Whenever the conversation turns to Australia or Canada, the same question tends to come up: "Wait, doesn't the US have a working holiday visa too?"
A lot of people want to spend a few months in the US, working and traveling a bit, without committing to something as big as a full job offer or a degree program. If you're not quite ready for a US job or a full study-abroad program but still want a taste of life there, a working holiday is usually the first thing that comes to mind.
Here's the short answer: unlike Australia or Canada, there is no general-purpose working holiday visa between Korea and the US that anyone can simply apply for.
That doesn't mean there's no way to live and work in the US, though. Korean nationals actually have a separate set of programs that function surprisingly similarly to a working holiday.
The US Doesn't Have a General "Working Holiday Visa"
What most people think of as a working holiday is a visa that lets young people of a certain age travel a country freely while working to support themselves. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand are the classic examples.
The US doesn't run an independent Working Holiday Visa program like that.
Entering the US on ESTA for tourism purposes and then working isn't an option either. ESTA and standard tourist visas are meant for tourism or limited business activity — they don't allow you to take a job or earn wages in the US.
So if you're thinking "I'll just go to the US and figure out a part-time job once I'm there," be careful. Working legally in the US always requires a status or program that specifically authorizes employment.
Koreans Have a Program Called WEST
This is where most people are surprised to learn about a program called WEST (Work, English Study, and Travel).
WEST is a joint Korea-US government exchange program for university students, designed to let Korean students — or recent graduates who meet certain conditions — study English, complete an internship, and travel in the US. The US Department of State lists WEST separately as an exchange program specifically for Koreans.
Depending on the track, participants can spend 6, 12, or up to 18 months in the US, combining English study and an internship before wrapping up with travel.
So while it's a different program structurally from a general working holiday, in terms of actual lived experience, it's one of the closest things Koreans have to a "US working holiday."
Who Actually Qualifies?
WEST isn't a program you can apply for just by meeting an age requirement, the way you can with an Australian working holiday visa.
As of now, eligibility is generally limited to Korean nationals who are currently enrolled (or on a leave of absence) at a university in Korea, or recent graduates within a certain window. For four-year university students, applicants generally need to have completed at least four semesters, and depending on the specific track, a minimum English score (TOEIC, OPIc, TOEIC Speaking, etc.) is also required.
The program is also split by length. The long-term WEST track — combining English study, internship, and travel — runs up to 18 months; the mid-length track runs about 12 months; and the short-term track runs about 6 months.
In other words, it's not really about picking up casual part-time work like a typical working holiday — it's closer to a structured program that builds English skills and internship experience alongside your time living in the US.
Not Eligible for WEST? There's Also J-1
If you're a current university student or recent graduate, there are also J-1 visa programs beyond WEST worth considering.
The J-1 Intern program, for example, is designed for people currently enrolled at a university abroad, or within 12 months of graduating, to complete an internship related to their field of study in the US.
There's also Summer Work Travel, designed around a student's school break. It lets students currently enrolled at a university abroad work and travel in the US for a set period, with a maximum program length of 4 months.
So if your goal is simply "I want to live in the US for a few months," it's worth comparing WEST, J-1 Intern, and Summer Work Travel based on your academic background and current situation to see which one actually fits.
There's No US Working Holiday — But There Is a Way
To sum up: there's no general working holiday visa that Koreans can freely apply for with the US, the way there is with Australia or Canada.
But that doesn't mean there's no opportunity to live and work in the US. Korean university students or recent graduates can experience English study, an internship, and travel through the WEST program, and depending on your situation, J-1 Intern or Summer Work Travel are also worth considering.
Actually living in the US, even briefly, looks completely different from visiting as a tourist. Workplace culture is different, the way you meet people is different, and your circle of relationships naturally expands in ways that surprise most people.
At Neorang, we meet a lot of people who are studying, interning, or working in the US. Many of them started out simply wanting to "try living in the US for a bit" — and ended up building a new career, meeting someone special, and eventually settling down there.
If you've ever dreamed of experiencing life in the US, it's worth looking beyond just study-abroad or full-time job routes and finding the option that actually fits your situation.