Charity & NGO Support Internships in Seoul

South Korea Internship Abroad Law & Human Rights Support

South Korea is a well-developed modern democracy, with a universal health care system and National Pension Service. Having invested significantly in education, the population has high levels of literacy, education, and a highly skilled workforce. Despite advantages, South Korean society is not without its challenges. Charity & NGO Support internships provide insight into this sector and how organizations strive to support target communities.

Internship Highlights:

Gain insight into societal challenges faced and being addressed within a unique South Korean context.
Learn about the logistical, financial, and administrative requirements of charity and/or NGO organizations.
Enhance your understanding of the daily operations and practical activities required of professionals working within this field.

Type of host organizations:

NGOs / charity organizations / foundations
Community support centers
Youth centers and academic institutions

Apply for free

On this page:

Arrival & Orientation

Accommodation & Meals

Weekends & Travel

Country Info

Gain academic or course credit

Fully hosted experience from $6029

Includes accommodation

Start dates every Monday

Minimum duration 8 weeks, up to 12 weeks maximum

Explore and enjoy all the best of K-Culture

Get job-ready with our Experiential Learning Curriculum

Suitable for English language speakers

Eligibility requirement

Charity & NGO Support internships in Seoul are suitable for students and recent graduates (between the ages of 18-28) with at least one year of relevant college/university study in a related field, such as Law, Social Work, Human Rights, International Relations, Political Science, etc.

Language requirements

This internship is conducted in English. However, interns should expect that a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. We encourage all interns to take advantage of Korean language lessons, which can be taken as a two-week course prior to the internship start date.

Associated career paths

Domestic and International Advocacy, Human Rights Lawyer, Social Worker, Fundraiser, Humanitarian Service Worker, Educator, Policy Developer, Public Health Worker, Diplomat, Foreign Affairs Worker, Journalist, Campaign Manager, Public Sector Worker, Political Advisor, Program Educator, Volunteer Coordinator, Administrator

Internship details

South Korea is a well-developed modern democracy but still has various societal challenges, such as old-age poverty, low birth rate, rising cost of living, and mental health pressures for the working population. Charity & NGO Support internships provide scope to learn more about how various organizations strive to support communities with diverse priorities. Come prepared to develop deeper cultural intelligence and perspective, as you challenge yourself within a meaningful sector.

This is an in-country internship, with accommodation included. You can explore remote Law & Human Rights Support internships, if you are looking for an internship program that you can undertake at home.

Practical activities for Charity & NGO Support internships in Seoul can be related to assistance with donations, fundraising efforts, awareness campaigns, translations, training, education, reporting, digital media, administration, and engaging content creation. A broad range of skills can be utilized, whether your strengths are related to finance, business, marketing, design, education, or other disciplines.

Korean language proficiency is not a requirement to join. However, interns should expect that a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. Interns should be prepared for the very natural and normal frustration of not always understanding what is being said around them. Come prepared and willing to surmount a language barrier (and ask for help when needed), as opposed to being intimidated by it. We encourage all interns to take advantage of Korean language lessons, which must be coordinated in advance, upon request.

In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor(s) understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.

Understand that individual internship experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability.

Typical Schedule

Approx. Monday to Friday, 8 hours. Business hours in South Korea are usually from 9am to 6pm, with an hour break for lunch. Specific/alternative schedule requirements for an internship may be communicated in advance, alongside the assigned placement details.

Career Benefits

Charity & NGO Support interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:

Organizing and/or teaching workshops and English lessons.
Supporting logistical and administrative operations, including fundraising, reporting, and awareness campaigns.
Contributing to generate content for social media platforms, newsletters, or other digital communications.
Development of outreach strategies for seeking grants, funding, and other support.

Professional development opportunities:

Learn about the priorities and challenges that organizations in Seoul address to create value within communities.
Connect with professionals who can provide industry and cultural insights.
Increase your practical understanding of logistical and administrative requirements for NGOs and/or non profit organizations.
Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.

Are you eligible for this internship?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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South Korea photo gallery

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Academic credit available for all internships

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.

Learn about course credit

Program fees

It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.

Duration	Program Fee (USD)
8 weeks	$6,029 Equivalent to $107 /day
10 weeks	$6,919 Equivalent to $98 /day
12 weeks	$8,009 Equivalent to $95 /day

Apply for free

Airport pick-up
Accommodation
24/7 in-country support
Program orientation
Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
Sourcing and securing your internship placement
Personalization of your internship plan
Coaching from your supervisor
Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
Academic credit facilitation
International reference letter
Certificate of Internship Completion

All meals
All in-country transportation
Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.

A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
It is important to note that internships in South Korea do not include meals and interns should budget to cover this Independently.
Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
Terms and Conditions apply.

Free-time experiences & tours in Seoul

Take your internship to the next level with Intern Abroad HQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Seoul! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.

Online Korean Language Lessons (Group)

Gain some basic Korean language skills prior to your internship abroad - focus on simple communication skills.

$230

Online Korean Language Lessons (Private)

Gain some basic Korean language skills prior to your internship abroad - focus on simple communication skills.

$672

View all experiences

Weekends and travel

Seoul is an amazing megacity with much to offer for tourism and leisure activities!

Nature lovers can join the locals for hikes. All four of the city’s guardian mountains (Bukaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan) have hiking routes which can be accessed by following the remains of the Seoul City Wall.
The Namsan Tower, aka N Seoul Tower, is located in the heart of Seoul. You can get there by cable car, bus or on foot. The tower’s observatory offers a 360° view of the city and offers some spectacular views.
HIstory fans can visit all five palaces in Seoul (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace) and have a glimpse into the lives of Korean royalty. The various palaces offer exciting adventures in secret gardens, elegant greenhouses, majestic throne halls, stone bridge ponds and stunning Joseon architecture. Bukchon Hanok Village, with many restored traditional Korean houses (called hanoks) - that are around 600 years old - is another popular destination for tourists.
For those who appreciate architecture and art, check out the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park, Seoul City Hall, and the Laeum Samsung Museum of Art.
Seoul is a shopper’s paradise! Shop around Insadong for Korean art, traditional paper products, homewares and antiques. Don’t miss Ssamziegil, a multi-storey shopping complex with more than 70 shops, galleries and cafés. Shopping in the Gangnam district is legendary - don’t miss Apgujeong Rodeo Street, Cheongdam Fashion Street and the massive underground COEX shopping mall, which includes an innovative aquarium and kimchi museum.
Food connoisseurs must visit the famous Gwangjang market for tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), Japchae (glass noodle stir fry), mandu (dumplings) and Janchi Guksu (warm noodle soup). Keep an eye out for the Cho Yonsoon knife-cut noodle shop. Myeongdong and Insadong are also great places to explore for food.

Arrival and Orientation

Internships in Seoul, South Korea, begin every Monday of the year. Exceptions to this schedule may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid holiday disruptions, or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 8 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. Airport pick-up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee.

The accommodation is covered from the Saturday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Saturday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.

The typical port of entry is the Incheon International Airport (ICN). Airport pick up is provided from this airport only. Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation. If you are planning to spend time independently in South Korea prior to the internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics.

Prior to your internship start date, the local coordinators in Seoul will contact you concerning a pre-departure orientation. They will provide guidelines and assist with the facilitation of your arrival plans. The internship placement orientation takes place on your Monday start date.

The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability. Return transportation to the airport is not included in the internship program fee but local coordinators can assist you to make arrangements, upon request.

Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.

Check what’s required to visit South Korea

Check out the widget below to find out what the visa requirements are for South Korea, based on your country of residence.

Accommodation and WiFi

All interns in Seoul are accommodated with a private non-smoking bedroom and bathroom, in a residence apartment, located within central Seoul. The rooms have WiFi, cable TV, air conditioning, heating, a desk, and a simple kitchenette (with induction hobs and a washing machine). Towels, hairdryers, and other personal hygiene items are not provided, so guests must bring these according to their own needs.

Please note that interns can check in to their accommodation from 3pm onwards. Early check-ins are not possible. Depending on the accommodation, the check-out time is normally between 11am to 12pm - please check with the accommodation upon arrival to ensure that you have the correct check-out time.

Outside of the accommodation, access to WiFi is generally available. Seoul is one of the most well connected cities in the world, offering free Wifi connection in major public streets, parks, markets and public buildings (such as libraries), as well as on every public bus.

Due to the layout of Seoul, accommodation assignments are always made in consideration of the internship placement location, making efforts to ensure that any commute time to the placement is as convenient as possible. Nevertheless, it is wise to anticipate an average commute time to and from the internship placement of up to 60 minutes (each way). Internship placements can be based in Seoul or on the major industrial outskirts of Seoul Capital Area. Seoul has an extensive network of public transportation and one of the world’s largest urban railway networks. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway has consistently voted as one of the best in the world for its ease of use, cleanliness, and frequency of service. Interns should plan on budgeting approximately US$20 per week for public transportation costs.

Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one option for accommodation, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities, to what is shown.

Meals

Internships in South Korea do not include meals. The program accommodation includes a simple kitchenette. Supermarkets are easily accessible.

There are a wide variety of options available, catering to different budgets and tastes. From delicious street food to fast food joints, casual local restaurants to mid-range dining options, and even high-end luxury restaurants - there is something to suit every palate and budget.

Convenience stores are plentiful and supermarkets are scattered throughout the country, providing a range of ready-to-eat meals (like dosirak box meals), snacks, and groceries at affordable prices. These options can be a great choice for interns on a tight budget or those looking for a quick and convenient meal.

South Korea has an amazing street food culture, so don’t forget to visit places like Gwangjang Market (made famous by Netflix), Myeongdong Street Food Alley and Dongdaemun Night Market, where you can try kimbap (sesame-oil-flavored rice roll with fillings wrapped in seaweed), mandu (dumplings), tornado potato and tteokbokki (rice cakes smothered in spicy gochujang sauce)!

The cost of food and dining in South Korea can vary widely depending on where you choose to dine. The average price range for street food or fast food is between US$2 - US$5. Casual dining restaurants will cost around US$5 - US$15 and you can expect to pay US$30 and above at fine dining and luxury restaurants. A weekly budget of US$250 is recommended for meals and considered to be sufficient. However, bear in mind that your weekly spending budget will be determined by your own personal spending habits and lifestyle choices, so please take this into consideration and plan accordingly.

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Essential country information

Capital	Seoul
Population	51.63 million
Languages	Korean
Currency	South Korean Won (KRW)
Time zone	UTC+09:00

Weather and climate:

South Korea is known for its four distinct seasons: the winter season is typically cold and dry, while summer is generally hot and humid with a lot of rainfall. Spring and autumn are mostly dry and clear. The average annual temperature is about 61°F (13°C ). The coldest month is January with an average of about 29°F (-2°C) and the hottest month is August with average temperatures sitting around 81°F (26°C). The most pleasant seasons for most people in the city are spring and autumn. Most of Seoul’s precipitation falls in the summer period between June and September, as a part of the East Asian monsoon season.