Moving to South Korea from Suriname

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Suriname to South Korea? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Suriname to South Korea, and you’d need to navigate life in Korean. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Seoul averages 63°F vs 92°F in Paramaribo, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Suriname to South Korea.

Moved in 2021
2 ↑ 100% vs 2020

people moved from Suriname 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

The numbers behind daily life in South Korea compared to Suriname.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SR
7.3
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SR
16.2
KR
6.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SR
$1,143
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SR
14.8
KR
25.2

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

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SR
39.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SR
4.1t
KR
11.4t

Suriname 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

SR
20.2
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SR
4.0%
KR
85.2%

South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Suriname leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SR
7.7%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SR
$19,000
KR
$50,600

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Suriname leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SR
72.4 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SR
30.2
KR
2.9

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Paramaribo Rain: 84.6 in/yr (2148 mm)
92° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Paramaribo Seoul
Jan–Mar 89°/71°F (32°/22°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/73°F (33°/23°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 93°/73°F (34°/23°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 94°/73°F (34°/23°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Paramaribo Seoul
Jan 89°/71°F (31.8°/21.6°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 88°/71°F (31.3°/21.6°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 90°/71°F (32.1°/21.8°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 91°/73°F (32.6°/22.6°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 91°/73°F (32.9°/22.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 92°/72°F (33.2°/22.5°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 92°/72°F (33.5°/22.5°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 93°/73°F (34.1°/22.7°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 94°/73°F (34.7°/22.9°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 95°/73°F (35.1°/22.9°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 94°/73°F (34.3°/22.6°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 92°/72°F (33.4°/22.5°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: Meteorological Service Meteorological Service, Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Suriname 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.

Suriname passport

Suriname passport holder visiting South Korea

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

South Korea passport holder visiting Suriname

Visa Free
South Korea passport holders can enter Suriname without a visa.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (South Korea: 45.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Korea offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is South Korea safe for expats?

South Korea performs significantly better than Suriname across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 7.3 in Suriname.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Suriname?

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Suriname leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 14.8 in Suriname. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Suriname: 63).

What's the weather like in South Korea compared to Suriname?

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 92°F in Paramaribo. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Paramaribo gets 84.6 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Suriname, the official language is Dutch.

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At a Glance

SR KR
Population 632,638 51,844,834
Currency Surinamese Dollar (SRD) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages Dutch Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +597 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112