Read your employment contract before day one
The conversation at an interview is easy to forget. A written contract gives you something clear to check against the work and pay that follow.
By Seemile · Sources checked
Put the essentials in writing
- Check the employer, duties, work location and contract dates.
- Read the wage, calculation method and payday together.
- Check working hours, breaks, days off and any stated deductions or insurance arrangements.
Clarify ambiguous promises
- Ask whether the quoted amount is before or after deductions.
- Ask how extra shifts are authorised and recorded.
- If accommodation or meals are included, get the charges and conditions explained in writing.
Keep your own record
- Retain the signed contract and any later written changes.
- Keep shift records and compare each payslip with the arrangement.
- If wording is unclear, take the document to a labour adviser before agreeing to it.
A little Korean goes a long way
- 급여 지급일은 언제인가요? — When is payday?
- 공제 내역을 설명해 주세요. — Please explain the deductions.
Official information
- My Seoul+ · Labour rights — Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Employment and Labor · Labor standards — Ministry of Employment and Labor
Keep going
Looking for work in Korea: start with permission
A promising vacancy is only useful if the role fits your residence status. Check that first, then spend your time on a focused application.
When your wages have not arrived
Begin with dates and evidence. A short, organised record makes it easier for a labour adviser to understand what happened and what you are asking for.
Before turning a business idea into work in Korea
A company registration, a business course and immigration permission answer different questions. Put them on separate lines in your plan.
Can an international student take a part-time job?
Check before the first shift, including a trial shift. Student work permission depends on your course, status and the proposed job, not simply on being enrolled.