Hiring employees in South Korea

Download our guide to employing staff in South Korea

Our team of international HR, payroll, compensation & benefits experts have compiled everything you need to know when employing in South Korea so that you can meet your global expansion objectives.

The guide covers the fundamentals you need to be on top of, including the main source of legislation governing employment law in South Korea, the Labour Standards Act (“LSA”).

The LSA generally applies to businesses or workplaces with five or more employees, although certain provisions apply to businesses with fewer than five employees. A few categories of employees are exempted from the provisions of the LSA, such as seafarers, private school teachers and police officers.

This guidance will enable you to navigate South Korean employment law, providing you with the key framework needed to operate compliantly.

The full contents of the detailed guide to employing staff in South Korea are as follows: 

• Employment of foreigners
• Employment contracts
• Probation
• Remuneration
• Working hours and time off
• Leave
• Social security coverage
• Workers’ compensation insurance
• Supplemental benefits
• Termination of employment
• Discrimination
• Industrial relations
• Data protection

This country guide is intended to be a summary of the major areas of employment law & HR practice and does not constitute legal or HR advice. The guidance was correct at the time of publishing and professional advice should always be sought as specific needs arise.