Starting in 2026, South Korea will implement a 2.9% increase in its minimum wage, a move that will also boost the earnings of Vietnamese laborers working in the country.

According to the Department of Overseas Labour under the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs, South Korea's Minimum Wage Commission recently announced that the national minimum wage for 2026 will be set at KRW10,320 ($7.48) per hour.

This represents an increase of KRW290 ($0,21) per hour, or 2.9%, compared to the current rate. Based on a standard 209-hour work month, the new minimum monthly salary for workers will be approximately 2,156,880 KRW ($1,563).

The department has disseminated this information to businesses and recruitment agencies to ensure that the rights of Vietnamese workers are protected under their labor supply contracts.

The department noted that South Korea has become a key and highly attractive labor market for Vietnam. In 2024 alone, over 13,600 Vietnamese workers relocated to South Korea for employment.

In the first half of 2025, South Korea remained one of the top three destinations for Vietnamese labor, alongside Japan and Taiwan (China), welcoming more than 5,600 workers. For Vietnamese nationals, South Korea is a preferred choice due to its high income levels and cultural similarities.