Annual Leave in Korea: How Many Days Are You Entitled To?

How Many Annual Leave Days Do You Get in Korea?

If you're working in Korea, understanding your annual leave (연차유급휴가) entitlement can be confusing — especially when your employer, HR team, or contract all seem to say something different. Korean law sets a clear minimum, but your actual situation may vary depending on your contract, company size, or workplace type.

Let's break it down based on Article 60 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제60조).

During Your First Year: 1 Day for Each Month of Perfect Attendance

If you've been working for less than one year, Korean law entitles you to 1 paid day off for each full month you work without absence. That means up to 11 days before your one-year anniversary.

For example, if you started on January 1:
- February 1 → 1 day available
- March 1 → 2 days available
- December 1 → 11 days available

These days should be used before your one-year mark. Unused days generally expire — unless your employer failed to properly notify you, in which case you may be able to claim unused leave pay (미사용 연차수당).

Note for foreign workers: If you work at an international school, embassy, or foreign-invested company, your contract may offer a different leave structure — such as a fixed block of days from the start. Always check your employment contract.

At Least 80% Attendance for the Year: 15 Days

Once you've completed one year with an attendance rate of 80% or more, you become entitled to 15 days of annual leave for the following year. This is the statutory minimum (법정 연차).

Important: Leave days you used during your first year are not deducted from your 15-day entitlement in year two — the up-to-11 monthly days and the 15 days accrue separately (Article 60(1)–(2) of the Labor Standards Act / 근로기준법 제60조 제1항·제2항). The former Article 60(3) of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제60조 제3항), which allowed such deduction, was deleted by the amendment of 28 November 2017, in force from 29 May 2018. So even if you used 5 days in year one, you still receive the full 15 days on the day after the first year of work is completed, if you attended at least 80% of the year.

Leave Increases With Seniority

Years Worked Annual Leave Days
Under 1 year 1 day for each month of perfect attendance (max 11)
1–2 years 15 days
3–4 years 16 days
5–6 years 17 days
Every 2 years after +1 day
21+ years 25 days (maximum)

Figures for one year or more apply where the worker attended at least 80% of the year (Article 60(1) and (4) of the Labor Standards Act, 근로기준법 제60조 제1항 · 제4항).

The cap is 25 days, regardless of how long you've worked (근로기준법 제60조 제4항).

Small Workplaces (Under 5 Employees)

If your employer has fewer than 5 regular employees, Article 60 of the Labor Standards Act does not apply. This means there is no legal obligation to provide statutory annual leave. However, if your employment contract explicitly mentions leave days, your employer must honor those terms.

Many foreign workers in small hagwons or private businesses fall into this category — so always read your contract carefully.

What Happens to Unused Leave?

Unused annual leave generally expires after one year. However, monthly leave earned during the first year expires if it is not used by the end of the first year of service (Article 60(7) of the Labor Standards Act / 근로기준법 제60조 제7항). If your employer followed the proper leave encouragement procedures (연차 사용 촉진, 근로기준법 제61조), they may not be required to pay compensation for unused days. But if no such procedures were followed, you have the right to claim unused leave pay.

Practical Tips for Foreign Workers

*This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, consult a certified labor attorney (노무사) or lawyer.