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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