Attention to International Students!!

As of late, there are many Foreign students are coming to Korea for study in different University from different countries. So, we would like to pay attention on those student's life live in Korea. This is our first article for international students and here we will explain details about student's part time job in Korea. Our concentration will be continuing on and later we will do discuss more with new issues. We hope this article will be helpful for foreign students.

A recent change to labor laws in Korea now allows international students to work part time once they have completed their first semester. Following is the detailed information regarding this allowance.

1. General Information
Work permits are allowed to the students whose financial ability is not enough to pay for his/her tuition or other living expenses. This new law is for students whose main purpose of getting a job is for supporting himself/herself as a foreign student in Korea.

2. Eligibility
The students applying for a permit to work part time must have a letter of recommendation by the academic dean of the school or any professor.
 This applies to students with D-2 visa who are studying at educational institutions higher than two-year colleges, or other higher course work (not including the academic period of enrollment in Korean language course while staying in Korea).
- Students who have completed their entire academic period and are in the process of writing a thesis can also work.
 During the semester students are permitted to work maximum of 20 hours per week.
- During the vacation periods there is no limit on the number of hours students may work.
- Students however are not permitted to have more than two employers at any time.

3. Range of Permission
 Working hours: The amount of working hours should be no more than 20 hours per week during the semester.
- Students are not allowed to hold more than two part time jobs.


Field of the work: Students can have jobs considered to be closely related to their major studies.
- Any jobs suitable with social status and position as a student
- Qualification is needed under the rules and regulations of each career field
- Working at language institutes is allowed from March 1, 2003

Limitations on job selection:
- Working for any technology industry, companies or laboratories which need protection for security reasons.
- Getting employed in anything fraudulent, or speculative activities that are banned under the special law by the government (refer to the related law- Article 2, Section 1. Verse 1)
- Working in serving staff of receptionist at places specified as Karaoke or “pleasure tavern” (refer to the Article 21, Section 2 or the rules and regulations, Article 7, Section 8)
- Being employed in business against the common culture and custom of Korea (refer to the Article 2)
- Teaching private lesson which is against related laws (refer to the Article 3, Section 1 or Article 12, Section 1).
- Any other employment regarded as not fitting for foreign students staying in Korea under the rules and regulations by Minister of the Department of Justice.


4. Required documents

- Passport, alien registration card
- Written application for activities other than sojourning qualification
- Confirmation of employment by the employer
- Letter of recommendation from the Academic Dean or professor (a recommendation from thesis chief/advising professor for those who are preparing a thesis)
- Students have to bring KRW 60,000 for the application fee, but Koreans with foreign citizenships are exempted from this fee (with the submission of the required documents)

NOTE:
Foreign students working part time without permission of the government, in addition to their employers, will be punished under the relevant immigration laws.
- For further information, please contact the Immigration Office in your local area.