Korea has a layer of free help for foreigners in their own language: the national 1345 line for anything about visas and daily life, city centers such as Seoul Global Center, foreign worker support centers run with local governments, and family centers for marriage migrants. Start with the phone lines, then visit a center for face-to-face help.
Key facts
| 1345 Immigration Contact Center | Weekdays 9:00 to 22:00. 20 languages 9:00 to 18:00; Korean, English and Chinese 18:00 to 22:00 |
| Seoul Global Center | 02-2075-4180, Seoul Global Center Building, 38 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu (next to Jonggak Station) |
| Foreign worker counseling (EPS) | 1577-0071, run for the labor ministry by HRD Korea |
| Labor ministry helpline | 1350 |
| Multicultural families | Danuri 1577-1366, 24 hours, 13 languages |
| Cost | All free |
Phone lines first
| Number | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1345 | Visas, residence card, immigration rules, daily life, public services | Run by the Ministry of Justice. Choose your language in the menu. Since May 27, 2026, menu option 1 is a dedicated line to report human rights violations against foreigners |
| 1577-0071 | Workers and employers under the Employment Permit System (E-9, H-2) | Free interpretation and counseling on contracts, wages, changing workplaces. Press the number for your language |
| 1350 | Labor law: wages, dismissal, working hours | Ministry of Employment and Labor. Interpretation can be arranged |
| 1577-1366 | Marriage migrants and multicultural families | Danuri: life info, interpretation, counseling, shelter. See family centers and Danuri |
| 132 | Free legal advice | Korea Legal Aid Corporation. See free legal help |
| 129 | Welfare benefits | Health and Welfare call center |
| 120 | Seoul city services | Seoul Dasan call center, with foreign-language service |
1345 and Danuri can join a call as interpreters. If you are at a hospital, police station or office and nobody understands you, call and ask for three-way interpretation.
Seoul Global Center and global village centers
Seoul Global Center (서울글로벌센터) is the city’s main center for foreign residents.
- Counseling in several languages on daily life, visas, labor disputes, legal problems, real estate and starting a business. Specialists such as lawyers and labor attorneys hold regular sessions.
- Free programs: Korean classes, orientation for new residents, job-seeking support and seminars (for example visa guide lectures).
- Address: Seoul Global Center Building, 38 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, near exit 6 of Jonggak Station. Phone 02-2075-4180.
Global village centers (글로벌빌리지센터) in neighborhoods with many foreign residents, such as Itaewon, Seongbuk, Seorae (Seocho) and Gangnam, offer local counseling, Korean classes and cultural programs. Seoul also has a support center for international students and a youth education center for migrant-background children. All addresses and phone numbers are listed on the Seoul Foreigner Portal (global.seoul.go.kr).
Foreign worker support centers (외국인노동자지원센터)
These centers help migrant workers with wage disputes, workplace problems, industrial accidents, Korean classes and shelter in some cases.
What changed. The labor ministry stopped directly funding its network of foreign worker support centers in its 2024 budget. Many centers closed or were taken over by local governments. In 2026 the ministry funds a “foreign worker regional settlement support” program (₩2.9 billion), paying 50% of the cost of centers run by local governments chosen through a competition, with the local government paying the other 50%. News reports show centers operating with local funding in places such as Gwangju and Daegu.
What this means for you. Whether there is a center near you depends on your city or province. To find one:
- call 1345 or 1577-0071 and ask for the nearest foreign worker center;
- search your city’s website for “외국인근로자지원센터” or “외국인주민지원센터”;
- ask a migrant worker community from your country, or a local church or NGO, many of which run their own counseling.
City and provincial foreign resident centers
Many local governments run a foreign resident support center (외국인주민지원센터) or a multilingual call center. For example, South Chungcheong Province runs a free multilingual call center for foreign residents at 1522-1866. Gyeonggi cities with large foreign populations, such as Ansan, also have dedicated offices.
Services usually include:
- counseling and interpretation;
- Korean classes and computer or driving-license classes;
- help with forms, residence card and health insurance questions;
- medical days (free check-ups or traditional medicine clinics);
- links to emergency welfare and legal aid.
Family centers (가족센터)
For marriage migrants and multicultural families: Korean classes, home visits, counseling, interpretation and children’s programs. Many also welcome other foreign residents for some classes. See family centers and Danuri.
Which one to call
| Problem | Start with |
|---|---|
| Visa, residence card, re-entry | 1345 |
| Boss has not paid wages | 1350, then the labor office; see unpaid wages |
| E-9 worker wants to change workplace | 1577-0071 |
| Need a lawyer | 132; see free legal help |
| Marriage, family or violence at home | 1577-1366 (or 112 in danger) |
| Living in Seoul, general help | Seoul Global Center 02-2075-4180 |
| Emergency | 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance; see emergency numbers |
Bilal works in a factory in Gimhae on an E-9 visa. His employer has held back two months of pay. He calls 1577-0071 and chooses his language to understand his rights, then contacts a local foreign worker center, whose counselor helps him file a complaint at the labor office and goes with him as an interpreter.
Common questions
Do these centers check my visa status?
1345 and the counseling lines answer general questions without asking for your identity. Labor offices are now exempt from reporting undocumented workers who come to report unpaid wages. If you are worried, ask the question anonymously first.
Are the centers open on weekends?
Some foreign worker and city centers open on Sundays because many workers only have Sunday off. Hours differ; check before you go.
Is help really free?
Yes. Counseling at public centers and the phone lines is free. Be careful of brokers who charge to “fix” visa or job problems.
Can a center help me outside Seoul?
Yes. Use 1345 or 1577-0071 to find the nearest center, or your province’s multilingual call center where one exists.
Official sources
- Ministry of Justice: 1345 Immigration Contact Center (hours and languages)
- Seoul Foreigner Portal: Seoul Global Center and support facilities
- Ministry of Employment and Labor: 2026 subsidy programs (foreign worker regional settlement support)
- HRD Korea: foreign worker counseling line
- Chungnam Province: foreign resident integrated call center 1522-1866
This guide explains the general rules as of the date above. Rules change and every case is different, so confirm with the office named here (or the 1345 Immigration Contact Center) before an important decision. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.