The importance of the Korean language goes far beyond the apparent clichés Kpop, Kdrama, Kmovie, Kimchi, and K-beauty!
Korean is way more helpful than just diving deep into Hallyu. The language offers vast job potential in a variety of fields.
There was a time when most people fancied learning a new language for pleasure, traveling, and hobbies. Today, in the age of globalization, you can find plenty of career avenues.
Korean isn’t the first choice for career preferences. Most pick because the cultural aspects of Korea fascinate them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Why pick Korean as a career of all choices?
- 16 Super Cool Jobs for Korean learners
- 1. Career as a Korean translator
- 2. Korean interpreter jobs
- 3. Jobs in Korean companies
- 4. Career as a Korean Teacher
- 5. Jobs in MNC
- 6. Export houses and business
- 7. Jobs at the Korean Embassy
- 8. Tourism and hospitality industry
- 9. Aviation industry
- 10. Teach English in South Korea
- 11. Content writer and editors
- 12. You can make money by blogging
- 13. Korean YouTuber
- Final Words
Why pick Korean as a career of all choices?
Like many other languages, Korean is a great language to work in if you want to visit, live, or study in Korea.
Or you might be interested in working as a language professional anywhere.
But what is unique about that? Isn’t the same possible with many other languages you wrote on your blogs?
True. But two reasons make it a unique and awe-inspiring experience — less competition and colorful cultural characteristics.
Higher Korean skills guarantee you have a unique edge in the employment market. That is because there is less competition for specialized and well-paid positions.
Just look around yourself!
How many speak good French, Spanish, and German?
In contrast, how many can hold 5-minute simple conversations with a native Korean speaker?
Most people learn Korean as a beginner because they love K-pop and K-drama. However, very few achieve any meaningful competency level.
As I have observed in my personal interactions with many Korean learners, most choose Korean, like Italian, for cultural aspects. The “Korean wave” has stimulated the number of learners globally.
So, while you’re at it, why not combine it with better career prospects involving Korean?
Your love for BTS and BlackPink may fade away one day, like my seldom listening to Backstreet Boys and Enrique Iglesias’ songs anymore. But, in all this, you might make a career in Korean. I did the same.
An alignment between your interest and job can help you persevere and climb through whatever difficulties it carries.
To sum up, you can turn your passion into an incredible career.
16 Super Cool Jobs for Korean learners
South Korea is one of the world’s economic powerhouses, attracting tourists and international companies annually. It is the sixth-largest exporter and the seventh-largest trading partner of the USA.
The country has slowly opened its doors to the outside world, and Korean companies are on an expansion spree worldwide.
If you are in the mood for adventure, learning Korean and making it your makeup is an excellent idea.
1. Career as a Korean translator
The translator profession is the most sought-after career in Korean. This is due to ample monetary benefits, rising scope, and flexible working hours.
As a translator, you change the written text from the source to the target language by writing, analyzing, and editing.
Becoming a translator takes a few years, but it takes several years to achieve success and authority in financial, medical, legal, technical, and literary fields.
If you are more interested in literature, you can translate literary works from foreign languages.
Plus, there is a growing market for converting self-help, science, research, and management books. Publishing jobs are also available.
Translation is an essential part of most organizations’ business communications. It is helpful for live events, meetings, conferences, and documentation.
Many translation agencies and service providers engage people with good Korean proficiency.
2. Korean interpreter jobs
If you are learning Korean, imagining a career as an interpreter is difficult. But if you dream big and work hard, this dream can come true.
Translators deal with written information, whereas Interpretation focuses on spoken words.
Interpretation is more complex as one has to know what someone is saying in their language. Then, one has to say everything in another language different from the original speaker’s.
A skilled interpreter is always in high demand. They earn pretty well for their expertise, experience, and specialization.
There is only one caveat. You need to be fluent in Korean, like natives, and one more language. There is no place for incompetence, sloppiness, or mediocrity.
3. Jobs in Korean companies
Suppose you’re already working or aim to work for a Korean company. In that case, it will be easier for you to speak Korean as more Korean-speaking employees will be around you.
The big Korean companies such as LG, Samsung, POSCO, Hyundai, Lotte, Kia, and many more have global footprints. Plus, you can work as a bilingual employer in hundreds of mid-sized companies.
As a bonus, your Korean knowledge will also improve at work. This turns into more perks and promotions for you.
No matter what job you apply for, this will be a crucial factor in the recruitment process.
If a company does not hire you in English, they are more likely to value your Korean abilities. Korean skills will not work if you compete with someone who does not speak Korean for a job.
4. Career as a Korean Teacher
Your knowledge of Korean can help you land excellent tutoring and teaching jobs worldwide.
(i) Teaching jobs in Schools
Because of rising demand and bilateral relations, Korean is available in several schools. This includes countries like the USA, Canada, Japan, France, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, to name a few.
In 2020, the Indian government introduced Korean as a foreign language to secondary school students. Many schools teach it as a second or third language or an elective subject.
If you have a good command of the language and meet other requirements, such as at least a bachelor’s degree and B. Ed, you can apply to be a Korean teacher at the school.
There are plenty of job openings in this profession across the world.
(ii) Colleges and private institutes
The number of students taking Korean courses in recent years has soared.
As more people learn Korean, newspaper ads and job portals are often awash with openings for Korean teachers.
The growing demand has resulted in hundreds of language schools and colleges seeking Korean educators to teach Korean.
In short, if you have solid expertise in Korean, teaching skills, and experience, you’ll be in demand.
You may need certification like the TOPIK exam or a university degree.
(iii) Online Korean Tutors
In the last few years, especially after the spread of COVID-19 in early 2020, online language programs have continued to grow and expand.
Because of time constraints, e-learning has become an alternative continuing education method.
You can choose your hours for each session – you can work from anywhere, anytime.
All you need is a laptop, internet, headphones, and a webcam, which everyone has.
5. Jobs in MNC
Many prominent MNCs have interests and clients worldwide, including South Korea.
To deal with Korean businesses and people, they need candidates who can communicate with them. Thus, these MNCs look for Korean language specialists for various work, both in the IT and non-IT sectors.
There are also many openings in the BPO and KPO sectors. This involves inbound, outbound, voice, email, and chat support services across various business verticals.
Organizations have moved many jobs to different countries because of ITES, outsourcing, and offshoring.
This paved the way for learning foreign languages, such as Korean.
6. Export houses and business
Are you interested in automobiles, consumer goods, education, electronics, fashion, semiconductors, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, etc.?
In that case, learning Korean is an effort that deepens your career choices.
Foreign language skills are an added advantage in international sales marketing. A global sales marketer’s job is challenging because it involves dealing with B2B businesses.
You can use your Korean skills to become a persuasive salesperson to negotiate with cross-border businesses.
Not only will you have plenty of chances to travel abroad, but you’ll also Have a good salary. For an international sales manager, it is usually generous, too.
7. Jobs at the Korean Embassy
Among language learners, embassy jobs are the most in-demand. And the reasons are self-evident.
Embassies pay well, and the prestige of working for a foreign embassy like South Korea is always worth cherishing.
There are a variety of jobs at the embassy, consulates, and diplomatic offices. This comprises translators, interpreters, analysts, librarians, human resources, market researchers, social media managers, and various social, finance, and economy departments.
You can also work as a customer support executive, IT professional, administrative specialist in logistics, or Korean instructor at cultural centers like King Sejong Institute.
Not all positions need a Korean ability test score. Still, your Korean skills can strengthen your job prospects.
8. Tourism and hospitality industry
You can find many broad travel and tourism job openings if you speak Korean. There are many options here. Let’s find out more.
(i) Linguistic tour guide
If you are looking for work that allows you to meet new people, travel, and hone your Korean skills, there is no better job than a linguist tour guide.
Korean visitors always look for bilingual guides and translators who speak Korean fluently. A career in the travel and hospitality industry is fun yet challenging.
After learning Korean, you can consider a linguist tour guide.
First, you need to take the test to get a license. Afterward, you can work as a tour guide across the leisure, hotel, travel, and hospitality industries.
(ii) Hotel and travel industry
The tourism and hospitality industries place a high value on multilingualism.
Korean language skills can assist Korean customers (travelers) and provide outstanding and tailor-made services.
The Korean business community and tourists travel widely around the world.
If you wish to work in travel agencies, visitor information centers, support departments, hotels, or resorts in the private and government sectors, Korean can be an asset to your CV.
9. Aviation industry
While English is the common language in the aviation industry, there are still some openings where Korean can boost your chances.
For example, an airline company shuffling between the USA and South Korea would prefer someone who can speak Korean.
Employees in the airline industry respond to emergencies and perform everyday duties to ensure the safety of airline passengers.
Many airline companies seek flight attendants and ground staff who speak Korean.
There are also jobs for customer support, airfare & ticketing staff, pilots, transport officers, logistics, immigration officers, etc.
These are some aviation-specific jobs where Korean learners can reap big.
10. Teach English in South Korea
Do you have a flair for teaching?
Are you a skilled teacher who speaks excellent English and some Korean?
Well, you can work as an English teacher in South Korea, which is an ideal and one of the best destinations for ESL (English as a Second Language).
Under the Korean Ministry of Education, you can apply to various government programs, such as EPIK, TaLK, GEPIK, SMOE, and GO, through the Korean Ministry of Education.
You can also teach at private schools (Hagwon), colleges, and universities.
You get many advantages from a lifetime opportunity to discover Korea and improve your professional experience. And if that’s not all, you can make some good money, too.
To teach English in South Korea, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree in English and certification like TESOL, TEFL, or CELTA. They prefer Native English speakers, though Indians are also eligible to apply.
The salary varies from 1,800 to 3,000 USD monthly according to your profile, location, and educational organization. You also get perks depending on the contract and performance.
You can work as an ESL teacher there without speaking Korean, but your experience will differ.
Your Korean language ability can make your stay more comfortable, help you interact more authentically with natives, and increase your chances of getting hired.
11. Content writer and editors
Being a writer in the ever-growing digital world is never out of style. This has led to content writers being in demand, whether at startups or large multinational companies.
Suppose you’re an expert in the Korean language, a creative thinker, and have fantastic writing skills.
In that case, you have infinite career opportunities after learning Korean.
The demand for Korean writers has increased manifold thanks to recent technological advancements and the increase of new websites.
Most companies that deal with South Korean or Korean products and services are looking for content writers and editors fluent in Korean.
As a Korean writer, your job is to create unique content within deadlines after proper research. Sometimes, you rewrite the existing one to improve the flow, style, quality, and points.
You can either work as a full-time employee or work from home as a freelance writer.
12. You can make money by blogging
Do you have a knack for writing and a good understanding of Korea and its associated things?
In that situation, you can make your career as a freelancer blogger.
You have many topics, from Korean teaching and lifestyle to food and Hallyu to travel and merchandise coverage.
There are three obvious benefits of blogging.
First, you’ll do what you love: creating content related to Korea and the Korean language.
Second, this will enable you to work from anywhere, anytime, and how you wish.
Finally, you can make good money.
You can earn money by placing advertisements on your blog, sponsored reviews, and affiliate links. The list is pretty endless! You can also sell courses and promote 3rd party products and services.
As a Korean language professional, the blog allows you to express your passion for this language and earn some cash.
But as with everything, the road toward success is an uphill task.
You need a large audience and unique, high-quality content. For bloggers, seeing any great returns can take two to three years.
But once you achieve that, a world of vivid opportunities opens up.
13. Korean YouTuber
Having a YouTube channel is another option for those who aren’t camera-shy.
YouTube has become an unquestioned king of online video. It allows people worldwide to express their creativity and make money by creating media content.
But how to make money?
As a Korean YouTuber, you can teach Korean to your audience and cover various cultural features of Korea. You can also make “how-to” and tutorial videos and sell products or services.
You can also make money through advertisements, promotions, and affiliate marketing.
The money you can make per video depends on many factors, like the total number of views and Google ads displayed throughout the videos.
To make this happen, you need huge visitors and need to add regular videos. You also need patience, as success doesn’t come quickly because of immense competition.
Start as part-time work, and once you get a meaningful return, you can consider a full-time career.
Final Words
Studying a new language in this ever-growing globalized market can increase your odds of landing profitable jobs. This is more beneficial if it is a less-talked East Asia language like Korean.
If you know it will, you will open the door to authentic interaction and connection and thoroughly enjoy yourself.
Do you plan to live in Korea, work as a language expert, or combine your existing academic skills and experience with the Korean language?
Whatever may be your reason. It is worth investing your time in studying Korean.
The career scope required by Koreans is immense and can open a world of successful job opportunities.
Now that you know the real benefit of learning Korean, it is the best time to do it.
You can leave a comment if you have questions or you would like to add anything to the topic.
Hi I’m 21 and my grad background is HR but I’m really not interested in it and I want to build a career as a Korean interpreter and translator. Is it too late to start learning? And is it difficult to find job opportunities for the same?
Thanks
It’s never too late to learn a new language. You can find job opportunities depending on your engagement with the language and long-term planning.
Hello sir, Actually this time I’m learning Korean but when I am searching Korean-related jobs in MNC then all companies are asking for experience. What can we do in this situation becoz in this case, we have freshers? So how can be we get the job?
Most good jobs require some experience, and this is true for all languages and fields. You can look for entry-level employment in any organization and, at the same time, improve your skills by achieving an advanced level in Korean.
Yes, you can get admission in South Korea. But there are two caveats: (i) You have to repeat your bachelor program, (ii) And there are only 2-3 Indian Universities that offer BA in Korean through an entrance test. If you want to make a career in Korean, you can also learn through private institutes and take the TOPIK exam to gain international certification.
Can you tell me the procedure for becoming a professional korean translator and also for interpreter!! ( As an Indian )
Achieved advanced proficiency like TOPIK level 1 or Masters in Korean, then you can explore translation jobs. With experience, more fluency, and confidence, you can work as a Korean interpreter.
If I get a job in South Korea with B.A. and M.A. in Korean language or I find a job in South Korea’s entertainment companies with this?
The Korean language alone is not enough to get a job in Korea. You need other skills/qualifications and some relevant experience.
I am completed my bachelor’s degree in B.A. program and now I want to M.A. in Korean Language and Literature. Is it a good idea? The Korean Language is difficult? Because I don’t know anything about Korean language.
You can’t do a Master’s in Korean directly. For that, you need a BA in Korean or knowledge similar to that to crack the entrance test. While Korean is a complex language, if you have time, patience, and interest, you can surely achieve advanced skills and make a career.
Sir, you have explained everything very well, I am thinking of doing BA in the Korean language, but questions like – Is it sufficient to get a good job? Should I do anything else apart from this? Do I have a job guarantee? It confused me, but I’m still going for it, and your information is giving me confidence about my future career thank you so much.
You can very well do a BA in Korean, and that can help you help you get a job related to that. However, considering the number of Korean learners out there these days, it would be better to diversify your career path by combining any other field.
Can I get a job as a Korean hair stylish dresser?
Don’t know about that.
Sir, Can I do a Korean language teacher job with these degrees, BA or MA? Which type of skills are needed? Please reply sir. Is a bachelor’s in Korean a good career for us?
Yes, you can, but it will be better to aim for MA, if possible. It will help if you have a knack for teaching ability and Korean skills to make a career as a Korean educator. If you wish to work in school, some institutions might ask for a B.Ed degree.
Sir, I want to take MSc in Clinical Oncology in Korea. Can I get a job there if I study this? Which is the best college to study it?
I am not sure about the best College for aforementioned field. You can do some research.
I’m currently pursuing masters in English literature and completed my graduation in the same subject, I’m learning Korean on my own. What are the range of jobs I should focus onto? I’m confused about what I want to do but I want to work in S.Korea. Any advice for me?
For foreigners, especially from English-speaking countries, Teaching English as a foreign language is an appropriate opportunity. There ae many other jobs but you need job offers and sponsorship, which isn’t easy.
Hello sir, currently I am in B.COM 3rd year the things is, can I get a job after my bachelor’s degree with Korean language skills or I have to have master’s degree.
I want to increase my Korean language skills. Is that ok if I can really get a job after my bachelor’s degree?
You can get a job without a masters if your Korean language skills are really good. In most cases, you require authentic certification that certifies your language ability.
Hi there,
Can i get any job in Korea after complete a korean language course there? If yes, how long has the course to be? Maybe after korean course to teach english possible as a non-native english speaker? (Me: come from Hungary-EU, 34 yo, with master degree in law, 3 year legal work experience)
If you are a native English speaker, you can look for jobs for ESL (English as second language). However, you don’t necessarily need to stay there, you can even apply from anywhere.