How to Read Your Korean Payslip — Every Deduction Explained 2026

Why You Should Check Your Payslip

Every month, money is deducted from your salary before you receive it. Many foreign workers don't understand these deductions — and sometimes mistakes happen. Checking your payslip protects you.

Basic Structure of a Korean Payslip

Income Side (지급 항목)

기본급 (Base Salary): Your fixed monthly pay
연장근로수당 (Overtime Pay): Extra pay for hours over 40/week (1.5x rate)
야간근로수당 (Night Work Pay): Extra pay for work between 10 PM - 6 AM
휴일근로수당 (Holiday Pay): Extra pay for working on holidays
식대 (Meal Allowance): Up to 200,000 KRW/month is tax-free

Deduction Side (공제 항목)

국민연금 (National Pension): 4.5% of your salary — you get this back when you leave Korea
건강보험 (Health Insurance): About 3.5% — covers your medical expenses
장기요양보험 (Long-term Care): About 0.4% — added to health insurance
고용보험 (Employment Insurance): About 0.9% — for unemployment benefits
소득세 (Income Tax): Varies based on income
지방소득세 (Local Income Tax): 10% of income tax

Example Calculation

If your monthly salary is 2,500,000 KRW:

National Pension: -112,500
Health Insurance: -87,500
Long-term Care: -10,000
Employment Insurance: -22,500
Income Tax: -about 25,000
Local Tax: -about 2,500
Take-home pay: about 2,240,000 KRW

Common Issues to Watch For

Overtime hours not matching what you actually worked
Deductions for housing or meals exceeding legal limits
Missing overtime premium (should be 1.5x, not regular rate)

If something looks wrong, ask your employer or call the Labor Consultation Hotline: 1350 (available in multiple languages).

Know your pay, know your rights. Find verified employers at MyKoreaWork.

Practical Tips from the Field

4 mandatory deductions: National Pension (~4.5%), Health Insurance (~3.5%), Employment Insurance (~0.9%), Income Tax (varies). Your employer pays a matching amount.
Overtime pay must be at least 1.5x your regular hourly rate. Night work (10PM–6AM) adds another 0.5x. Check your legal rights here.
Save every payslip. If your employer underpays, these are your evidence at the Labor Board. Take photos or request digital copies.
If deductions seem too high, visit your local National Tax Service (국세청) — foreigners can get tax refunds when leaving Korea.