Korean Job Discussion Forums

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I have a question for foreigners who own their homes in Korea. How did they specify your identity on the deed?
I bought my apartment about 2 years ago and was aghast when the final deed showed up and they used my ARC number as my identity on the house deed. The problem is that for us foreigners, the ARC comes and goes depending on if we are working (or married) or not.
There are probably many Japanese and Chinese owning property here who never worked here and never had an ARC, so there must be some other way to specify ID, other than ARC number. It is perfectly legal for other nationalities to own property here without working here.
My specific problem comes that my "address" on the deed is specified as my previous address, because that is the address where I lived at the exact moment I purchased the apartment and that was the address on the ARC. Now, I have no ARC because I am studying Korean language part time. So I want to change my "address" on the deed and find that I first need to change my address on the ARC (which doesn't exist anymore) before they will change the address on my deed?!?
Then of course there is the problem many years down the road when I want to sell the place and find I need an ARC to do that.
So I want to get them to remove all mention of my ARC from the deed, but not sure what other way they can use to specify the owner (myself) identity.
Thanks, Drew

DHC · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

You should have an ARC if you are legally in the country other than as a temporary tourist. Your ARC number is the method that Korea uses to ID foreigners. It is used on everything from driver license to property ownership papers. Your name should also appear on the document. You will need your ARC when you sell the document unless the buyer is naive enough to accept your word that you are the person whose ARC is on the document.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

An American buddy just did up a real estate contract. He used his name, and then to everyones' surprise, he busted out his own chop instead of just signing! Classic.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Yes, I have my chop also. It was the much preferred method for signing real estate documents.

I am in the country for 3 months visa exempt. So no, I don't have, and in fact am not allowed to have, an ARC. I have a home in another country also, so 3 months at a time in Korea suits me just fine.

There is no law against foreigners owning property here in Korea. So since 99.9 % of foreigners in the world don't have ARC, it is probably not required to have an ARC to buy property in Korea. I am not sure about that last statement, just my thought process. Yet this opens up the original question.

Anyone use another way to specify their identity on the deed other than ARC?

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

aphase · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I thought only F2/F4/F5 visa holders could legally own property/and, or a business in Korea. And well, maybe Investment visa holders. No?

Anyway my ARC never comes and goes. It's been the same for 5 years. Sad that I have to admit that i've been here that long. hah.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Well, that is good to know that the ARC never changes.

What I meant by the ARC comes and goes is that when working, it comes, when not working, it goes.

Anyway, I am trying to get a job for spring so I hope that my next ARC card has the same number as before. I'll be at a different employer and my passport number has also changed. Hope they give me the same ARC number or I am in a mess with this apartment deed.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Can't get a student visa when studying 12 hours a week in a hagwon with one month long semesters.
since US citizens can enter for 3 month with no visa, I can't get a student visa for studying at this hagwon.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

@Bassexpander: It was just funny to see the Koreans' reaction to a foreigner with a tojang.

And anyone can own property here now. You don't need to have an ARC or be on any kind of special visa.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I agree that there is no rule stating that you must have an ARC to own property.
But unfortunately I am being told that I must have the ARC to get the proper paperwork from immigration so I can change the address on my deed. The name and address on the deed is actually tied to the ARC (which no longer exists).
So there is no rule against owning property without an ARC, but in practice it seems run into insurmountable obstacles, such as changing the address or in the future when trying to sell.
That's why I'm asking, if anyone bought or owns property without the ARC, how is your identity specified on the deed. I need this information so I can tell the deed writers that there is indeed another way.
I am being told that the ARC is the only way to identify a person on the deed; and this may be a fact, even though it runs against the fact that no ARC is needed to own property.
Anyone else own property without an ARC, and if so, how is your identity specified? I do realize that this is such a rare case that maybe nobody else (except Japanese and Chinese land speculators) may be in this position.
Thanks

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Maybe you could visit immigration and at least get a photo of your old ARC. If worse comes to worse, they at least should be able to give you written confirmation of your old ID number along with your name. You could then change the deed to reflect your name with your passport number or something like that.

I agree. This is a one-off case. Sorry I couldn't help more.

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

I don't know if this is of any help, but the one time that I was here between contracts on a tourist visa, I used my Korean Driver's License as ID and nobody even blinked twice.

So, even if it's not a big help to you this time around, I would suggest getting a KDL if only to use as ID - it's good for many years and is useful for, you know, driving and stuff.

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

Anyone can get a dojang stamp, as there are stores that will carve one for you everywhere. The key for legitimacy, however, is to go to your Gu office and get your stamp registered. This involves your ARC (or your passport, I forget), current address, fingerprinting, samples of your signature, and so forth. Koreans carry their stamps around like gold, as it's their identity. Having someone else's is like having a perfectly forged signature to use. But all the proof for legitimacy is available to be checked at the Gu office.

Perhaps with the Gu office a change in ARC number is possible. Sorry I can't be of more help.

aphase · Joined: 27 Apr 2006