A Korean residence registration copy follows you everywhere — lease contracts, benefit applications, HR paperwork. And most people believe “only you can request it.” That is not what the statute says. The fees are written directly into the ministerial rule too.
This article was rewritten in August 2026 from Article 29 of the Resident Registration Act and Articles 17 and 18 of its Enforcement Rule, read directly on Korea’s National Law Information Center. Every quotation is the statutory text as written.
Four lines — (1) ⚠ it is not “only you” — the text says “the person or a member of the household” and allows delegation (Art. 29(2)); (2) but electronic issue and self-service kiosks are limited to you and your household (same art., (3)); (3) fees are KRW 400 per copy and KRW 300 per inspection, with electronic issue free and kiosks at half (Rule art. 17(4)); (4) the household head’s spouse and lineal relatives may also apply.
⚠⚠ “Only the person” is not what the provision says
Article 29(2) An application to inspect a resident registration record or to be issued a copy may be made by the person or a member of the household. Provided, that this shall not apply where there is a delegation by the person or a household member, or in any of the following cases:
1. Where the State or a local government requires it for official duties
2. Where it is required for litigation, non-contentious cases or auction purposes under relevant statutes
3. Where another statute provides a basis for requesting resident registration data
4. Where another statute obliges a person other than the individual or a household member to submit a copy
5. Where an application is made by any of the following:
(a) the household head’s spouse (b) the household head’s lineal blood relative (c) the lineal blood relative of the household head’s spouse
(d) the spouse of the household head’s lineal blood relative (e) a household member’s spouse (abstract only) (f) a household member’s lineal blood relative (abstract only)
6. Where a person with a legitimate interest prescribed by Presidential Decree, such as a creditor-debtor relationship, applies (abstract only)
7. Other cases prescribed by Presidential Decree as necessary in the public interest
| Who | Allowed? | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| The person | ⭐ Yes | Full copy and abstract |
| A household member | ⭐ Yes | Full copy and abstract |
| Someone holding a delegation | ⭐ Yes — “where there is a delegation” | Full copy and abstract |
| Household head’s spouse and lineal relatives, spouse’s lineal relatives, lineal relatives’ spouses | Yes (item 5(a)–(d)) | Full copy and abstract |
| A household member’s spouse or lineal relative | Yes (item 5(e), (f)) | ⚠ Abstract only |
| Person with a legitimate interest (creditor etc.) | Yes (item 6) | ⚠ Abstract only |
⚠⚠⚠ Our own article said “no proxy issue — only the person” and that does not match the text. The provision opens with “the person or a member of the household” and its proviso spells out “where there is a delegation.” Corrected in this rewrite.
⭐⭐ There is a place where “only you” is right — paragraph (3) limits electronic issue and self-service kiosks to “the applicant’s own or a household member’s” record. Online is narrow; the counter is wide.
⭐ Item 5 reaches further than people expect — it includes the parents-in-law of the household head and the spouses of the head’s children.
⚠ But items 5(e), (f) and 6 are “abstract only” — the full copy, which shows the whole household, is opened more narrowly.
⭐ Counter, online, kiosk — the statute separates them
Article 29(3) Inspection and issue under paragraph (1) shall be carried out using the resident registration information system. Provided, that where an electronic document or a self-service kiosk is used, this shall be limited to the issue of the applicant’s own or a household member’s copy. <amended 11 Jan 2022>
Article 29(5) Where an application is received from a person who is not the individual or a household member and the head of the issuing body judges that issue may infringe an individual’s privacy or be contrary to the public interest, the body may refuse to issue it. In such cases the reason shall be given to the applicant in writing.
| Route | Whose record | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic (online) | ⚠ Yours or your household’s only | ⭐ Free |
| Self-service kiosk | ⚠ Yours or your household’s only | ⭐ Half the fee |
| Counter (district or town office) | The full range in Article 29(2) | KRW 400 per copy / 500 for another person’s |
⭐ Paragraph (5) is the safeguard — an application from someone outside the household can be refused where privacy or the public interest is at stake, with written reasons. Meeting a listed condition does not guarantee issue.
⭐⭐ The fees are stated in the rule itself
Enforcement Rule Article 17(4) The fees under Article 29(1) … are as follows. Provided, that where a record is inspected or a copy issued as an electronic document it shall be free of charge, and where a copy is issued through a self-service kiosk the fee shall be one half of that amount.
1. Inspection of a resident registration record or move-in confirmation: KRW 300 per view
2. Issue of a copy or abstract or a move-in confirmation: KRW 400 per document. Provided, that issue of another person’s copy or abstract under Article 29(2)2 and 6 … shall be KRW 500.
- ⭐⭐ Our article said kiosk fees “vary by machine and municipality” — the rule fixes them at “one half.” Corrected here.
- ⭐ Inspection (300) and issue (400) are separate items — looking at a screen versus receiving a document.
- ⭐ Another person’s record costs 500 (proviso to item 2) — the litigation or auction (item 2) and legitimate interest (item 6) cases.
- ⭐ Rule Article 18 lists fourteen grounds for exemption — including basic livelihood recipients and registered independence and national merit holders and their surviving families — and its last item leaves room for exemption by municipal ordinance.
- ⚠ The version we opened is marked “[in force 29 October 2026].” Article 17(4) itself was last amended 20 December 2024, but we cannot rule out a difference from the version currently in force, so we note it here.
⭐ Full copy vs abstract — where the statute draws the line
The statute usually writes “copy or abstract” as one phrase, and splits them only at a few points, with “abstract only.” Those points tell you the difference.
- A household member’s spouse or lineal relative (Art. 29(2)5(e), (f)) → abstract only
- A person with a legitimate interest such as a creditor (same para., 6) → abstract only
- The domestic-violence protection provisions treat item 6 separately in paragraph (8)
⭐ In other words, the full copy shows the whole household and is opened more narrowly; the abstract is person-centred and slightly wider. ⚠ That said, we did not open the Decree provisions listing what each document actually contains, so we could not check the contents against the text.
| Where the statute says “abstract only” | Basis | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Application by a household member’s spouse or lineal relative | Art. 29(2)5(e), (f) | ⭐ The full copy exposes the whole household, so it is opened more narrowly |
| Person with a legitimate interest (creditor etc.) | Same para., 6 | |
| Item 6 within the domestic-violence protections | Same art., (8) |
⚠ A separate mechanism for blocking access
Article 29 carries its own protective procedure in paragraphs (6) to (9).
Article 29(6) A victim under the Act on Special Cases concerning the Punishment of Crimes of Domestic Violence may, where the perpetrator’s registered address differs from their own, designate a person from among those falling under paragraph (2)5 and apply to have inspection or issue of the records of themselves, their household members and their lineal ascendants and descendants restricted … <inserted 1 Apr 2009, 20 Jul 2021>
⭐ Paragraphs (7) and (8) require the body to impose that restriction and give written reasons, and paragraph (8) permits restricting even an abstract otherwise available under paragraph (2)6. ⚠ The application procedure itself is a Presidential Decree matter we did not open. If this applies to you, ask your local community service centre directly.
Questions that keep splitting opinion
Can I get a family member’s copy online?
⚠ The proviso to Article 29(3) limits electronic and kiosk issue to “the applicant’s own or a household member’s” record. A relative outside your household therefore reads as a counter matter, using item 5 as the basis.
Is there an expiry date?
⚠ Neither Article 29 nor Rule Articles 17 and 18 contains any validity period. Standards like “within three months” appear to be set by whoever receives the document, and are not confirmed in legislation, so this article states no period.
Can I submit a screenshot?
⚠ The statute says nothing about submission format. Paragraph (3) recognises “an electronic document” as an issue method, and nothing more. It depends on what the recipient requires; we do not assert an answer.
Can I hide the last digits of the resident number?
⚠ Article 29 contains no sentence about that option. It is well known as a screen setting, but we could not find the provision behind it, so this article does not cover it.
How do “household head” and “household member” work?
⚠ Article 29 uses both terms without defining them. Tax law defines a household as those “sharing a livelihood at the same address or residence” (Income Tax Act art. 88(6)), but whether the concepts match cannot be settled from the text, so we do not assert it. The tax concept is in our one-home exemption guide and the dependant test in our personal deduction guide.
Why does a lease need this document?
⭐ Because the requirements for opposing power are “delivery and resident registration” (Housing Lease Protection Act art. 3(1)) — the copy is how you prove the registration actually happened. The order is in our jeonse contract checklist, and reading the property register in our property register guide.
"Only you can request it" is true of the online service and the kiosk. At the counter, a household member, someone holding a delegation, and the household head's close relatives can all apply.
Sources
- ⭐⭐⭐ Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center — statutory text — Resident Registration Act, Article 29 (Inspection and Issue of Copies). Source of paragraph (2)’s “the person or a household member … where there is a delegation” and its subparagraphs, paragraph (3) limiting electronic and kiosk issue, paragraph (5) on refusal with written reasons, and paragraphs (6) to (9) on restriction.
- ⭐⭐⭐ Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center — statutory text — Same Act, Enforcement Rule Article 17 (Fees). Source of KRW 300 / 400 / 500 and “free electronically, half at a kiosk.” ⚠ The version we opened is marked [in force 29 October 2026].
- ⭐⭐ Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center — statutory text — Same Rule, Article 18 (Reduction and Exemption of Fees). The fourteen exemption grounds and the ordinance-based exemption.
- ⭐ Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center — statutory text — Housing Lease Protection Act, Article 3 (Opposing Power). “Taken delivery of the housing and completed resident registration … from the day after” — why a lease needs this document.
What we could not confirm
- ⚠⚠ What each document actually contains. We did not open the Decree provisions listing the recorded items.
- ⚠⚠ Any validity period. Neither Article 29 nor the Rule contains one. Standards like “three months” appear to be set by the recipient and are not stated here.
- ⚠ The basis for choosing whether to show the last digits of the resident number. Article 29 has no such sentence.
- ⚠ Whether a screenshot is acceptable. The statute regulates issue, not submission format.
- ⚠ The application procedure for the domestic-violence restriction. A Presidential Decree matter, not opened.
- The precise scope of “legitimate interest” under item 6. Delegated to Presidential Decree.
- The government portal’s screens and login methods. Operational rather than statutory; not covered.
Written as of August 2026. ⭐ All quotations are the statutory text as published by the National Law Information Center, and what we could not confirm is listed separately above. ⚠ The Enforcement Rule version we opened is marked in force from 29 October 2026, so it may differ from the version currently in effect. If you are charged a different fee, check with your local district office. This article is general information, not legal advice.
