Part-Time Jobs for International Students in Korea: Permitted Hours for D-2 and D-4 Visas and a Pre-Tax Example Calculated Using the 2026 Minimum Wage

> Effective Date: September 21, 2026

Part-time work for international students studying in Korea is not a process where you work first and report it later. You must draw up an employment contract, obtain confirmation from your university, and then receive a part-time employment permit from the relevant immigration office. The permitted number of working hours per week also varies by student.

The official table from Study in Korea breaks down working hours for weekdays, weekends, and school breaks based on residence status, degree program, academic year, Korean language proficiency, and university requirements. This article explains how to calculate your weekly earnings by first reviewing that table and the 2026 minimum wage announced by the Minimum Wage Commission, then multiplying the approved weekly hours by the hourly wage. The monthly amount is a pre-tax calculation for comparison purposes and does not represent official international student income statistics.

Check Your Part-Time Work Permit Before Starting a Job

Obtaining a part-time work permit is a process based on the workplace, job duties, and hours specified in your employment contract. Study in Korea advises the following procedure: draw up a contract with your employer stating the hourly wage, obtain confirmation of part-time employment eligibility from your university’s international student office, and then apply online or at the relevant Immigration Office. If you wish to change the scope of your permit, you must also verify the amendment procedure.

Therefore, even if the working hours listed in a job posting appear to be within the legally permitted limits, you cannot finalize your schedule based on those numbers alone. You must cross-check your residence status, enrollment status, proof of Korean language proficiency, university certification and GPA requirements, and the actual employment period specified on the permit against a single checklist.

D-4 Language Training Students Must Meet Both the 6-Month Period and Korean Language Standards

According to the official table, D-4-1 and D-4-7 language trainees, as well as D-2-8 visiting students, become eligible for part-time employment six months after their date of entry or the date of their change of status. The Korean language requirements for D-4 status are TOPIK Level 2, completion of Stage 2 or higher of the Social Integration Program or a pre-assessment score of 41 or higher, completion of Sejong Academy Level 2 or higher. If the criteria are not met, students are limited to 10 hours on weekdays and 10 hours on weekends and during school breaks; if met, they are permitted to work 20 hours on weekdays and 25 hours on weekends and during school breaks.

The figures in this table represent the maximum limits to be verified when applying for a permit. Actual employment contracts must take into account the academic calendar, attendance requirements, the permit period, and the workplace’s work schedule. Korean language proficiency standards must be verified by cross-referencing the current table on “Study in Korea” with the Ministry of Justice’s guidelines for international students, specifically the sections on TOPIK, the Social Integration Program, and the Sejong Academy.

D-2 undergraduate students should review the Korean language requirements by academic year and university-specific conditions separately

For Associate’s degree programs and first- and second-year undergraduate students, the criteria in the table are TOPIK Level 3, Social Integration Program Level 3, a preliminary assessment score of 61, or Sejong Academy Intermediate Level 1. Third- and fourth-year undergraduates, as well as master’s and doctoral students, must meet TOPIK Level 4, Social Integration Program Level 4, a preliminary assessment score of 81, or Sejong Academy Intermediate Level 2. For students who do not meet the requirements, the program duration is 10 hours on weekdays and 10 hours on weekends and during breaks; for those who meet the requirements, the program duration is 25 hours on weekdays, and the table indicates “no restrictions on weekends or breaks.”

The conditions in the last column—such as enrollment at an accredited university and academic excellence—apply only after verifying the additional requirements listed in the table. The hours listed for graduate programs do not apply to undergraduate students. When changing programs or academic years, verify the latest supporting documents and permitted scope of work.

The Ministry of Justice guidelines also include a special provision allowing up to 35 hours per week for part-time employment in the household and childcare sectors, provided that specific Korean language proficiency and reporting requirements are met. Since this is not a regulation that uniformly extends the hours listed in the general table above to all international students, the relevant activity, contract, and authorization requirements must be verified separately.

“No Restrictions” for Weekends and School Breaks Does Not Mean There Is No Approval Process

For undergraduate students who meet the Korean language proficiency requirements, the “No Restrictions” notation appears in the weekend and school break columns of the official table. This refers only to the time limits listed in the table and cannot be interpreted to mean that restrictions on eligible job types, workplaces, duration, or academic status have been eliminated. In particular, converting “No Restrictions” into a maximum monthly income requires making arbitrary assumptions about the number of working days, days off, and contract terms.

Therefore, it is more accurate to first list the approved weekday hours and actual contract hours in the budget table, and to manage weekend and vacation work in separate rows according to the work permit and academic calendar. Do not enter estimated working hours as definite values until the start date of employment, university verification, and immigration approval have all been completed.

Calculate working hours based on the 2026 minimum wage of 10,320 won

The hourly wage for 2026, as posted by the Minimum Wage Commission, is 10,320 won. The official converted amounts are 82,560 won per day (based on an 8-hour workday) and 2,156,880 won per month (based on 209 hours, including a 40-hour workweek and paid weekly rest days). You can also review the guidance from the Ministry of Employment and Labor stating that foreign workers are also subject to the minimum wage.

The values below are examples of simple pre-tax hourly wages calculated as 10,320 won × weekly working hours × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months. Paid weekly rest days, taxes, social insurance, unpaid breaks, and the actual number of working days per month have not been included.

On actual pay stubs, the contracted hourly wage, actual working hours, and paid weekly rest day requirements are listed separately. The Ministry of Employment and Labor provides guidelines on the criteria for determining paid weekly rest days, such as working at least 15 hours per week and maintaining perfect attendance on scheduled workdays. This is not automatically added to the monthly pay of all international students; instead, it is calculated based on individual timesheets and employment contracts.

Cross-check permitted job categories and required documents against each place of employment

Based on the Ministry of Justice’s Guide to Foreigner Residence as of July 15, 2026, this guide summarizes the scope of restrictions on part-time employment. Restricted categories include manufacturing, construction, and seafaring jobs under the E-9 non-specialized employment category; certain special forms of employment such as delivery riders; and arrangements involving temporary staffing, subcontracting, or employment agencies, as well as remote work. Since exceptions related to Level 4 Korean proficiency are noted for the manufacturing sector, do not make blanket judgments based solely on job titles.

The practical verification process is as follows:

1. Verify the passport, alien registration, enrollment status, and residence status.
2. Confirm whether the individual is subject to the requirement that six months must have elapsed since the date of entry or the date of status change.
3. Distinguish between TOPIK scores and the university’s certification and academic performance requirements.
4. Verify business registration information, as well as the hourly wage, hours, and job duties listed in the employment contract.
5. Obtain confirmation of part-time employment from the university official and apply for immigration authorization.
6. Compare the authorized workplace, period, and hours with the actual pay stubs every month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can D-4 language trainees start part-time work immediately upon entry?

According to the official table, D-4-1 and D-4-7 visa holders become eligible for part-time employment six months after their date of entry or the date of their status change. Even after that, verification by the university and immigration approval procedures are required.

Are all D-2 undergraduate students limited to 25 hours per week?

No. For students who do not meet the TOPIK standards for their academic year, the limit is 10 hours on weekdays, as shown in the table. The 25-hour limit applies to undergraduate students who meet the relevant Korean language standards, while the 30-hour limit requires verification of additional conditions, such as attending an accredited university and maintaining a certain GPA.

If I work 20 hours a week, will I earn 894,400 won per month?

894,400 won is the pre-tax calculation based on the 2026 minimum hourly wage multiplied by 20 × 52 ÷ 12. The actual monthly amount shown on your pay stub will vary depending on your contracted hourly wage, number of workdays, paid weekly rest days, taxes, and insurance.