job hunt, the late-night confusion over a Korean utility bill. Nothing here is guesswork.
There's a deeper thread, too: the founder is a verified grandson of an Ethiopian Korean War veteran. Ethiopia and Korea have been bound together since 1951 — K-Habesha is the next chapter of that bond, helping our community not just survive here, but thrive.
Where we're going
We start with Ethiopians. Then we open our doors to the wider Habesha and African communities, and in time, to every foreigner trying to build a life in Korea. Same mission, bigger family: Connect · Empower · Thrive.