The Easiest Jobs for Foreigners to Land Now
You’ve made the decision to move to South Korea, and the next hurdle is securing that all-important work visa. While the high-tech sectors require years of specialized experience (E-7 visa), there are several well-established, reliable pathways that offer foreign workers the easiest and fastest entry into the Korean job market.
These jobs are generally in high demand, have standardized visa procedures, and offer a comfortable living wage, making them the perfect launching pad for your life in Korea.
As a local, I’m here to give you the honest blueprint to the easiest and most common jobs for foreigners to get in South Korea—your most likely route to a stable work contract.
Pillar 1: The Education Gateway (The Most Reliable Route)
Teaching English remains the single most accessible and reliable professional job for native English speakers (NES) globally.
1. Public School English Instructor (EPIK/GEPIK)
The Vibe: Stability, fixed daytime hours, and excellent work-life balance.
Why It’s Easy: The government-run programs (EPIK/GEPIK) have highly standardized requirements (Bachelor’s degree, clean CBC) and offer a clear, structured hiring process. They also provide the best vacation time in the industry.
Visa Used: E-2 Foreign Language Instructor Visa.
2. Private Academy (Hagwon) Instructor
The Vibe: Higher energy, higher salary potential, but longer, later hours.
Why It’s Easy: Hagwons are always hiring due to high turnover. If you have your documents ready, you can often secure a job and the E-2 visa faster than through the public programs.
The Trade-Off: Less vacation time (often 7–10 days) and later working hours (often 2 PM to 10 PM).
Pillar 2: The Service and Labor Entry Points
These roles are generally non-professional (E-9 visa) or part-time (D-2/F-series visa) and offer a direct route into the Korean economy, often requiring less upfront educational “spec.”
3. Manufacturing/Factory Work
The Vibe: Physically demanding, but high-paying due to mandatory night shift and overtime premiums.
Why It’s Easy: Demand for labor is consistently high in regional manufacturing hubs (Gyeonggi, Ulsan). These jobs often provide subsidized housing and offer the fastest way to save money.
Visa Used: Often the E-9 Non-Professional Employment visa (which has specific country quotas) or certain F-series visas.
4. Restaurant and Service Staff (Part-Time)
The Vibe: Fast-paced, full cultural immersion, and high energy.
Why It’s Easy: Restaurants and cafes in major city hubs (Hongdae, Gangnam) are always looking for help, especially those catering to foreign tourists.
The Catch: These roles are usually for part-time hours and require a visa that allows flexible employment (like the F-series, D-2 Student Visa limits, or Working Holiday Visa). They are not typically primary sponsors for E-7 or E-2 visas.
Pillar 3: The Specialized Niche (High Earning, High Barrier)
While not the easiest entry, these roles offer stable, high-paying career paths if you meet the specialty requirements.
5. IT/Tech Development for Global Teams
The Vibe: High salary, but competitive.
Why It’s Manageable: Tech startups and gaming companies often use English as the working language and are motivated to sponsor the E-7 visa for skilled developers (cloud, AI) that the local talent pool lacks. If you have the technical skills, the process is streamlined.
Your Strategic Action Plan
If your goal is simply to live and work in Korea quickly, the E-2 English teaching visa remains the most reliable and fastest route. If your goal is career specialization, target the IT/Tech sector for the E-7 visa. Know your goals, prepare your documents meticulously, and you’ll be on your way!
For ways to find a job, you can use the job search site in Korea. Please refer to the representative job search site below.