When they hear "Do you have your seal?" at a bank counter, foreign students get flustered. "Can't I just sign?" I've seen a foreign student ask that back, right beside me. They don't ask it with any bad intent. ## Why Is the Seal Important? In Korea, a seal has long been a mark meaning "I have confirmed this." Handwriting changes a little each time you write, but a seal always looks the same, so people considered it easy to verify. That's why stamping a seal on bank books and contracts has become second nature, and the staff ask about it out of habit, without thinking about the reason. ## Signatures are increasingly accepted too These days, many more places accept a signature. Some banks even let you sign on a tablet screen with your finger. Foreigners often use a signature instead of a seal, so you don't need to feel sorry about not having one. ## Here's what you can try - Say, "I'm a foreigner, so I'll use a signature," and hand over your alien registration card or passport at the same time. - Sign exactly the way you did when you first registered. If it's different, you may have to do it again. - Sometimes the staff don't know the rules well and bring up a stamp first. In that case, smile and ask them to check with another staff member. However, the rules differ from document to document, and the system can change. Before you go, call your bank or community center and ask. You can also get help from the 1345 Foreign Resident Comprehensive Information Center.