Legal information

Yes, but only for specific reasons and only a limited number of times. On an E-9 visa you cannot simply quit and pick a new company. A change (사업장 변경) is allowed when the contract ends or is terminated, or when the problem is the employer's fault. Changes caused by the employer's fault do not use up your limit.

When is a change allowed?

The law gives three kinds of reasons.

• The contract ends. Your employer ends the contract during its term, or refuses to renew it when it expires. In practice, most changes start this way, often when both sides agree to end the contract.
• It is not your fault. The business closes or suspends work, the employer loses the right to hire foreign workers, the housing provided breaks the rules, or the employer violates working conditions or treats you unfairly, so that you cannot reasonably keep working there.
• Other reasons set by government decree.

Wanting higher pay at another company is not, by itself, one of these reasons.

How many times can I change?

So if your employer stopped paying wages or the dormitory was unsafe, that change should not reduce your remaining number. Make sure the job center (고용센터) records it as an employer-fault change. Ask them directly, and keep a copy of what you submit.

What are the deadlines?

Two deadlines decide whether you can stay in Korea.

1. Apply within 1 month after your contract with the old employer ends. 2. Get permission to work at the new workplace (근무처 변경허가) within 3 months after you apply.

If you miss either one, you are required to leave Korea. The clock stops while you cannot apply because of a work injury, illness, pregnancy or childbirth, and starts again when that reason ends. Keep medical papers that show the dates.

How do I apply?

Go to the job center for the area where you work. Bring:

• your alien registration card (외국인등록증) and passport
• your employment contract (근로계약서)
• proof of the reason: a termination notice, payslips showing missing wages, photos of the housing, messages from the employer, or a copy of a wage complaint you filed

The job center can introduce you to employers who are looking for workers. Changes are usually limited to certain regions and industries, and the government said in 2026 that it was preparing changes to this system. Ask the job center which rules apply to you on the day you apply.

What if my employer will not let me go?

If the reason is the employer's fault, you do not need the employer's agreement. You need evidence. Unpaid wages are the clearest case: file a wage complaint (진정) with the regional labor office and use the result at the job center. For violence, threats or verbal abuse, write down dates and keep recordings or witnesses.

What should I avoid?

• Do not just stop going to work. The employer can report that you left (이탈), and that can put your stay in Korea at risk.
• Do not sign a resignation letter you do not understand. A letter saying you quit for personal reasons can make an employer-fault case harder to prove.
• Do not wait. One month passes quickly, especially if you are also looking for housing.

Next step

If you are not sure whether your reason counts as the employer's fault, talk to a lawyer before you sign anything or leave the job. Consultations are paid; when you contact us, a staff member will call you back and explain the fee.

법무법인 대한중앙
1533-7377

Rules applied

Act on the Employment of Foreign Workers (외국인근로자의 고용 등에 관한 법률) Article 25 (reasons, 1-month and 3-month deadlines, limits of 3 and 2 changes, employer-fault changes not counted), Articles 18 and 18-2 (3-year period and extension).

This is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different.