Hello, business owners! 🙌🏻
This is Vijob, a platform specializing in foreign hiring.

You hired a D-2 international student as a part-time worker,

and they turned out to be much better at the job than expected and very responsible, so have you ever thought, “I want to raise their hourly wage a little more.” or “I’d like to keep working with them for a long time, but can we change the working conditions?”

It is of course possible to raise the hourly wage in recognition of a good employee’s performance.

However, unlike regular part-time employees, D-2 international students can be managed more neatly if you check not only the employment contract but also the part-time work permit details from Immigration.

Today, Vijob will easily explain what you should check when raising the hourly wage of a foreign student! 💙

✅ Raising the hourly wage is possible

For example, if the initial employment contract was signed at KRW 10,500 per hour, and the employee works well and diligently so you decide to raise it to KRW 12,000 per hour, that is perfectly possible.

Recognizing an employee’s performance and offering better working conditions can also help build a better employment relationship.

However, since the hourly wage is one of the important terms of the employment contract, if the actual wage changes, it is a good idea to reflect the changed details in the contract as well.

For example, you can clearly note it as Existing hourly wage: KRW 10,500 → Changed hourly wage: KRW 12,000 → Effective date: 2026 ○ month ○ day .

You can also create a new employment contract or prepare a separate agreement to change the working conditions.

✅ If the worker is a D-2 international student, please also check the Immigration permission details

D-2 international students do not work part-time in Korea freely; they work within the scope of the part-time work permit they have received.

During the part-time work application process, the following are generally required:

✔ Workplace
✔ Job duties
✔ Employment period
✔ Working conditions
✔ Wage

Employment contract-related documents including these items must be submitted.

Therefore, if the working conditions have changed, it is a good idea to check once whether “the new conditions are properly reflected in the employment contract.” In particular, if the employee will work with you for a long time, it is much more convenient later on to keep the contract and the actual pay conditions aligned.

✅ What if only the hourly wage increased at the same store?

For example, if the workplace is the same / the duties are the same / the working hours are the same,

and only the hourly wage increased from KRW 10,500 → KRW 12,000,

then you should first accurately reflect the changed hourly wage in the employment contract.

According to the currently available immigration guidance, it is not uniformly stated that a wage increase alone necessarily requires a new part-time work permit.

Therefore, from the employer’s perspective,

① Revise the employment contract to reflect the actual hourly wage

② Pay wages accurately based on the changed hourly wage

③ If necessary, check with 1345 or the competent immigration office whether revised documents need to be submitted

that is the level of management that would be best.

✅ What if you want to increase working hours while raising the hourly wage?

If an employee does well, the conversation may naturally come up: “Could you work a little more?”

In this case, you can approach it a little differently from a wage change. For D-2 international students, part-time work hours may vary depending on factors such as degree program, Korean proficiency, and whether it is during the semester or vacation period.

So if you plan to increase working hours as well, first

✔ Current approved working hours

✔ The maximum working hours the student is allowed

✔ Whether changes to the existing permit conditions are needed

should be checked.

In other words, it is easiest to remember: higher hourly wage → revise the employment contract, changed working hours → also check immigration permit conditions.

📌 Boss, here’s the simple summary!

If you want to work with a good international student employee for a long time, you do not need to overthink it.

I want to raise the hourly wage → Organize the employment contract with the changed wage

The actual pay goes up → Process payroll based on the amount actually paid

I want to increase working hours too → Check the permitted working hours for D-2 part-time work

The workplace or duties also change → Check the existing part-time work permit details as well

Just check each one step by step like this.

💡 Hiring a good employee under better conditions is a positive change

Just because someone is an international student, there is no need to think raising their wage is difficult or complicated.

If the employee is doing well, pay them accordingly and clearly organize the changed working conditions.

However, please remember that D-2 international students, unlike regular part-time workers, are managed under two things together: “employment contract + part-time work permit”

If you want to improve the conditions to keep a good employee longer, check the current residency status and permitted scope first, then change to better working conditions. 😊💙

💙 Are you looking for great global talent?

At Vijob, global talent with diverse visas and experience is waiting for you, boss.

Even if this is your first time hiring foreigners, don’t think of it as difficult.

Vijob will support everything from your hiring process to connecting you with global talent.

📞 Hiring foreigners, start with Vijob from the beginning!

At Vijob, we provide one-stop support.

✔ Post and promote job openings for foreign workers
✔ Guidance on visa-based hiring eligibility
✔ Networking with foreign talent by country

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