“Which Korean bank is best for foreigners?” sounds like a ranking question. In practice it is a compatibility question.
Start with where your money enters the system
If your employer or university already works closely with a bank, that convenience matters. Salary verification, campus branches and familiar paperwork can make the first weeks easier.
Then test the digital life
Ask whether the bank offers an English interface, how overseas remittance works, whether customer support can handle your language, and what happens when you change phones.
Branch quality matters more than people admit
Two branches of the same bank can feel very different when the request involves foreign identification or a less common visa. A branch accustomed to international customers can save hours.
In Korea, “best bank” often means “the bank where the staff understand what you are trying to do before you have explained it three times.”
A practical shortlist method
Compare three banks on five things: branch accessibility, foreign-language support, app usability, transfer limits, and overseas remittance. Then choose based on the tasks you will perform every month.