You’re not alone – People from all over dream of living there for many good reasons, including work.
Well, the good news is that you can. But is it easy or hard to find a job in Korea? What are the pros and cons? What are your visa requirements? When and how to apply? This article covers everything you need to know about working in South Korea for foreigners.
So let’s get started right away!
Why Work in South Korea?
South Korea, or Daehan Minguk as the locals call it, is a country that attracts the attention of people all over the world.
Starting as the fourth largest economy in Asia to get big customers such as Samsung, LG, Hyundai and POSCO, it has a strong economy. Just look at pictures of big cities like Seoul, Busan, Incheon or Daegu. I am sure you will be charmed by the beauty of the tall buildings and beautiful streets living together in one space. South Korea has taken its thriving entertainment industry seriously. As a result, it has become a potential cultural resource worldwide. It is also home to a beautiful, beautiful culture that seeks to create peace, harmony and prosperity.
South Korean food is another reason to consider working there or even moving in there. It makes everything you like and makes you feel at home with its pleasure and “visual” (Korean language for everything good).
If at this time, you are planning to discover this beautiful country (and I am sure you will), working there will be the perfect way to do it. It gives you a good and comprehensive experience of all aspects of culture and lifestyle. In addition, it is easy for you to get a visa.
Job Prospects in Korea
In terms of economic development, South Korea is one of the most popular countries in Asia.
Due to the increasing expansion of large companies and the number of new companies, the Korean labor market is large and growing. South Koreans are currently struggling to break into the Korean labor market. Instead, they are looking for jobs in countries like China, Japan, Europe, and even the United States. There is an increasing need for people who speak languages other than the native Korean language. Therefore, foreigners are welcome in working conditions. Before diving into it, keep a few things in mind.
Koreans are native speakers and have better cultural understanding than foreigners. Therefore, they will always be useful. So, instead of competing with the Koreans, focus on the work you can do better than them. Find a niche and work where your credentials and background can help businesses.
For example, a German would be better for a Korean company that handles German-speaking areas. You will be more valuable if your expertise is rare in Korea as a foreigner. Or your job is to communicate with foreign customers, especially those from your country. In a tough competition, you will get more job opportunities as an expat in South Korea than a Korean citizen.
We can say this mainly how the image of the country has changed and grown. As a result, the number of foreign companies and connections is growing significantly.
Once you know some Korean art, you can see the prospect. You can take the TOPIK test. You also have the opportunity to work in South Korea to bring diversity and help develop these relationships.
Benefits of working in South Korea
Korean culture places a strong emphasis on human relations and human well-being. Therefore, Koreans value human capital and take care to invest and maintain it. This will mean that you will receive advanced benefits as a member of the Korean workforce.
The benefits offered will vary from one organization to another. But rest assured that your life as a worker in South Korea has many prospects waiting for you.
Self-improvement is one of the most prominent values in South Korea. So, you can expect the company to offer tutorials, courses, and more to help you improve and be better in your field.
Many Korean organizations, large and small, provide lunch in one form or another. In addition, many high-end companies often have an on-site restaurant or cafeteria that serves a variety of lunches.
The better the food, the bigger the company, and not just at lunch; some establishments will continue to serve breakfast and dinner. Korea’s social security system contributes to the national health insurance system. So, once you are a registered resident of South Korea 카지노사이트, you can participate in the public health insurance system even if you are a foreigner. The incentives and incentives for work in South Korea are many!
Read: How to Get a Job in the Music Industry, In 2022
What Are the Jobs for Foreigners in Korea?
South Korea has a great demand for foreigners in various fields. More jobs are available now than ever before. Job prospects are not limited to a few companies, but at all levels.
(i) English Teacher
Teacher is the easiest and most interesting job for a foreigner to enter. Especially, if you are teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in South Korea. This is a common way to start a career in Korea.
South Korea has many requirements for English speakers. As a result, English teachers are in high demand in all countries. You can also find work throughout the year. Not only in schools, training schools and colleges, but also by large companies for their employees.
You can work for a public school such as EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, GOE, TaLK, or one of the many private schools (Hagwon). Besides the documents for English tests such as TEFL, TESOL or CELTA, you must have a bachelor’s degree. It will help you if you have previous teaching experience. But it’s not important.
You can apply if you are an English speaker in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or South Africa. You can also apply if you are fluent in English and from a country that has an agreement with the Korean government. For example, Indians can apply under the CEPA agreement. From my understanding and what I read, they prefer native speakers. However, you can apply if you have a good country accent, required documents and a good track record. As an English teacher in Korea, you can earn good money and gain unique personal and professional experience. You will get a work visa quickly and live in your dream place. Teachers also receive financial benefits, such as accommodation and reimbursement for travel expenses. This makes this process very popular among people who want to move to South Korea for work. Since you will be teaching English, all your teaching and work will be entirely in English.
You don’t need to be good at Korean. But, of course, knowing a little will help.
The good news is that you will learn by immersion even though Korean is a difficult language.
(ii) Office and Other Jobs for Foreigners
South Korea is also a rapidly expanding economy with job opportunities expanding in all directions. This includes but is not limited to manufacturing, automotive, information technology, health, finance, etc. Also, startup companies are growing and growing fast.
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has a successful startup trend and has spent $1.6 billion to grow it in the coming years. Despite the pandemic, the government has chosen to invest in and support startups amid the crisis.
Other popular career lines in South Korea include marketing, entertainment, events, sales, human relations, public relations, project management, etc. These jobs require you to be an expert in them. Therefore, employers choose you over other candidates or people in the same area. You can also work as a Korean translator, interpreter, content creator and other in-demand language skills.
In fact, the most popular combination is English and Korean. But other languages are also sought after, including those that are not widely spoken.
The average salary for these jobs ranges from $1,200 to $4,000 per month. But, of course, it depends on the situation, experience and skills.
Self-employment and self-employment are also common in South Korea among foreigners. The possibilities are many. But the competition is strong, making it a possibility.
(iii) EPS – Employment Authorization System
Besides teaching and various white-collar and high-paying jobs in Korea, there is also a migrant EPS worker.
The Employment Permit System (EPS) was introduced in 2004. It provides better treatment for migrant workers (low-skilled workers) in Korea.
This requires workers to work in construction, fishing, manufacturing, agriculture, and heavy and light industries. From the date of approval, the EPS service is valid for one year. Finally, you will receive an E-9 visa (employment visa) if all goes well. The Korean government has signed an agreement with 16 countries whose citizens can apply. Examples are the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mongolia, Vietnam and Nepal. India is not a listed country.
In addition to being between the ages of 19 and 39 and in good physical shape, you must pass the EPS-TOPIK test. This will increase your chances.
Where to Look for Work?
The easiest option is to search for services online that will be delivered by the company. Some popular websites include Job Korea, Saramin, Global Korea Center, People N Job, LinkedIn, Work-Net, Craigslist, etc. If you intend to teach English there, you can try some ESL sites, companies that act as intermediaries, and job boards.
Examples are Dave’s ESL Cafe, Korvia, Gone2Korea, CIEE, English Work, Teach Away, footprints, Reach to Teach, Teach ESL, Hands Korea, Work N Play, etc. In addition, you can find job opportunities in some English newspapers such as Korea Times, Korea Herald, and The Seoul Times.
You can also look for a newspaper for opportunities when moving to South Korea if you can manage the initial expenses.