How much part-time jobs pay at the minimum wage
Every job in Korea must pay at least ₩10,320 an hour in 2026 and ₩10,700 from January 1, 2027. At the minimum wage, before any tax:
| Hours a week | Weekly holiday pay | Per week (2026) | Per month (2026) | Per month (2027) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 h | None | ₩103,200 | ₩448,420 | ₩464,940 |
| 14 h | None | ₩144,480 | ₩627,800 | ₩650,910 |
| 15 h | +3 h | ₩185,760 | ₩807,170 | ₩836,890 |
| 20 h | +4 h | ₩247,680 | ₩1,076,220 | ₩1,115,850 |
| 25 h | +5 h | ₩309,600 | ₩1,345,280 | ₩1,394,820 |
| 30 h | +6 h | ₩371,520 | ₩1,614,340 | ₩1,673,780 |
Going from 14 to 15 hours a week adds the weekly holiday allowance: about ₩179,370 more a month in 2026 for one extra hour a week.
Per month = per week × 4.345 (the average number of weeks in a month), the same method as the calculator above — real months with four or five pay weeks vary a little. Full-time (40 hours a week) minimum pay is officially ₩2,156,880 a month in 2026 and ₩2,236,300 in 2027 (209 paid hours a month).
International students (D-2, D-4) need permission for part-time work before they start, and the number of hours you may work during the semester is limited. Check with your school’s international office or Hi Korea, or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 (English available).
Weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당)
If you are scheduled to work 15 hours or more a week and you work all your scheduled days, you are paid for one extra day of rest each week. This applies to foreign workers and to small shops too.
The allowance is your weekly hours ÷ 40 × 8 hours × your hourly wage, up to 8 hours. Working 20 hours a week at ₩10,320 gives 4 extra paid hours: ₩41,280 a week.
Night, overtime and holiday work
At workplaces with 5 or more employees, work between 10pm and 6am, work beyond 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, and work on holidays are paid at least 50% extra. Smaller workplaces do not have to pay these premiums, though many do.
Why 3.3% is taken
Many shops treat part-timers as freelancers and withhold 3.3% (3% income tax + 0.3% local income tax). Others enrol you as an employee: if you work 60 hours a month or more, you join the National Pension, Health Insurance and Employment Insurance, and small salaries usually pay no income tax. If you are paid as a daily worker, no tax is usually withheld unless you earn more than about ₩187,000 in a day.
Many international students pay health insurance separately as individual members, so it does not come out of their wages.
Your rights
- The minimum wage is ₩10,320 an hour in 2026 and ₩10,700 from January 1, 2027. It applies to foreign workers the same way.
- Ask for a written employment contract (근로계약서) with your hourly wage, hours and payday.
- If you work 15+ hours a week for a year or more, you can get severance pay as a part-timer too.
- Unpaid wages? Call the Ministry of Employment and Labor at 1350 (interpretation available).
Quick answers
How much do part-time jobs pay in Korea?
At least the minimum wage: ₩10,320 an hour in 2026 and ₩10,700 from January 1, 2027. Working 20 hours a week at the 2026 minimum comes to about ₩1,076,220 a month, including the weekly holiday allowance.
What is the minimum wage in Korea in 2027?
₩10,700 an hour, ₩380 (3.7%) more than in 2026. For a 40-hour week that is ₩2,236,300 a month (209 paid hours).
What is the weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당)?
If you are scheduled to work 15 hours or more a week and work all your scheduled days, you are paid for extra hours: your weekly hours ÷ 40 × 8, up to 8 hours. At 20 hours a week that is 4 extra paid hours.
Does the minimum wage apply to foreigners?
Yes. The minimum wage applies to foreign workers the same way as to Korean workers, including part-time jobs at small shops.
Why is 3.3% taken from my part-time pay?
Many shops treat part-timers as freelancers and withhold 3.3%: 3% income tax and 0.3% local income tax. If you are enrolled as an employee instead, you may pay the four insurances, and small salaries usually pay no income tax.
2027 minimum wage: Ministry of Employment and Labor — 2027 minimum wage ₩10,700 an hour (Aug 5, 2026, Korean).