VisaMatchReading postings · 3 min read
Common Korean job posting terms, explained
Understand entry-level roles, preferred qualifications, probation and pre-tax pay before you apply.
Experience and contract labels
Use these as everyday reading aids. The final conditions depend on the posting and contract; these are not legal definitions or a decision about your ability to work.
- Entry-level (신입): aimed at applicants starting their careers. Check whether projects or internships are requested and when you must graduate.
- Experienced hire (경력): relevant work experience is requested. Ask whether internships or other experience count.
- Open-ended position (정규직): often refers to a role without a fixed end date. Check the actual contract, hours and conditions; this label does not describe every employment term.
- Contract position (계약직), often for a fixed term: check the start and end dates and whether renewal is discussed.
- Internship (인턴): a role involving workplace experience. Check the tasks, contract, pay and whether any later hiring is a separate selection.
- Probation or an initial assessment period (수습): ask about duration, evaluation, pay and what happens afterward. It does not mean unpaid work.
Requirements, preferences and pay
- Required qualifications (필수조건 / 지원자격): conditions the employer says applicants must meet. If the wording is unclear, ask before assuming an exception.
- Preferred qualifications (우대조건 / 우대사항): additional strengths the employer values. Missing one does not automatically mean you fail a required condition; confirm how it is used.
- Before tax and deductions (세전): the quoted amount is not take-home pay. Ask what period it covers and which pay components are included.
- Pay to be discussed (급여 협의): the amount is not settled by this phrase. Ask when and how it will be agreed and recorded.
Try reading a fictional posting
Underline the required conditions first. Then match your evidence to preferred skills. Finally, circle everything that needs a question. This keeps your application focused without pretending that a short posting answers everything.
Ask about what the words leave out
“Foreign applicants welcome” does not explain which documents the employer can provide or whether your proposed duties are permitted under your status. “Flexible work” does not specify your daily schedule. Save the original posting privately for reference and ask the company to clarify important points in writing.
Before you move on
- I have separated required and preferred conditions.
- I know which terms still need clarification.
- I have prepared one short question for the employer.
Official sources & review scope
The examples, wording tips and checklists are VisaMatch’s own preparation suggestions. Source checks cover only the topics described below, not every statement on the linked sites.
- Ministry of Employment and Labor · Employment contracts ↗
Ministry of Employment and Labor
Contract topics including pay, working hours and holidays checked. No wage figures or penalties are reproduced here.
Source checked: - Study in Korea · Employment in Korea ↗
National Institute for International Education (NIIED)
Read the recruitment, application and university support sections. Visa figures on this page were not assessed for this guide.
Source checked:
This material is general information for career preparation. Hiring conditions and program eligibility vary by employer and institution. Check current official guidance and your own circumstances to confirm residence and work permission.
Only the guide title and public URL are shared. Your checks and diagnostic answers are excluded.