Costs and jobs

Part-Time Jobs in South Korea for International Students (D-2)

6 min read · Checked against official sources in October 2026

The rule: permission comes first

A D-2 visa is a student visa. The Study in Korea portal says part-time work is generally limited to simple jobs that students normally do, and you must be approved first. University guides repeat this: working without prior permission is treated as illegal employment.

You apply online through HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr), under e-Application, or in person at an immigration office. Your university's international office first signs a part-time work confirmation form. Universities tell students to call the Immigration Contact Center on 1345 with questions.

Study in Korea says small one-off rewards or prizes that are part of daily life do not need separate permission, but regular paid work does. Permission is not a right and not a promise of income. Do not plan tuition or living costs around wages.

When can you start, and what does your university add?

Study in Korea lists D-2 degree students (associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral) as eligible from the start, with no fixed waiting period. Language trainees on D-4 can apply only after six months, counted from entry or from the date their status changed.

Universities then add their own rules. Ewha, Korea University and Hansung each ask for a GPA of at least 2.0 in the previous semester. New students can face limits. Hansung says a first-semester student may work for up to six months from the application date and must finish a semester before applying again. Ewha says freshmen can apply for one semester only.

Allow time for approval. Hansung says it takes about 7 to 14 days. Do not start work before you have the approval.

How many hours can you work?

Limits depend on your level and your Korean ability. The table on Study in Korea works like this, per week. Your university may sit in a higher or lower group, so read its own page.

• Bachelor's years 1 and 2: the Korean level asked is TOPIK 3. Years 3 and 4: TOPIK 4. Some universities also accept KIIP or King Sejong Institute completion.
• If you do not meet the Korean level, the limit is 10 hours a week.
• If you do, you can work up to 25 hours on weekdays, with no limit on weekends and vacations. Some universities in a higher category allow up to 30 hours on weekdays.
• Master's and doctoral students: 15 hours at the base level. Up to 30 hours on weekdays when conditions are met, and 35 hours in the highest category.
• English-taught programs: Ewha and Hansung accept English scores such as IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 instead of TOPIK.
• D-4 language trainees, after the six months: 10 hours at the base level, or 20 hours on weekdays and 25 on weekends if the Korean level is met.

Jobs that are usually allowed and jobs that are not

University guides name simple student jobs as acceptable, for example restaurant helper, office assistant, tour guide assistant or duty-free shop sales assistant. Ewha says a teaching assistant job or on-campus work-study at your own university does not need separate permission.

Jobs usually not allowed include construction and manufacturing, private tutoring, children's English cafes and language camps, food delivery rider and agent driver work, insurance or door-to-door sales, entertainment and adult venues, and work through a dispatch agency. Hansung and Korea University say manufacturing can be allowed for students with TOPIK 4 or higher. Rules differ by university, so read your own list.

Your contract must state the working days, hours and hourly wage. The minimum wage changes every year, so check the current figure on the Minimum Wage Commission site (minimumwage.go.kr) and not on a social media post.

Common mistakes

These mistakes come up again and again at university international offices.

• Starting work before the approval date. Korea University calls this illegal employment, even if your application is already filed.
• Writing a contract start date that is earlier than the approval. Hansung suggests setting the start two weeks after you apply.
• Working more hours than your group allows, or working during a leave of absence. Yonsei's graduate office says students on leave cannot work.
• Changing your workplace without telling immigration. Korea University says you must report it within 15 days.
• Taking a job from the not-allowed list because a friend did the same.
• Letting your GPA fall below 2.0 or passing your normal study period, which can make you ineligible.

Risks of working without permission

Study in Korea says that working without permission, or breaking the conditions of your permission, is punished under the law. For illegal work in construction, it says deportation orders are issued without exception. Hansung's guide lists an administrative fine starting from KRW 2,000,000 and deportation.

Sejong University adds that students who worked without permission can be restricted from future permission, and that students whose employer is punished for illegal employment may face limits on visa issuance. For a family that has paid tuition and living costs, these outcomes are serious.

If you are not sure that a job is allowed, ask your international office or call 1345 before you start.

What IGC counsellors check with you

IGC counsellors ask whether your first-year funds cover tuition and living costs without any part-time income. We also explain that a permission process exists, so you know about it before you arrive. Part-time work can be a small help with pocket money at best, and it should not be the plan for paying tuition. We cannot promise any job. HiKorea and your university give the final rules.

Frequently asked questions

Can a D-2 student work part-time in Korea?

Yes, but only with prior permission from immigration, and only in the kinds of jobs students normally do. You apply through HiKorea or at an immigration office after your university signs the confirmation form.

Can I work right after I arrive?

Study in Korea lists D-2 degree students as eligible from the start, but you still need approval first, and your university may add rules such as a GPA minimum. D-4 language students wait six months.

Do I need TOPIK to work?

Your hours depend on Korean level. Study in Korea lists TOPIK 3 for early bachelor's years and TOPIK 4 for later years. Without it the base limit is 10 hours a week. English-taught students may use English scores at some universities.

Can I work as a food delivery rider?

University guides list food delivery rider work and agent driving as not allowed for D-2 students. Check your own university's list, because doing a banned job can be treated as illegal employment.

If you are choosing a university in Korea and want to understand costs and funding honestly, book a free profile assessment with IGC. A counsellor will explain the rules and tell you what is and is not possible.