Freelancing in Korea: What You Actually Need to Know About Invoices, the 3.3% Tax, and Bank Statements
Last winter, I met a designer in Hongdae who had been freelancing for eight months without knowing she needed to keep her bank statements organized for tax season. She'd been receiving payments with "3.3% deducted" in the transaction notes but had no idea what that meant or whether she needed to do anything about it. When May rolled around and someone mentioned comprehensive income tax filing, she panicked. If you're freelancing in Korea—or thinking about starting—you've probably heard about the mysterious "3.3%" that gets deducted from your payments. You might wonder whether you need to issue invoices, how to prove your income, or what role your bank statements actually play. The Korean system for freelance work is straightforward once you understand it, but it operates differently from employment, and the terminology can feel confusing at first. This guide walks through the practical side of freelancing in Korea: what the 3.3% withholding t...