Who gets weekly holiday pay?
Under the Labor Standards Act, an employee who is contracted for 15 hours or more per week and works all scheduled days that week gets one paid day off. It applies to workplaces of any size and to foreign workers too. Arriving late or leaving early does not cancel it, but an unexcused absence does.
Formula
Weekly holiday pay = (weekly contracted hours ÷ 40) × 8 hours × hourly wage. Hours above 40 do not increase it, so the maximum is 8 hours of pay.
Example: 20 hours a week at 10,320 won → 20 ÷ 40 × 8 = 4 hours → 41,280 won per week, about 179,000 won per month.
FAQ
Does it apply to farm and fishing workers?
No. Under Article 63 of the Labor Standards Act, rules on working hours, breaks and weekly holidays do not apply to agriculture, livestock and fishery work, so many E-9 and seasonal (E-8) farm workers do not get weekly holiday pay. The minimum wage, severance pay and annual leave still apply to them.
Is it included in my hourly wage?
Only if your contract clearly says so and the hourly wage minus the holiday portion is still at least the minimum wage. Check your contract or payslip.
What if my hours change every week?
If your contracted hours vary from week to week, the 15-hour test uses your average over 4 weeks.
Do I get it in my last week of work?
Only if your employment continues into the following week. If you quit on the last day of the week, the last week's holiday pay is usually not owed.