[Work & Life] South Korea Minimum Wage 2027: 10,700 KRW – What EPS Workers Will Earn

KOREA LIFE & WORK
South Korea Minimum Wage 2027: 10,700 KRW 💰
What EPS workers will earn from January 1, 2027
✅ Officially announced · Updated October 2026

Good news for every EPS worker! 🎉 The Korean government has officially fixed the 2027 minimum wage at 10,700 KRW per hour (≈ ₱505 · $8.07). It starts on January 1, 2027 and applies to all workplaces in every industry — and that includes foreign workers on the E-9 visa. In this guide, Teacher Nova shows you exactly how much you will earn and how to check your pay slip.

🇵🇭 Magandang balita! Opisyal nang 10,700 KRW kada oras ang minimum wage sa 2027, simula Enero 1, 2027. Para ito sa lahat ng workplace — kasama ang mga EPS worker.

📌 1. 2027 Minimum Wage at a Glance

2026 2027
Hourly (시급) 10,320 KRW
≈ ₱488
≈ $7.79
10,700 KRW
≈ ₱505
≈ $8.07
Monthly (월급, 209 hours) 2,156,880 KRW
≈ ₱101,900
≈ $1,630
2,236,300 KRW
≈ ₱105,600
≈ $1,690
Increase — +380 KRW/hour (+3.7%)
≈ ₱18
≈ $0.29 per hour
💱 Peso & dollar amounts are approximate. Exchange rates used: 1,000 KRW ≈ ₱47.2 (Oct 19, 2026) · 1 USD ≈ 1,325 KRW (Oct 21, 2026). Rates change every day, and the money you actually receive at home depends on your remittance app’s rate and fees.
💡 Why 209 hours? A 40-hour week plus paid weekly rest day (주휴수당) adds up to about 209 hours a month. That is how Korea turns the hourly wage into a monthly salary.

🧮 2. How Much Will You Earn in 2027?

Your basic monthly pay will be at least 2,236,300 KRW (≈ ₱105,600 · $1,690) before deductions if you work 40 hours a week. That is about 79,000 KRW more per month (≈ ₱3,750 · $60) than in 2026 — roughly 950,000 KRW more per year (≈ ₱45,000 · $720)!

Overtime makes a big difference. In workplaces with 5 or more employees, overtime, night work (10 PM–6 AM) and holiday work are paid extra:

Type of work Rate 2027 hourly pay
Overtime (연장근로) × 1.5 16,050 KRW
≈ ₱758
≈ $12.11
Night work (야간근로) + 0.5 extra +5,350 KRW
≈ ₱253
≈ $4.04
Holiday work (휴일근로, up to 8h) × 1.5 16,050 KRW
≈ ₱758
≈ $12.11
📊 Example: You work 2 hours of overtime every weekday (about 43 hours a month).
Basic pay 2,236,300 + overtime 43 × 16,050 = 690,150
➡️ About 2,926,450 KRW a month (≈ ₱138,200 · $2,210) before deductions.

👉 Want to calculate your own pay with deductions (insurance, tax)? Read: How to Calculate Your Salary in South Korea

🇵🇭 Mas malaki ang kita kapag may overtime: 1.5 beses ang bayad sa overtime at holiday work, at may dagdag na 0.5 para sa night work (10 PM–6 AM) sa workplace na may 5 o higit pang empleyado.

✅ 3. What EPS Workers Should Check in January 2027

  1. Your hourly wage on the pay slip (급여명세서) must be at least 10,700 KRW for work from January 1, 2027.
  2. Your contract: if your contract says “minimum wage,” your pay should go up automatically.
  3. Deductions for housing or meals: these should follow your contract and your agreement — ask your company if you do not understand them.
  4. Keep records: write down your working hours and keep your pay slips. They help if there is a problem.
🚨 Paid less than the minimum wage? First talk to your company. If it is not solved, call the Ministry of Employment and Labor counseling center ☎ 1350 (foreign language support) or visit a Foreign Workers Support Center near you. Paying less than the minimum wage is against the law in Korea.

🗣️ 4. Korean Words for Your Pay Slip

Korean [Real Sound] English
최저임금 [최저임금] minimum wage
시급 [시급] hourly wage
월급 [월급] monthly salary
연장근로 [연장글로] overtime work
야간근로 [야간글로] night work
급여명세서 [그벼명세서] pay slip
✅ Can you say it now?
“내년 최저임금은 시급 만 칠백 원이에요.”
(Next year’s minimum wage is 10,700 won per hour.)

📚 More Guides for EPS Workers

📎 Sources: Minimum Wage Commission decision (July 14, 2026) and Ministry of Employment and Labor official announcement (August 5, 2026), as reported by Yonhap via Daum News and Segye Ilbo. Exchange rates: KRW to PHP (Oct 19, 2026), USD/KRW close (Oct 21, 2026). This guide is general information, not legal advice — check your own contract and ask the official counseling center (☎ 1350) for your case.