TOP 5 Part-time Jobs for International Students in South Korea
Studying abroad in Korea is a journey full of experiences, not only in knowledge but also in culture and life. To cover living expenses and earn extra income, many international students choose to work part-time. However, finding a suitable part-time job in Korea is not easy, especially for those who have just arrived. The following article by Glints will share with you useful information related to part-time jobs for international students in Korea.
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1. The benefit from part-time job
Working part-time while studying in Korea brings you countless benefits, not only financially but also in terms of skills and life experience.
Improve your Korean communication skills: The working environment is the perfect “training ground” for you to improve your Korean skills, helping you communicate more confidently and fluently.
Increase income, cover expenses: The salary from part-time jobs in Korea can help you reduce financial burden, cover your living expenses and even support your family.
Practice soft skills: Through the work process, you will be trained in important soft skills such as teamwork, time management, problem solving, adapting to new environments, etc.
Explore Korean culture: Part-time jobs give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in local culture, experience the Korean lifestyle and make new friends from many different countries.
2. Fields to work part-time while studying abroad in Korea
According to Korean government regulations, international students are allowed to work part-time in the following industries:
Accommodation industry: International students can work at restaurants, hotels, or cafes.
Commerce industry: Job opportunities exist in retail stores, supermarkets, or online stores.
Entertainment industry: Job positions are available at clubs, amusement parks, or performance stages.
Service industry: Students can find jobs in areas such as childcare, house cleaning, or office support.
However, international students in Korea are not allowed to work in industries such as education, health care, manufacturing, and construction. In addition, the total number of overtime hours that international students in Korea can work cannot exceed 20 hours per week.
Some important notes about jobs for international students in Korea.
3. Salary for international students when working part-time in Korea
The average salary you can receive ranges from 7,000 won to 10,000 won per hour. In a month, your income can reach from 14 million to 20 million VND. It is recommended that you prioritize receiving cash instead of using bank transfer services.
In case you receive your salary via bank transfer, the amount you receive should not exceed 1,000,000 won per month (equivalent to 20 million VND).
Note: In case of inspection, you can still clarify that the amount you earn does not exceed the prescribed working hour limit, but is within the prescribed overtime hours.
4. Regulations on part-time jobs for Korean international students
If you intend to find a job to earn extra income while studying in the land of Kimchi, you need to understand some of the following part-time job regulations for Korean international students, specifically:
Applicable visa types: Visa D4-1 (Students studying abroad for language) and Visa D2 (Students studying abroad for majors)
Time to start working part-time: 6 months after entering the country.
Working time limit:
Visa D4-1 (Students studying abroad for language): 20 hours per week.
Visa D2-1 => D2-2 (Students studying abroad for majors): 25 hours per week.
Visa D2-3 (Masters and PhDs studying abroad): 30 hours per week.
*** Note: During spring break, you are allowed to work 8 hours per day
Conditions:
Students must have a Topik 2 certificate or higher.
Students need to achieve an attendance rate of over 90%.
5. Things to Keep in Mind When Working Part-Time in Korea
Here are some important things to keep in mind when you want to work part-time in Korea:
Part-time work visa: First, make sure you have the right visa to work part-time. International students are usually issued a D-2 visa, which allows them to work a certain number of hours of legal work. Check the specific regulations of the D-2 visa carefully and follow them.
Working time limit: According to Korean regulations, international students are only allowed to work a certain number of hours per week (from 20 to 30 hours depending on the type of visa). Make sure you follow this limit to avoid breaking the law.
Find the right job: Look for a job that fits your abilities and study schedule. Popular jobs for international students include restaurants, cafes, teaching assistants, hotel services, or the tourism industry.
Language: Your Korean language proficiency will determine whether you can find a part-time job or not. If you are not fluent in Korean, look for jobs that use English or require less English communication.
Time management: Managing your work and study time is very important. Make sure you can divide your time reasonably so that it does not affect your studies and rest.
Benefits and rights: Check the benefits and rights you are entitled to when working part-time in Korea, including salary, insurance, annual leave, and other benefits.
Compliance with the law: Always comply with Korean labor laws and regulations. If there is a problem, learn and refer to the law to avoid violations.
6. Top 5 part-time jobs for international students in Korea
For international students, the cost of living in Korea is sometimes a big concern. However, if you belong to the group mentioned above, you can absolutely find suitable jobs with enough income to cover daily living expenses and even save up a surplus.
Here are some part-time jobs for international students in Korea that you should refer to to earn extra income for yourself and cover your living expenses while studying abroad, specifically:
6.1. Online business
Korea is famous for being a country of beauty and technology. If you are passionate about this field, business can be an ideal choice. By carefully researching product information, you can buy genuine cosmetics at reasonable prices.
Online business is one of the jobs for international students in Korea with quite good income.
If you have the ability to manage finances and are skillful, love business, you can earn a fairly stable income from this. This is also one of the part-time jobs for international students in Korea that many international students seek.
If you know how to approach and take advantage of the market effectively, you will receive a significant income. Some international students can earn a stable monthly income from online business, the income will range from a few million to a few tens of millions of won depending on each person’s ability.
6.2. Part-time jobs at schools and organizations
Some on-campus jobs such as cafeteria service, library, teaching assistant, professorial assistant, or working in rooms like Lad, as well as participating in activities of organizations, all provide international students in Korea with opportunities to travel, receive financial support, and gain valuable experience for their future careers.
Programs such as Fellowship, International Festival, or participating in international conferences such as the World Economic Forum are all good opportunities for international students. These jobs usually pay between 6,000 and 10,000 won per hour (equivalent to about 5.5 to 9 USD/hour).
6.3. Farm help
Part-time jobs on farms are a popular choice for students living in rural areas. This job does not require much language skills, suitable for those who are not yet proficient in Korean but still want to earn extra income.
Part-time jobs for Korean international students on farms include pruning flowers and picking fruits such as pears, peaches, oranges, apples, and grapes. These jobs for Korean international students on farms are often flexible in terms of time, helping international students gain more practical experience. However, these jobs do not help you improve your foreign language skills.
The minimum income is 7,000 won/hour. Therefore, if you work hard on a weekend, your income can be up to nearly 2 million VND/day.
6.4. Interpreter, tour guide
Jobs for international students in Korea such as interpreter, tour guide are great opportunities for those who want to improve their foreign language skills, because you will have many opportunities to practice Korean.
However, to be able to work effectively in these industries, you need to have extensive knowledge, dynamism, and good communication skills.
6.5. Other Jobs
In addition, there are many other part-time job options for international students in Korea such as working at convenience stores, restaurants, shopping malls, or jobs that require more physical labor such as working in factories, etc.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above information from QA will help you more easily when you need to find part-time jobs for international students in Korea to earn extra income. To make the part-time job process go smoothly, you need to pay attention to the regulations, time, and avoid violations.
