Available Calculators
Income Tax Calculator
Calculate real net salary after income tax and 4 major insurances.
Calculate now →4 insurancesSocial Insurance Calculator
National Pension, Health Insurance, Employment & Long-term care rates.
Calculate now →FreelancersFreelancer 3.3% Calculator
3.3% withholding for independent contractors in Korea.
Calculate now →How Taxes Work in South Korea (Quick Overview)
South Korea uses a progressive income tax system with rates from 6% to 45%. If you earn a salary in Korea, your employer withholds income tax, local income tax (10% of income tax), and social insurance contributions from each paycheck.
2026 Income Tax Brackets
| Taxable Income (KRW) | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to ₩14M | 6% |
| ₩14M – ₩50M | 15% |
| ₩50M – ₩88M | 24% |
| ₩88M – ₩150M | 35% |
| ₩150M – ₩300M | 38% |
| ₩300M – ₩500M | 40% |
| ₩500M – ₩1B | 42% |
| Over ₩1B | 45% |
4 Major Social Insurances (2026)
Every employee in South Korea must contribute to four social insurance programs. Both the employee and employer share the cost. The 2026 employee rates are:
- National Pension: 4.75% (increased from 4.5% in 2026)
- Health Insurance: 3.595%
- Long-term Care: 13.14% of health insurance premium
- Employment Insurance: 0.9%
Combined, employees pay approximately 9.6% of their salary toward social insurance. The employer pays a matching amount.
Freelancer 3.3% Withholding
Independent contractors and freelancers in Korea have 3.3% withheld from each payment — 3% income tax plus 0.3% local income tax. This applies to anyone working under a freelance contract (프리랜서 계약) rather than as a salaried employee. The withheld amount is credited toward your annual tax filing in May.
New to Korean taxes?
Read our Complete Korea Tax Guide for Foreigners →