I'm working over 52 hours per week. Is this illegal.

What the Law Says

South Korean labor law strictly limits weekly working hours to protect workers’ health and safety. The Labor Standards Act sets clear caps on regular and overtime work.

Under the Labor Standards Act, the standard workweek is 40 hours — no more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Employers may extend working hours only under strict conditions.

Overtime is permitted up to 12 hours per week, but only if agreed upon in a written agreement between employer and employee representatives (e.g., union or elected worker delegates). Even with such agreement, total weekly hours — regular plus overtime — must not exceed 52 hours.

Overtime work must be compensated at no less than 1.5 times the regular hourly wage. For work on statutory holidays or rest days, the rate rises to at least 2.0 times the regular wage.

Statutory Text

The working hours per week shall not exceed forty hours, excluding rest periods.

— Labor Standards Act, s. 50 — Working Hours

Statutory Text

The employer may extend the working hours… provided that the extension does not exceed twelve hours per week… and the total working hours per week do not exceed fifty-two hours.

— Labor Standards Act, s. 53 — Extension of Working Hours

What to Do

Sources