Leave rules · 2026
Annual leave and sick leave rules in South Korea (2026)
Employees in South Korea get at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year on a 5-day week (3 weeks). Sick leave: not paid.
Rules as of September 2026 · page built Monday, September 28, 2026Statutory minimums
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15 days a year (120 hours)
Statutory minimum 15 days on a 5-day week at 0 years of service.
This is the legal floor for South Korea; the contract can give more.
| Service | Minimum (5-day week) | In weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting entitlement | 15 days | 3 weeks |
| After 3 years | 16 days | 3.2 weeks |
| After 5 years | 17 days | 3.4 weeks |
| After 7 years | 18 days | 3.6 weeks |
| After 9 years | 19 days | 3.8 weeks |
| After 11 years | 20 days | 4 weeks |
| After 13 years | 21 days | 4.2 weeks |
| After 15 years | 22 days | 4.4 weeks |
| After 17 years | 23 days | 4.6 weeks |
| After 19 years | 24 days | 4.8 weeks |
| After 21 years | 25 days | 5 weeks |
15 days after 1 year with at least 80% attendance, plus 1 day for every 2 years after the first, up to 25. In the first year: 1 day per month of full attendance (up to 11) (Labor Standards Act art. 60).
Worked exampleA full-time employee on a 5-day week gets at least 15 days a year; after 3 years, 16 days, rising to 25 days after 21 years.
What the rules mean in practice
In South Korea, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 3 weeks, rising…
In South Korea, a full-time employee on a 5-day week is entitled to at least 15 days of paid annual leave a year, which is 3 weeks, rising to 25 days after 21 years of service. The legal wording: 15 days after 1 year with at least 80% attendance, plus 1 day for every 2 years after the first, up to 25. In the first year: 1 day per month of full attendance (up to 11) (Labor Standards Act art. 60).
Compared with the other 37 jurisdictions LeaveCalc covers, that starting minimum is higher than 17, the same as 2 and lower than 18. Across all of them the range runs from 5 days (the Philippines) to 30 days (the United Arab Emirates). 15 days is about 5.8% of a 260-day working year.
Length of service raises the floor ten times: 16 days after 3 years, 17 days after 5 years, 18 days after 7 years, 19 days after 9 years, 20 days after 11 years, 21 days after 13 years, 22 days after 15 years, 23 days after 17 years, 24 days after 19 years and 25 days after 21 years.
Public holidays are paid days off in addition to annual leave. For 2026, the public holiday calendar for South Korea lists 18 holidays, 16 of them on working days. An employee who has all 16 weekday holidays off on top of the 15-day minimum is away from work on at least 31 weekdays in 2026.
Sick leave: No statutory paid sick leave in the private sector. LeaveCalc rates this entry High confidence, based on the official sources listed below as of September 2026.
Public holidays
Public holidays are paid days off in addition to annual leave. See the 2026 and 2027 public holiday dates for South Korea, with .ics downloads.
Sources
As of September 2026. Statutory minimums only: contracts, collective agreements and local rules can give more.
Questions about leave in South Korea
The statutory minimum is 15 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (3 weeks).
How many days of annual leave do employees get in South Korea?
The statutory minimum is 15 days a year for a full-time employee on a 5-day week (3 weeks). 15 days after 1 year with at least 80% attendance, plus 1 day for every 2 years after the first, up to 25. In the first year: 1 day per month of full attendance (up to 11) (Labor Standards Act art. 60).
Does annual leave increase with length of service in South Korea?
Yes. The minimum starts at 15 days a year and steps up with completed years of service: 16 days after 3 years, 17 days after 5 years, 18 days after 7 years, 19 days after 9 years, 20 days after 11 years, 21 days after 13 years, 22 days after 15 years, 23 days after 17 years, 24 days after 19 years and 25 days after 21 years.
Is sick leave paid in South Korea?
No statutory paid sick days are recorded here. No statutory paid sick leave in the private sector.
Are public holidays part of annual leave in South Korea?
Public holidays are paid days off in addition to annual leave. In 2026 the calendar for South Korea has 18 public holidays, 16 of them on working days.