Overtime, night and holiday premiums

Extra hours are paid at a higher rate than normal hours. There are three kinds.

Three premium categories

1. Overtime work — hours beyond the statutory working hours
2. Night work — hours between 10pm and 6am
3. Holiday work — hours worked on a holiday

These hours must be paid at the ordinary wage plus a set percentage. If they overlap (night work on a holiday), the premiums add up.

Steps

1. Record your start and end times every day. Note rest breaks too.
2. Check the overtime, night and holiday lines on your payslip.
3. If they are missing or the hours are understated, ask the employer to check.
4. If it is not resolved, get advice from 1350 and file a complaint.

What you need

• Labour contract (the basis for the ordinary wage)
• Attendance records
• Payslips

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor (advice on calculation)
• Your regional labour office · labor.moel.go.kr
• Your local support centre for foreign workers

Questions people ask

They say it is "inclusive pay" that already covers overtime. If it is included, the contract and payslip must show the hours and amounts. If you actually worked more, you are owed the difference.

Do premiums apply in workplaces with fewer than five workers? Application can differ by workplace size. Check your case with 1350.

Is my meal break working time? If you are genuinely free to rest, it is not. If you cannot leave your post and must stand by, it can count as working time.

Take care

There is a habit of framing extra work as "helping out when it's busy" and not paying for it. Record every hour you work. The record is the money.

Related

working-hours · weekly-holiday-pay · public-holidays · minimum-wage

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labor www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08