Finding support in other regions
Remember three ways to answer "what is available in my area?".
Three ways to check
- Ask at your community centre — the most accurate and fastest. Just say "is there any support I can receive?".
- Call 1577-1366 (Danuri Call Centre) — multilingual guidance to local bodies.
- Search on Bokjiro (bokjiro.go.kr) after selecting your region — check online. See bokjiro.
What to check locally
- Whether there is a foreign residents' support centre or global centre.
- The location and programmes of a family centre. See family-center.
- The location of a migrant workers' support centre. See foreign-worker-support-centers.
- Local government schemes. See local-welfare-programs.
- Where multilingual counselling is available.
Regional call centres
- Seoul 120 / Gyeonggi 031-120 / Incheon 032-120
- Busan 051-120 / Daegu 053-120 / Gwangju 062-120
- Daejeon 042-120 / Ulsan 052-120 / Sejong 044-120
- For provinces and smaller cities, use the city or county office main number.
- 129 (welfare), 1345 (residence) and 1577-1366 (multicultural) work identically nationwide.
Where to go
- Community centre (the first door)
- 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre (nationwide)
- 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (13 languages)
- 1345 Immigration Contact Centre (20 languages)
- Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr
Questions people ask
I'm rural and there's no centre. Phone and online counselling are often available. 1577-1366 and 129 work anywhere in the country. Ask about visiting programmes too. See visiting-education.
I'm moving — does support carry over? Local support usually does not. Check and apply again in the new area, after registering your new address. See arc-address-change.
I don't know which body to ask. Describe your situation to 129 or 1577-1366 and they will direct you.
I speak no Korean at all. 1345 covers 20 languages and 1577-1366 covers 13.
Take care
Most local support must be applied for — it is not granted automatically. After moving, always ask at your new community centre. Some schemes close early once budgets run out, so apply as soon as you see the notice.
Related
local-welfare-programs · seoul-support · gyeonggi-support · welfare-eligibility-check · local-foreigner-centers
Source
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Bokjiro www.bokjiro.go.kr / As of 2026-08