Minimum wage: ₩10,320/hour in 2026 (MOEL Notice 2025-47), ₩10,700/hour from 1 Jan 2027 (MOEL Notice 2026-60). It applies to foreign workers equally.
Weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당): if you work 15+ hours a week and attend all scheduled days, you get one paid day off per week (Labor Standards Act Art. 55, Art. 18).
Full time (40h/week) = 209 paid hours per month → ₩2,156,880 in 2026, ₩2,236,300 in 2027.
Income tax is excluded here (usually small at this level). See the salary calculator for tax.
FAQ
What is the minimum wage in Korea in 2026?
₩10,320 per hour, or ₩2,156,880 per month for 209 hours (40 hours a week including weekly holiday pay). It rises to ₩10,700 in 2027.
Who gets weekly holiday pay in Korea?
Workers scheduled for 15 hours or more per week who attend all scheduled workdays get one paid day per week.
Worked example
Example: at the 2026 minimum wage of ₩10,320, working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week gives 209 paid hours a month (including paid weekly holiday), so monthly pay is ₩2,156,880 before deductions. At the 2027 rate of ₩10,700 it becomes ₩2,236,300.
Common mistakes
Paid weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당) applies only if you work 15 hours or more a week.
Employers may pay 90% of the minimum wage during a 3-month probation only on contracts of one year or more and not for simple manual work.
Take-home pay is lower after social insurance and income tax.