October 2019
Contents
While in Korea · Written by Min Yea-Ji Illustrated by Yuhaill
Working in Korea
Jessie is a German exchange student in Korea who has spent more of her savings than she planned and needs to earn money. Can she legally work in Korea as a foreign student? This episode explains how a foreign national can work in the country depending on visa.
Jessie: I spent too much over summer break, far more than I planned based on the funds I brought from Germany. What can I do?
Pedro: Why not get a part-time job?
Jessie: Are exchange students allowed to take on part-time jobs?
Su-hyeon: Of course. They cannot work full time but they are allowed to work part time.
Jessie: Wow, tell me more.
Pedro: Those with either a D-2 or D-4 visa are eligible for part-time jobs. (D-2 is for those pursuing a full-time degree such as a bachelor’s, a master’s or a doctorate in Korea, while D-4 is for those studying Korean at a language institute affiliated with a university).
Su-hyeon: Foreigners can work as translators or interpreters, staff at restaurants or offices or assistants to tour guides or sales reps at a duty-free shop.
Jessie: Do they have to meet certain criteria to get these jobs?
Su-hyeon: Of course. You’ll have to meet certain standards as a student.
Pedro: Those with an average GPA of below “C” or a class attendance rate of 70% or below during that semester may face restrictions when looking for part-time jobs. And if you haven’t completed your degree within a given time frame due to a low GPA or other reasons and have extended your visa to complete the degree, then you’re ineligible to get a part-time job.
Pedro: Why not get a part-time job?
Jessie: Are exchange students allowed to take on part-time jobs?
Su-hyeon: Of course. They cannot work full time but they are allowed to work part time.
Jessie: Wow, tell me more.
Pedro: Those with either a D-2 or D-4 visa are eligible for part-time jobs. (D-2 is for those pursuing a full-time degree such as a bachelor’s, a master’s or a doctorate in Korea, while D-4 is for those studying Korean at a language institute affiliated with a university).
Su-hyeon: Foreigners can work as translators or interpreters, staff at restaurants or offices or assistants to tour guides or sales reps at a duty-free shop.
Jessie: Do they have to meet certain criteria to get these jobs?
Su-hyeon: Of course. You’ll have to meet certain standards as a student.
Pedro: Those with an average GPA of below “C” or a class attendance rate of 70% or below during that semester may face restrictions when looking for part-time jobs. And if you haven’t completed your degree within a given time frame due to a low GPA or other reasons and have extended your visa to complete the degree, then you’re ineligible to get a part-time job.
Jessie: I recently attained Level 4 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). Do you think that’ll make it easier for me to find a part-time job?
Pedro: Oh sure. The number of hours you’re eligible to work here depends on your Korean-language proficiency.
Su-hyeon: For instance, freshmen and sophomores can work up to 20 hours per week during a semester if they achieve Level 3 or higher on TOPIK, and they can work as much as they want during vacations. Those who haven’t attained Level 3 can work only up to 10 hours per week regardless of semester or break.
Pedro: Juniors, seniors and graduate students need to achieve Level 4 or higher to work part time. They can work longer than freshmen and sophomores if they meet this criterion.
Su-hyeon: You first have to notify your immigration office of your qualifications for staying and your employment and get permission from the office.
Pedro: Log onto the site Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr), download the document for confirming the temporary employment of a foreign student, and get signatures from the international student officer at your school and your employer to start the approval process.
Pedro: Oh sure. The number of hours you’re eligible to work here depends on your Korean-language proficiency.
Su-hyeon: For instance, freshmen and sophomores can work up to 20 hours per week during a semester if they achieve Level 3 or higher on TOPIK, and they can work as much as they want during vacations. Those who haven’t attained Level 3 can work only up to 10 hours per week regardless of semester or break.
Pedro: Juniors, seniors and graduate students need to achieve Level 4 or higher to work part time. They can work longer than freshmen and sophomores if they meet this criterion.
Su-hyeon: You first have to notify your immigration office of your qualifications for staying and your employment and get permission from the office.
Pedro: Log onto the site Hi Korea (www.hikorea.go.kr), download the document for confirming the temporary employment of a foreign student, and get signatures from the international student officer at your school and your employer to start the approval process.
Jessie: What about getting prize money? I moonlight as an Honorary Reporter for Korea.net and write about my life in Korea. My article was recently selected for an award and I got a phone call from Korea.net saying I will receive prize money.
Pedro: Hmm, it says here that you don’t need permission for activities that entail subsidiary or temporary financial rewards or compensation. In the case of your Honorary Reporter activities, they involve temporary payments and don’t violate your qualifications as a foreign student. Thus no permission is needed.
Su-hyeon: Wow, Jessie, it seems you’ve engaged in quite a few activities.
Jessie: Of course. I hope to get a job in Korea after finishing school here, so I must be diligent.
Pedro: If you seek training or employment in Korea after finishing school here, you can apply to change your visa to a D-10, which is a jobseeker visa.
Pedro: Hmm, it says here that you don’t need permission for activities that entail subsidiary or temporary financial rewards or compensation. In the case of your Honorary Reporter activities, they involve temporary payments and don’t violate your qualifications as a foreign student. Thus no permission is needed.
Su-hyeon: Wow, Jessie, it seems you’ve engaged in quite a few activities.
Jessie: Of course. I hope to get a job in Korea after finishing school here, so I must be diligent.
Pedro: If you seek training or employment in Korea after finishing school here, you can apply to change your visa to a D-10, which is a jobseeker visa.
Su-hyeon: What visa do you have, Pedro?
Pedro: Because I’m a cook, I have an E-7 visa, which is issued to those engaged in specifically designated activities.
Su-hyeon: Korea has a variety of visas allowing foreigners to work legally. Foreign workers who come to Korea to work temporarily or migrant workers can find jobs here.
Pedro: If you have any questions, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 or visit its website at www.hikorea.go.kr.
Jessie: Thanks. I didn’t know visas could be so complicated. I’ll look up more details later.
Pedro: Because I’m a cook, I have an E-7 visa, which is issued to those engaged in specifically designated activities.
Su-hyeon: Korea has a variety of visas allowing foreigners to work legally. Foreign workers who come to Korea to work temporarily or migrant workers can find jobs here.
Pedro: If you have any questions, call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 or visit its website at www.hikorea.go.kr.
Jessie: Thanks. I didn’t know visas could be so complicated. I’ll look up more details later.
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