Hello, this is KOWORK, a recruitment platform for foreign talent.
When hiring foreign employees, many companies tend to prefer Overseas Koreans (F-4 visa holders) because they do not require additional employment visa sponsorship. However, there is a common misconception in the field: “F-4 visa holders have no employment restrictions.” To clarify, this is not true.
Even F-4 visa holders are subject to certain employment restrictions. Therefore, companies hiring foreign talent must carefully review the scope of permitted employment before proceeding with recruitment.
Scope of Employment Restrictions for F-4 Visa Holders
F-4 visa holders are restricted from working in the following cases:
a. Engaging in simple labor work
b. Engaging in activities that violate public morals or social order
c. Other cases where employment restrictions are deemed necessary to protect public interest or maintain the domestic labor market
In other words, F-4 visa holders cannot freely work in all types of jobs. Special caution is required for simple labor roles and certain restricted occupations. However, there are exceptions. Under the Special Act on Decentralization and Balanced Regional Development, F-4 visa holders residing in designated regional visa pilot areas (depopulation regions) may be exempt from some employment restrictions. In such cases, they may engage in certain jobs that are otherwise restricted—except for activities that violate public morals or social order, which remain prohibited.
Which Jobs Are Restricted for F-4 Visa Holders?
This is one of the most common questions from hiring managers. The following occupations are classified as simple labor or restricted for maintaining public interest and labor market order:
1. Examples of Simple Labor Jobs (Restricted)
| Category (Job Code) | Description & Examples |
|---|---|
| (1) Moving Laborer (92112) | Packing, loading, unloading, and transporting moving items |
| (2) Postal Delivery Worker (92210) | Collecting and delivering mail (e.g., mail carrier) |
| (3) Parcel Delivery Worker (92220) | Delivering packages through logistics systems (e.g., courier) |
| (4) Express Delivery Worker (92230) | Immediate delivery of small parcels (e.g., quick service riders) |
| (5) Food & Beverage Delivery Worker (92241) | Regular delivery of milk, juice, etc. (excluding door-to-door sales) |
| (6) Newspaper Delivery Worker (92242) | Delivering newspapers and collecting subscription fees |
| (7) Other Regular Delivery Workers (92249) | Delivery of study materials, books, etc. |
| (8) Restaurant Delivery Worker (92291) | Delivering food for restaurants (e.g., food delivery staff) |
| (9) Other Delivery Workers (92299) | Delivery for supermarkets, dry cleaners, department stores, cards, etc. |
| (10) Building Cleaner (94110) | Cleaning interiors of offices, apartments, hotels, hospitals, etc. |
| (11) Transport Equipment Cleaner (94121) | Cleaning aircraft, ships, trains, etc. |
| (12) Facility Equipment Cleaner (94122) | Cleaning industrial equipment and supplies (excluding amusement parks) |
| (13) Waste Collector (94142) | Collecting and transporting household waste, sewage, etc. |
| (14) Street & Public Area Cleaner (94130) | Cleaning roads, parks, public restrooms, snow removal |
| (15) Recycling Collector (94141) | Collecting recyclables, scrap metal, waste paper sorting |
| (16) Other Cleaning Workers (94190) | Similar cleaning roles not classified above |
| (17) Apartment Security Guard (94201) | Patrol, access control, parcel handling, etc. |
| (18) Other Building Caretakers (94209) | Facility managers (e.g., churches, parks, etc.) |
| (19) Flyer Distributor / Poster Worker (95392) | Distributing flyers, posting advertisements |
| (20) Other Sales Support Workers (95399) | Locker attendants, storage desk staff, etc. |
| (21) Forest Fire Watcher (99121) | Monitoring and preventing forest fires |
| (22) Meter Reader (99211) | Checking gas, water, electricity usage |
| (23) Gas Inspector (99212) | Inspecting gas facilities for safety |
| (24) Parking Attendant (99231) | Managing parking facilities |
| (25) Shoe Shiner (99910) | Cleaning, polishing, minor repair of shoes |
| (26) Laundry & Ironing Worker (99920) | Hand washing and basic ironing (excluding machine operators) |
| (27) Ticket Checker (99930) | Checking tickets at cinemas, parks, etc. |
| (28) Environmental Monitor (99991) | Monitoring illegal dumping, pollution activities |
| (29) Other Service Workers (99999) | Errand staff, assistants, safety guides, boarding helpers, etc. |
2. Other Restricted Occupations
| Category (Job Code) | Summary Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| (1) Foot Care Specialist (42231) | Providing acupressure and stimulation to specific areas of the feet to relieve fatigue and support health | • Foot care specialist |
| (2) Bathhouse Attendant (43143) | Providing personal hygiene services such as assisting with bathing | • Bathhouse attendant |
| (3) Wedding Service Staff (43220) | Assisting with wedding ceremonies, including coordination, attire guidance, and officiating support | • Wedding assistant • Traditional ceremony assistant • Professional officiant |
| (4) Karaoke Service Staff (44232) | Assisting customers with karaoke equipment and providing beverages and related services | • Karaoke staff • Karaoke manager |
| (5) Other Entertainment Facility Staff (44239) | Operating and managing entertainment facilities such as PC cafés, video rooms, and comic cafés | • PC café staff • Video room staff • Comic café staff |
| (6) Golf Caddie (44292) | Assisting golfers with equipment and providing course guidance | • Caddie • Golf assistant |
| (7) Alcohol Service Staff (45313) | Recommending and serving alcoholic beverages in hospitality settings | • Sommelier • Wine steward • Host |
| (8) Street & Mobile Vendor (53220) | Selling goods without a fixed store, on streets or in mobile environments | • Street vendor • Train vendor • Newspaper street seller |
Exception: Regional Visa Pilot Areas
As mentioned earlier, exceptions may apply if an F-4 visa holder resides in a designated regional visa pilot area (depopulation region). In such cases, the individual may work in previously restricted occupations within the same province or metropolitan area. For example:
If an F-4 visa holder resides in Busan’s designated districts (e.g., Dong-gu, Seo-gu, Yeongdo-gu), they may also work in restricted roles across other districts within Busan Metropolitan City. However, jobs that violate public morals remain prohibited under all circumstances.
Today, we explored the employment scope and restricted occupations for Overseas Korean (F-4) visa holders.
In summary, F-4 visa holders are not entirely free from employment restrictions, and their eligibility for employment may vary depending on the nature of the job and the work location. Therefore, companies hiring foreign talent should not only check the visa type, but also carefully review the job responsibilities, occupational classification, work location, and applicability of any exceptions.
Do you need support with hiring foreign talent or reviewing visa requirements?
KOWORK provides assistance in evaluating visa eligibility, permitted employment scope, and practical hiring considerations that companies often overlook.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact KOWORK anytime. ☺️
