How to write a CV for South Korea (이력서)
Employers in South Korea usually expect a CV on A4 paper, most recent experience first. Length: 1–2 pages. A photo and the date of birth are usually included, but optional. Employers there usually leave out marital status.
Build a CV for South KoreaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
At a glance
| What it is called | 이력서 (usually written in Korean or English) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1–2 pages |
| Paper size | A4 |
| Layout | Tabular, dates in a left column |
| Order | Most recent first |
| Dates | Month and year (e.g. Mar 2023) |
| Photo | Usually included |
| Date of birth | Usually included |
| Nationality | Optional |
| Marital status | Usually left out |
| Right to work / visa status | Optional |
| Military service | Usually included |
| References | “References available on request” is fine |
| Explain gaps longer than | 6 months |
Key facts
- South Korea's Fair Hiring Procedure Act bars employers from asking applicants for job-unrelated information such as appearance, height, weight, birthplace, marital status, assets, or family members' education and occupation. Source: law.go.kr
Facts checked 2026-10-15.
How South Korea compares with nearby countries
Unlike China, CVs in South Korea are written in Korean or English.
Unlike Japan, CVs in South Korea usually include a photo, usually give the date of birth and say references are available on request.
North Korea follows the same conventions, so one CV can serve both if the language fits.
| Country | Called | Photo | Date of birth | Length | Paper | Usual language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| North Korea | 이력서 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Korean |
| China | 个人简历 | Usually included | Usually included | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Japan | 職務経歴書 | Optional | Optional | 1–3 pages | A4 | Japanese |
| Taiwan | 履歷表 | Usually included | Optional | 1–2 pages | A4 | Chinese |
| Singapore | Curriculum Vitae | Optional | Usually left out | 2 pages | A4 | English |
| United Arab Emirates | Curriculum Vitae | Expected | Usually included | 2–3 pages | A4 | English |
Tips for South Korea
- The Fair Hiring Procedure Act bars employers with 30+ staff from requesting appearance, birthplace, marital status or family details unless the job needs them; a photo is still often attached, while public institutions use “blind hiring” without one.
- Men usually state military service.
- A self-introduction (자기소개서) is usually a separate document.
South Korea follows the same CV conventions as 1 other country in the South Korea guide.
Section headings in Korean
If you write the CV in Korean, these are the usual headings:
| English | Korean |
|---|---|
| Profile | 경력 요약 |
| Experience | 경력사항 |
| Education | 학력사항 |
| Skills | 보유 기술 |
| Languages | 어학 능력 |
| Licences & certifications | 자격사항 |
| References | 추천인 |
Guides by job
Guides for every other field, from hospitality to aviation, are in the jobs index.
Questions
What is a CV called in South Korea?
A CV in South Korea is usually titled “이력서”. It covers the same ground as an English CV, with experience, education, skills and languages, but follows local habits: photo commonly included, 1–2 pages, and the most recent role first. Write it in Korean unless the job advert is in English. CV Atlas uses the title “이력서” and Korean headings when the CV language matches the country.
Do I put a photo on my CV in South Korea?
Usually, yes. A professional photo is common on a CV in South Korea, although it is rarely required and many employers accept CVs without one. If you include it, use a recent head-and-shoulders picture with a plain, light background and business clothing, placed in the header next to your name. Leave it out if the job advert or an online application form says not to send one.
How long should a CV be in South Korea?
For a CV in South Korea, aim for 1–2 pages. Describe recent roles in detail and summarise older ones in a line or two, so the whole CV is quick to scan. Set the document to A4 (210 × 297 mm) paper, the standard size in South Korea. Academic and senior clinical CVs are the exception: they list publications, research, teaching and courses in full and can run longer.
Should I put my date of birth on my CV in South Korea?
Usually, yes. A date of birth is commonly included in the personal details of a CV in South Korea. Put these details in the header or a short personal-details block under your name. Your nationality is optional. Leave out your marital status. Include only what you are comfortable sharing. The Fair Hiring Procedure Act bars employers with 30+ staff from requesting appearance, birthplace, marital status or family details unless the job needs them; a photo is still often attached, while public institutions use “blind hiring” without one.
Do I need references on my CV in South Korea?
Not in full. On a CV for South Korea it is normal to write “References available on request” and keep a separate list of two referees, usually recent managers, with their contact details. Send that list when an employer asks, which is usually after an interview. Ask your referees first so they expect the call.
Should I put my visa status on my CV in South Korea?
Only if it matters for the job. CVs in South Korea usually don’t mention immigration status, so add a short line such as “Requires visa sponsorship” or “Holds a work permit” only if you need sponsorship or the advert asks. Citizens and permanent residents can leave it out entirely. Online application forms often ask about the right to work directly, so you can answer it there.
What language should my CV be in for South Korea?
Follow the language of the job advert. For most jobs in South Korea that means Korean, and CV Atlas sets the headings in Korean by default. If the advert is in English or the employer works internationally, an English CV is usually accepted; keep one language throughout and have a native speaker check it. You can switch the CV language in CV Atlas at any time; the headings and dates change, but write your own entries in the same language.
What should a CV for South Korea include?
A CV for South Korea is usually 1–2 pages on A4 paper, written in Korean unless the advert says otherwise, with your most recent role first. Expect usually a professional photo, usually your date of birth, and “References available on request” at the end. Start with a short profile, then experience, education, skills and languages. CV Atlas applies these rules when you choose South Korea, and the questions below explain each one.
What paper size should my CV be for South Korea?
A4 (210 × 297 mm). A4 is the standard paper size in South Korea, so set your CV to A4 before you export it. US Letter is slightly shorter and wider, and a Letter-sized PDF printed on A4 leaves an uneven gap at the bottom of each page, which looks careless on paper. CV Atlas sets A4 automatically for this country, and you can change the paper size in the design options.
Should I put my nationality on my CV in South Korea?
It’s optional. Some CVs in South Korea list nationality in the personal details and many leave it out. Add it if it helps, for example if you already hold the right to work there or the job advert asks for it. Otherwise the space is better used for your experience and skills. Online application forms often ask about nationality or the right to work separately.
Should I put my marital status on my CV in South Korea?
No. Leave your marital status off a CV for South Korea. Family details say nothing about how you do the job, and CVs there normally leave them out. Keep the personal details to your name, contact details and, where it matters, your right to work. The same applies to children and other dependants.
Should I put my gender on my CV in South Korea?
No. Don’t state your gender on a CV for South Korea. It is not relevant to the job, and CVs there normally leave it out. Your name, job title and contact details are enough at the top of the CV, followed straight away by your profile and experience. If an application form asks for it, answer there rather than on the CV.
Do I need my full address on my CV in South Korea?
Just your city and country. A CV for South Korea needs only your city, country, phone number and email, not your full street address. That is enough for recruiters to see where you are based and whether you would need to relocate, and it keeps your home address off a document that may be shared widely. Employers ask for your full address later, when they make an offer or prepare a contract.
Should I put my driving licence on my CV in South Korea?
Only if the job needs it. On a CV for South Korea, mention a driving licence when the role involves driving, travel between sites or field work, or when the job advert asks for one. For office jobs it is optional, and one short line in your skills or personal details is enough. For driving jobs, give the licence category and any professional qualifications that go with it.
How should I write dates on a CV in South Korea?
Use month and year, newest first. On a CV for South Korea, write each role’s dates as month and year, for example “March 2021 to present”, and list your most recent job first. Keep the same format throughout, and avoid giving years only, which can hide gaps and makes recruiters ask questions. Exact days are not needed for jobs or studies.
How do I explain a gap on my CV in South Korea?
Explain any gap longer than six months. Recruiters in South Korea usually expect a longer break to be accounted for, so add a short line in your timeline, such as “Career break: caring for a family member” or “Relocation and language study”. Be brief and honest, and keep the details for the interview. The CV Atlas readiness check points out gaps of more than six months in your work history, so you can add a line before you send the CV.
Do I sign my CV in South Korea?
No. CVs in South Korea are not signed. End the CV with your last section, such as skills, languages or references, with no signature, date or place line. A signature adds nothing to a document that is sent online, and recruiters there don’t expect to see one. If an application form asks you to sign a declaration, do it on the form itself.
Should I put military service on my CV in South Korea?
Yes, if you served. CVs in South Korea often mention completed military or civilian service, with its dates, in the personal details or the experience section. Employers there are used to seeing it, and it explains that period in your timeline. Add any responsibilities from your service that relate to the job. Men usually state military service.
Should I put hobbies and interests on my CV in South Korea?
Only if they add something. Interests are optional on a CV in South Korea, and many recruiters skip them. Include one short line only when an interest shows a skill or commitment that fits the job, such as volunteering, coaching or a relevant club, and leave out generic ones like reading or travel. If space is tight, interests are the first section to cut.
Start your CV for South KoreaYour first CV is free. The builder applies these rules and checks your CV before you download it.
Guidance checked October 2026; facts checked 2026-10-15. General information for most employers, not legal or immigration advice. A job advert’s own instructions always come first. CV Atlas is not affiliated with any regulator or professional body named.