Your First Job in Korea: Workplace Etiquette and Basic Rights

Getting your first job in Korea, whether it is a part-time shift at a café or an office position after graduation, is exciting. Knowing a few unwritten rules of Korean workplaces, and a few written ones, will help you settle in faster and protect yourself.

Greetings, titles and polite speech

Korean workplaces pay close attention to hierarchy and politeness. A few habits go a long way:

• Greet people when you arrive and leave. A simple annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) when you come in and sugohaseyo (수고하세요) or meonjeo gabogesseumnida (먼저 가보겠습니다, “I'll be leaving first”) when you go home is expected.
• Use titles, not first names. Coworkers are usually addressed by job title plus -nim (님), such as timjang-nim (팀장님, team leader) or sajang-nim (사장님, owner/boss). If you are not sure, ask a colleague how to address someone.
• Speak in polite form. Use the polite -yo or formal -mnida endings with coworkers and customers unless someone clearly invites you to speak casually.

Everyday habits Korean coworkers notice

• Be on time, or a little early. Arriving right at the start time can look late if you still need to change or set up.
• Report and check in. Many teams expect you to keep your manager updated on progress and problems (often called bogo, 보고). Asking questions early is better than guessing.
• Messenger etiquette. A lot of work communication happens on KakaoTalk or a company messenger. Reply politely, and keep work chats professional.
• Team dinners (hoesik, 회식). Some teams go out to eat together after work. It is a chance to get to know people. You can usually decline alcohol politely, and many workplaces are more relaxed about attendance than they used to be.

Paperwork to ask for

Korean labor law protects foreign workers as well as Korean workers. Before you start, it is reasonable to ask for:

• A written employment contract (geullo gyeyakseo, 근로계약서) that states your pay, working hours, days off and duties. Keep your own copy.
• Pay that meets the legal minimum wage. Korea's minimum wage is set every year and applies regardless of nationality. Check the current rate on the Ministry of Employment and Labor website rather than relying on old figures.
• A record of your pay such as a pay statement, so you can check hours and deductions.

If you are on a student visa (D-2 or D-4), remember that you need permission from immigration before you start working. See our guide to part-time work for international students for how that process generally works.

Useful Korean words at work

• 출근 (chulgeun) — going to work / clocking in
• 퇴근 (toegeun) — leaving work / clocking out
• 월급 / 시급 (wolgeup / sigeup) — monthly pay / hourly pay
• 휴무 (hyumu) — day off
• 수고하셨습니다 (sugohasyeotseumnida) — “thank you for your hard work”, said at the end of the day

If something goes wrong

If you are not paid, are asked to work very different hours from your contract, or are treated unfairly, write down dates, hours and messages, and ask for help early. The Ministry of Employment and Labor runs a counseling line at 1350, and the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 can answer visa-related questions in several languages. Your university's international office is also a good first stop for students.

Rules and rates change, so treat this article as a general introduction and confirm the details with official sources before making decisions.