Korea Life Step by Step · Episode 10/10
Korean employment contract phrases: A verbal offer is not enough to understand the job. Before starting, confirm that your immigration status permits the work, then compare the written contract with the promised duties, workplace, hours, breaks, pay, probation, overtime, leave, insurance, and payment records. Keep your own complete copy.
Korean employment contract phrases turn the real task into a sequence you can verify one answer at a time. Show exact names, numbers, dates, and documents in writing whenever possible.
What you will accomplish
Finish with every important condition written, unclear clauses explained, the employer and worker signatures present, your own copy received, and a plan for keeping schedules, payslips, and written changes. This is a language checklist, not individual legal or immigration advice.
Prepare before you start
- Check with Hi Korea or 1345 whether your residence status permits this job, workplace, and working arrangement before agreeing.
- Ask for the proposed contract early enough to read it without pressure and compare every page with the job advertisement or offer message.
- Prepare a table for duties, workplace, contract period, schedule, breaks, wage, allowances, payday, probation, overtime, leave, insurance, and termination.
- Bring a trusted interpreter or request time for translation when a clause cannot be understood accurately.
Follow these steps
- Step 1. Match the legal employer name, workplace, job title, duties, and contract period with the offer and your permitted work.
- Step 2. Write the normal start and finish times, workdays, break periods, weekly rest day, and method for schedule changes.
- Step 3. Separate base wage from allowances, bonuses, deductions, overtime, payment date, and payment method.
- Step 4. Clarify probation, leave, social-insurance enrollment, notice, and the process for changing any condition.
- Step 5. Sign only after corrections are reflected, then receive the same complete signed copy and keep future schedules and payslips.
Korean employment contract phrases: 12 Korean phrases for this task
Read the learner-friendly pronunciation first, then use RR as a standard romanization reference. Both are approximations, so listen to a Korean speaker when possible.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning and use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 근로계약서를 먼저 확인하고 싶어요. | geun-roh-gyeh-yahk-ssuh-reul muhn-juh hwah-geen-hah-goh see-puh-yoh. RR: Geunrogyeyaksseoreul meonjeo hwaginhago sipeoyo. |
I would like to review the employment contract first. Request time before signing or starting work. |
| 2 | 제 업무 내용과 근무 장소가 어떻게 되나요? | jeh uhm-moo neh-yohng-gwah geun-moo jahng-soh-gah uh-ttuh-keh dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Je eommu naeyonggwa geunmu jangsoga eotteoke doenayo? |
What are my duties and workplace? Match the written answer with the actual assignment. |
| 3 | 근로시간과 휴게시간을 알려 주세요. | geun-roh-see-gahn-gwah hyoo-geh-see-gah-neul ahl-ryuh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Geunrosigangwa hyugesiganeul alryeo juseyo. |
Please explain the working hours and break times. Ask about each workday, not only a weekly total. |
| 4 | 급여는 월급인가요, 시급인가요? | geu-byuh-neun wuhl-geu-been-gah-yoh, see-geu-been-gah-yoh? RR: Geubyeoneun wolgeubingayo, sigeubingayo? |
Is the pay monthly or hourly? Confirm the base unit before comparing amounts. |
| 5 | 급여일은 매달 언제예요? | geu-byuh-ee-reun meh-dahl uhn-jeh-yeh-yoh? RR: Geubyeoireun maedal eonjeyeyo? |
What day is payday each month? Ask what happens when it falls on a holiday. |
| 6 | 수습기간과 급여 조건이 어떻게 되나요? | soo-seup-kkee-gahn-gwah geu-byuh joh-guh-nee uh-ttuh-keh dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Suseupkkigangwa geubyeo jogeoni eotteoke doenayo? |
What are the probation period and pay conditions? Make sure any difference is written. |
| 7 | 초과근무는 어떻게 기록하나요? | choh-gwah-geun-moo-neun uh-ttuh-keh gee-roh-kah-nah-yoh? RR: Chogwageunmuneun eotteoke girokanayo? |
How is overtime recorded? Keep your own schedule as well as the employer’s record. |
| 8 | 휴일과 연차는 어떻게 사용하나요? | hyoo-eel-gwah yuhn-chah-neun uh-ttuh-keh sah-yohng-hah-nah-yoh? RR: Hyuilgwa yeonchaneun eotteoke sayonghanayo? |
How do I use holidays and annual leave? Ask about the request method and notice time. |
| 9 | 사회보험 가입 여부를 확인하고 싶어요. | sah-hweh-boh-huhm gah-eep yuh-boo-reul hwah-geen-hah-goh see-puh-yoh. RR: Sahoeboheom gaip yeobureul hwaginhago sipeoyo. |
I would like to confirm social-insurance enrollment. Ask which programs apply to this job and status. |
| 10 | 근로계약서 사본을 받을 수 있을까요? | geun-roh-gyeh-yahk-ssuh sah-boh-neul bah-deul soo ee-sseul-kkah-yoh? RR: Geunrogyeyaksseo saboneul badeul su isseulkkayo? |
May I receive a copy of the employment contract? Receive the complete signed version, not a blank form. |
| 11 | 급여명세서를 매달 받을 수 있나요? | geu-byuh-myuhng-seh-suh-reul meh-dahl bah-deul soo een-nah-yoh? RR: Geubyeomyeongseseoreul maedal badeul su innayo? |
Can I receive a payslip every month? Match hours, additions, deductions, and the deposited amount. |
| 12 | 이해하지 못한 조항을 설명해 주세요. | ee-heh-hah-jee moh-tahn joh-hahng-eul suhl-myuhng-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Ihaehaji motan johangeul seolmyeonghae juseyo. |
Please explain the clause I do not understand. Do not sign an unexplained term under pressure. |
Replies you may hear
- 계약서를 읽고 내일까지 알려 주세요. — Read the contract and let us know by tomorrow.
- 휴게시간은 근무표에 표시돼요. — Break times are shown on the schedule.
- 초과근무는 미리 승인받아야 해요. — Overtime must be approved in advance.
- 계약서 사본은 서명 후에 드릴게요. — We will give you a copy after signing.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not begin work based only on a verbal promise when written conditions are available and required.
- Do not compare pay until the unit, hours, allowances, deductions, and overtime treatment are clear.
- Do not sign a blank page, incomplete copy, or clause you were not allowed to read and translate.
- Do not assume residence status permits every job; verify before starting or changing the workplace.
Before you finish
- The employer, workplace, duties, period, and permitted work all match.
- Schedule, breaks, wage, allowances, deductions, overtime, and payday are written.
- Probation, leave, insurance, change, and termination conditions are understood.
- Both parties signed the same complete document and you received your own copy.
Information checked on 24 August 2026. Procedures, documents, hours, fees, and eligibility can change. Confirm the current rule with the responsible office or provider before acting.
Official sources checked
- Ministry of Employment and Labor: Written employment contract guide
- Ministry of Employment and Labor: Labor Portal
- Hi Korea: Immigration information
Practice this episode
Practice Korean employment contract phrases by hiding the meaning, reading each Korean sentence aloud, and replacing the address, date, amount, symptom, or contract detail with your own information. Save important answers in writing.