Part-Time Work Permit Rules and Realistic Earnings for ASEAN Students in South Korea

Part-time work rules for ASEAN students in South Korea

D-2 (degree) and D-4 (language course) visa holders are allowed to work part time, but only after getting a specific permit for activities outside their visa status, issued by Korea Immigration. Working without this permit, even for a few hours, counts as an immigration violation and affects future visa applications. Many universities with international offices handle the permit application for enrolled students through a simplified process, so ask your school's international student center before applying directly.

D-4 language students usually face tighter restrictions than D-2 degree students, including a minimum period of study in Korea before they qualify to apply at all.

How many hours you are allowed to work

Weekly hour limits are not flat across all students. They scale with your TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) level, your year of study, and sometimes your grade point average and attendance record. Reported caps generally sit between 20 and 30 hours a week during term for eligible degree students, with lower levels and first-year students facing tighter limits or a waiting period before applying at all. Vacation periods typically allow longer hours, sometimes full time, once the school notifies immigration of the break dates.

The exact hour band tied to each TOPIK level shifts with immigration policy updates, so confirm your specific cap with your university's international office or through the HiKorea portal before accepting a job, rather than relying on a number seen elsewhere online.

What you realistically earn

South Korea's Minimum Wage Commission set the 2026 rate at 10,320 won an hour, a 2.9% rise from 2025's 10,030 won, decided under the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The rate is reviewed and typically adjusted every January, so check the current year's figure before budgeting, since a rate quoted in an earlier year is out of date.

Tutoring in English or another ASEAN language, common for students from the Philippines and other English-speaking backgrounds, often pays well above minimum wage, though these roles usually need extra documentation since they count as private lessons rather than standard employment.

Where ASEAN students find part-time work

Convenience stores, cafes, and restaurants near university campuses are the most common starting point and are used to hiring international students. Campus jobs, including library assistant and international office support roles, also count toward permit hours but tend to fit class schedules more easily. Online tutoring and translation work between Korean and Southeast Asian languages is another common option for students with strong bilingual skills.

Staying within the rules

Keep your work permit, employment contract, and pay records together, since Korea Immigration requests them at visa renewal or when applying to change status after graduation. Working beyond approved hours, even at a single job, is one of the most common reasons student visa extensions get delayed.

Applying for the work permit step by step

Your university's international office typically prepares a supporting letter confirming your enrollment, GPA, and attendance record, since immigration checks these alongside your TOPIK level before approving the permit. Bring your alien registration card (or residence card), passport, and the school's letter when applying, and expect the approved permit to specify both your weekly hour cap and the type of job you are cleared for.

Changing employers or job types after approval generally requires notifying immigration again, so do not assume one approved permit covers every future part-time job without checking first.

Health insurance and other costs

D-2 and D-4 visa holders are generally required to join South Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), with premiums deducted separately from any part-time earnings. Factor this into your budget alongside tuition and living costs, since it applies regardless of whether you work part time.

Finding part-time work as a foreign student

University international offices frequently keep partnerships with nearby cafes, convenience store chains, and restaurants used to the permit paperwork and willing to work around class schedules. Campus job boards, Korean job sites aimed at international students, and word of mouth from senior students in your program are common ways to find an opening.

Grade point average and attendance requirements tied to the work permit mean falling behind academically can jeopardize your eligibility to work, not just your standing in your program. Treat maintaining your GPA and attendance record as part of keeping your work rights, not a separate concern.

Banking and receiving pay

Open a Korean bank account soon after arrival using your alien registration card, since most employers pay wages by direct transfer rather than cash. Some banks offer accounts aimed specifically at international students with simplified paperwork requirements, worth asking your international office about before visiting a branch.