Moving to Palau from South Korea

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from South Korea to Palau — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from South Korea to Palau, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Palauan.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

Real numbers on people moving from South Korea to Palau, and how the trend has changed.

Living there in 2020
68

people born in South Korea live in Palau · UN DESA

Who's moving to Palau?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

How South Korea and Palau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KR
0.5
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KR
6.9
PW
22.2

South Korea performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

KR
$5,081
PW
$1,857
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KR
25.2
PW
17.8

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KR
11.4t
PW
82.8t

South Korea performs better than Palau across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KR
45.4
PW
6.9

South Korea performs better than Palau across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KR
2.6%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KR
$50,600
PW
$15,800

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Palau leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KR
83.0 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KR
2.9
PW
11.3

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

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Palau

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

Palau passport holder visiting South Korea

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Palau passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter South Korea.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

With 6.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Palau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in South Korea and Palau.

Is Palau safe for expats?

South Korea performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in South Korea.

How is healthcare in Palau compared to South Korea?

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Palau leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.

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At a Glance

KR PW
Population 51,844,834 21,695
Currency South Korean Won (₩) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Korean English, Palauan
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +82 +680
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112