How to Find a Part-Time Job in Korea as a Foreigner (2025 Edition)
This guide is for first-timers in Korea—international students (D-2/D-4), Working Holiday makers (H-1), and long-stay expats (F-series). It explains what is legal, where to search, how to apply, and how to avoid common traps. Every time-sensitive fact is dated and sourced.
Who this is for—and why it’s hard
Foreigners often face three blockers: (1) visa limits on what and how long you can work; (2) employers asking for a local address/ARC; (3) fragmented job information across Korean-only sites. This guide removes that friction with clear rules, step-by-step checklists, and verified links. (See sources throughout.)
1) Know your legal room first (visa rules)
Do not start work before immigration permission if your visa requires it. Korean universities and immigration offices state this explicitly for D-2/D-4. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
1.1 D-2/D-4 (students & language trainees)
- Permission required before any off-campus work. Apply via your university office and immigration. Working without permission is illegal. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- Typical hour caps during semester: up to 20 hours/week for undergrads and language students; graduate students often up to 30 hours/week. Weekends/holidays may be less restricted, but follow your school’s guidance. (인하대학교)
1.2 H-1 Working Holiday
- Work allowed without prior arrangement, but capped at 25 hours/week, 1,300 hours/year; some job categories are restricted. Check consulate notes for your country. (해외공관)
1.3 F-series (F-2/F-4/F-6)
- Broad work freedom, but F-4 applicants typically pledge to avoid certain simple manual labor categories; stick to permitted roles. Confirm before accepting offers. (해외공관)
1.4 Minimum wage (you must be paid at least this)
- 2025 hourly minimum: KRW 10,030 (daily 80,240; monthly 2,096,270 based on 209 hours). Effective 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31. (최저임금위원회)
- 2026 preview (for contracts crossing years): KRW 10,320 (decision announced 2025-07-10). (코리아넷)
2) Common job types for foreigners (and what each needs)
Job type | Typical requirements | Why it fits foreigners | Notes & limits |
Language tutoring / academy assistant | Language proficiency; D-2 needs prior permission | Bilingual advantage | D-2/D-4 must get approval first. (gsc.korea.ac.kr) |
Hospitality (cafés, hotels, tourism desks) | Basic Korean helps; health & service etiquette | Tourist areas value multilingual staff | Weekend/evening shifts common. Check hour caps. (국제학생서비스센터) |
Retail / convenience stores | ARC, bank account | Simple onboarding | Night shifts may conflict with hour limits. (인하대학교) |
Office/marketing intern | University support; English/Korean mix | Global teams like bilingual interns | D-2 permission required if off-campus. (isa.ewha.ac.kr) |
Freelance (design, writing, dev) | Portfolio; invoicing | Location-flexible | Ensure your visa allows freelance activity. H-1 has caps. (해외공관) |
Food handling (kitchen, barista) | Health Certificate (보건증) | Many openings | Foreigners can obtain 보건증 at public health centers; ARC required. (구로구청) |
Sources: University/immigration pages on permission and hours; H-1 consular pages; Guro District on Health Certificate. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
3) Where to actually find jobs
Channel | How to use it effectively | Link |
Seoul Global Center job board | English postings; city-run; check events & clinics | Job board; center homepage; counseling. (서울 외국인 지원포털) |
Major KR platforms | Search “외국인 가능”, filter by part-time (알바) | Use JobKorea/Saramin/Albamon/Alba천국. Check hour caps before applying. [Unverified aggregation—platforms change] |
University career sites | Many require D-2 approval steps; reliable employers | Use your school’s international office pages. (gsc.korea.ac.kr) |
Community groups | FB/LinkedIn expat groups; verify employer first | Watch for under-minimum offers; vet thoroughly. [Caution] |
Tip: If a post targets foreigners but pays below KRW 10,030 in 2025, skip it and report if needed. (최저임금위원회)
4) Step-by-step: your first legal shift in 14 days
- Secure address & ARC (many employers and forms ask for it). Start with housing, then ARC appointment. Reason: Employers prefer candidates with a stable address; immigration forms require ARC. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- Check your visa rule (D-2/D-4 apply for permission; H-1 track hours; F-series confirm any limits). (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- Prepare documents: resume (KR/EN), photo, ARC, bank account info. (Universities list these for D-2 applications.) (isa.ewha.ac.kr)
- Apply on trusted boards (Seoul Global Center; your university; major KR platforms). (서울 외국인 지원포털)
- If food-handling, book your Health Certificate (보건증) at a public health center. Bring ARC/passport as instructed. (구로구청)
- Sign a written contract with wage ≥ legal minimum; keep a copy. (State the hourly rate and schedule.) (최저임금위원회)
- Track hours weekly to avoid breaches (D-2 caps; H-1 ≤ 25 hr/week and ≤ 1,300 hr/year). (국제학생서비스센터)
5) Costs, timing, and paperwork—at a glance
Assumptions: first month in Seoul area; student on D-2 seeking café work. Figures are indicative; always confirm locally.
Item | Typical range | Notes |
Health Certificate (보건증) | KRW 3,000–varies by district | Guro District lists issuance & ID requirements (ARC for foreigners). Fees vary by center. (구로구청) |
Hourly wage (2025) | ≥ KRW 10,030 | National legal minimum. (최저임금위원회) |
D-2 permission lead time | 5–10 business days | University + immigration processing times differ by school/season. (gsc.korea.ac.kr) |
H-1 hour cap | ≤ 25 hrs/week; ≤ 1,300 hrs/year | Keep your own timesheet. (해외공관) |
Sources: As cited per row. (구로구청)
6) Do / Don’t checklist
Do
- Get written permission if you are D-2/D-4 before you start work. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- Keep a weekly hour log (photo your schedule; store in notes). H-1 and D-2 caps matter. (해외공관)
- Bring ARC to the public health center if working with food. (구로구청)
- Confirm pay is ≥ KRW 10,030 in 2025; add 2026 rate for longer contracts. (최저임금위원회)
Don’t
- Don’t accept cash-only jobs under minimum wage. It’s unlawful and risky. (최저임금위원회)
- Don’t start before immigration approval if your visa requires it. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- Don’t exceed visa hour caps; immigration can sanction breaches. (해외공관)
7) Pitfalls and quick fixes
Pitfall | Why it’s a problem | Fix |
“Trial shift” unpaid | Below minimum; often illegal | Insist on paid training or walk away. (최저임금위원회) |
No contract | Hard to prove hours/wage | Use a simple written agreement; keep photos of schedules. |
D-2 applied late | Work becomes illegal | Submit permission before start date via your school office. (gsc.korea.ac.kr) |
Food job, no 보건증 | Employer may be fined; you can be removed | Book the health check at public health center; bring ARC. (구로구청) |
H-1 over 1,300 hours | Breach of visa condition | Track hours; rotate to unpaid volunteering or study time instead. (해외공관) |
8) Mini cases (realistic patterns)
- Language student to café work (D-4/D-2): Student gets university sign-off, immigration OK, then secures 보건증 and starts 18 hr/week café job at ≥ KRW 10,030. Hours logged weekly to stay within cap. (최저임금위원회)
- H-1 in a guesthouse: Working Holiday maker rotates reception shifts in Itaewon and Hongdae, keeping under 25 hr/week and tracking accumulated hours towards 1,300. Declines an under-minimum offer. (해외공관)
9) FAQ
Q1. Can I start working while my D-2 permission is “in progress”?
No. Universities warn that working before approval is illegal employment. Wait for permission. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
Q2. I hold H-1. Can I work full-time for one month then stop?
The cap is 25 hours/week and 1,300 hours/year. Plan schedules accordingly. (해외공관)
Q3. Do I need a health certificate for café kitchen work?
Yes, for food handling. Public health centers issue it; foreigners present ARC. Fees vary by district. (구로구청)
Q4. What is the minimum wage now?
KRW 10,030/hour in 2025. For contracts extending into 2026, plan for KRW 10,320/hour. (최저임금위원회)
Q5. Where can I find legit postings in English?
Use Seoul Global Center job board and your university’s international office site. (서울 외국인 지원포털)
Q6. Do employers really prefer applicants with a local address?
Many processes (D-2 permissions, health checks, payroll/ARC) assume local contact details, so having an address reduces friction, especially for students. University pages reflect this flow. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
10) Glossary (for translation clarity)
- ARC (외국인등록증): Alien Registration Card. Needed for banking, health certificates, and many HR forms.
- 보건증: Health Check-up Result Certificate for food handlers, issued by public health centers. (구로구청)
- 알바: Part-time job. Search on Albamon/Alba천국.
- 최저임금: Minimum wage set annually by the Minimum Wage Council. (최저임금위원회)
- Working Holiday (H-1): Youth mobility visa with hour caps and some job restrictions. (해외공관)
11) Source notes and freshness
- Wage figures and 2026 preview are from official or government-linked announcements on 2025-07-10/11; always reconfirm if reading later. (최저임금위원회)
- Student work rules are documented by multiple Korean universities’ international offices (English pages). Details can vary; follow your school’s page first. (gsc.korea.ac.kr)
- H-1 hour caps and restrictions are shown on ROK consulate pages; check your nationality’s page. (해외공관)
- Health Certificate requirements are from an official Seoul district public health center (English page). Your district may differ in fee and process. (구로구청)
- City services and job boards for foreigners are run by Seoul Global Center. (서울 외국인 지원포털)
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