Korean take-home pay for 2026
Your contract salary is gross. Take-home pay subtracts Korea's four social insurances — national pension, health, long-term care, and employment — plus income and local tax. This tool applies 2026 rates: the national pension rose from 9% to 9.5% (employee 4.75%) and health insurance to 7.19%, so the same salary nets slightly less than in 2025.
Enter your gross annual or monthly pay, the number of dependents (including yourself), and any monthly non-taxable amount such as a meal allowance (up to 200,000 KRW). Income tax follows the National Tax Service simplified withholding table, so the figure is an estimate — year-end settlement may refund or add tax.
See the percent calculator for quick rate math or the loan calculator for repayment planning. Displayed amounts are estimates for 2026 and may differ from your payslip.
Working in Korea as a foreigner
Foreign employees pay into the same system as Koreans, with a few differences you can switch on under Foreign worker options:
- 19% flat tax. If you first started working in Korea on or before December 31, 2026, you can choose to pay a flat 19% income tax (20.9% with local tax) on your whole salary for 20 years instead of the regular 6–45% rates. Allowances and deductions no longer apply, so it usually only pays off at higher salaries — the calculator tells you which option is lower.
- National pension. Most foreign workers are enrolled, but nationals of countries that don’t cover Koreans in their own pension system are exempt. If you are enrolled, you may be able to claim your contributions back as a lump-sum refund when you leave Korea — E-9 and H-2 (EPS) workers can claim it whatever their nationality.
- Employment insurance. E-9 and H-2 workers are covered for unemployment benefits only if they apply; E-7-type work visas and F-4 are covered only on application. F-2, F-5 and F-6 holders are covered like Koreans.
- Health insurance is mandatory for every employee, foreign or not.
Rules depend on your visa, nationality and any social security agreement, so confirm with the National Pension Service (1355), the Employment Center (1350) or the National Tax Service (126) before relying on the numbers. For an E-9 job offer quoted as an hourly wage, start with the minimum wage & hourly pay calculator.