Visas and work rights
E-9, F-2, F-4, F-6, EPS, work rights, Korean resumes, job platforms, sponsorship. Which visa fits, what it lets you do, and how to find a job under it.
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Start here. The 5 guides our readers open the most in this pillar.
Visas
E-9 Visa in Korea: The EPS Worker's Practical Guide
Verified
Visas
F-6 Marriage Migrant Visa: Your Rights as the Foreign Spouse
Verified
Visas
F-4 Overseas Korean Visa: The Gyopo's Return Guide
Verified
Work
Which Korean Job Platforms Actually Work for Foreigners: An Honest Comparison (2026)
Verified
Work
EPS (eps.go.kr) in English: How Korea's Employment Permit System Works (2026)
Verified
Visa types and changes
Every Korean visa code for foreign residents: which one fits, what it lets you do, and how the rules change.
Every Korean visa, compared
Side-by-side comparison of E-7, E-9, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-6, and more. Duration, work rights, sponsor, salary minimum, family sponsorship.
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Visas
E-7 Visa Korea: The 2026 Guide for Skilled Foreign Workers
Complete guide to Korea's E-7 employer-sponsored work visa: occupation codes, 2026 salary minimums, employer eligibility, application routes, job-change rules, dependent visas, and the path to F-5 permanent residency.
Visas
E-9 Visa in Korea: The EPS Worker's Practical Guide
Your full guide to Korea's E-9 non-professional employment visa. The EPS process, your rights, wage protection, changing jobs, and claiming your pension refund on exit.
Visas
Korea's E-7-M (K-CORE) Visa: The Manufacturing Track from Junior College to Residence (2026)
E-7-M (K-CORE) visa lets graduates of 16 designated Korean junior colleges work in manufacturing and reach F-2 residency in 5 years. Eligibility and school list.
Visas
E-2 Visa in Korea: The Conversation Instructor's Guide (2026)
Your full guide to Korea's E-2 conversation instructor visa: who qualifies, the apostille checklist by country, the post-arrival medical exam, switching employers, and the path to F-2.
Visas
F-2 Korean Resident Visa: How to Upgrade From Your Work Visa
Your practical guide to Korea's F-2 resident visa: the points system, eligibility, rights, and the path to F-5 permanent residency.
Visas
F-4 Overseas Korean Visa: The Gyopo's Return Guide
Your practical guide to the Korean F-4 visa for overseas Koreans. Eligibility, military service, taxes, banking, and the path to F-5 permanent residency.
Visas
F-6 Marriage Migrant Visa: Your Rights as the Foreign Spouse
Your practical guide to Korea's F-6 marriage migrant visa. Eligibility, rights, what happens in divorce, and how to protect yourself if the marriage goes wrong.
Visas
F-5 Permanent Residence in Korea: The 2026 Guide to 영주권
Korea F-5 permanent residence (영주권) explained: 5-year general route, income threshold, KIIP requirement, K-STAR STEM track, and how F-5 differs from citizenship.
Visas
Korea's F-3 Dependent Visa: How to Bring Your Family (2026)
Since April 2025, change-of-status to F-3 from inside Korea is no longer permitted. Here is how to bring your family under the new rules, the financial thresholds, and what existing F-3 holders must do at renewal.
Visas
D-2 Student Visa in Korea: The 2026 Guide for Foreign Degree-Seeking Students
Korea's D-2 student visa: university eligibility, financial proof, work rules by TOPIK level, F-3 dependent limits, and paths from D-2 to D-10, E-7, and F-2.
Visas
D-10 Job-Seeker Visa in Korea: The 2026 Guide After the October Reform
Korea D-10 job-seeker visa: the four sub-codes, the post-October-2025 stay extension to 3 years, the OASIS startup track, and bringing family on F-3.
Visas
Korea Digital Nomad Visa (F-1-D): The 2026 Workation Visa Guide
Korea F-1-D digital nomad visa: permanent since June 30, 2026, with a 3-year maximum stay, tiered income thresholds, and a strict insurance rule.
Work
E-7 Occupation Codes: Which Job Titles Qualify for Sponsorship and How to Find Yours (2026)
The E-7 visa covers 94 occupation codes across four sub-categories. Find your code, check the 2026 salary thresholds, and see what documents you need.
Work
D-2 to E-7: The Visa Conversion Roadmap Foreign Graduates Actually Need (2026)
From D-2 student visa to E-7 work visa: the two-track decision tree, D-10 rules after the 2025 reform, salary thresholds, employer documents, and what to do if E-7 sponsorship fails.
Visas
Korea's 2026 Visa Overhaul: What's Changing for Foreign Workers
Korea's 2026 immigration overhaul: new technical and seasonal worker visas, Top-Tier expansion, mandatory HiKorea reporting. What is confirmed and what is still pending.
Scholarships and studying in Korea
Fully-funded Korean government and university scholarships for international students, plus how to choose between them.
Study hub: visa, TOPIK, and scholarships
The D-2 student visa, TOPIK, GKS and university scholarships, and language schools, in one place.
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Visas
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): The Complete Guide for International Students (2026)
Everything you need to know about the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS, formerly KGSP): what it covers, who qualifies, how to choose between the Embassy Track and University Track, and when to apply.
Visas
Korean University Scholarships for International Students: Side-by-Side Comparison (2027 Spring Intake)
A side-by-side comparison of institutional scholarships at 11 top Korean universities for international students. Covers tuition coverage, monthly stipends, deadlines, and how each school compares to the GKS government scholarship.
Worker rights and protections
What the law protects: contracts, wage claims, workplace injury, and the lines hagwons and labor brokers cross.
Work
E-9 Worker Rights in Korea: What the Law Says You Are Owed (2026)
E-9 visa holders have the same legal rights as Korean workers. Covers 2026 minimum wage, wage theft claims, workplace change rules, and industrial accident insurance.
Work
Which Visa Lets You Work Freely in Korea? F-4, F-5, and F-6 Explained (2026)
F-4, F-5, and F-6 visa holders can work in Korea without employer sponsorship, but the rules differ. This guide explains who qualifies, what jobs are off-limits for F-4, and when converting to F-5 is worth it.
Work
Hagwon Contract Red Flags: A 30-Point Review Checklist for Foreign Teachers (2026)
Before you sign an E-2 teaching contract in Korea, check these 30 points. Covers pay, hours, leave, severance, visa clauses, and the four provisions that are always illegal.
Work
E-8 Seasonal Worker Scam Prevention: The Pre-Departure Checklist (2026)
E-8 seasonal work offers in Korea are frequently fraudulent. Use this pre-departure checklist to verify any offer is real before paying a single won.
Work
Unemployment Benefit (실업급여) in Korea for Foreign Residents
Lose your job in Korea? Employment insurance (고용보험) can pay 60% of your daily wage for 120 to 270 days. The 2026 cap and floor and foreign-worker rules.
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Unpaid Wage Guarantee Payment (대지급금) in Korea for Foreign Workers
If a Korean employer cannot pay wages, the wage-claim guarantee may cover part of the arrears: 도산대지급금, 간이대지급금, limits, deadlines, and how to file.
Work
Workplace Injury Compensation (산재보험) in Korea for Foreign Workers
Injured at work in Korea? Industrial accident insurance covers treatment and wage replacement. Foreign and undocumented workers can claim; here is how.
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Korea Salary Guide for Foreign Workers: Floors, Deductions, and Offer Checks (2026)
Check the official 2026 salary floors, social-insurance deductions, severance wording, and offer math before you sign a Korean employment contract.
Job search and the Korean workplace
Where foreign residents actually find work, what Korean hiring expects, and how to read your first payslip.
Work
Companies Hiring Foreign Residents in Korea: An Honest Guide (2026)
Which Korean employers actually hire foreign residents, which tracks you can realistically enter without Korean fluency, and honest picks by situation, from chaebol R&D to startup equity.
Work
Best Job Sites in Korea for Foreign Residents (2026): Honest Picks
Honest picks on the job sites that actually work for foreign residents in Korea, by use case: tech, teaching, Korean boards, part-time, and student work.
Work
Which Korean Job Platforms Actually Work for Foreigners: An Honest Comparison (2026)
Most 'Korea job sites' lists start with Saramin and JobKorea without mentioning they are Korean-only. This guide tells you which platforms actually serve foreign job seekers, and which ones to skip.
Work
How to Find a Non-Teaching Job in Korea as a Foreigner (2026)
The D-10 job seeker visa exists. Korean companies are hiring. This guide maps every starting visa to the right next move, names the platforms that actually work, and gives you a 4-to-6-week action plan.
Work
How to Write a Korean 이력서 (Resume) Employers Actually Want (2026)
Korean employers expect two documents, not one, and a format nothing like a Western CV. This guide covers the 이력서, 자기소개서, photo rules, visa disclosure, and what to do differently as a foreign job seeker.
Work
How to Write a Korean Self-Introduction Letter (자기소개서) as a Foreign Applicant (2026)
The 자기소개서 is not a cover letter. It is a structured set of prompted essays in formal Korean. This guide shows foreign applicants exactly how to write each section, what chaebols now require, and where to get help.
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Korean Corporate Aptitude Tests (인적성검사): What Foreign Job Seekers Actually Face (2026)
Every major Korean chaebol uses a proprietary aptitude test as a hiring gate. This guide explains each test's format, why they are a hard wall for most foreign applicants, and which tracks bypass them entirely.
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How to Read Your Korean Payslip (급여명세서) (2026)
A plain-language guide to Korean payslip lines: 지급, 공제, 4대보험, income tax, meal allowance, net pay, and the official 2026 rates foreign workers should check.
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Your First 90 Days at a Korean Company: Contracts, Probation, and What to Watch For (2026)
You signed Friday. You start Monday. Here is what Korean law says about your contract, probation rights, 4대보험 enrollment, first paycheck, and what to do if something goes wrong, before Day 90.
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EPS (eps.go.kr) in English: How Korea's Employment Permit System Works (2026)
A plain-English guide to using eps.go.kr in English: where to find the English portal, how to log in, and how to check your EPS-TOPIK or Worker Roster status.
AI training contract work
Honest reviews of the major USD-paying AI training platforms foreign residents in Korea use.
Work
Is DataAnnotation Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Is DataAnnotation legit? Strong reviews vs an active scam Reddit thread, what it pays, and how Korean visa and tax rules apply to USD remote income.
Work
Is Outlier AI Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Outlier AI pays for language, coding, and STEM tasks, but reviews are divided. See what the work pays, how it compares to Alignerr, and Korea tax rules.
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Is Alignerr Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Alignerr scores 4.6/5 on Trustpilot and 2.2/5 on Glassdoor. What the split means, what the work is, who pays well, and how Korean visa and tax rules apply.
Work
Mercor Review: AI-Interview Talent Network for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Legit AI training platform with strong reviews. Covers the video interview, pay ranges by track, and how Korean visa and tax rules apply to USD remote income.
More guides in this pillar
Recently added guides not yet assigned to a section.
Work
Average Salary in Korea (2026): Average, Median, and Pay by Industry, Region, and Company Size
The average monthly wage in Korea is about ₩4.2 million, but the median worker earns ₩2.88 million. See pay by company size, industry, gender, age, Seoul vs other regions, and what foreign workers earn.
Visas
Changing Jobs on a Korean Work Visa: The 2026 Rules by Visa Type
How to change employers legally on E-1 to E-7 and E-9 work visas in Korea: the two-track permission system, E-9 change limits, required documents, and pitfalls to avoid.
Work
Day Labor in Korea (일용직): Severance, Pay, Insurance and Tax (2026)
Do day workers in Korea get severance pay? One-day contracts do not, but 1 year of continuous work at 15+ hours a week does. Pay, insurance, tax, visa rules, and where to report unpaid wages.
Visas
E-7-4 Skilled Worker Visa: Moving Up From E-9, E-10, or H-2 (2026)
The E-7-4 visa (숙련기능인력) lets long-term E-9, E-10, or H-2 workers switch to a 2-year, extendable status that allows family. Eligibility, the 300-point table, and employer rules.
Work
After Passing EPS-TOPIK: The Skills Test, the Roster, and How You Get Hired (2026)
Passing EPS-TOPIK is the first exam, not the last step. This guide covers the Skills Test that feeds your roster selection, how long your exam pass stays valid, how the Employment Center screens candidates for Korean employers, and what happens between signing a contract and starting work.
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EPS-TOPIK Exam Day: What to Bring, How the Test Works on Screen, and What Your Score Really Means (2026)
EPS-TOPIK is a computer-based test taken in your own country, not Korea. Covers what to bring on exam day, the 4-year cheating ban, how results vary from about 5.5 weeks to 17 weeks by country and round, why clearing the sector floor does not make you a passer, and the skills test that comes after.
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EPS-TOPIK: What the Exam Is and How It Works (2026)
EPS-TOPIK is not a language certificate you keep. It is a scored roster that Korean employers hire from under the Employment Permit System. What the exam tests, how 100-point scoring works, and what a passing score actually gets you.
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How to Register for EPS-TOPIK (2026)
EPS-TOPIK registration happens through your own country's government sending agency, not a Korean website. Find your country's agency and registration office, learn what documents you need, understand what the exam fee is, and know what to do between registering and exam day.
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EPS-TOPIK vs TOPIK (2026): Different Exams, Different Ministries, Different Purposes
EPS-TOPIK and TOPIK share three letters and nothing else. This guide explains who runs each exam, what each result looks like, and why an EPS-TOPIK pass does not count toward F-2-7 visa points or KIIP stage placement.
Visas
The F-3 Dependent Visa: Bringing Your Family to Korea (2026)
How to bring your spouse and children to Korea on an F-3 accompanying dependent visa. Eligibility, the 2025 rule changes, income thresholds, work rights, and step-by-step application.
Visas
HiKorea Employment Reporting: How to File Your Job Information Online (2026)
Foreign residents on most work visas must report their occupation, industry, and income bracket to immigration within 15 days of starting work or any change. Here is how to do it.
Work
Internships in Korea for International Students and Graduates (2026): Programs and Where to Apply
Where international students and graduates find internships in Korea: listing sites, city programs, international organizations, and company programs, plus the routes to skip.
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Is CrowdGen Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
CrowdGen is run by ASX-listed Appen, but in October 2026 Trustpilot showed 1.6/5 from 125 reviews. What that means, how pay works, and the Korean visa and tax rules.
Work
Is DataForce Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
DataForce by TransPerfect is a real company, but contributor reviews split sharply. See the ratings, how pay works, what to check before a voice or video study, and Korean visa and tax questions.
Work
Is Mindrift Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Mindrift is run by Toloka AI, a Dutch company in which Nebius Group is a shareholder. Pay is reliable twice monthly, but many contributors wait weeks for a project.
Work
Is OneForma Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
OneForma is a real platform but has the weakest trust reputation in our AI-work directory. Learn how pay works and how Korean tax rules apply.
Work
Is Prolific Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Prolific is a real research-study platform, not an AI-training job board. See the waitlist, the PayPal-only payout problem in Korea, and what is still unclear about Korean tax and visa rules.
Work
Is RWS TrainAI Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
RWS TrainAI is a real company with open Korea-resident roles. The main risk is late pay. See the posted rates, the ratings, and the Korean visa and tax rules.
Work
Is TELUS Digital Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
TELUS Digital runs the AI Community, a remote rating and AI-data program with a Korean entity. See who owns it, what contributors report, and what to check on tax and visa.
Work
Is Toloka Legit? What Foreign Residents in Korea Should Know (2026)
Toloka is a real company, but its worker app has moved to Mindrift. Here is who runs it, whether you can join from Korea, how payouts work, and what reviews say.
Work
Is Welocalize Legit? An Honest Review for Foreign Residents in Korea (2026)
Welocalize and its Welo Data arm hire Korean-language raters in Korea and the US. See what the work pays, how to apply, and how Korean tax rules apply.
Work
Jobs in Korea for Foreigners (2026): 22 Job Types and the Visa for Each
22 job types foreign residents can take in Korea, each matched to the visa that allows it, the Korean level to expect, and where to find openings.
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Jobs in Korea Without Speaking Korean (2026): 13 Jobs You Can Get
13 kinds of jobs foreign residents can get in Korea with little or no Korean: the usual visa for each, where Korean still shows up, and where to search.
Work
Minimum Wage in Korea for Foreign Workers: Your Legal Rights (2026)
Korea's minimum wage is 10,320 won/hour in 2026 and 10,700 won/hour from January 1, 2027, and it applies regardless of nationality. What counts and what to do if underpaid.
Work
Internal Referrals in Korea (사내추천): How They Work and How to Get One (2026)
An internal referral (사내추천) gets your resume in front of a human reviewer at a Korean company. This guide explains how the system works, what a referral can and cannot do for your visa situation, and how to build a referral path even without existing contacts in Korea.
Visas
How to Do an Internship in Korea as a Foreign Student or Graduate (2026)
Which visa lets you intern in Korea, whether your internship must be paid, and how to convert an internship into an E-7 work visa.
Work
Red Flags in a Korean Job Offer or Employment Contract (근로계약서) (2026)
Check a Korean job offer before you sign. Pay that differs from the offer, penalty clauses, held passports, and hiring fees are illegal or risky. Includes 2026 E-7 salary floors and where to report.
Work
Jobs in Korea for Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese and Japanese Speakers (2026)
Your language can get you hired in Korea. Find jobs that want Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese or Japanese in one tab on Seoulstart Jobs, and see which visa route fits.
Visas
Korea Visa Denied or Refused: What to Do Next
A Korean visa denial at a consulate and a refusal at immigration are different situations with different rights: reapplication, appeal routes, and entry bans.
Visas
How to Extend Your Stay in Korea: The HiKorea Renewal Process (2026)
Extend your stay in Korea before your visa expires. The HiKorea renewal process step by step: the 4-month window, fees, and online vs in-person filing.
Work
Job Interviews at Korean Companies (면접): Format, Questions, and What to Bring (2026)
What happens in a Korean job interview, round by round. Includes the questions foreign applicants get, what the hiring law does and does not protect, what to bring, and what to ask the employer.
Work
How to Work at a K-pop Company as a Foreigner: HYBE, SM, JYP, YG (2026)
HYBE and JYP accept foreign applicants for staff jobs. This guide covers how HYBE, SM, JYP, and YG hire, which roles fit, the visa path, and where to find live postings.
Visas
Part-Time Work on a Student Visa in Korea (D-2, D-4): Permit, Hours, and Allowed Jobs (2026)
You need a part-time work permit before your first shift on a D-2 or D-4 visa. Get the permit steps, the weekly hour limits by Korean level, banned jobs, and penalties.
Visas
Korea's Startup, Investor, and Trade Visas: D-8, D-9, and the OASIS Track (2026)
Which Korea business visa fits your situation: the D-8 corporate investment visa, the D-9 trade management visa, or the D-8-4 technology startup track via OASIS? Capital thresholds, sub-types, conversion paths, and the step-by-step OASIS route to permanent residency.
Work
Teaching English in Korea: EPIK, Hagwon, and University Jobs (2026)
How to teach English in Korea on an E-2 visa. Honest comparison of EPIK public schools, hagwons, and universities: eligibility, salaries, benefits, contracts, and what to watch out for.
Work
Visa Sponsorship Jobs in South Korea (2026): Who Sponsors and How to Find Them
Korea has no sponsorship visa. Your employer invites you, and the visa matches the job. See which visas need an employer, which do not, and where to find sponsoring jobs.
Visas
Korea's Working Holiday Visa (H-1): Who Qualifies, What You Can Do, and What Comes Next
Korea's H-1 working holiday visa (관광취업): which countries qualify, age limits, the WEST program for US citizens, work rules, and what happens when it expires.