Korea annual leave in 2026: 15 days, service additions and scope
A sourced explanation of the statutory Korean annual-leave baseline in Article 60.
Korean annual leave is not determined by hire date alone. Workplace size, scheduled weekly hours, continuous service and attendance must be checked first. The figures below describe the general statutory baseline in Article 60 of the Labor Standards Act.
15-day baseline after one year
A worker with at least 80 percent attendance during one year generally receives 15 days of paid annual leave.
Monthly accrual below one year
A worker with less than one year of continuous service generally accrues one day for each fully attended month, up to 11 days in that first-year pattern.
Additional days from longer service
From at least three years of continuous service, one day is added for every two years beyond the first year, subject to a total cap of 25 days.
Check statutory scope
The Act generally applies to workplaces with at least five regular employees, and Article 60 does not apply where average scheduled weekly hours over four weeks are below 15. More favourable workplace rules may apply.
For a worker in the fourth service year with at least 80 percent attendance in the relevant prior year, the baseline is 15 days plus one additional day, or 16 days. A calendar-year company system can change timing and settlement.
What to check
- Confirm regular employee count and scheduled weekly hours.
- Confirm hire date, reference date and attendance.
- Check whether the employer administers leave by hire date or calendar year.
- Review separate rules for leave promotion, leave periods and payment on termination.
UCALX shows a baseline assuming full monthly attendance and at least 80 percent annual attendance. It does not decide leave classifications, calendar-year adjustments, expiry or unused-leave payment.
Official sources checked
Standards can change. These links are provided so you can verify the current primary source.
Korea Annual Leave Calculator
Apply the baseline above with your own dates and figures.