Working Teens in Korea: Minimum Wage, Legal Protections, and Popular Part-Time Jobs

A café part-timer brewing coffee Introduction: Hello, readers. Today, we’ll take a close look at how teenagers in Korea earn spending money, what kinds of part-time jobs they do, and which laws and systems are in place to protect them. Korea guarantees young people the right to work while also setting rules to ensure that study and safety are not compromised. For international readers, Korea’s part-time job culture and youth labor protections are an insightful topic. 1. Legal Standards for Youth Part-Time Work 1-1. Minimum Age to Work Part-Time In Korea, teens 15 years and older may hold part-time jobs. However, those under 18 must have parental (legal guardian) consent. In practice, most teen workers are first-year high school students or older. 1-2. Employment Permit (“Chwijik Inheo-jeung”) Under age 13 : Employment is, in principle, prohibited. As a limited exception, minors may participate in artistic or cultural performances only with an employment permit issued b...