Study in Korea

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FAQ

Before making an online or in-person inquiry, it is advisable to check if the FAQ can resolve your query.

You can resolve most general inquiries through the FAQ.

⊙Employment/Job Information

  • Examples of recruitment sites that international students can use for domestic employment include the following.

    Studyinkorea(스터디인코리아): https://studyinkorea.go.kr

    ContactKorea(컨텍트코리아): https://contactkorea.kotra.or.kr

    Seoul Foreigner Portal: https://global.seoul.go.kr

    Busan Job Information: https://busanjob.net

    In addition, we recommend regularly checking both domestic and international recruitment websites, including those of companies where you want to apply.

  • Annually, the National Institute for International Education and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) jointly organize a Job Fair for International Students to recruit international students and global talents. This fair is Korea's largest job fair for international students, where overseas students and foreign job seekers can meet Korean companies and institutions and find employment opportunities. In 2023, it was held on August 21st and 22nd at Coex, Seoul.

    It includes various programs and services to assist in employment, such as 1:1 interviews, company consultations, mentoring for employment by current professionals, Korean resume consulting, and interview coaching.

  • University career support centers and international relations departments offer consultations, employment information for foreigners, and organize job fairs. Additionally, internships at Korean companies and research institutions are specifically designed for international participants. Job seekers may also benefit from various extracurricular activities, such as the National Institute for International Education's 'Study in Korea Supporters' program and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 'Friends of MOFA'.

  • There are a variety of jobs and positions available for international students to be employed in.

    □ Language Instructor: Teaching foreign languages such as Korean, English, Chinese

    □ Interpreter and Translator: Performing multilingual translation tasks.

    □ Trade and Tourism Tasks: Providing tourism information and guidance services for foreign tourists.

    □ IT Field Job: Performing tasks in software development, system operation, network management, etc., in the IT field.

    □ Design Field: Performing various design tasks including UI/UX and web design, advertising, graphic design, fashion design, etc.

    □ Marketing Tasks: Creating multilingual content, exploring foreign markets, performing customer support, marketing and promotional activities, etc.

    □ Academic Research Field: Performing tasks of research assistant, teaching assistant, researcher, etc. at universities or other institutions.

    □ HR, Accounting, Management Fields: Performing tasks in HR, accounting, and management within a company.

    In addition, there are numerous opportunities for international students to find employment in various fields. Depending on their major, nationality, and language proficiency, there are a variety of jobs and positions available. It is advisable to seek and apply for positions related to one's field of study and previous experience.

⊙Recruitment Process

  • The standard recruitment process for domestic companies typically involves the submission of application documents

    1. Check Job Postings: Job postings for Korean companies are available on their official websites or job search websites, providing information about the job and tasks.

    2. Submit Application Form: Depending on the job posting, applicants must prepare and submit application forms and resumes. The application form and resume must include information about your work experience, educational background, qualifications, etc., as well as the motivation for applying.

    3. Document Screening: Companies comprehensively evaluate applicants' educational background, work experience, qualifications, language proficiency, etc. based on their documents.

    4. Interview Screening: This process assesses the applicant's personality, competences, and skills. It usually involves the first-round practical/technical interview and the second-round personality/ executive interview.

    5. Final Acceptance: Final acceptance will be notified by phone or online

    The above process represents a general recruitment procedure, and it may vary for each company. In addition, for international students to work in Korea, additional procedures such as obtaining an Employment visa are required. Therefore, it is crucial not only to understand the domestic employment system but also to be well-prepared in terms of eligibility and document submission.

  • □ Resume Format: If a company provides a specific resume and self-introduction letter (job application form) format in its job posting, download it and fill in the information without altering any shape of the format. If there is no specified format, use commonly used MS Word or Korean resume templates to create the resume.

    □ Writing a Resume

    1) Educational Background: Include information about obtaining academic degrees, majors, and graduation years together. Start with your highest education level and write down information about the educational background, including university, graduate school, high school, middle school, elementary school, etc. (typically, including information from the highest education level to the level before that).

    2) Work Experience: List work experience, including internships and projects, in reverse chronological order. Include the company name, duration of employment, position, and job responsibilities.

    3) Qualification and Language Proficiency Test Score: Include qualifications, awards, special activities, language proficiency test scores, etc. (especially, Korean language proficiency if applicable).

    □ Self-Introduction Letter: When writing a self-introduction letter, express understanding and interest in the company and job details, highlight job-related competence through examples of experiences, and include goals and vision.

    □ Review and Revision: Thoroughly review and revise the written resume and self-introduction letter, checking for spelling errors, and ensuring a logical flow in terms of the context.

    □ Applying: If submitting the job application form via email, attach documents such as the resume, self-introduction letter, and copies of qualifications.

    □ Submission: Before submitting through the company's own recruitment website, as the submitted content cannot be reviewed once completed, save a separate copy of the written content. When submitting the job application form via email, title the email '[Job Application] Company Name/Position Applied_Name.' Include a brief greeting and state your purpose for applying in the email body.

⊙Certifications

  • As employment qualifications vary by field, it is advisable to check the specific job and company requirements before preparing your qualifications.

    □ Since most Korean companies require Korean language proficiency, it is essential to have a level of Korean language proficiency necessary for daily conversations and work tasks. (TOPIK Level 4 or higher)

    □ TOEIC, TOEIC Speaking, OPIC, or other English proficiency certificates or language qualifications

    □ Proficiency in Office Automation : Computer Specialist in Spreadsheet & Database Levels 1 and 2, Industrial Engineer Office Automation.

    □ Work Experience and Educational Background : Relevant field experience certificates, university graduation certificates, and academic transcripts in the corresponding field.

    □ Job-Related : Required qualifications may vary depending on the applied job position. (e.g., computer-related certifications such as CCNA, MCP, RHCE, CEH in the IT field, securities certifications in the finance sector, and Korean language teaching certifications for teaching Korean)

⊙Work Life

  • □ Regular Worker Employment

    Regular worker employment refers to permanent positions with predetermined working hours and salaries.

    □ Contract Worker Employment

    The contract worker employment is a form of contract for the purpose of employment for a specific period, and it allows for predetermined working hours and salary similar to regular worker employment.

    □ Part-Time Employment (Part-Time Job)

    It is a form of contract for temporary or limited-time work, often paid on an hourly basis.

    While the above-described types of employment contracts are general, variations may exist depending on the company or industry sector. For a foreigner seeking detailed information about employment contracts in Korea, it is advisable to inquire with the respective company or any institutions related to employment labor to confirm the details.

  • □ Titles : In Korean companies, titles are often differentiated based on age or position. It is common to add "ssi" or "nim" after the name when addressing a supervisor or senior. However, it is common to use the name without any suffix when addressing a colleague or junior.
  • □ Job Titles: Korean companies tend to have a relatively distinct hierarchy of job titles, with each level having specific roles and ways of performing tasks. The typical order of positions is CEO(Sajang), Executive Manager(Boojang), Senior Manager(Chajang), Manager(Gwajang), Assistant Manager(Daeri), and Staff/Associate(Sawon). Since the hierarchical structure may vary by company and department, it is advisable to review the organization chart of the company.

  • □ Working Hours: Typically, the standard working hours are from 9 AM to 6 PM. However, some companies may have different working hours, so it is advisable to verify the working hours before joining.

    Lunch Break: Korean companies usually have a designated lunch break, and some companies even allow employees to have meals within the office. The lunch break generally falls between 12 pm and 1 pm, lasting around one hour.

  • □ Introduction and self-introduction:

    [회사/부서]에 [직책]로 근무하고 있습니다. (I work as [position] in [company/department].)

    제 전문 분야는 [전문 분야]입니다. (My area of expertise is [area of expertise].)

    □ Useful Email Expressions:

    이메일을 보내드립니다. (I am writing this email to...)

    제안드립니다. (I would like to propose.)

    추가 질문이 있으면 언제든지 연락 주세요. (If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me.)

    □ Task-Related Expressions:

    논의할 사항이 있습니다. (I have some matters to discuss.)

    기한이 얼마 남지 않았습니다. (The deadline is approaching)

    예산을 검토해야 합니다. (We need to review the budget.)

    계약 조건을 협의해야 합니다. (We need to negotiate the contract terms.)

    제안드릴게요. (I would like to make a suggestion.)

    □ Common meeting expressions:

    회의 일정을 잡을게요. (I will schedule a meeting.)

    회의에 참석해 주세요. (Please attend the meeting.)

    회의 주제는 [주제]입니다. (The topic of the meeting is [topic].)

    □ Approval Expressions:

    이 문서를 결재해 주세요. (Please approve this document.)

    결재자를 지정해야 합니다. (We need to designate an approver.)

    결재 완료되면 알려드리겠습니다. (I will inform you once the approval is completed.)

    These expressions can be useful in general business communication. Please choose and practice appropriate expressions based on the specific context.

⊙Employment Visa

  • International students can apply for a part-time job permit if they meet the specified conditions. The general conditions are as follows:

    Eligibility: Must have a certain level of Korean language proficiency and be verified by a international student officer

    Application Documents: Passport, foreign registration card, application form, proof of Korean language proficiency, part-time job verification certificate, copy of business registration certificate, standard labor contract, and proof of grades or attendance.

    Allowed Hours: Varies such as 10, 20, or 30 hours per week, depending on Korean language proficiency and degree program

    There are established standards for eligibility for a part-time work permit, permissible industries for employment activities, and allowable working hours. It is advisable to consult the HiKorea Residency Qualification Manual, for detailed information.

    Link: https://easylaw.go.kr/CSP/CnpClsMain.laf

    ※ For precise consultations according to the latest guidelines, please call ☎1345 or schedule a visit to the relevant immigration office after making an appointment

  • The types of visas available for international students in Korea to work and reside after graduation are as follows.

    □ It can be changed to a Job Seeker (D-10-1) visa, or if you are enrolled in graduate school in Korea after graduating from university, the Students (D-2) visa can be maintained, allowing you to engage in job­seeking activities for a certain period.

    □ General Employment Visa Qualifications: Generally, after graduating from college in Korea, one can apply for a general employment visa such as the E-7 or D-8 visa. The E-7 visa is intended for those who wish to engage in employment requiring specialized knowledge and skills, while the D-8 visa can be used for investing in companies or starting a business.

    □ Other Residence Visa Qualifications: There may be visas such as the F-2 and F-5 visas. The F-2 visa is for those who are married to a Korean or have children who are Korean, and the F-5 visa is for foreign nationals residing in Korea who hold permanent residency, and these visas may also permit job-seeking activities.

    These visas each have specific conditions that enable job-seeking activities. Therefore, it is advisable to check the details with Korea Immigration Service, International Student Support Team at the respective university, or Immigration contact center.

  • D-10-1 Visa: This visa is granted to foreigners staying in Korea to prepare for employment. It has been established separately from the existing D-10 visa and is applicable to foreign students and non-professional workers seeking employment in Korea.

    The D-10-1 visa allows for a stay of up to six months. To apply for this visa, one must submit the commonly required documents, a job-seeking activity plan, and diplomas. Other relevant documents must also be submitted as applicable.

    The D-10-1 visa permits residency for employment preparation without confirmed employment. Therefore, once employment is confirmed, it is necessary to change to a visa suitable for the specific employment.

    For detailed requirements and information, please check the HiKorea Residency Qualifications Manual.

  • The E-7 visa, for specific activities, is necessary for employment in specialized professions within companies and public organizations. There are more than 88 job codes distributed over four types, and it is necessary to check the conditions required for each individually.

    Common required documents include an application form, passport photo, copy of passport, copy of ID, employment contract, diploma, proof of work experience, qualification certificates, and employment recommendation letter (by profession). To acquire an E-7 visa, one must meet one of the following criteria: hold a master’s degree or higher in a relevant field; possess a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field along with at least one year of related work experience; or have at least five years of work experience in a related field. E-7 visa holders can reside and work in Korea for up to three years, and both foreigners and companies must meet the qualifications to apply.

    For detailed requirements and content, please check the HiKorea Residency Qualifications Manual

  • Employment visas vary by job and qualifications, so it is important to constantly check the employment visa conditions that apply to you. Post-graduation employment-related visa qualifications include the job-seeking visa (D-10), specific activity employment visa (E-7), and residence visa (F-2), among others. Detailed qualifications applicable to you can be checked in the HiKorea Residency Qualification Manual. Additionally, it is advisable to check for certificates, educational qualifications, and work experiences that can aid in your intended field of employment and prepare accordingly.