Remote work
in South Korea.

SALARY PAYMENT IN South Korean Won (KRW, ₩)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES Korean / English

PAYROLL TAX 16.43% – 34.94%

PAYROLL CYCLE Monthly

TIME TO HIRE 24 hours
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Horizons-owned entity with local country experts in Seoul.

We offer fair, scalable, and transparent pricing on South Korea PEO service. Contact us for a cost breakdown

End service in South Korea with no additional penalties or fees.

Including vision, dental, death & disability, travel, and more.

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South Korea

Remote work in South Korea – Overview

South Korea is known for its high-intensity working culture. The corporate culture is especially demanding, with employees putting in long hours on 6 days of the week and being hesitant to leave the workplace if colleagues are still working. The mantra, ‘your company is your family’ is key to understanding South Korean attitudes towards their work.

The introduction of remote working and hybrid working models during the Covid19 pandemic was therefore a big change for South Korean businesses and managers. Remote and hybrid working models are particularly popular among younger workers, and those South Koreans working in industries like Tech, Marketing and digital services.

A 2010 amendment to the Labor Standards Act (1997) introduced various flexible working hours arrangements. These arrangements, which are intended for different use cases, include; the flexible working hour system, the selective working hour system, and the deemed working hour system.

Remote work in South Korea – Laws & Regulations

Back in 2020, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor released a remote working manual for employers.

At the core of the manual is the fact that remote working or work from home arrangements are fundamentally based on an agreement between the employer and employee. Employers are well within their rights to reject an employee’s request to work remotely.

Various behaviors may violate office or company regulations. For example, working at a cafe or shared workspace instead of at home can only be done with prior permission or a specific agreement with employers. On the employer side, tracking remote employees without their consent is against the law.

The other key area for employers to be aware of, is accidents and injuries sustained whilst working from home. According to the MOEL’s remote working manual, accidents that occur at home are considered occupational accidents. It therefore makes good sense for South Korean employers to establish minimum safety standards for their employees’ proposed work from home environments.

Hiring in South Korea, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in South Korea without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 180+ countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

FAQs

Is South Korea a good country for remote work?

Yes. South Korea is a good country for remote work. The country has a modern infrastructure, including a digital infrastructure that rivals many European countries in terms of internet speeds and telecommunications connectivity/adoption. At the time of writing, the South Korean government are due to release more details/launch the South Korean digital nomad visa, which is being referred to as the “workcation” visa in South Korea.

What are my options if I want to hire a remote employee in South Korea?

Online freelancing platforms are used by freelancers across South Korea, but do present certain risks to employers. To ensure compliance with South Korean employment law, employers looking to hire remote workers in South Korea are advised to utilize the services of Horizons’ South Korea PEO.

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"I truly appreciated the thoroughness and the professionalism of Horizons personnel while we hired internationally with them. When they advised our international expansion, they spoke confidently and were knowledgable on all subject matters pertaining to international employment."

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