Work South Korea
28 days' accommodation, language lessons + job support
Ride the K-Wave, working holiday style. Live and work for up to 12 months in South Korea – with a guaranteed casual job at the end of your four-week language school.
Hey trendsetters...
Home to bendy-topped temples, stunning national parks and the best KFC you’ve ever had, South Korea is the road less travelled by our JEN-setters – until now. After earning your stripes in basic Korean for the first four weeks in Daegu, our in-country sidekicks will help you land your first casual job. If you're looking to learn a new language and lean into a fascinating new culture, then this is for you.
It would say on the tin...
K-pop, K-dramas, your Samsung... South Korean culture is a global sensation. And so for travellers, it already feels familiar. However, as a working holiday destination, finding a job and a place to live without speaking the language can be a challenge. JENZA Work South Korea is designed to get you out of the starting blocks.
We'll help you apply for your working holiday visa before you go. Then when you arrive, you'll live in a houseshare in Daegu with other travellers, have 90 minutes of language lessons during the day (Mon-Fri), get help sorting all the work and permit essentials, and depending on the level of language skills you pick up – get set up with a job at the end.
Is it for me?
From USD $2,229
18-30 or 35
12-month visa
4 weeks' accommodation
4 weeks' language lessons
No Korean required to apply
Casual job after 4 weeks
Reasons to work in South Korea
Unique culture
Picking a working holiday in South Korea is a maverick move. It might not have the working-holiday-heft of an Australian, Canadian or UK working holiday – but that’s what makes it so special. It’s unique, sometimes challenging, but worth its weight in kimchi.
Learn new skills
Whether it’s how to gracefully eat noodles (there's no such thing) or how to navigate the local bus network, travelling is all about learning skills. With four weeks of Korean lessons included, you’ll be proudly turning down that tourist menu in no time.
Short working days
You're only able to work for 25 hours a week on this visa (40 hours for Canadians). So a high earner of a working holiday, this is not. But it is a perfectly balanced combo of earning, learning and exploring. Helping to put the 'holiday' back in working holiday.
K-poptastic
From the up-all-night cities to the islands and national parks, South Korea as modern as it is medieval. Robo restaurants stand next to 1000-year-old temples with smiling roofs. It’s weird all over but it works.
Visa + cost
More confusing than a South Korean chicken or toilet themed park (both are real – just not together) – the eligibility, age you need to apply, and number of hours you can work on a H-1 visa (South Korea working holiday visa) depends on your nationality. We’ll guide you through the process – supplying the correct forms and a step-by-step guide on how to apply for your visa and attend your embassy appointment (if applicable for your nationality).
Don’t see your flag below? Check out our FAQs for more eligible nationalities or call us
Deposit
USD $115
Second payment
USD $2,114
Total
USD €2,229
South Korea visa fee
Visa fees are paid directly to your local embassy/consulate, check our FAQs for the cost
Support funds
Proof of aprox. USD $2,500 at immigration – although this can vary per nationality
Travel insurance
We recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book
Flights
We don’t recommend booking flights until your visa is approved
Balancing profit with purpose, JENZA only works for us if it works for others too. We donate 5% of profits to our Youth Access Scholarship Fund so that young people from under-served and lower-income backgrounds can experience working overseas. Find out more and apply for scholarship funding.
Talk the talk
With four weeks of South Korean language lessons starting when you arrive, you'll learn all the essentials for living, working, travelling and ordering well in South Korea. We're not talking 'the cat plays football on Tuesdays', we're talking actual real life practical language skills, like 'where can I get bottomless kimchi?'
Jobs
Our in-country sidekicks, World Unite, are your experts for all things job related. When you arrive, you'll be enrolled in a four-week language course in Daegu to prepare you for the world of work. In the third or fourth week, you'll have a one-to-one consultation with World Unite. Which jobs they're able to arrange for you will depend on your ability to speak and understand basic Korean. Their job network includes roles in Seoul, Busan and Daegu.
Jobs that need Korean
Almost all jobs will require a basic level of conversational Korean. If your teacher thinks your level of Korean is high enough, you will be able to apply for hospitality roles working in hotels, cafés, bars and restaurants. They will suggest vacancies in Seoul, Busan or Daegu (depending on your preference) and will help you translate and send off your application and CV. If you’re successful, they will also help with interview prep.
Jobs that don’t need Korean
If you’re finding Korean tricky, then you probably wouldn’t get much from working in the hospitality sector. There’s only so far a smile and shrug of the shoulders can get you. However, fear not, this isn’t Squid Game. You will instead have a pool of real traveller-style jobs to choose from, think picking, packing and warehouse work – the sort that would make an old union-loving papa proud. There may also be teaching assistant roles in language schools but these are not guaranteed.
Career or trade related jobs
Although there are some exceptions (check out our FAQs for more), your working holiday visa does allow you to do other types of work. So if you'd rather do a job more aligned with your training or trade, you're free to to do this – applying as any South Korean would. Bear in mind that most nationalities are only permitted to work for 25 hours a week on this visa, 40 hours for Canadians.
South Korea in numbers
24
Hours in the day you can get a 7-Eleven ramen
1
Ranking for fastest Wi-Fi in the world
3,400
Number of islands making up South Korea
23
Number of national parks in South Korea
Capital, beach or mountains?
1
The big one
Seoul is South Korea’s modern mothership, where nearly half the country’s population live. With one café for every 500 people, it's constantly caffeinated. As well as the bright billboards bending round every corner and districts that never seem to sleep, there’s also an old Seoul. The locals are lovely, and age-old temples offer calm retreats from the creative chaos of one of the best cities for living and working abroad.
2
The beachy one
Busan is Seoul’s wetsuit-wearing cousin, a big energy beach city with a slightly slower surfer-style pace. Although only two hours from the capital by high speed train, Busan has all the rice bowls, coffees and culture you need for an unforgettable working holiday.
3
The quieter one
Daegu is lesser known but, like all South Korea’s big cities, hits the sweet spot between modern convenience and traditional charm. It’s smaller, less touristy and friendlier on your bank balance. That said, it’s not sleepy. You can still get ramen at 2am and it's the main hub for tech and fashion industries.
We promise to wear pants
Your ride or die – all our JENZA Support Squad have worked the world, so are here for first-hand advice on where to go and what you can do. Other mad traveller skills include: parent whispering, visa geekery, and the ability to pack a backpack in 30 seconds flat.
BOOK A CALLHow it works
When to apply
You can apply at any time but, once your visa has been granted, you will have three months to travel to South Korea. If you don’t, you will need to re-apply. A visa typically takes a few weeks to process but this may vary depending on whether the embassy require additional information.
2026 arrival dates
30 Jan, 27 Feb, 3 Apr, 1 May, 29 May, 3 Jul, 31 Jul, 4 Sep, 2 Oct, 30 Oct, 4 Dec.
Arriving in South Korea
Work South Korea starts in Incheon Airport, where our in-country sidekicks, World Unite, will personally meet you and accompany you via public transport to Daegu. When you arrive, they will help sort your residence registration, bank account and local SIM card. You will need to buy a package to activate your SIM card, but World Unite can also help with that.
Then you’ll be taken to your Daegu houseshare, where you'll live alongside other working holidaymakers. Dorm rooms are simple, with a shared kitchen and living area for the house – making it a great way to meet others when you first arrive. Want more privacy? Talk to use about upgrading to a twin-share room.
Countdown to South Korea
Check your eligibility in the visa + cost section and hit 'Book now' to create your profile and start your application. You can then access your online account anytime from the top of this page. You'll then be prompted to pay your deposit.
1 day
The process for applying for a South Korea working holiday visas varies depending on your home country. Don't worry – we'll provide you with the application form, step-by-step guidance on how to fill it out, and whether you need to book your appointment online or in person. As part of your visa application, you are also required to provide a number of documents including a CV, proof of funds, and passport photos. We can always look over all your documents before your appointment – just ask! Remember, you must enter South Korea within three months of securing your visa so factor this into your timelines.
1-3 days
Visa cost differs depending on your nationality – check out the FAQs at the bottom of this page for the current pricing. If applicable, please always travel light to visa appointments, as you usually have restrictions on what you can take in with you. Please note that the South Korea Embassy may keep your passport for up to 10 business days and you will have the option of collecting it from the embassy or paying an additional fee to have it sent to your home address.
1-14 days
Once your visa is approved, it's safe to book your flights. You must fly to South Korea within three months of receiving your visa – so be sure to build this rule into your application timeline. Once your flights are booked, we'll grab the details off you, book your accommodation in Daegu and let our sidekicks, World Unite, know when you're arriving for your in-person orientation.
Usually a month before you go, you'll have your group pre-departure video call with World Unite. This usually lasts around 45 minutes and is to make sure you're fully prepped for living and working in South Korea. It's also a great time to ask all your questions. You'll also have access to a knowledge hub packed with info and intel about life in South Korea – including video training with an intercultural coach.
1 -30 days
You must arrive into Incheon airport between 8am-6pm on your arrival date. If you're arriving earlier, then let us know and we'll advise you on what you need to do for your pick-up. You'll be met and personally escorted to your accommodation where you'll sort your residence registration, bank account and be given your local SIM card. You'll then have the weekend to beat the jetlag, hang with the rest of your househare, and explore. Class starts on Monday!
Get it for free (ish)
We know the most authentic voices come from our community. Whether you want to come on board as an ambassador, roadtester or as a one-off collaborator for blogs, vlogs or images – earn some extra $$ on the road with a content side hustle.
Friends = benefits
Looking for a little pre or post trip action? We've teamed up with Contiki to bring you the ultimate work and travel dream team. Check your online account to access your 10% off code.
Got questions?
Not found what you're looking for? Hit 'Ask a question' below and one of our JENZA Support Squad will come back to you - pen pal style.
Talk to us
Work overseas experts
Call us for all the intel on who can go, what jobs you can do, and how to figure out that visa form!
For passport holders who are part of South Korea’s working holiday visa program, you can apply for a working holiday visa that allows you to travel and work in South Korea for up to 12 months. Most eligible nationalities must be 18-30 or 35 – meaning you must apply and have your visa approved before your 31st or 36th birthday. You then have three months to enter the country.
The cost of a South Korea working holiday visa depends on your nationality. At the time of writing (November 2025), the visas fees are as follows:
Any other nationality should check South Korea's visa requirements.
You'll have a step-by-step guide on how to apply for your South Korea working holiday visa, with links to all the right forms and advice on how to fill out your supporting documents. It's worth noting that some nationalities will need to apply for their visa in person at an embassy or consulate, while others will be able to apply by post. All of this will be outlined in your visa guide. Visa fees are paid locally – see the above FAQ for more.
The below passport holders can apply for a South Korea working holiday visa. The duration, process and level of support funds required to apply vary per country, so please click on the below countries for the most up-to-date information.
It depends. Both the age restrictions and when you need to apply vary per nationality:
You can work on a South Korea working holiday visa for a maximum of 12 months. It's possible for Canadian and UK passport holders to extend their visa for a further 12 months, with US passport holders able to extend for a further 6 months.
Your work is limited to part-time and casual roles, where you can work for 25 hours a week – or 40 hours a week for Canadian passport holders.
This isn't an exhaustive list, but in general – you are not able to do jobs that require special licenses, skills or are in the entertainment field: such as working as a doctor, lawyer, pilot, professor, dancer, musician, actor, singer or acrobat.
This is comprehensive group video call with the team at World Unite and other travellers arriving on the same day as you. They will cover off all the essential info to help you prep for life in South Korea: including the documents you need, schedules, and what to expect when you arrive.
As part of the package, you get the first four weeks' accommodation included, helping you find your feet without having to worry about where you're going to sleep. Accommodation is a basic shared house with shared rooms. There will be bunk beds, a shared kitchen and bathroom, and a living space. If you wish to upgrade to a twin room in the shared house, contact us for prices.
You'll need to fly into Incheon airport in Seoul. Someone from World Unite will meet you and accompany you by public transport to the houseshare on Daegu. This is a great way to get to grips with the public transport system and how it works – ready for the rest of your working holiday.
For the first four weeks of your working holiday, there will be optional pre-planned social activities. These could be anything from a drink at a local bar to a day out at a theme park.
In past years, groups have been taken to museums, food markets and Ttangttang Chicken Land – it’s a chicken-themed amusement park in case you were wondering.
Our sidekicks, World Unite, are your in-country experts for all things job related. When you arrive, you'll be enrolled in a four-week language course to prepare you for the world of work. In the third of fourth week of your course, you will have a one-to-one consultation with World Unite. They will present you with potential job options in Seoul, Daegu or Busan based on the level of basic Korean you have learned and schedule interviews for those you are interested in.
Throughout your time in South Korea, they will be on hand to answer all your questions, help with CV translating, cover letter writing and more.
You’re not expected to be fluent in four weeks, but a basic understanding is essential for most jobs. During your assessment in week three or four, you'll be advised on suitable positions based on your language skills. If you have picked up a good amount of Korean, they can help set you up with a hospitality role.
If your Korean isn't sufficient to work in a public facing role, then World Unite can hook you up with a traditional backpacking role – mostly working in warehouses. Remember, picking and packing is typical job for working holidaymakers in all destinations from the UK to Australia – not just in South Korea.
Your teacher will ultimately decide what your level is and what roles you would be suitable for. They want you to get the most out of your experience so will help you apply for jobs you are confident you can do.
Tipping is not common in South Korea so you shouldn’t expect any extra money through tips. But that's not to say you shouldn't give tip-worthy service!
No. You are free to apply for other jobs during your working visa. You might just use your initial job as a stepping stone to a role more suited to your career interests.
Pay may vary depending on your role but at the the time of writing, the minimum wage in South Korea is ₩10,030 per hour.
In exchange for a free program, our roadtester community provide feedback and content on their JENZA experience to help us identify any issues and ensure that we're providing services and products that best serve our travel community.
To apply to be a roadtester: You'll need to be booked onto the program. We'll then reimburse you at each stage of your roadtester commitments. If you complete all the surveys and requirements, you'll receive back 100% of your program cost. That's a lot of bimbimbap money!
You can apply to be a South Korea roadtester here
Didn't see your question? Ask our team here.
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