Weekly holiday pay and annual leave
PayChecked against source 2026-09-13Last checked 2026-08
The day we opened the government source and matched the numbers. This is not a labor attorney's review.
There is money you receive without working
Weekly holiday pay is one extra day's pay for a day you did not work, given when you came in on all the days set for that week. However, the law may leave farming, livestock, fisheries and similar work out of the weekly holiday rules, so there you receive it if your contract says so.
Conditions for weekly holiday pay
- You do not work in farming, livestock, fisheries or similar work (that work follows the paid holiday terms in your contract)
- Averaged over 4 weeks, your contracted hours must be 15 hours or more a week
- You came in on all the contracted working days of that week (full attendance)
Workplaces with fewer than 5 people must pay it too
The overtime, night and holiday premiums do not apply to workplaces with fewer than 5 people, but weekly holiday pay is different. It must be kept whatever the size of the company. "We are a small company so we do not pay it" is not correct. However, in farming, livestock, fisheries and similar work, the legal weekly holiday rules may not apply whatever the size of the company, so ask 1350 about your actual work and the paid holiday terms in your contract. If your contract sets paid holidays, you must receive them as written.
What must be kept whatever the size of the company
- Making a written labor contract
- Giving a pay slip
- The minimum wage
- Weekly holiday pay (except farming, livestock, fisheries and similar work)
- Joining insurance for work accidents (the type depends on the industry and the kind of workplace; ask 1588-0075 who must join employment insurance)
- Notice of dismissal
- Severance pay
- Maternity leave and childcare leave
Annual paid leave
| Period worked | Leave you receive |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 1 day for each month of full attendance |
| After 1 year with attendance of 80% or more, if you are still working the next day | 15 days |
| 3 years or more | 1 more day every 2 years (up to 25 days) |
CautionLegal annual leave arises at workplaces that normally have 5 or more people, if your contracted hours average 15 hours or more a week over 4 weeks. If you work exactly 1 year and then leave, you do not get 15 days — check the up to 11 days that came from each 1 month of full attendance. Ask 1350 how many people your company has, and therefore whether annual leave applies to you.
How to check
- If you work in farming, livestock, fisheries or similar work, first look at the paid holiday terms in your contract.
- Look at whether there is a weekly holiday pay item on your pay slip.
- If there is none, ask the company whether it is included inside the base pay.
- If they say it is included, ask them to calculate how much it is.
- If they cannot explain it, get counseling at 1350.
Not receiving weekly holiday pay you are owed is also unpaid wages. You can file in the same way as in "How to file when your wages go unpaid".
Ministry of Employment and Labor counseling center (고용노동부 상담센터) 1350.
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1350
Rules change often, and the same rule applies differently to different people. Check your own case with 1350 (Ministry of Employment and Labor customer center). Its phone counseling in foreign languages is in English and Chinese. For your own language, ask 1345 (Immigration Contact Center).
This is reference material. Rules change often — always confirm with the hotline below before you file anything.
Sources
- Ministry of Employment and Labor — Labor law for workplaces with fewer than 5 people (card news) 고용노동부 — [카드뉴스] 5인미만 사업장 적용 노동법 checked 2026-08-31
- MOEL Fast Internet Counseling — Weekly holiday pay for part-time workers 고용노동부 빠른인터넷상담 — 단시간근로자 주휴수당 계산 checked 2026-09-11
- Korean Law Information Center — Labor Standards Act Article 60 (annual paid leave) 국가법령정보센터 — 근로기준법 제60조(연차 유급휴가) checked 2026-08-31