2026 minimum wage and weekly holiday allowance in Korea
The 2026 minimum wage is ₩10,320 per hour, and it applies to foreigners and students too. Learn how weekly holiday pay works, what papers you should get, and what to do if you are not paid.
The minimum wage for 2026 is ₩10,320 per hour. For a full-time job, this is ₩2,156,880 per month, based on 209 hours (40 hours a week plus the paid weekly holiday). The minimum wage applies to foreign workers too, including international students working part-time.
Weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당)
If you are scheduled to work 15 hours or more a week and you work all your scheduled days, you get one paid day off each week. This pay is called the weekly holiday allowance. The amount is (weekly scheduled hours ÷ 40) × 8 × hourly wage. The maximum is 8 hours of pay.
| Scheduled hours per week | Paid holiday hours | Weekly holiday allowance (at ₩10,320) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 hours | 3 hours | ₩30,960 |
| 20 hours | 4 hours | ₩41,280 |
| 40 hours | 8 hours | ₩82,560 |
Papers you should get and pay rules
- Your employer must give you a written labor contract that shows your wage, working hours and holidays.
- You must get a pay statement (임금명세서) every time you are paid.
- Wages must be paid in full, at least once a month, on a fixed day.
- A lower wage during probation is allowed only in limited cases, and never for simple-labor jobs.
- In workplaces with 5 or more employees, overtime, night work and holiday work get extra pay (usually at least 50% more). The rules differ for workplaces with fewer than 5 employees.
If you are not paid
- 1
Keep records
Save your contract, work schedule, messages with your employer and bank deposit records.
- 2
Ask your employer
Ask for the missing pay in a way that leaves a record, such as a text message, and keep a copy.
- 3
Get help
Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor counseling center at 1350. You can also file a complaint with your local labor office, online or in person.
Before you act
Official sources
Written by KOVIA 편집팀
