Many dream of striking out on their own in Korea. These three did it.

Appearing on television, modeling, running a business and publishing a book.

For those drawn to life in Korea, these pursuits may sound aspirational. Yet many eventually become discouraged by hurdles such as visa limitations and a lack of information, often concluding that a job at a major company is a more realistic and stable path.

Still, a growing number of foreigners are pursuing these unique paths that many others hesitate to take.

Katharina Haller, from Austria, is one such expat, taking on multiple freelance gigs, including hosting events and starring in TV shows like tvN’s “Naked World History” (2020-) and MBC’s “Welcome, First Time in Korea?” (2017-).

“While I was studying in China, I learned in a class full of Korean students that Korea is the Hollywood of Asia,” said Haller, who later came to Korea as a Global Korea Scholarship recipient at Seoul National University. “Since I always loved being on stage and in front of the camera, I didn’t even hesitate to come to this country.“

“While working at an entertainment company in Korea, I kept dreaming of being on the camera myself, and now I’m living that dream,” Haller added.

To hear more about such journeys of foreign nationals who are self-employed or freelancing, the Korea JoongAng Daily spoke with three expats — Haller, Diana Chan from Britain and Mehtap Oezkan from Switzerland — who are navigating careers here.

Q. What do you do, and how did you end up starting your work?

Chan: I run a subscription-based e-commerce business where I curate and ship boxes filled with K-pop and Korean culture-related products, including food, K-beauty items and books.

I also published a book related to Korean and English, and I collaborate with various brands through my social media channels.

Oezkan: I run my own entertainment company for international content creators while also doing some acting and modeling work. I create content about life here, including skincare-related content and videos featuring my fiancé and me.

I decided to start my own entertainment company because most agencies were not so reliable. I realized many of my creator friends were facing similar issues, so I built my own team.

What was the first major practical obstacle you faced when you started, including visa issues?

Haller: For me, getting the visa was the hardest part.

To become completely freelance in Korea, I needed an F-type visa. With an E-6 entertainment visa, I would have been tied to an agency. So, I really tried my best to get an F-2 visa. Now, I’m on an F-5.

Chan: For me, understanding how to establish a company in Korea was difficult.

The process required so much paperwork, legal help, official seals and proof of funds to run the business. I also had to learn a lot of unfamiliar business-related terms throughout the process.

As for the visa, I needed to get a D-8 entrepreneur visa.

The process was not easy, but it also was not too tricky because I received a lot of guidance from the business program I joined to come to Korea, called the K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC).

What has been your most memorable moment while working in Korea?

Chan: It was when I first met top managers at well-known companies at some events. Through those encounters, I was able to have business meetings with big companies like Kakao Friends and Line.

At that point, I realized I was receiving really valuable opportunities as a business owner. I would never have had the chance to meet such people back in [Britain].

Oezkan: It’s always so fun when I’m invited to many fun events, like the ‘Squid Game’ (2021-25) pop-up in Seongsu and other media-related events. It was a collaboration between Netflix and TikTok, and I was a TikTok ambassador last year, so I got to experience it firsthand. I also really enjoy taking part in fashion shows like Seoul Fashion Week.

Haller: It was when I filmed with Super Junior members. They were superstars when I was in China, and suddenly, I was working with them so closely. That was when I really felt like my dream had come true.

Is earning a degree necessary to do the type of work you do?

Haller: Well, when it comes to work itself, I don’t think a degree is necessary, but as I said, earning an F-type visa is really important if you want to work as a freelancer here, and when you [have a degree], a degree will get you extra points.

In that sense, I’d say earning a degree would add a lot, and because I graduated from one of the top universities here in Korea, it helped me a lot.

Chan: I think it might be of some help, but after all, understanding Korean culture and adapting to it are more important. But if you have a degree, you might earn invisible plus points from other businesspeople you have to deal with.

What is the first thing you think should be improved for foreigners?

Haller: Sometimes I felt like my skills and expertise are often overlooked. Sometimes foreigners are seen only as cultural interpreters.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a master’s degree in business or are exceptionally good at something. In many cases, I’m introduced simply as ‘a woman from Austria,’ while Koreans are introduced as experts in a certain field.

People are often more curious about where we come from than what we have worked so hard to achieve. I really think this needs to change.

Oezkan: The hierarchical structure here.

Even though my company isn’t Korean, we work with Korean firms that often have very traditional hierarchies, which can make discussing video concepts difficult.

Creators usually know what works best for their audience, but Korean companies often want to provide detailed concepts or even full scripts and expect the creators to simply follow.

Have you ever received support from the Korean government or local programs for foreign entrepreneurs or freelancers?

Chan: Yes, the KSGC program itself was a government program. It lasted about three and a half months and included mentors and lectures on how to establish a company in Korea. The program educated participants and supported them through the visa process, corporate registration process and more.

Korea offers many benefits in terms of lectures and practical support on how to open and run a business, such as the Overall Assistance for Start-up Immigration System.

Haller: I personally didn’t receive any support, but there are government programs for freelancers, and I have friends who received a lot of help. I’d say it’s worth trying, but the criteria are very specific and strict, so you cannot miss any of them.

There is also a lot of paperwork and competition involved. Since I thought it would be too difficult to receive the support, I didn’t really apply for any of those programs.

Are you satisfied with your income?

Haller: Honestly, I’m not satisfied with my income, but that’s also because living in Korea is far more expensive than many people expect, especially when thinking long term.

It might seem manageable if you’re only planning a short stay, but if you want to settle down here, housing prices can become a major burden. I hope to live in a nice apartment someday, but the deposit costs here are astronomical.

As a foreign freelancer, even with permanent residency, I still cannot apply for a loan. So having to save up that amount of money on my own is a huge hassle.

Chan: Yeah, I’m currently satisfied with my income, but it took a few years of adjusting to get to this point.

Now, though, I’d say I’m satisfied with what I’m making, especially considering how flexible my work schedule is.

How long do you plan to continue this work? Are you considering trying something else in the future?

Haller: This has always been my dream, so I want to continue doing this for as long as possible.

Maybe in the future, I might add some other business ventures so that I can have a more stable income or additional income. But I always want to keep doing this just because I love it so much.

Chan: Yes, but at the same time, I’m trying to create more opportunities through social media and digital marketing.

So, I began studying digital marketing last year. That led to a lot of changes and pivoting in my current business. I think I’ll continue running my e-commerce business while combining it with digital marketing and social media content.

What advice would you give to people who dream of becoming freelancers or business owners in Korea?

Chan: Get ready for a lot of paperwork and outdated systems.

The administrative system here can feel quite old-fashioned, with paperwork, faxing and many complicated procedures. I had never even used a fax machine in [Britain] before coming to Korea. Things like company seals and having to go through multiple steps at the district office can feel overwhelming at first.

I think people often focus on how convenient life in Korea is and how great the food is, but running a business here is a completely different experience.

Oezkan: Korea can be a great place to build a career because there are always new opportunities here for people willing to put in the effort.

Korea is constantly trying new things, which creates space for different niches. But things don’t just happen like magic. You should try to create your own story and style to succeed as a content creator or a business owner and commit to it.

BY YOON SEUNG-JIN [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]