Weekly Holiday Allowance in Korea: Meaning, Eligibility, and How to Calculate It

What Is the Weekly Holiday Allowance (주휴수당)?

The weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당) is a paid day-off benefit given to workers who have attended all of their scheduled workdays in a given week. In plain terms, it means you receive one extra day's wages for a day you do not actually work.

The legal basis is Article 55, Paragraph 1 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제55조 제1항), which states: "An employer shall guarantee a worker at least one paid holiday per week on average." The wages paid for that paid holiday are the weekly holiday allowance.

3 Conditions to Receive the Weekly Holiday Allowance

You must meet all three of the following conditions:

1. Scheduled weekly working hours of 15 hours or more
2. Perfect attendance on all scheduled workdays
3. The employment relationship continues into the following week (based on the Ministry of Employment and Labor's administrative interpretation)

"Scheduled workdays (소정근로일)" means the workdays specified in your employment contract. For example, if your contract sets Monday–Friday (5 days), you must attend all 5 days for the allowance to apply. Being late or leaving early still counts as attendance, but an unexcused absence can forfeit that week's weekly holiday allowance.

Can Part-Time Workers and Hourly (Arubaito) Workers Receive It?

Yes. The weekly holiday allowance is not limited to full-time employees. It applies equally to all workers who work 15 hours or more per week—including part-time workers, hourly (아르바이트) workers, and fixed-term contract workers.

Conversely, ultra-short-hour workers (초단시간 근로자) who work fewer than 15 hours per week are excluded from the weekly holiday allowance under Article 18, Paragraph 3 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제18조 제3항).

Note: Your employment contract may specify terms beyond the statutory minimum, but it cannot fall below these legal thresholds.

How to Calculate the Weekly Holiday Allowance

The weekly holiday allowance is calculated as: daily scheduled working hours × hourly wage.

• 5 days a week, 8 hours a day (hourly wage: 10,030 won):
  → 8 hours × 10,030 won = 80,240 won

• 3 days a week, 5 hours a day (hourly wage: 10,030 won):
  → Daily scheduled hours = (15 hours ÷ 5 days) = 3 hours
  → 3 hours × 10,030 won = 30,090 won

For part-time workers, the Ministry of Employment and Labor's general administrative interpretation calculates daily scheduled hours as weekly scheduled hours ÷ 5.

The 2026 minimum hourly wage is 10,030 won. If your hourly wage exceeds the minimum wage, use your actual hourly wage for the calculation.

What Happens If the Weekly Holiday Allowance Is Not Paid?

If an employer fails to pay the weekly holiday allowance, they may face up to 3 years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won under Article 109 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제109조). Unpaid weekly holiday allowances can be claimed within a 3-year statute of limitations under Article 49 of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제49조).

If you have not received your weekly holiday allowance, you can file a complaint (진정) with the regional Employment and Labor Office (고용노동청) having jurisdiction over your workplace, or report unpaid wages to seek remedy.

Calculate Your Weekly Holiday Allowance on Bylaw (바이로)

If you want to calculate exactly how much weekly holiday allowance you are owed, try the Bylaw (바이로) Weekly Holiday Allowance Calculator at workbylaw.com. Simply enter your number of workdays and hourly wage, and it will automatically calculate your allowance. If you suspect non-payment, you can also use the AI search feature to quickly check relevant laws, or use the complaint drafting feature to start the remedy process.

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