Summary of Part-Time Employment Regulations for International Students in Korea
Immigration Control Act:
Guidelines & References:
Degree Level | Year | TOPIK Level | Weekday Limit | Weekend & Vacation Limit |
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Undergraduate | 1-2 | Below Level 3 | 10 hours/week | No limit |
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Level 3 or above | 30 hours/week | No limit |
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3-4 | Below Level 4 | 10 hours/week | No limit |
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Level 4 or above | 30 hours/week | No limit |
Graduate (Master’s/Ph.D.) | Any | Below Level 4 | 15 hours/week | No limit |
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Level 4 or above | 35 hours/week | No limit |
Category | Allowed Without Reporting | Requires Reporting | Prohibited |
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Job Type | On-campus simple/temporary jobs, on-campus research related to the major, mandatory internship | General student-level part-time jobs, on-campus non-major-related research, off-campus major-related research, voluntary internships | Manufacturing & construction jobs, professional occupations, special types of employment (e.g., delivery workers), off-campus non-major-related research |
Remarks | Off-campus research must be reviewed with additional documents (professor’s verification, graduate school dean’s recommendation, research participation statement) | Manufacturing allowed only with TOPIK Level 4 or higher; Construction work is strictly prohibited and leads to immediate deportation | Non-major-related research falls under E-3 (Research) visa and requires a separate "activities outside of visa status" approval |