GKS Living Costs by City
Your GKS allowance is KRW 1.2 million a month as an undergraduate or 1.38 million as a graduate student during the degree — a little less in the language year. Whether that is enough depends entirely on which city you end up in.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Monthly budgets by city
Realistic monthly budgets for each major university city. These figures were drawn up against the old KRW 900,000 allowance; the 2026 increase helps, but rent and now health insurance also come out of the allowance, so treat the surplus figures as a ceiling. See the scholarship amount page for current rates.
Seoul: deficit of KRW 200,000+ a month on the old allowance
You will likely need savings or part-time work to live comfortably in Seoul.
Busan: small surplus of KRW 100–150K a month
Daegu: comfortable surplus of KRW 200K+ a month
Gwangju: best value, surplus of KRW 250K+ a month
Daejeon: good surplus of KRW 200K+ a month
Visa and residence card costs
Two official fees come up before your first stipend arrives:
| Item | Fee | When |
|---|---|---|
| D-2 / D-4 student visa (single entry, stay over 90 days) | USD 60 | At the Korean embassy before you travel; not refunded if refused |
| Alien registration (residence card) | KRW 35,000 | At the immigration office within 90 days of arrival |
The visa fee can be waived or different for some nationalities under reciprocity or bilateral agreements. The GKS guidelines do not say whether these fees are reimbursed, so ask your embassy or university. Sources: Korea Visa Portal, basic fees and HiKorea, alien registration (checked October 2026).
The work restriction trap
On a D-2 student visa you can work part-time only with a permit and your university's approval. Under current immigration rules the weekly cap depends on your level and Korean: during semesters, up to 25 hours for undergraduates and 30 for graduate students who meet the TOPIK requirement (Level 3 or 4 depending on year and level), but only 10 hours (undergraduate) or 15 hours (graduate) without it. During the language year, working is essentially off the table. Many scholars work under the table at restaurants or tutoring, which risks visa problems.
Between Korean classes, homework, and TOPIK prep, there is barely time for part-time work anyway. Budget assuming zero income beyond your allowance. If you do work later during your degree, treat it as bonus money, not money you depend on.
See the full scholarship amount breakdown and the dormitory guide.