Overtime and Break Laws in South Korea (2026)
Labor Standards Act · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
At least 50% extra for hours past 8 a day or 40 a week. Holiday work 50% extra up to 8 hours, 100% beyond.
Breaks and lunch
A recess of at least 30 minutes for 4 hours of work, and at least 1 hour for 8 hours. Recess is unpaid and free for the employee to use.
Overtime in South Korea
- 1.5x pay for hours past 8 in a day.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 40 in a week.
- Overtime needs agreement and is capped at 12 hours a week (52-hour week).
- Night work 10pm to 6am: 50% extra, on top of any overtime premium.
- The Act fully applies to workplaces with 5 or more regular employees; smaller workplaces get only some provisions by decree.
- Compensatory leave can replace the premiums with a written agreement with the employee representative.
- At least one paid holiday per week on average.
Averaging over a pay period: Allowed via flexible work hour systems (2 weeks, 3 months, or up to 6 months with written agreement), max 48 or 52 hours in any week.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.5x after 40h in a week, 1.5x after 8h in a day). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.5x) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 80 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 80 | 20 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 80 | 28 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 70 | 10 |
Breaks and lunch in South Korea
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 4 hours or more.
- Meal break: 1 × 60 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 8 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 6 hours | None | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | None | 1 × 60 min, unpaid |
- Recess must be given during working hours, not at the start or end.
- Recess time is excluded from the 8 and 40-hour counts.
Pay by South Korea rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick South Korea: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in South Korea?
At least 50% extra for hours past 8 a day or 40 a week. Holiday work 50% extra up to 8 hours, 100% beyond.
Can overtime be averaged over two weeks or a pay period in South Korea?
Allowed via flexible work hour systems (2 weeks, 3 months, or up to 6 months with written agreement), max 48 or 52 hours in any week.
What breaks are required in South Korea?
A recess of at least 30 minutes for 4 hours of work, and at least 1 hour for 8 hours. Recess is unpaid and free for the employee to use.