Between K-pop, K-dramas, K-beauty, and the vibrant energy of Seoul, South Korea is attracting a growing number of young Belgians eager to experience the country in a way that goes beyond simply being visitors. The Working Holiday Visa in South Korea offers the perfect opportunity for this extended immersion: settling in for a year , traveling at your own pace, and financing part of your stay through temporary jobs .
But going on a Working Holiday Visa to South Korea also means understanding a specific framework: strict conditions, regulated work rules and social codes sometimes very different from those we know in Belgium.
In this comprehensive guide, you will find all the essential information: eligibility requirements, application steps, permitted work, language learning, accommodation and practical advice to prepare for your departure with peace of mind.
The Working Holiday Visa ( WHV) in South Korea allows young Belgians to stay in South Korea 12 months 18 to 30 inclusive at the time of issuance . It can only be obtained once, and the South Korean authorities strictly regulate its conditions.
The principle of the Working Holiday Visa is simple: you go primarily to travel, discover Korean culture, and have an international experience . Work is permitted, but it must remain secondary and serve only to financially support your stay.
The Working Holiday Visa in South Korea is therefore a compromise between international mobility, cultural immersion, and independence. It is ideal for those who wish to experience a different kind of year without committing to a student or professional visa.
Before getting into the administrative procedures, it is important to understand what makes South Korea particularly attractive for a Working Holiday Visa.
| What attracts people to South Korea | What this means in practice for a Working Holiday Visa |
|---|---|
| A country between modernity and traditions | A constant contrast between ultra-modern cities, ancient temples and traditions that are very present in everyday life. |
| A reassuring destination for a year's getaway | A high level of security, efficient transport and reliable organization, facilitating installation. |
| Structured but real job opportunities | Opportunities exist for work in catering, hospitality, or tourism, primarily in large cities. This work provides supplemental income. |
| A strong cultural immersion | Discovery of different social codes: hierarchy, relationship to work, collective life and local customs. |
| A country that reveals itself over time | Lively neighborhoods, night markets, independent cafes, national parks and a varied coastline: an ideal setting for gradual exploration. |
The Working Holiday Visa in South Korea is therefore appealing both for its dynamism and the richness of its cultural immersion. Now you just need to check if you meet the requirements to benefit from it.
Before starting the administrative process, make sure you meet all the requirements to obtain a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea. This visa is only available to Belgian citizens who meet the following conditions:
The Working Holiday Visa in South Korea is a visa geared towards holidays and cultural exploration. Work should remain secondary and only serve to finance part of the stay.
To complete your application, you will need to provide several supporting documents, including:
For Belgian citizens, applications for a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea must be submitted in person at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Belgium . Applications submitted by mail or through a third party will not be accepted . Here are the steps to follow.
Before scheduling an appointment, you must gather all the documents required by the embassy. It is essential to verify that each document meets the format and validity requirements before submitting it.
Once your application is complete, you must book an appointment with the Korean Embassy in Belgium . Appointments are made online through the official system :
Please note: the authorities generally open appointment slots a month in advance. Plan ahead and check availability regularly to secure an appointment.
On the day of your appointment, you must appear in person at the embassy with your complete application. No submissions by mail are accepted. Please note: the embassy does not retain your passport while your application is being processed.
Visa fees are paid directly at the embassy appointment. Payment is made according to the terms specified by the embassy. It is advisable to check the accepted payment methods before the day of application.
The processing time is on average approximately 7 days. You can track the progress of your application online by filling in:
Once the application is accepted, the embassy will provide you with specific instructions on how to collect your visa.
The Working Holiday Visa in South Korea allows you to work legally during your stay, but within a strict framework. It is essential to fully understand the limitations imposed on Belgian citizens to avoid any illegal situations.
As a Belgian national, you benefit from more limited working conditions on a Working Holiday Visa than those granted to some other nationalities.
These restrictions confirm that the Working Holiday Visa remains a visa geared towards holidays and exploration , and that work should only be used to finance part of the stay, not to hold a full-time job long-term.
Working Holiday Visa holders can take on most temporary jobs , provided they do not require specific qualifications recognized by South Korean law. In practice, the most common jobs for Working Holiday Visa holders are in:
Certain activities are strictly prohibited under a Working Holiday Visa, regardless of your nationality. In particular, it is forbidden to work:
Key point to remember : If you wish to teach a language in South Korea , you must apply for a specific E-2 visa . Teaching with a Working Holiday Visa is illegal, even for just a few hours a week.
Accommodation is one of the first practical issues to consider when preparing for a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea . Between cultural differences, specific security deposit systems, and vastly different neighborhoods depending on the city, it's important to understand the available options before committing.
To start your Working Holiday Visa in South Korea a hostel for a few days or weeks is often the best option. It's a flexible, economical, and social solution. You arrive stress-free and have time to explore the neighborhoods before looking for long-term accommodation.
These prices are indicative and may vary depending on the time of year (high season, local festivals, etc.). However, they provide a good starting point for establishing your arrival budget.
Practical tip: some hostels offer weekly or monthly discounts if you stay longer, which can be worthwhile before signing a longer lease.
in South Korea for several months on a , a sharehouse is generally the best compromise between price, flexibility, and social life. A sharehouse is essentially a furnished shared apartment , with:
Utilities (water, electricity, internet) are often included.
One of the major advantages of sharehouses in South Korea, especially for working holiday visa holders, is the security deposit amount. Unlike traditional Korean apartments, where deposits can reach several thousand euros, sharehouses generally operate on a much more affordable system.
In most cases, the security deposit is equivalent to one month's rent . It is paid upon moving in and returned at the end of the lease , provided no significant damage is found. Some establishments also charge small administrative or cleaning fees, but these amounts remain reasonable compared to the traditional rental market.
If you plan to stay in the same place for several months during your Working Holiday Visa in South Korea , renting a studio apartment (often called a one-room apartment ) can be a good option. This type of accommodation is generally a small furnished apartment with a main room including a kitchenette, as well as a private bathroom.
It's an ideal solution for those seeking more privacy and autonomy than in a shared flat.
In South Korea, the rental system often relies on high security deposits. Even for a standard studio apartment, it's common to have to pay a deposit equivalent to several months' rent. In some cases, it can reach several thousand euros.
There is also a system called jeonse , where the security deposit is extremely high (sometimes tens of thousands of euros) but the monthly rent is very low. This system mainly concerns long-term residents and is rarely suitable for a Working Holiday Visa holder.
| Criteria | Hostels | Sharehouse (shared accommodation) | Studio / One-room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal for | Arrival and short stay | Installation of several months | Longer stay with more independence |
| Estimated monthly price | €300 – €600 (depending on duration and city) | 250 € – 650 € | €350 – €1,000 depending on the city and neighborhood |
| Caution | None | Approximately one month's rent | Several months' rent, sometimes several thousand euros |
| Minimum duration | Flexible (night/weekly) | 1 to 6 months in general | 6 to 12 months often required |
| Furniture | Furniture | Furniture | Usually furnished |
| Social life | Very strong | Strong (roommates) | Weak |
| Administrative complexity | Very low | Weak | Medium to high |
| Korean language level required | None | Often unnecessary | Useful, even necessary |
| Main advantage | Simplicity and flexibility | Best value for money | Total independence |
| Main drawback | Lack of privacy | Shared spaces | High deposit |
While a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea is possible without speaking fluent Korean, learning the language completely transforms the experience . Understanding the basics allows you to become more independent, integrate more easily into daily life, and, above all, broaden your horizons—whether for work, socializing, or everyday life.
Learning can be done gradually: first in Daegu when settling in, then in Seoul to deepen one's level.
During the first month of settling in Daegu , it is possible to take Korean language classes at a school located a few minutes' walk from your accommodation. Two paces are offered:
These courses are primarily aimed at beginners . They allow you to acquire the essential basics: reading Hangul, introducing yourself, understanding everyday situations, communicating in a cafe or during a simple interview.
The approach in Daegu is intentionally more accessible and less intensive than in the major international schools of Seoul. The atmosphere is more local and immersive, making it an excellent first step to build confidence.
In addition, the school organizes free language exchanges every day , both morning and evening. This is a valuable opportunity to practice with locals while helping them improve their English. For a complete beginner, this phase allows them to quickly become proficient in finding a simple job.
Learn Korean in Daegu to find a job
After this initial immersion, many working holiday visa holders choose to continue their studies in Seoul at a partner school spread across two campuses: Hongdae and Gangnam . Both campuses follow the same curriculum, making it easy to change environments during their stay. Courses are tailored to all levels, from beginner to advanced, with a placement test upon arrival.
Located in the heart of Hongdae's artistic district, the campus boasts a young and vibrant environment . The school is situated right next to the subway station, in a modern and well-equipped building. The atmosphere is relaxed and international, surrounded by cafes, music studios, and cultural spaces. It's an ideal setting for working holiday visa holders seeking a lively and socially immersive experience.
In terms of accommodation, several options are available:
Learn more about the Hongdae campus
The Gangnam campus is located in one of Seoul's most modern districts. The school occupies several floors of a recently built building, right next to Gangnam Station. The atmosphere is more international and urban, with students from all over the world. The surrounding area is vibrant: cafes, coworking spaces, restaurants, and shops line the campus.
The accommodations offered include:
Learn more about Gangnam camping
Both campuses offer several flexible formats:
The teachers are specialists in teaching Korean to international learners, and classes are organized by level.
Doing a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea isn't just about working or learning the language. It's primarily about having time. Time to stay an extra weekend. Time to return in the spring to a city discovered in winter. In a year, you can't visit Korea like a hurried tourist. You explore it layer by layer. Certain cities naturally stand out as essential stops during a Working Holiday Visa.
It's impossible to do a Working Holiday Visa in South Korea without spending time in Seoul . The capital concentrates everything that makes up the contrast of the country: royal palaces and skyscrapers, traditional neighborhoods and creative scenes, nature and ultra-urbanism.
Seoul is a city best explored neighborhood by neighborhood. You can alternate between strolls through hanok houses, urban hikes in the surrounding mountains, independent cafes, night markets, and cultural events. It's a vibrant city, sometimes intense, but incredibly stimulating when you stay for several months.
As the country's second largest city, Busan offers a very different atmosphere from Seoul. Here, the sea is omnipresent: beaches, ports, cliffs and coastal neighborhoods give a more relaxed pace to daily life.
Busan is ideal for taking a break during your Working Holiday Visa, breathing fresh air, slowing down, and enjoying a more open environment. Between seaside temples, fish markets, cafes with ocean views, and coastal hikes, the city appeals to many Working Holiday Visa holders seeking a balance between city life and nature.
The former capital of the Silla kingdom, Gyeongju is often considered an open-air museum. It's the perfect destination to discover another side of South Korea, calmer, more spiritual, and deeply rooted in history.
Royal tombs, Buddhist temples, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and peaceful landscapes make Gyeongju a perfect stop on a Working Holiday Visa. People come here to slow down, understand the country's past, and enjoy an atmosphere very different from that of major cities.
The Working Holiday Visa for South Korea offers young Belgians the opportunity to live for up to a year in a modern and dynamic country, while enjoying the freedom to travel and take on temporary jobs within a clearly defined legal framework. This visa provides a unique opportunity to discover Korean culture, improve language skills , and gain valuable international experience.
At VisaVacancesTravail.be, we support young Belgians at every stage of their project:
You can also participate in a free online information session to ask your questions and prepare for your departure with complete peace of mind. Don't hesitate to contact us to plan your Working Holiday Visa in South Korea within a professional and secure framework.
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
Cities marked with an asterisk (*) are eligible for Job Assistance
