2026 minimum wage and weekly holiday allowance in Korea

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.

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. 1

   Keep records

   Save your contract, work schedule, messages with your employer and bank deposit records.

2. 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. 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.