Generally, "foreign students" refers to students (D-2 visa) who wish to study or engage in research activities at educational and academic institutions at or above the level of professional universities, or language students (D-4 visa) who wish to study Korean at university-affiliated language institutes. Foreigners staying in Korea with a D-2 or D-4 visa are not allowed to engage in employment activities. However, if they possess a certain level of Korean language proficiency that does not interfere with their academic or research activities, and if they receive confirmation from the university's international student advisor, they may apply for permission to engage in part-time employment (“arubait”) at the local immigration office.
To obtain permission for part-time employment, foreign students must possess a certain level of Korean language proficiency, focus on their main academic or research activities, and receive confirmation from the university's international student advisor. Therefore, even if they possess a D-2 or D-4 visa, those who do not meet the minimum language proficiency and academic requirements, or those who are staying with a D-2 visa after completing the regular educational course at a university, are restricted from engaging in part-time employment. Additionally, foreign students who do not directly enter into employment contracts with their employers (the employer and the employer must be the same, and dispatching labor is restricted) are also restricted from part-time employment. However, in exceptional cases, such as when preparing for their thesis after completing their master's or doctoral course, foreign students may be permitted to engage in part-time employment.
After completing one semester (6 months), language study students with D-4 visas are allowed to work part-time within their period of residence for a maximum of 6 months at a single location. Foreign students with D-2 visas, on the other hand, are allowed to work part-time from the beginning of the semester for a maximum of one year their period of residence, but are limited to working at two locations.
The permitted hours for part-time work are within 20 hours per week for language study courses, within 20 hours per week for undergraduate courses, and within 30 hours per week for master's and doctoral courses. However, undergraduate and graduate students are allowed to work without limit during holidays (including Saturdays) and vacations. In contrast, language study students are limited to working within 20 hours per week during both holidays and semesters.
The person responsible for approving part-time work for foreign students evaluates whether the work is related to the student's major and related to credit acquisition, whether the job is within the range of jobs that students can typically perform, excluding personal tutoring or coaching, whether the job violates social norms or other public order, and whether allowing the combination of academic and part-time work is reasonable based on recent attendance rates, average grades, and stay status.
According to the guidelines for managing stays, examples of part-time work for foreign students include interpretation, working in restaurants and convenience stores, general office support, event support, and tourism assistance. However, part-time work is restricted in fields such as manufacturing and construction, employment in advanced industrial plants and research centers for industrial secrecy protection, work in gambling establishments, and work as entertainment hostesses in bars or private tutoring.
On the other hand, there are cases where foreign students studying in Korea are allowed to work part-time without obtaining a separate work permit. First, if the student is receiving a certain allowance through an internship or university research project related to credit acquisition. However, internships unrelated to credit acquisition and undertaken in the form of employment are not eligible for part-time employment permits. Additionally, if a student earns income through participating in research projects outside of the university, irrespective of credit acquisition, it is considered illegal employment.
Second, if a student participates in a work-study program within the university, such as working as a teaching assistant (including class assistants) or library staff and receives an allowance from the school, or if they receive an honorarium for temporary daily chores or office assistance, which is not performed as a profession, they may be eligible for part-time employment.
Third, if a student receives compensation for providing advice or opinions, participating in events, making a temporary appearance in a movie or broadcast, or similar activities that are not performed as a profession, they may also be eligible for part-time employment.
To apply for a part-time employment permit, the following documents are required: passport, alien registration card, application form, fee (exempt), part-time employment confirmation letter, academic transcript, Korean language proficiency proof (TOPIK certification), copy of business registration, standard labor contract (including hourly wage, job description, and working hours), copy of employer's identification card, among others.
In the event that a foreign student is caught working part-time without obtaining a separate work permit, they may be subject to penalties under Immigration Control Act Article 18, as their student status does not qualify for a stay permit for employment activities. In this case, the employer may also face penalties for illegal employment under the same Act. The foreign student will have to either pay a fine or be deported through a deportation order after an immigration offense investigation decision. Specifically, for a first-time offense, the student will receive a written warning and may apply for a stay permit after paying the fine (with a one-year restriction on part-time employment), while for a second-time offense, they may face deportation or an order to leave the country.