2026 Minimum Wage in Korea: Hourly Rate, Monthly Salary & Penalties Explained
What Is the 2026 Minimum Wage in Korea?
The Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) deliberated and set the minimum wage applicable from 2026 at ₩10,030 per hour, which the Minister of Employment and Labor (고용노동부 장관) then officially announced. This is an increase of ₩170 (1.7%) compared to the previous year.
How Much Is That per Month?
Based on a 40-hour workweek (5 days a week), the monthly scheduled working hours are 209 hours (including 35 weekly holiday hours (주휴시간)). Applying the hourly rate:
₩10,030 × 209 hours = ₩2,096,270
Therefore, the minimum monthly wage for salaried workers in 2026 is approximately ₩2,096,270. Paying below this amount constitutes a violation of the Minimum Wage Act (최저임금법).
Note for foreign workers: Your employment contract may specify wages above this statutory minimum, but it may never fall below it.
Who Does It Apply To?
Under Articles 2 and 3 of the Minimum Wage Act (최저임금법 제2조 및 제3조), the minimum wage applies to all workers under the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법), regardless of employment type or nationality. Full-time employees, fixed-term contract workers, part-time workers (아르바이트), and foreign workers are all equally protected.
However, a reduced rate may be applied with approval from the Minister of Employment and Labor in the following cases:
- Probationary workers (수습 근로자): Workers on a labor contract of one year or more who are in a probationary period may be paid 90% of the minimum wage for up to 3 months from the start of the probationary period. (Excludes workers in simple manual labor positions.)
- Workers with disabilities (장애인 근로자): Workers whose work capacity is significantly reduced due to a mental or physical disability require separate ministerial approval.
What Counts Toward the Minimum Wage?
Under Article 6 of the Minimum Wage Act (최저임금법 제6조), wages are divided into those that are included and those that are excluded when comparing against the minimum wage.
Included items
- Base pay, job-duty allowances, position allowances, and other wages paid regularly and uniformly every month
- The portion of monthly bonuses exceeding 1% of the monthly minimum wage (approximately ₩20,963 based on the 2026 minimum wage)
- The portion of welfare benefits such as meal allowances and transportation allowances exceeding 1% of the monthly minimum wage
Excluded items
- Overtime, night-shift, and holiday work allowances (연장·야간·휴일근로수당)
- Annual leave allowances (연차수당)
- Bonuses paid on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis (i.e., not paid monthly)
What Are the Penalties for Violations?
Article 28 of the Minimum Wage Act (최저임금법 제28조) stipulates that an employer who pays wages below the minimum wage shall be subject to imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to ₩20 million. Additionally, failure to fulfill the obligation to notify workers of the minimum wage (e.g., by posting it at the workplace) may result in a fine for negligence (과태료) of up to ₩1 million.
Workers may file a complaint or report regarding wage arrears (임금 체불) or minimum wage violations through the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Civil Affairs Portal (고용노동부 민원마당, minwon.moel.go.kr) or at the nearest Regional Employment and Labor Office (지방고용노동청).
Check Your Wage with Bylaw
If you want to verify whether your monthly salary meets the minimum wage standard and calculate your actual take-home pay, try the Bylaw (바이로) salary calculator at workbylaw.com. It lets you confirm in one step exactly how much you receive after deductions for taxes and the four major social insurance contributions (4대보험). If you suspect a minimum wage violation, you can also use the AI search feature to quickly look up relevant statutes and case precedents.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific cases, consult a certified labor attorney (노무사) or lawyer.