What are the working hours and holiday rules for foreign workers?

Foreign workers are covered by the working hours and holiday rules of the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법), the same as Korean workers. The basic rule is 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. You also get a paid day off at least once a week on average.

Working hours and breaks

• Weekly working hours are 40 hours, not counting break time. Daily hours cannot exceed 8 hours.
• If both sides agree, overtime work is allowed up to 12 hours a week.
• Break time is at least 30 minutes for 4 working hours, and at least 1 hour for 8 working hours. Breaks must be given during working hours, and you can use them freely.
• Waiting time for your boss's instructions also counts as working hours.

Holidays and extra pay

• The employer must guarantee a paid day off at least once a week on average.
• For overtime work and night work (10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day), you get at least 50% extra on top of your ordinary wage.
• For holiday work, you get 50% extra on your ordinary wage for up to 8 hours, and 100% extra for hours over 8.

Annual leave

• If you attend at least 80% of the year, you get 15 days of paid leave.
• If you have worked less than 1 year, or your attendance is below 80%, you get 1 day for each month of full attendance.

⚠️ Things to watch out for

• For Non-professional Employment (E-9) workers, working conditions under the Labor Standards Act are the same as for regular workers, even during the probation period.
• If the working hours or holidays in your employment contract are worse than the rules above, get advice from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부) at 1350 or a Foreign Workers Counseling Center (외국인력상담센터).
• At workplaces with fewer than 5 employees, some rules, such as extra pay, may apply differently.
• International students (D-2, D-4) are also limited by the permitted part-time work hours, separate from the legal working hours.

For exact details, check again with the Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부) at 1350 or the Foreigner Comprehensive Information Center (외국인종합안내센터) at 1345.