by Ekrem Duman | Jul 15, 2026 | Expat HR, Expats in South Korea
⚡ TL;DREmploying in Korea means sponsoring the correct visa (usually the role-specific E-7, subject to foreign-to-Korean employee ratios), enrolling staff in the four major insurances (~10–12% employer loading), respecting the 52-hour week and the Labour...
by Ekrem Duman | Jul 15, 2026 | Expat HR, Expats in South Korea
⚡ TL;DRA Korea arrival runs on the Alien Registration Card (ARC) — applied for within 90 days at an immigration office, and required for everything: a bank account, a phone, healthcare, and housing. Seoul housing has a unique twist: the jeonse system,...
by Ekrem Duman | Jul 15, 2026 | Expat HR, Expats in South Korea
⚡ TL;DRKorea’s Labour Standards Act is protective: dismissal requires ‘justifiable cause’ and proper procedure, and unfair dismissal can lead to reinstatement via the Labor Relations Commission. The headline reform is the 52-hour maximum...
by Ekrem Duman | Jul 15, 2026 | Expat HR, Expats in South Korea
⚡ TL;DRKorean income tax is progressive, from 6% to 45% (plus a 10% local surtax on the tax, and a separate local income tax), with the top rate reaching above roughly KRW 1 billion. Foreign workers have a valuable choice: instead of the progressive rates, they...
by Ekrem Duman | Jul 15, 2026 | Expat HR, Expats in South Korea
⚡ TL;DRSouth Korea’s main professional route is the E-7 visa (designated activities / skilled worker) — employer-sponsored, tied to a specific role on a government-designated occupation list, with education and experience requirements and a salary...
