Volunteering Activities for Foreigners in South Korea
- Elena-Daniela Sandu
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
Volunteering in South Korea could be a great opportunity for foreign students and expats to discover the country, build cultural experiences and bond with people who share the same values, all while making an impact. Let’s explore a few platforms, organizations and initiatives for people who would like to integrate volunteering into their lifestyle!
In Korea, getting volunteering hours (봉사 시간) is often done through official platforms where you can sign up, participate, and have your hours automatically tracked and recorded. Here's how you can do it!
Key Features:
You can search and sign up for volunteering opportunities by region or category.
Hours are automatically recorded and can be issued as official certificates.
Useful for middle/high school students who need 봉사 시간 for school or college.
✅ Sign-up Required: You need a Korean phone number and resident registration number (주민등록번호) to register.
Volunteering may be restricted depending on visa type:
Tourist (C-3): Volunteering is not officially allowed unless it's informal or part of a cultural exchange.
Working (E-2, E-7, etc.): Some volunteering may be allowed, but it's best to check with your employer or immigration office.
Student (D-2) or Working Holiday (H-1): Typically allows volunteering, especially for non-paid work.
F-6 (Spouse), F-2 (Resident), F-4 (Overseas Korean): No restrictions on volunteering.
Tip: Always check with the Korean Immigration Office or HiKorea website before starting
🧒🏻 For Foreigners Without Korean ID
If you don’t have a 주민등록번호 or 외국인등록번호, it’s a bit harder to use the national portals. Alternatives:
Contact your local 구청 (district office) – many have programs and will issue paper certificates.
1. 1365 Volunteer Portal
The 1365 Volunteer Portal is South Korea's official government-run platform coordinating and managing volunteer activities nationwide. The platform helps individuals search for volunteer opportunities, track volunteer hours, and get official certificates of participation.
If you are a foreigner and want to become a member, sign up on their official website and enter information on your Alien Registration Card (ARC). You can look up volunteering activities by desired region, field and period. After the registration is complete, you have to wait for the approval of the 1365 Volunteer Centre, which may take up to 2-3 days, and after that, you can start participating in the volunteering activities.
Contact Information
Official website: 1365.go.kr
Phone number: 1522-3658
Address: (30112) 42, Dobo 6-ro, Sejong Special Self-Governing City (Eojin-dong)
2. E-Youth ( Youth Activity Information Service)
E-Youth is a government-run platform that provides information and services related to youth activities and welfare, meant to support the development and well-being of young people in South Korea. The platform facilitates volunteer activities for young people, such as applying for volunteering activities, tracking volunteer hours, and issuing certificates.
Contact information
Official website: youth.go.kr
Phone number: 02-330-2800
Address: (03752) Korea Youth Activities Promotion Agency, 47 Gyeonggi-daero, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
3. VMS ( Volunteer Management System )
VMS is South Korea’s official platform for managing and certifying social welfare volunteer activities. The platform facilitates management of volunteer activities and provides official volunteer certificates that can be used for academic and professional purposes.
Contact Information
Official website: vms.or.kr
E-mail: vms@ssnkorea.or.kr
Address: (04195) Room 408, Korean Social Welfare Centre, 14 Manrijae-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
4. Girl Scouts of Korea
Girl Scouts of Korea is an organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women through personal development, leadership activities and community service. The organization offers activities to different age groups, with special volunteer activities designed for people with disabilities, too.
Contact information
Official website: girlscout.or.kr
Phone number: 02-733-6801-8
E-mail: gsk@girlscout.or.kr
Address: (03060) 47 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Anguk-dong)
5. Korean Red Cross (KRC)
KRC is South Korea’s national humanitarian organization, affiliated with the International Red Cross. Foreigners can participate in volunteer activities organized by KRC depending on the region, programs and roles available. Foreigners can assist in programs that require translation, cultural education and exchange or community service events.
Contact information
Official website: redcross.or.kr
E-mail: webmaster@redcross.or.kr
Address: Head Office – 50 Hyoksin-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (26465); Seoul Office: (04629) 145 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
6. RCY (Red Cross Youth)
RCY is the youth division of the Korean Red Cross, which engages young people in various activities such as first aid training, health education and preparation in case of emergencies. RCY promotes and organizes international youth exchange programs and cultivates global citizenship and humanitarian values.
Contact information
Official website: redcross.or.kr
E-mail: webmaster@redcross.or.kr
Address: Head Office – 50 Hyoksin-ro, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do (26465); Seoul Office: (04629) 145 Sopa-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
7. Juvenile Protection Education Comprehensive Management System (Ministry of Justice)
This is an initiative by South Korea's Ministry of Justice focused on preventing juvenile delinquency and supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders. It includes various programs, activities and educational initiatives meant to help juvenile youth reintegrate into society. Foreign volunteers can participate in training and mentorship activities by directly contacting the Ministry of Justice or its affiliated organizations to check for available volunteer opportunities.
Contact information
Official website: moj.go.kr
Phone number: +82-2-2110-3311
Address: Government Complex Building #1, 47 Gwanmun-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
8. Korea National Park Service (KNPS)
KNPS is an agency established under South Korea's Ministry of Environment, which manages the preservation of South Korea’s national parks. It focuses on conservation, ecological activities and safe and sustainable tourism in natural areas. Foreign volunteers interested in volunteer opportunities should contact KNPS directly to ask about specific volunteer activities or programs that are available.
Contact information
Official website: knps.or.kr
Phone number: 033-769-9300
Address: 26466 Gangwon-do Wonju-si Hyukshin-ro 22 (Bangok-dong)
9. Culture and Sports Volunteer Matching System
This is a platform operated by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which connects volunteers with various organizations that require help with the arrangement of cultural and sports events in South Korea. The platform supports the recruitment and management of volunteers for various activities such as festivals or performances.
Contact information
Official website: csv.culture.go.kr
Phone number: 02-704-2467
Address: 49 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Dohwa-dong, Seongwoo Building)
10. Seoul Metro
Seoul Metro is the primary operator of Seoul’s subway system under the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) offers various volunteer initiatives that are open to foreigners, which may involve activities related to public transport and urban lifestyle.
Contact information
Official website: seoulmetro.co.kr
Address: 346 Cheonho-daero, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (04806), South Korea
Would you like to give any of these opportunities a try and volunteer in South Korea? Let us know!