Working in Korea guides
Plain-English explanations of Korean payslips, taxes, social insurance, severance and leaving Korea, updated for 2026. 15 guides.
Pay & Tax
Pay & TaxE-2 English Teacher Pay in Korea — Salary, Deductions, Severance and PensionWhat E-2 English teachers in Korea actually take home in 2026: typical salaries, deductions, housing, overtime, severance after a year, and whether you can get your national pension back by nationality.Pay & TaxKorea's 19% Flat Tax for Foreign Workers — Who Benefits and How to ApplyHow the flat 19% income tax option for foreign employees in Korea works in 2026, who is eligible, when it beats the standard tax table, how to apply through your employer, and the proposed change for 2027.Pay & TaxHow to Read a Korean Payslip — Every Line Explained in EnglishA line-by-line English guide to the Korean payslip (geupyeo myeongsereo): base pay, allowances, non-taxable items, the four social insurances, income tax and local income tax.Pay & TaxKorea Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027 — Hourly, Monthly and Who It CoversKorea's minimum wage is ₩10,320 an hour in 2026 and ₩10,700 in 2027. Monthly equivalents, the 209-hour rule, probation deductions and what counts toward the minimum wage.Pay & TaxYear-End Tax Settlement in Korea for Foreigners (Yeonmal Jeongsan)What the January–February year-end tax settlement is, how foreign employees take part, which documents and deductions matter, resident vs non-resident status, and what happens if you leave Korea mid-year.
Social Insurance
Social InsuranceEmployment Insurance for Foreigners in Korea — Unemployment Benefits by VisaWhich foreign workers in Korea are covered by employment insurance, how to opt in, the 0.9% premium, and whether you can claim unemployment benefits or parental leave pay.Social InsuranceNational Health Insurance for Foreigners in Korea — Workplace and RegionalHow Korean health insurance works for foreign employees and for foreigners without a job: 2026 premium rates, the 6-month rule, the minimum premium, dependents and what happens when you leave.Social InsuranceKorea's Four Social Insurances for Foreigners — Which Apply to Your VisaNational pension, health insurance, employment insurance and industrial accident insurance for foreign workers in Korea in 2026: rates, who is covered by visa and nationality, and what you get back.
Severance & Leaving Korea
Severance & Leaving KoreaLeaving Korea Checklist — Severance, Pension Refund, Tax and InsuranceA step-by-step money checklist for foreigners leaving Korea: final pay and severance, national pension refund, year-end tax, health insurance, bank accounts and your residence card.Severance & Leaving KoreaHow to Get Your Korean National Pension Refund When Leaving KoreaWhich nationalities and visas can claim the Korean National Pension lump-sum refund, how much you get back, documents, applying at Incheon Airport or from abroad, and common mistakes.Severance & Leaving KoreaSeverance Pay in Korea (Toejikgeum) — Rules, Formula and ExamplesWho gets severance pay in Korea, the one-year and 15-hour rules, how average wage is calculated, worked examples, payment deadlines and what foreign workers should watch out for.
Visa
Working Hours & Leave
Working Hours & LeaveAnnual Leave in Korea — How Many Paid Days Off You GetKorean annual leave rules for foreign and Korean workers: 11 days in the first year, 15 days after a year, more with seniority, the 80% attendance rule, unused leave pay and public holidays.Working Hours & LeaveOvertime Pay and the 52-Hour Week in KoreaHow overtime, night and holiday premiums work under Korean labor law, the 52-hour weekly limit, ordinary wage, inclusive wage contracts and the small-workplace exemption.Working Hours & LeaveWeekly Holiday Pay in Korea (Juhyu Sudang) Explained for Part-TimersHow Korea's weekly holiday pay works for part-time and hourly workers, the 15-hour rule, the formula, examples at the 2026 minimum wage and what to do if your employer does not pay it.