I am going to be an exchange student at a Korean university. I have my own travel insurance plan from my home country. It covers the whole sojourn period, all planned activities and is valid worldwide.

People from my host university persuade me I need to join the Korean health insurance system because it is required by Korean Ministry of Education. I.e. I have to pay $150 for duplicate service.

I've found information that some health insurance is mandatory for all foreign students in Korea since 2015. But no intelligible information that I have to join the Korean one, when I already have completely suitable insurance contract.

I don't speak Korean. Therefore, I was not successful with Google. Communication with school representatives leads to nowhere (bad English, too busy, "we were told to do so" approach etc.).

Could you please provide me some referenced arguments for or against my struggle?

I just want to be sure it's necessary before I flush $150 into a toilet.

I am going to be an exchange student at a Korean university. I have my own travel insurance plan from my home country. It covers the whole sojourn period, all planned activities and is valid worldwide.

People from my host university told me I need to join the Korean health insurance system because it is required by Korean Ministry of Education. I.e. I have to pay $150 for that service.

I've found information that some health insurance is mandatory for all foreign students in Korea since 2015. But no intelligible information that I have to join the Korean one, when I already have completely suitable insurance contract.

I don't speak Korean. Therefore, I was not successful with Google. Communication with school representatives leads to nowhere (bad English, too busy, "we were told to do so" approach etc.).

Is this insurance really obligatory?