- 2026: ₩10,320 an hour · ₩2,156,880 a month for a 40-hour week
- 2027: ₩10,700 an hour (+₩380, 3.7%) · ₩2,236,300 a month
- It applies to every worker in Korea, including foreigners and part-timers, at businesses of any size.
2026 vs 2027
| 2026 | 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | ₩10,320 | ₩10,700 |
| Daily (8 hours) | ₩82,560 | ₩85,600 |
| Weekly (40 h + holiday pay) | ₩495,360 | ₩513,600 |
| Monthly (209 hours) | ₩2,156,880 | ₩2,236,300 |
"209 hours" is a 40-hour week plus 8 hours of paid weekly holiday, converted to an average month (about 4.345 weeks). Amounts are before tax and insurance.
Hourly Wage Calculator →Enter your hourly wage and schedule to see weekly holiday pay and monthly payWeekly holiday pay (주휴수당, juhyu sudang)
If you work 15 hours a week or more and show up on all your scheduled days, you are entitled to one paid day off a week. For part-timers it is paid as an allowance:
(weekly hours ÷ 40) × 8 hours × hourly wage
| Hours a week (2027) | Holiday pay a week | Monthly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | ₩85,600 | ₩2,236,300 |
| 30 | ₩64,200 | ₩1,669,200 |
| 20 | ₩42,800 | ₩1,112,800 |
| 15 | ₩32,100 | ₩834,600 |
| 12 (no holiday pay) | ₩0 | ₩556,400 |
Can an employer pay less during probation?
Only if all of these apply: the contract is for one year or longer, it is within the first three months, and the job is not simple manual work (such as convenience-store, restaurant serving or cleaning jobs). Then pay can be 90% of the minimum — ₩9,630 an hour in 2027.
If you are paid less than the minimum
- Keep your contract, work schedule, pay slips and bank records.
- Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor helpline 1350 (interpretation available in many languages) or file a petition online.
- Unpaid wages can be claimed for three years.
FAQ
Does the minimum wage apply to foreign workers?
Yes. It applies to all employees regardless of nationality or visa type, including E-9 and part-time D-2 students working with permission.
Are meals and housing counted toward the minimum wage?
Monthly fixed allowances, including meal and transport allowances paid in cash every month, count toward the minimum wage. Overtime, night and holiday premiums do not.
When does the 2027 rate start?
From work done on or after January 1, 2027. Pay for December 2026 work uses the 2026 rate even if it is paid in January.