While you can sign a 2-year contract, it does not completely shield an employee from restructuring (e.g., layoffs due to managerial crisis/budget cuts), particularly in startups with short financial runways. • Legal Protections: Under Articles 23 and 28 of the Korean Labor Standards Act, unfair dismissal without justifiable cause is strictly prohibited. - If dismissed arbitrarily, employees can file a remedy for unfair dismissal with the Regional Labor Relations Commission. - Dismissals based on urgent managerial necessity still require 30 days' advance notice (or 30 days' equivalent pay in lieu of notice).

Yes, possible in industry, but universities and research institutes in Korea provide only 1 year. All the best.