Working hours and rest breaks
There are legal limits on working hours. Going beyond them requires the worker's consent and premium pay.
What to know
- There are statutory working hours, set per day and per week.
- Overtime requires consent and has limits. You cannot be made to work without limit.
- Rest breaks must be given. Beyond a certain length of work, a break must be given during working hours.
- A rest break must be free. If you cannot leave your post and must stand by, that is working time.
- The exact figures can change. Check the current standards with 1350.
Steps
- Record your start, end and break times every day.
- Add up your weekly total.
- If it exceeds the limit, raise it with your employer.
- If nothing changes, get advice from 1350.
What you need
- Labour contract
- Attendance and break records
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labor
- Your regional labour office · labor.moel.go.kr
- Your local support centre for foreign workers
Questions people ask
I live in the dormitory and get called out at night. Time you are called out and work is working time. Record the times you are called.
I have to stay next to the machine during breaks. If you cannot rest freely, it is not a break — it is working time.
Is farming and fishing the same? Working hour and break rules can apply differently by industry. Check your sector with 1350.
Take care
Long hours lead to accidents. Do not operate machinery when drowsy or exhausted. If unreasonable demands continue, keep records and get advice.
Related
overtime-pay · weekly-holiday-pay · annual-leave · labor-standards-basics
Source
Ministry of Employment and Labor www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08