How monthly minimum pay is calculated
A full-time worker with 40 hours a week also gets 8 paid hours of weekly holiday pay (주휴수당), so each week counts as 48 paid hours. A month has on average 365 ÷ 7 ÷ 12 ≈ 4.345 weeks, which gives 48 × 4.345 ≈ 209 hours. That is why the official monthly minimum for full-time work is 10,320 × 209 = 2,156,880 won.
Part-time workers who are contracted for 15 hours or more a week also get weekly holiday pay, in proportion to their hours (hours ÷ 40 × 8). Under 15 hours a week, there is no weekly holiday pay, so monthly paid hours are just weekly hours × 4.345.
| Hours per week | Paid hours per month | Minimum monthly pay |
|---|
FAQ
Does the minimum wage apply to foreign workers?
Yes. The Minimum Wage Act applies to every employee in Korea regardless of nationality, including E-9, H-2 and part-time student (D-2/D-4 with work permit) workers. Some exceptions exist for probation periods in certain jobs (up to 3 months, at 90%, only for contracts of 1 year or more and not for simple manual work).
Are meal and transport allowances included?
Fixed monthly meal and transport allowances paid in cash are counted toward the minimum wage. Overtime, night and holiday premiums are not.
What can I do if I'm paid less?
You can report it to the Ministry of Employment and Labor (call 1350) or a local labor office. Free interpretation is available.