Overtime, night and holiday work premiums

Korean premium-pay rules can add 50% or more to ordinary hourly wage for covered overtime, night and holiday work. Overlapping conditions must be checked separately.

Source baseline 2026-09-23 · Estimates and reference information, not legal or tax advice.

Content updated 2026-10-27; source dates remain as stated.

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Premium rates at a glance

In a covered workplace, overtime beyond statutory hours generally earns at least a 50% premium. Night work between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. also earns a 50% premium. Holiday work has its own premium rules, which can differ after eight hours. Applicable premiums may overlap.

Find ordinary hourly wage

For a standard 40-hour week, a common reference is monthly ordinary wage ÷ 209 paid hours. A different work schedule needs an appropriate divisor.

Worked example

If ordinary hourly wage is KRW 12,000, one covered overtime hour at 150% is KRW 18,000 before any additional night or holiday premium. Count actual hours and compare with amounts already paid.

Small workplaces and inclusive pay

The statutory premium rule does not apply to workplaces with four or fewer regular employees in the same way. A fixed overtime amount in a contract should still be checked against actual hours and any applicable legal minimum.

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Sources

The source baseline for this guide is 2026-09-23; individually rechecked sources show their own dates above. Laws and rates may have changed. Consult the originals before an important decision.