Korean Job Discussion Forums

[noelinkorea]

I will become a student studying at uni here in seoul and I will need to secure a job. I'm leaving my current one early, so I doubt I can get another legally anyway. Will it be possible to get an illegal job full-time afternoons-evenings while I study (mornings)?

[dulouz]

I heard - I read - but I can't name the source, that you are allowed to work as a student. I think maybe on EFL law. You can do it legally, the stress free way.

[Mashimaro]

You can't work legally if you are studying a Korean language program.

I believe if you are enrolled in a 'normal' university course for at least 6 months you can then legally work for limited hours per week.

[just because]

I know of 3 people here on toursit visas and they are all working, no problems.

They know the risks and they seem to be always on a knife edge in their work situations though.

[sadsac]

It's just like an E2 holder doing privates. The risk is your to take.

[Jensen]

Someone in the Korean government should wake up and realize that the best way to promote Korean language and literature studies among foreigners (both the gov and some Korean corp.s subsidize this type of thing...to a certain extent) would be to make it a little easier for people to survive financially while they are studying. If foreign students studying Korean at the universities could be allowed to teach privates, the Korean studies programs would be filled and native professors of Korean literature, culture, and language would be in demand, the world would soon be overrrun with proficient translators of Korean literature, and it would all be financed by affordable (rates would have to drop due to increasing availability) English education provided directly to Korean students. It's true that people who teach in Korea without any interest in its language and culture would be forced to either become superior English-language educators (and thus command greater compensation and respect)...or maybe they could learn some moves and become exotic dancers.

The best part would be that all the toad-faced hagwan middle men would be forced to move to CA to work in liquor stores and flea markets.

Problem(s) solved...now to find a cure for cancer...

[Sucker]

Working on a student visa will largely depend pon who you talk to at the immigration ofice.

The law as it stands is that after you get a student visa, you can't work for 6 months. It is not so easy to get a student visa, you need to basically be enrolled in the course already and have something like 7 million won in your bank account.

I had a (ahem), "friend" who worked full time at a company on the first 6 months of a student visa with no problems, so it can be done. But remember that you will be illegal and will have no one to complain to if things go sour (not getting paid, etc).

After 6 months you can work for up to 20 hours a week ;egally (but really, who is counting).

[PatrickSiheung]

lol Jensen. So true. But seriously, when was the last time anything in Korea made sense? Sometimes I really wonder how this country managed to develop beyond those old wooden houses you see at the folk village.