Freelance in South Korea

Freelance in South Korea: how freelancers pay taxes, get paid by foreign clients and find work, and which skills are in demand. Hire or offer services on Kits.

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The freelance market in South Korea

South Korea has a large freelance market in design, development, webtoons, video and translation. Domestic platforms dominate, and Korean content is in demand worldwide.

Taxes and legal status

When a Korean business pays a freelancer, it withholds 3.3% (3% income tax and 0.3% local tax). Freelancers file a comprehensive income tax return every May, often getting a refund or paying extra depending on expenses. Freelancers with larger income may need business registration and must charge VAT.

This is general information as of 2026, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change, so check them with the tax authority or a local accountant before you register.

Getting paid

Local payments use bank transfers and KakaoPay. Foreign clients pay through PayPal, Wise or SWIFT.

bank transfers
KakaoPay
PayPal
Wise

Skills in demand

webtoon and illustration
video editing for YouTube
software development
UI/UX design
translation between Korean and English
K-beauty and K-pop marketing

Tips for freelancers in South Korea

File in May to get back excess withholding.
Korean-English localization of content is a growing niche.
Keep receipts for business expenses.

Hiring a freelancer from South Korea

Local time in South Korea is UTC+9, so agree in advance on the hours when you are both available for calls. Describe the task, the deadline and the budget in your first message, ask for examples of similar work, and fix what counts as done before work starts. If the work is for a local audience, a freelancer who knows the language and the market will save you rewrites.

Kits for freelancers in South Korea

Kits is an international freelance marketplace that is not tied to one country. Freelancers in South Korea can publish services with a portfolio and a clear price, or respond to clients' jobs, and talk to clients in the built-in chat. The first listing on each account is free, and the site works in nine languages, from English and Spanish to Russian, Turkish and Georgian.

Popular categories

All categories

Design Development & IT Writing & Translation Marketing & SMM Video & Animation Business Music & Audio

Frequently asked questions

Help center

How are freelancers taxed in South Korea?

Clients usually withhold 3.3% from freelancer payments, and freelancers settle their income tax in the May filing. Rules change, so check the current rates with the tax authority or an accountant before you register.

How do freelancers in South Korea get paid by foreign clients?

The usual options are bank transfers, KakaoPay, PayPal and Wise. Which one suits you depends on the client's country, the fees and how fast you need the money.

Which freelance skills are in demand in South Korea?

webtoon and illustration, video editing for YouTube, software development, UI/UX design, translation between Korean and English and K-beauty and K-pop marketing.

Can I find a freelancer in South Korea on Kits?

Yes. Kits is open to clients and freelancers from any country. Search the catalogue or post a job, compare portfolios and reviews, and agree on the details in the chat.