You're working in Korea — is this the right pay? 4 wage facts every foreigner should know

life_culture

#wage#labor_rights#minimum_wage#settling_in

As of 2026 · Ko-START · Data infrastructure for international residents in Korea When you start working in Korea, one worry comes first: "Is the pay I'm getting actually correct?" The contract is in Korean, some workplaces don't give a payslip, and there's often no one to ask. Here's the reassuring part: Korea's wage laws don't care about your nationality. Minimum wage, payslips, reporting unpaid wages — none of it changes because you're a foreigner. You only need to know the four things below. In 30 seconds Minimum wage (2026)₩10,320/hour · monthly ₩2,156,880 (based on a 40-hour week)Who it applies toAll workplaces — regardless of industry or nationalityPayslipGiving you a payslip is the employer's legal duty (no payslip = a violation)Weekly holiday payWork 15+ hours a week with full attendance → one extra paid dayIf they don't payFile a complaint on the Labor Portal · counseling ☎ 1350 (English·Chinese)

Minimum wage — how much should you get? (₩10,320/hour in 2026) Korea's minimum wage for 2026 is ₩10,320 per hour (₩290, or 2.9%, higher than 2025). Working 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, the baseline comes to ₩2,156,880 per month. It's the same across industries and nationalities. The minimum wage applies identically to every workplace.Paying a foreigner less than this violates the Minimum Wage Act. Whatever your visa — Non-professional Employment (E-9), Working Visit (H-2), or others — you must receive at least the minimum wage (Minimum Wage Act Art. 6). One exception: During a probation period, pay may be reduced to 90% of the minimum wage under certain conditions. The conditions are limited, so if you've been cut a lot "because it's probation," check with 1350.
Payslip — why must you receive one? When you're paid, giving you a payslip is the employer's legal obligation (Labor Standards Act Art. 48, in force since November 2021). Paper or electronic (text, email, app) both count — but they must provide it. A payslip has to show: The components of your wage (base pay, allowances, etc.) and how they're calculatedIf anything was deducted (tax, insurance, etc.), the breakdown of those deductions If a workplace won't give a payslip or wants to keep everything "verbal," that's not a proper employer. The payslip is your most important evidence if your pay turns out to be wrong — receive one every month and keep it.
Weekly holiday pay — how do you get the extra day? This is what many foreign workers miss. Korea has a system called weekly holiday pay (juhyu). Meet the conditions and you get an extra day's pay for a rest day you didn't work (Labor Standards Act Art. 55 — at least one paid holiday per week on average). To qualify, you need two things: Work 15+ hours a week (averaged over 4 weeks. Under 15 hours a week means no weekly holiday pay or annual leave — Labor Standards Act Art. 18)Show up for all your scheduled workdays that week (full attendance) Part-timers count too, as long as it's 15+ hours a week. Being paid hourly doesn't disqualify you. If there's no weekly-holiday-pay line on your payslip, take a look.
What if they don't pay you? Not paying wages on time (wage default) is a crime. The employer can face up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to ₩30 million (Labor Standards Act Art. 109). Foreigners are protected exactly the same. If you haven't been paid, here's the order:
File a complaint — submit an "unpaid wage complaint" online through the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Labor Portal, or visit the labor office for the district where the company is located.
Processing — it's handled within 25 days of filing (extendable once). A labor inspector investigates the employer.
If that still fails — you can pursue a civil lawsuit, or use the Wage Claim Guarantee system, where the state pays part of the amount on your behalf. A complaint and a criminal report are different. Complaint = "please help me get my unpaid money" (administrative); report = "please punish the employer" (criminal). Most people start with a complaint. FAQ Q. My company says "don't tell anyone your salary." Do I have to comply? A. Some companies have such a rule, and whether the rule itself is valid is judged case by case. But one thing is clear — your rights stay the same regardless. The right to the minimum wage, to a payslip, and to report unpaid wages cannot be erased by any clause in a contract. If the clause itself worries you, check with 1350 or a labor attorney. Q. I'm a foreigner — am I really protected the same as Koreans? A. Yes. Minimum wage, payslips, weekly holiday pay, and reporting unpaid wages all apply regardless of nationality. If you work and receive wages, Korea's labor laws apply to you. Q. Can I report even if I don't speak Korean? A. The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Customer Service Center ☎ 1350 offers English and Chinese counseling (weekdays 09:00–18:00). Interpretation support is also available in some areas. Q. They won't give me a payslip — what do I do? A. Issuing a payslip is mandatory. Ask politely first; if they keep refusing, you can also raise it with 1350 or the labor office. Official sources Ministry of Employment and Labor — 2026 minimum wage noticeKorea Ministry of Government Legislation — foreign workers' wages / unpaid wage remedies (easylaw.go.kr)Korea Law Information Center — Labor Standards Act Arts. 43, 48, 55, 18, 109; Minimum Wage Act Art. 6 (law.go.kr)Ministry of Employment and Labor Customer Service Center ☎ 1350 This article is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, please consult 1350 or a labor attorney. Life in Korea, in your language. Visa, money, housing, hospitals — we've put together what you need when you're settling in, in 8 languages. → See the full settling-in guide: ko-start.com/start

You're working in Korea — is this the right pay? 4 wage facts every foreigner should know

KoStart Admin

Comments 0

Related articles