What Is Weekly Holiday Allowance in Korea?

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What Is Weekly Holiday Allowance in Korea?

“I work in Korea. Am I entitled to paid weekly holiday allowance?”

If you work in Korea, you may be entitled to weekly holiday allowance (주휴수당) in addition to your regular wages.

Understanding this rule is especially important for foreign workers, part-time employees, and hourly workers.

What Is Weekly Holiday Allowance?

Under Korea’s Labor Standards Act, eligible employees are entitled to at least one paid weekly holiday per week when they meet the required conditions.

The payment made for this paid weekly holiday is commonly referred to as weekly holiday allowance.

Who Can Receive It?

Generally, weekly holiday allowance applies when:

You are a worker covered by the Labor Standards Act.
Your scheduled working hours average at least 15 hours per week over four weeks.
You have worked all of your scheduled working days during the relevant week.

Importantly, you do not necessarily have to work a standard five-day, 40-hour schedule.

Even part-time workers who work at least 15 hours per week may be entitled to weekly holiday allowance, with the amount calculated based on their scheduled working hours.

How Much Is It?

The amount generally corresponds to the wages for the paid weekly holiday.

For example, if an eligible employee normally works 8 hours per day, the weekly holiday allowance may correspond to 8 hours of wages.

For employees who work fewer hours, the amount can be calculated based on their scheduled working hours.

Does This Apply to Foreign Workers?

Yes. Foreign workers can also be entitled to weekly holiday allowance when they meet the requirements under Korean labor law.

Your nationality does not by itself remove your rights under Korea’s minimum wage and labor standards rules.

If you are working part-time or hourly, it is a good idea to check your employment contract and payslip to see whether your weekly holiday allowance is being properly reflected.

Working in Korea?

If you are unsure whether you qualify for weekly holiday allowance or how much you should receive, consulting a qualified labor professional can help you check your individual situation.