Certificate of Employment in Korea (재직증명서) in English: What It Includes and How to Make One
How a Korean certificate of employment (재직증명서) works, what an English version usually contains for visas, study abroad and banks, and a free form that prints English-only or Korean-English.
A certificate of employment (재직증명서, jaejik jeungmyeongseo) is a short letter from a Korean employer confirming that you currently work there. Embassies, overseas universities, landlords and banks often ask for an English version. In Korea the employer issues it; you cannot issue it to yourself.
What the law says
- If a worker asks, the employer must promptly issue a truthful certificate about the period of employment, type of work, position, wages and other necessary matters, including after the worker leaves (Labor Standards Act, Article 39, paragraph 1).
- The certificate may contain only the items the worker asked for (Article 39, paragraph 2). Salary or reason for leaving should not appear unless you request them.
- Workers who worked 30 days or more in a row can request it, within 3 years after leaving (Enforcement Decree, Article 19).
What an English certificate usually contains
| Section | Typical items |
|---|---|
| Company | Company name and address in Korean and English, business registration number, phone, representative (CEO) |
| Employee | Name in Korean and as on the passport, date of birth (optional), employee ID (optional), department, position, employment type, date of hire |
| Work | Main duties (optional), annual salary (only if requested) |
| Purpose | For example: visa application, university admission, bank account |
| Issue | Certificate number (optional), addressee or “To Whom It May Concern”, date of issue, issuer, company seal or signature, contact for verification |
Make one for free
Our English certificate of employment form has exactly these fields. You choose the layout: Korean–English side by side or an English-only letter starting “To Whom It May Concern”. The screen is in Korean with English labels in brackets, and nothing you type is uploaded. Save as PDF, Hangul (HWPX) or Word (DOCX).
Open the certificate of employment form →
Tips
- Spell your name exactly as on your passport.
- Use the company’s registered English name and an English-format address (building number, road name, district, city, Republic of Korea).
- If you already left the company, ask for a certificate of career (경력증명서) instead.
FAQ
Does my employer in Korea have to issue a certificate of employment?
Under Article 39 of the Labor Standards Act, if a worker asks, the employer must promptly issue a truthful certificate about the period of employment, type of work, position, wages and other necessary matters, even after the worker has left. The Enforcement Decree (Article 19) limits this to workers who worked 30 days or more in a row, and to requests made within 3 years after leaving.
Can the certificate show my salary?
Only if you ask for it. Article 39(2) says the certificate may contain only the items the worker requested. Our form leaves the salary line out unless you fill it in.
Is an English certificate enough for a visa or university?
Requirements differ by embassy, school and bank. Some accept the employer’s English letter as is; others ask for a notarized translation or an apostille. Check the receiving institution’s list first.
Related guides
- Certificate of Career in Korea (경력증명서) in English: Proving Past Work Experience
- Korean Employment Contract (근로계약서) in English: Terms Your Employer Must Put in Writing
Legal sources: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center (law.go.kr), checked October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the current text for important matters.
What every billing document should show
- Your business name, address and tax ID (VAT, GST, ABN or EIN where required)
- The customer’s name and address
- A unique, sequential number and the issue date
- Clear line items with quantity, unit price and amount
- Tax shown separately, and the total in a stated currency
Tax rules differ by country. If you are VAT- or GST-registered, your tax authority may require extra details on invoices (for example the tax rate per line and the customer’s VAT number for business sales).
Last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.