Korean Annual Leave: A Complete Guide
Under Korea's Labor Standards Act, employees are entitled to paid annual leave. Here's how it works:
First Year (Under 1 Year of Service)
New employees earn 1 day of leave per month of perfect attendance, up to 11 days in their first year.
After 1 Year of Service
Employees who worked at least 80% of the year receive 15 days of annual leave. Important: The first-year monthly leave days are NOT deducted from these 15 days.
Bonus Days (3+ Years)
After 3 years, employees earn 1 additional day every 2 years, capped at 25 days total.
| Years of Service | Base | Bonus | Total |
|---|
| 1-2 years | 15 | 0 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-4 years | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| 5-6 years | 15 | 2 | 17 |
| 21+ years | 15 | 10 | 25 (max) |
Unused Leave Compensation
Unused leave must be compensated financially. The daily pay rate equals monthly salary divided by standard monthly hours (209), multiplied by 8.
Use our annual leave calculator to determine your exact entitlement.