Moving to South Korea from Zambia

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Zambia 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 80°F in Lusaka, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2023
21 ↓ 5% vs 2022

people moved from Zambia 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 Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
KR
0.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
KR
6.9

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

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
KR
$5,081
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
KR
25.2

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia 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

ZM
50.0
KR
19.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
KR
11.4t

Zambia 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

ZM
0.4
KR
45.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
KR
85.2%

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

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
KR
2.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
KR
$50,600

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
KR
83.0 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
KR
2.9

South Korea performs significantly better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Seoul
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 73°/56°F (23°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 83°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 54°/38°F (12°/4°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Seoul
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia 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.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting South Korea

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

South Korea passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
South Korea passport holders can enter Zambia 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 Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in South Korea is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in South Korea compared to Zambia?

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.2 doctors per 10,000 people in South Korea, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. South Korea scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

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

The average high temperature in Seoul is 63°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Seoul receives around 55.8 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in South Korea?

The official language in South Korea is Korean. In Zambia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

ZM KR
Population 19,642,123 51,844,834
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) South Korean Won (₩)
Languages English Korean
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +82
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112