Last reviewed: October 9, 2026 · This page is our single source for Korea’s annual minimum wage figures. Other guides on this site link here instead of repeating them.
Quick answer
Korea’s minimum wage is KRW 10,320 per hour in 2026, or KRW 2,156,880 per month for a standard 40-hour week (209 paid hours).
From January 1, 2027 it rises 3.7% to KRW 10,700 per hour, or KRW 2,236,300 per month.
The same rate applies to foreign workers and Korean workers, in every industry and at businesses of any size. A few groups follow different rules, and they are listed below.
Korea minimum wage 2026 and 2027 at a glance
| Item | 2026 (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026) | 2027 (Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2027) |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | KRW 10,320 | KRW 10,700 |
| Daily (8 hours) | KRW 82,560 | KRW 85,600 |
| Monthly (209 hours) | KRW 2,156,880 | KRW 2,236,300 |
| Change from previous year | +2.9% (KRW 290) | +3.7% (KRW 380) |
| 12 × monthly figure | KRW 25,882,560 | KRW 26,835,600 |
Hourly, daily, monthly and increase figures come from the Minimum Wage Commission decision table. The annual row is our own calculation (12 × the monthly figure) and is a floor, not an official salary standard.
Does the minimum wage apply to foreign workers?
Yes. The Minimum Wage Act applies to every business or workplace that employs workers (Article 3). It does not depend on nationality or visa type. It also applies to small workplaces with fewer than five employees, where some Labor Standards Act rules do not.
That means E-9, E-7, H-2 and E-8 workers, students working part time on D-2 or D-4, and other employees hired by a business must all receive at least the minimum wage, with the probation exception explained below.
Why the monthly minimum uses 209 hours
A full-time worker on a 40-hour week is also entitled to paid weekly holiday hours (주휴수당, 8 hours a week). Averaged over a year, that is about 209 paid hours a month, so the official monthly figure is the hourly rate × 209.
If your contract has fewer hours, your monthly minimum is lower, but the hourly rate stays the same. Part-time workers with at least 15 contractual hours a week usually also receive weekly holiday pay. Your contract should state the hours and the pay basis clearly.
What pay counts toward the minimum wage
Since 2024, the comparison uses wages paid regularly at least once a month, and the old exclusions for monthly bonuses and cash allowances have been phased out to 0% (Minimum Wage Act Article 6(4) and Addenda to Act No. 15666).
| Payment | Counts? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base pay (기본급) | Yes | The core of the comparison. |
| Fixed monthly allowances for contractual work | Generally yes | For example a fixed job or position allowance paid every month. |
| Monthly bonus paid at least once a month | Yes (100% from 2024) | Bonuses paid only quarterly, twice a year or once a year are not paid monthly and are not counted for the months in between. |
| Cash meal, transport or housing allowance paid monthly | Yes (100% from 2024) | Before 2024 part of this was excluded. Older guides that say meal allowances “never count” are out of date. |
| Meals, dormitory or other benefits provided in kind | No | Non-cash welfare benefits are excluded under Article 6(4)3(a). Rules on charging foreign workers for housing and meals are separate. See our E-9 contract guide. |
| Overtime, night and holiday premium pay | No | Pay for work beyond contractual hours or days is excluded (Article 6(4)1 and the Enforcement Rule). |
The Enforcement Rule lists the exact excluded items. If an allowance is unusual, ask MOEL (1350) how it is treated.
Probation: when 90% of the minimum wage is allowed
An employer may pay 90% of the hourly minimum wage only when all of these are true (Act Article 5(2), Decree Article 3):
- The employment contract is for one year or longer.
- You are on probation, and it is within 3 months from the start of probation.
- The job is not one of the simple-labor occupations designated by the Minister of Employment and Labor.
At 90%, the hourly floor is KRW 9,288 in 2026 and KRW 9,630 in 2027 (our calculation). A contract shorter than one year, or simple-labor work, gets the full rate from day one.
How to check your own pay in 3 steps
- Add the pay that counts for one month, using the table above. Leave out overtime premiums, in-kind benefits and bonuses that are not paid monthly.
- Find your paid hours. For a 40-hour week this is 209. For other schedules, use your contractual hours plus weekly holiday hours, averaged per month.
- Divide pay by hours. If the result is below the hourly rate for that year, the pay may be below the minimum wage.
Minimum wage vs visa salary thresholds
The minimum wage is the legal floor for any employee. Some visas need a higher salary, set by separate Ministry of Justice standards:
- E-7 professional and skilled jobs: see E-7 minimum salary requirements.
- Income tests based on GNI (F-1-D, high-income routes): see Korea GNI and visa income requirements.
- Typical pay by industry and take-home pay: see the Korea salary guide for foreigners.
What to do if you are paid less than the minimum wage
- Keep your contract, pay slips, bank deposits, work schedules and messages.
- Call the MOEL counseling center at 1350 or a foreign worker support center.
- You can file a wage complaint with the regional employment and labor office. Leaving a job because pay was below the minimum wage can also matter for unemployment benefits.
For overtime, severance pay, leave and other rights, see Korean employment rights for foreign workers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum monthly salary in Korea in 2026?
KRW 2,156,880 for a full-time 40-hour week (209 paid hours), based on the 2026 hourly rate of KRW 10,320.
What is the Korea minimum wage for 2027?
KRW 10,700 per hour from January 1, 2027, which is KRW 2,236,300 per month for 209 hours. It was decided on July 14, 2026 and published on August 5, 2026.
Is “basic salary” the same as the minimum wage?
No. Basic salary (기본급) is the base pay in your contract. It can be higher than the minimum wage. The minimum wage check compares all pay that counts, not only base pay, with the legal floor.
Can an employer pay foreign workers less than Korean workers?
Not below the minimum wage. The Act applies to all employees of a business regardless of nationality, with the narrow exceptions explained above.
Does a free dormitory count toward my minimum wage?
No. Benefits provided in kind are not counted. A cash housing allowance paid every month does count from 2024.
Can my employer pay 90% during training?
Only during the first 3 months of probation, on a contract of one year or longer, and not for designated simple-labor jobs.
Official references
- Minimum Wage Commission — annual minimum wage decisions
- Minimum Wage Act (Articles 3, 5, 6 and Addenda)
- Minimum Wage Act Enforcement Decree (Article 3)
- Ministry of Employment and Labor · counseling 1350
Information notice: This guide gives general information based on official sources checked October 9, 2026. Figures change every year. We update this page when the next rate is published, usually in early August. It is not individual legal advice. Your regional employment and labor office decides individual cases.