Moving to South Korea from Maldives

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Maldives to South Korea — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Maldives to South Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Maldives to South Korea, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
1

people moved from Maldives to South Korea · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to South Korea?

Top countries of origin for South Korea's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Maldives to South Korea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

MV
0.6
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

MV
1.3
KR
6.9

Maldives generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

MV
$2,288
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

MV
21.6
KR
25.2

Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

MV
29.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

MV
3.6t
KR
11.4t

Maldives generally does better on environment, though South Korea leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

MV
17.4
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

MV
15.7%
KR
85.2%

Maldives generally does better on infrastructure, though South Korea leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

MV
4.1%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

MV
$22,400
KR
$50,600

South Korea performs significantly better than Maldives across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

MV
76.9 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

MV
25.7
KR
2.9

South Korea generally does better on family life, though Maldives leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Maldives and South Korea. To live, work, or study long-term in South Korea, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Korea's immigration authority.

Maldives passport

Maldives passport holder visiting South Korea

Visa Required
Maldives passport holders need a visa to enter South Korea.
South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Maldives

Visa on Arrival
South Korea passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Maldives.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from South Korea?

Internet is rarely the blocker — South Korea has 45.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is South Korea safe for expats?

Maldives generally does better on safety, though South Korea leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Maldives.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Maldives?

Maldives generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Korea leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 21.6 in Maldives. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Maldives: 61).

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Maldives, the official language is Maldivian.

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At a Glance

MV KR
Population 390,164 51,844,834
Currency Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages Maldivian Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +960 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112