The listed hourly minimums are KRW 10,320 for 2026 and KRW 10,700 for 2027. For a standard 40-hour week, monthly equivalents use 209 paid hours.
Hourly and monthly amounts
The 2026 hourly minimum is KRW 10,320, or KRW 2,156,880 for 209 hours. The 2027 hourly minimum is KRW 10,700, or KRW 2,236,300 for 209 hours. The hourly rate applies from January 1 through December 31 of its year.
Why 209 hours?
A standard 40-hour workweek plus eight paid weekly-rest hours gives 48 paid hours a week. Across an average month, (40 + 8) × 365 ÷ 7 ÷ 12 is about 208.6, conventionally rounded to 209. Shorter schedules need their own paid-hour calculation.
Which pay counts?
Compare the hourly equivalent of wages included under minimum-wage rules with the legal minimum. Regular monthly bonuses and cash welfare payments can count under the referenced rules; less frequent bonuses and benefits in kind may not.
Probation reduction
An eligible probationary worker with an employment contract of at least one year may receive 90% of the minimum wage for the first three months. Certain simple labor occupations cannot use that reduction. Confirm the legal conditions before applying it.