Korea Hourly Wage Converter
Korean monthly salaries are based on 209 paid hours for a 40-hour week, because weekly holiday hours are paid too. Convert any wage and check it against the 2026 minimum wage.
Result
The 2026 minimum wage
| Year | Hourly | Monthly (209 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ₩10,320 | ₩2,156,880 |
| 2027 | ₩10,700 | ₩2,236,300 |
The minimum wage applies to every worker in Korea, including foreign workers on any visa and part-timers. The 2027 rate takes effect on 1 January 2027.
Why 209 hours?
A 40-hour week earns 8 hours of paid weekly holiday (juhyu). That makes 48 paid hours a week. Multiplied by the average 4.345 weeks in a month, you get about 209 hours. So a monthly salary is hourly wage × 209, not × 160.
Monthly pay = hourly wage × (weekly hours + weekly holiday hours) × 365 ÷ 7 ÷ 12
Common wages converted (40 hours a week)
| Hourly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| ₩10,320 | ₩2,156,880 | ₩25,882,560 |
| ₩11,000 | ₩2,299,000 | ₩27,588,000 |
| ₩12,000 | ₩2,508,000 | ₩30,096,000 |
| ₩13,000 | ₩2,717,000 | ₩32,604,000 |
| ₩15,000 | ₩3,135,000 | ₩37,620,000 |
| ₩20,000 | ₩4,180,000 | ₩50,160,000 |
Frequently asked questions
Does the minimum wage apply to E-9 and part-time workers?
Yes. The Minimum Wage Act covers all workers regardless of nationality, visa or contract type. Employers can deduct up to 10% only during a probation period for contracts of a year or longer, and never for simple manual jobs.
Are housing and meals counted toward the minimum wage?
Only partly. Since 2024 all regular monthly cash welfare payments count, but in-kind benefits such as free housing are not counted unless paid as cash.
Why does my hourly wage look lower than my contract says?
If your contract gives a monthly salary, divide by 209 (for 40 hours a week), not by the hours you actually work, because weekly holiday hours are included.