A foreign student once asked me this. "I caught a cold, so I can't go to my part-time job tomorrow. Will the boss find someone else for me?" Since the boss is the one who gives the work, it's easy to think that finding people is the boss's job too. But in small Korean shops, that's not necessarily the case. ## Why do I have to find someone? Convenience stores, cafés, and restaurants have only a few employees. If even one person is missing, a gap opens up right away. But it's hard for the owner to find and train a new person every time. So it has become natural for part-timers to swap shifts among themselves. Usually they post something like "Looking for a substitute tomorrow, 6 to 10" in the group chat where the part-timers gather. The word comes from baseball, where a batter who comes in to replace a player is called a 'daeta' (pinch hitter). ## It's a custom, not a law The law doesn't say it has to be that way. It differs from store to store, and in many places the owner finds the replacement personally. So don't just trust the claim that "the part-timer is supposed to find one," and check how your own store does it. ## The order matters First, let your boss know that you can't come in. Then, "Should I try to find a replacement?" Ask them that. Once you have their permission, just post the date and time in the group chat. You must not secretly send a friend in your place without the boss knowing. Foreigners can only work if they have a part-time work permit. If a friend without a permit works, it can become a serious problem. Please check the permit requirements on HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or at the Immigration Office.