This study aims to analyze the economic motivations, working environment, and the gap between institutional regulations and actual conditions in the part-time work experiences of Vietnamese international students in South Korea, and to explore the bac...
This study aims to analyze the economic motivations, working environment, and the gap between institutional regulations and actual conditions in the part-time work experiences of Vietnamese international students in South Korea, and to explore the background factors shaping these experiences. As the number of Vietnamese students in Korea continues to increase, part-time jobs have become an important part of student life. However, there is still insufficient research that specifically examines what types of part-time jobs these students engage in and what kinds of difficulties they encounter in the process. Therefore, this study focuses on analyzing Vietnamese students’ part-time work experiences in relation to economic motivations, working conditions, and the gap between regulations and real-world practices. It also considers the
perceptions and expectations formed prior to studying abroad as a background factor shaping these experiences.
This study was conducted using both surveys and in-depth interviews. The survey was administered to 50 Vietnamese students currently residing in South Korea, collecting data on types of parttime jobs, working hours, income levels, motivations for working, and experienced difficulties. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven Vietnamese students to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and perceptions that could not be fully captured through the survey alone.
The results show that many participants engaged in part-time work due to financial pressures such as living expenses and tuition fees, with a high proportion working in service industries such as restaurants, cafés, and convenience stores. Some participants reported difficulties in balancing work and study due to relatively long working hours, and also mentioned physical fatigue and psychological stress.
The main difficulties encountered in part-time work included problems with Korean language communication, lack of information about working conditions, insufficient understanding of labor rights and regulations, and discrepancies between institutional rules and actual workplace practices. In particular, although some participants had received basic education related to part-time work regulations,
they still lacked a sufficient understanding of how to protect theirrights or respond to problems when they occurred. This suggests that while some participants may understand how to comply with regulations, their understanding of how to respond to labor rights violations is relatively limited.
In addition, the findings show that there is a gap between expectations formed prior to studying abroad and actual experiences. Some students developed expectations about studying and working in Korea through study-abroad agencies, online sources, and personal networks before departure; however, in reality, they experienced a life structure heavily centered on financial pressure and labor. In particular, insufficient Korean language education and limited pre-departure information were perceived as factors influencing their initial adaptation and work experiences.
Overall, part-time work among Vietnamese international students was found to be more than a means of earning income; it constituted an important aspect of their study-abroad experience and adaptation process. The findings suggest that students’ part-time work experiences were shaped by a combination of economic needs, working conditions, and their understanding and perceptions of parttime work–related regulations. Therefore, this study may serve as a useful reference for understanding the part-time work experiencesof Vietnamese international students and for considering ways to improve information provision and support services for international students.
Keywords: Vietnamese international students, part-time work conditions, labor experience, labor