How to Find a Part-time Job in Korea as a Foreign Exchange Student

People who decide to study abroad in another country mostly do so because they are interested in that country and want to learn the language. While attending language schools like academies, they can make friends and increase their proficiency in second or third languages as a basic skill. However, the writer believes that the language learned through an academy is different from the one learned through an activity such as part-time work.

Therefore, the writer recommends that those who go to other countries should try part-time work. This is also true in Korea.

Today, we will find out everything about employment, including what conditions must be met and what procedures must be followed to work in Korea.

Part-time Jobs for Foreign Exchange Students

Fundamentals

Generally, this refers to time-based employment activities (such as simple labor) undertaken by students.

• If one wishes to engage in employment activities that fall under the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act, individual guidelines for each qualification will apply (for example, Presidential English Volunteer Scholarship Students, conversational language instructors, professional interpreters, etc.).
• Private tutoring activities will be strictly limited, taking into consideration the specific nature of the activity, such as the location and the target audience.

Eligible for Permission

A person who possesses a certain level of Korean language proficiency as a holder of a student visa (D-2) or a general training visa (D-4) and has been confirmed by the designated school official for international students.

• Those who have completed their study program (2-year associate's degree or 4-year bachelor's degree) but have not met the graduation requirements due to insufficient credits or other reasons and have been granted an exception to stay in the country are not eligible for permission to work. 
  • However, those who have completed a master's or doctoral degree program may be allowed to work as a research student after completing the regular course, provided that they have not delayed their graduation due to academic misconduct such as failing to meet the credit requirements or attendance rate (this permission is limited to 30 hours per week and excludes unlimited permission during holidays, weekends, or vacations).
  • If a person works without permission from the Minister of Justice, they may be forced to leave Korea or may be recommended to leave voluntarily, and may be subject to imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Permitted Range of Work

• Here are some examples of fields in which part-time work is allowed for foreign exchange students:
• General translation, restaurant support, general office support, etc.
• Activities such as store salespersons, restaurant servers, event support personnel, etc. at English villages or English camps.
  • Chinese, Japanese, and other foreign language-related camps are also included.
• Assistance with tourist information and duty-free store sales, etc.
  • However, even if you want to work in the field of part-time employment allowed above, if you are to work in a profession that requires certain qualifications according to domestic law, you must have those qualifications.
• For manufacturing industries within the scope of the qualifications for "Non-professional Employment (E-9)" in Annex 1-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act, time-limited employment is limited (all manufacturing industries, and construction industries are limited).
  • However, if you have completed Topic 4 (KIIP Level 4) exception applies to manufacturing industries.

※ English Track Program: Regardless of the academic year, holders of TOEFL 530 (CBT 197, iBT 71), IELTS 5.5, CEFR B2, TEPS 600 or higher qualifications are eligible to apply. English-speaking countries are exempt from submitting qualifications.

※ If you want to receive accurate advice according to the latest guidelines, please call 1345 or make an appointment and visit the relevant immigration office.

Documents Needed for Application

To obtain permission for activities outside the scope of the residence status, you must submit the required documents along with the application for permission to engage in activities outside of the residence status to the competent Immigration Office, Immigration Office Branch, or Immigration Office Branch Manager.

Required documents include:

• Passport
• Alien Registration Card (for those who have registered as aliens)
• Standard admission approval with evaluation of math and financial ability, or a certificate of enrollment (if the residence status is for studying abroad)
• Letter of recommendation for part-time employment
• Transcript or attendance certificate
• Proof of Korean language proficiency
• A fee of 20,000 won must be paid by foreign students applying for permission to engage in activities outside of their residence status.

Special Exemption for Time-limited Work Permit (Exclusion from Permit Requirement)

Activities that receive temporary allowances, prizes, or other compensation associated with daily life within the scope that does not infringe upon the essential requirements of the student status are excluded from the permit requirement.

Residency Benefits

The content of Residency Benefits for the holder of D-2-7 (Visa for Study-Work Linkage) is as follows:

• Benefit conditions: Graduation from the relevant degree program at the time of selection.
• E-7 Employment Qualifications: Exemption from applying the national employment rate for the company, recognition of a wide range of professions, relaxation of company requirements, and a stay permit of 3 years per contract within the scope of the employment contract.
• Acquisition of residency qualification: 10 bonus points are given when acquiring residency qualifications (F-2-7) under the point system.
• Acquisition of permanent residency: Income criteria exemption or bonus points are given depending on the type of permanent residency acquisition.

Employment Information

Through these two links, international students can obtain job information, and the National Institute for International Education holds a foreign student job fair every year with KOTRA.

Science Card

"Science Cards" are recommendation letters for foreign science and technology professionals that are issued by the Minister of Science, ICT, and Future Planning to facilitate their certification and stay in Korea (qualifications, activities, duration, etc.) during the permission process. They are intended to promote the domestic employment of excellent foreign science and technology professionals by providing convenience.

Gold Card

The Gold Card system is a program that grants preferential treatment for visa issuance and stay to companies wishing to hire outstanding overseas technology experts through employment recommendations. It is authorized by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and issued under the name of the President of KOTRA through the issuance of employment recommendations, which supports the issuance of a specific activity visa (E-7).

Recruiting Platforms

There are various employment platforms in Korea. Both employers who need to hire employees and job seekers who need to find jobs can use them, and if you search for "foreigner available," you can submit your resume to job postings that are also hiring foreigners.

However, since these platforms can be used by anyone, you should check if they are a reliable company. If you're not careful, they might not use a contract or not pay your salary, so please be careful!

In addition, you can make friends with peers through part-time jobs. I am still in touch with friends I met while working as an editor! Interacting with friends is especially a great way to improve language skills, so I hope international students will have this experience. Try catching two rabbits in your free time through part-time jobs!

Reference

생활법령정보 https://easylaw.go.kr/CSP/CnpClsMain.laf?popMenu=ov&csmSeq=508&ccfNo=3&cciNo=2&cnpClsNo=2&search_put=

한국유학종합시스템 https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/main.do

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