How it works
Korean job offers quote a yearly salary (연봉) before tax. Each month your employer takes out four social insurances and income tax before paying you. This calculator follows the same steps as the official withholding table (간이세액표), so the result should be within a few thousand won of your payslip.
What comes off your pay in 2026
- National Pension (국민연금): 4.75% of monthly pay, counted on pay between ₩410,000 and ₩6,590,000. Some nationalities are exempt under a social security agreement.
- Health insurance (건강보험): 3.595%. Your employer pays the same again.
- Long-term care insurance (장기요양보험): 13.14% of your health insurance premium.
- Employment insurance (고용보험): 0.9%. Some visa types join only if they choose to.
- Income tax (소득세) and local income tax (지방소득세): income tax comes from the withholding table, and local tax is 10% of it.
Take-home pay at common salaries
| Annual salary | Standard rates | 19% flat rate |
|---|---|---|
| ₩30 million | ₩2,248,820 | ₩1,754,010 |
| ₩40 million | ₩2,944,823 | ₩2,332,203 |
| ₩50 million | ₩3,573,687 | ₩2,910,407 |
| ₩60 million | ₩4,203,990 | ₩3,488,570 |
| ₩80 million | ₩5,395,627 | ₩4,644,977 |
| ₩100 million | ₩6,559,383 | ₩5,874,643 |
Single person, ₩200,000 tax-free meal allowance, 2026 rates.
The 19% flat tax for foreign workers
Foreign employees can choose to pay a flat 19% income tax (20.9% with local tax) instead of the normal progressive rates (Restriction of Special Taxation Act, article 18-2). It applies to your whole salary, tax-free allowances included, and you lose every deduction and credit. You qualify if you started working in Korea by 31 December 2026, and you can use it for 20 years from your first day of work. You choose it through your employer's year-end tax settlement or by filing in May.
For most salaries the normal rates win. The flat rate starts to pay off only at very high salaries, roughly ₩180 million a year and up for a single person. Flip the switch in the calculator to compare.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my payslip a little different?
Employers round some items differently, and bonuses, overtime and tax-free allowances change the taxable amount from month to month. Income tax is also adjusted at year-end tax settlement each February, so a small gap during the year is normal.
Do foreigners pay the same tax as Koreans?
Yes. Foreign residents pay the same income tax and insurance as Koreans by default. The only difference is that foreign workers may choose the 19% flat rate instead.
Am I exempt from National Pension?
Only if a social security agreement or your visa says so. Citizens of some countries who are sent by a home employer, and some visa types, are exempt. Ask HR for your enrollment status, and if you do pay, check whether you can claim the money back when you leave Korea.
Is a ₩200,000 meal allowance really tax-free?
Yes. A meal allowance of up to ₩200,000 a month is not taxed if your employer does not also give you free meals. It still counts for nothing in the four insurances.
Sources: Income Tax Act Enforcement Decree, Table 2 · Restriction of Special Taxation Act art. 18-2 · Ministry of Health and Welfare / NHIS 2026 contribution rates (pension 9.5%, health 7.19%, long-term care 0.9448%), Employment Insurance Act
Last checked: 2026-10-19. Figures are updated every January.