Which Korean visa lets you work — the one article that decides it

"Can I work on this visa?" sounds like a question with many answers. It has one source: Article 23 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act.

Short answer

• Allowed to work as such: C-4, E-1 through E-10, H-2 — but only within their own status
• No restriction: F-5, F-6, and part of F-2
• Almost no restriction: F-4 (three exceptions)
• Everyone else — D-2, D-4, D-8, D-10, F-1, F-3, G-1 — needs prior permission
• Working without it: up to 3 years in prison or a 30 million won fine, and grounds for deportation

The base rule

Immigration Act, Article 18(1):

A foreigner who intends to be employed in the Republic of Korea shall obtain a status of stay under which he or she is eligible to engage in job-seeking activities, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

In Korea the right to work attaches to your status of stay, not to a separate work permit.

Group 1 — allowed to work

Enforcement Decree, Article 23(1) lists exactly these:

C-4    Short-term employment
E-1    Professor              E-6    Arts and entertainment
E-2    Foreign language instruction   E-7  Special occupation
E-3    Research               E-8    Seasonal work
E-4    Technical guidance     E-9    Non-professional employment
E-5    Professional employment E-10  Vessel crew
H-2    Working visit

The last sentence of that paragraph matters:

In such cases, "job-seeking activities" means activities falling within the scope of the relevant status of stay.

So an E-9 holder may not teach a language, and an E-2 holder may not work in a factory. Holding a work visa is not the same as being free to do any work.

Paragraph 5 adds H-1 (working holiday) to this group.

Group 2 — no restriction

Article 23(2):

The following persons shall not be subject to the restrictions on job-seeking activities under the classification of statuses of stay, notwithstanding paragraph 1:

1. Persons holding F-2 (Residence), items (a) through (c) and (i) through (n)
2. Persons holding F-2 items (d) or (f) who continue to engage in activities in the field of their previous status of stay
3. Persons holding F-6 (Marriage migrant)

F-5 (permanent residence) sits in the Act itself, not the Decree:

Article 10-3(1): A foreigner who has permanent residence status shall not be subject to restrictions on the scope of activities and period of stay.

Article 46(2) goes further: a person with F-5 is in principle not deported (exceptions include insurrection, treason, and sentences of five years or more).

Group 3 — F-4 is nearly unrestricted

Article 23(3). An F-4 holder (overseas Korean) faces only three exclusions:

1  Simple labour
   (exception: a person residing or working in a population-decline area
    who is recognised by the Minister of Justice)
2  Acts contrary to good morals or public order
3  Cases where restriction is necessary for public interest
   or to maintain order in the domestic labour market

What counts as "simple labour" is set by Ministry of Justice ordinance (paragraph 4 of the same article), not by the Decree.

Group 4 — permission required

If your status is not above, you may not simply start working. But you can apply.

Act, Article 20:

A foreigner staying in the Republic of Korea who intends to engage in activities falling under a different status of stay, in addition to activities under his or her current status, shall obtain prior permission for activities beyond the status of stay from the Minister of Justice, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Where: the application goes to the regional immigration office; the Minister of Justice decides (Decree, Article 25). Online through HiKorea.

Fee: 120,000 won — but 20,000 won for D-2 and D-4 students, an explicit exception in Article 72(2) of the Enforcement Rules.

About the weekly hour limit for students

Many people search for how many hours a week a D-2 or D-4 holder may work. That number is not in the Act or the Decree. It sits in internal Ministry of Justice guidance. We do not print figures we have not read in the source — call 1345.

What happens if you work without the right status

This is not paperwork.

Working without an eligible status        Act, Art. 94(8)
  → up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine up to 30 million won

Activities beyond your status without permission   Act, Art. 94(12)
  → same penalty

Employing such a person                   Act, Art. 94(9)
  → same penalty, for the employer

Deportation                               Act, Art. 46(1)8
  → violating Articles 18 and 20 is grounds for forced removal

One more that is often forgotten — Article 18(2):

A foreigner with a status under paragraph 1 shall not work at a place of business other than the designated one.

Changing employer is a separate procedure (Act, Article 21), costing 120,000 won, with a 20% reduction for online filing.

Sources

Immigration Act (출입국관리법)
  Art. 10-3(1) · Art. 18 · Art. 20 · Art. 21 · Art. 46 · Art. 94
  https://www.law.go.kr/법령/출입국관리법

Enforcement Decree (출입국관리법 시행령), in force 2025-06-01
  Art. 23 · Art. 25 · Annex 1-2
  https://www.law.go.kr/법령/출입국관리법시행령

Enforcement Rules (출입국관리법 시행규칙) Art. 72 (fees)

Foreigner information centre: 1345 (multilingual)

Statuses of stay change often — Annex 1-2 has been amended twelve times since 2018. This page reflects the edition in force from 1 June 2025.