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.
By Seemile · Sources checked
Speak to your university first
- Contact the international student adviser with the employer’s details and proposed duties.
- Ask which Korean-language, attendance and academic conditions apply to your course.
- Confirm whether the job or workplace is restricted before promising a start date.
Get the current permission rules
- Use HiKorea or 1345 to check the application and the permitted conditions.
- Hours can differ by programme and circumstances; do not use someone else’s weekly limit.
- Ask what you must do if the employer, duties or work location changes.
Keep a normal employment record
- Get written pay, hours, payday and duties.
- Keep your approval, contract, shift records and payslips together.
- If the job changes, check permission again rather than assuming the first approval covers everything.
A little Korean goes a long way
- 시간제 취업 허가가 필요한가요? — Do I need part-time work permission?
- 근로계약서 사본을 주세요. — Please give me a copy of the employment contract.
Official information
- Study in Korea · Part-time employment — National Institute for International Education
- HiKorea · Immigration services — Ministry of Justice
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.
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.
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.