Written by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Reviewed June 2026
Administrative Agent
What Is Work Permit (취업활동허가)?
Definition
A Korean work permit (취업활동허가) is government authorization allowing a foreigner to legally work, tied to a specific visa category, employer, and often job type — separate from the visa itself and from a workplace-change permit (근무처변경허가).
Holding a visa that permits some form of work (E-7, E-9, D-10, certain F-series) does not automatically authorize every kind of employment — the permit is typically scoped to a named employer and role, verified through the employer's business registration and a labor contract filed with immigration. Changing employers on most work-tied visas requires a separate 근무처변경허가 (workplace-change permit) before starting the new job, not just a new contract; starting work with a new employer before that permit clears is a common, serious compliance mistake. Some visa categories (D-10 job-seeking visas, certain student visas) allow only limited part-time work hours per week and require a specific part-time work permit on top of the visa itself.
Why it matters
Working outside what a visa authorizes — the wrong employer, too many hours, or an unpermitted role — is treated as an immigration violation even when the underlying visa is valid, and can affect future visa and residency applications. A 행정사 confirms exactly what a given visa authorizes, files the workplace-change or part-time work permit before the new arrangement starts, and keeps the paperwork aligned with what's actually being worked.