Changing Jobs, Moving or Divorcing During Personal Rehabilitation: Is It Possible?

We are often asked whether you can do anything at all during personal rehabilitation, and whether it is all right to change jobs or move house. To answer first: during personal rehabilitation (gaein hoesaeng) you can usually change jobs, move and divorce. The key point, however, is that the court must be informed the moment the flow of your money changes, so we have set out what to take care of in each situation.

It is not a system that ties up your life

Personal rehabilitation is a system for repaying debt in installments out of the money you earn by working. If it blocked your life you could not earn money, so most everyday activities remain allowed. You can keep working, change jobs, move and use your bank, and your life itself carries on almost as before.

If I change jobs, do I have to report the change in income?

Changing jobs during personal rehabilitation is not a problem. However, if your income changes, you must inform the court. If someone earning KRW 2 million a month starts earning KRW 3 million, this affects the repayment amount and must be reflected. Before the commencement decision, you may even be asked to submit documents relating to the new job.

If I move or sell my home, what must I explain?

Moving is also possible. Moving, however, leads to questions of changes in assets.

• If you moved from a home with a KRW 100 million deposit to one with a KRW 70 million deposit, you must explain where the remaining KRW 30 million went.
• If you sold your home and spent the money left over, you need evidence of how it was used.

This is because the liquidation value, in other words the valuation of your assets, changes. That is why it must be reported to the court before the commencement decision.

In a divorce, property division and child support are what matter

Divorce itself is not an obstacle to personal rehabilitation. What needs examining is property division and child support.

• If you transfer part of your property to your spouse, your assets decrease, which affects the repayment amount.
• If you pay child support, your fixed expenses increase, which affects the repayment plan.

The key is not the divorce itself but the resulting flow of money, and this too must be reported before the commencement decision.

How far can I use banks and cards?

You can use your bank account and make deposits and withdrawals freely. Some aspects are actually protected by the court, such as measures that prevent seizure. On the other hand, getting a new credit card or taking out additional loans is practically difficult.

We do not recommend investing in stocks or crypto

It is not prohibited by law, but the problem is how the court will view it. If you file for rehabilitation because of debt and invest at the same time, the court is likely to see you as a debtor who is not acting in good faith, and in serious cases this can work against you. That is why, although you can do it, we do not recommend it.

Practical tips on choosing when to make a move

In summary, during personal rehabilitation you can usually change jobs, move, divorce and use your bank, but changes that occur while the procedure is under way must be reported to the court.

In practice, if it is not urgent, we recommend making such moves after the commencement decision, and if possible after the procedure has ended. A change in income means another review, and a change in assets means another examination, so in the end things take longer and become more cumbersome.

Personal rehabilitation is not a system that ties up your life but one that helps you live again. Just remember the rule that the moment your income or assets change, it affects the court proceedings.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 This article provides general legal information; specific advice is given through consultation.