With the arrival of summer vacation and the holiday season, there is an increasing number of cases among foreigners and international students residing in Korea who are temporarily visiting their home countries. However, neglecting pre-departure preparations can lead to unexpected inconveniences upon returning. Issues such as overdue utility bills, visa problems, and the suspension of mobile phone authentication can directly impact the resumption of life in Korea, making prior checks essential.

The first thing to check is your utility bills and automatic payment history. Verify that electricity, gas, water, and internet bills are being paid on time, and if you will be away from home for an extended period, temporarily suspending services you are not using is a good idea. In particular, turning off the gas valve and verifying whether management fees have been paid can prevent safety accidents and late payments.

Organizing your home and checking for safety are also important. Organize your refrigerator by sorting out perishable items first, and dispose of both general waste and food waste. This is because odors and pest problems can arise within just a few days during the summer. Double-checking the locks on windows and the front door, and unplugging power strips and electronic devices, can reduce the risk of fire. It is also advisable to check for leaks in the sink or bathroom.

You must not overlook verifying your residency status and contract duration. You must check to ensure that the end date of your monthly rent or Jeonse contract does not overlap with your stay abroad, and you must verify your visa expiration date and eligibility for re-entry. In particular, failure to confirm whether you hold a residency status that allows for multiple entries may lead to problems during the re-entry process. You can find more detailed information on Hi Korea.

Managing parcels and mail is also necessary. Check your online order history immediately before departure, and if you anticipate being delivered while away, it is safer to use unmanned parcel lockers or a friend‘s address. Leaving mail unattended for extended periods poses a risk of loss or personal information leakage.

Maintaining your mobile phone line is especially important. In Korea, most banking services, delivery applications, and government civil services are linked to mobile phone identity verification. Canceling your number or suspending it for a long time can cause issues with logging into financial services or various authentication procedures. If you are returning home for a short period, it is worth considering keeping your phone number on the lowest rate plan.

Experts advise that “a single small check before departure can prevent major inconvenience upon your return.” It is especially important for foreigners and international students, for whom resolving issues is difficult due to language and regulatory differences, to thoroughly review the pre-departure checklist.

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