South Korea Personal Income Tax
Detailed personal income tax rates and rules for South Korea in 2026.
South Korea imposes a national progressive income tax with eight brackets ranging from 6% to 45%. An additional local income tax of 10% of the national income tax liability applies, bringing the effective top marginal rate to 49.5%. Residents are taxed on worldwide income while non-residents are taxed only on Korean-sourced income. Employment income benefits from various deductions including an earned income deduction, basic personal exemption of KRW 1.5 million per qualifying person, and additional deductions for insurance premiums, medical expenses, education expenses, and charitable donations.
| Income Range (KRW) | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| ₩0 – ₩14.0M | 6% |
| ₩14.0M – ₩50.0M | 15% |
| ₩50.0M – ₩88.0M | 24% |
| ₩88.0M – ₩150.0M | 35% |
| ₩150.0M – ₩300.0M | 38% |
| ₩300.0M – ₩500.0M | 40% |
| ₩500.0M – ₩1000.0M | 42% |
| ₩1000.0M+ | 45% |
Filing Deadline
May 31 (annual comprehensive income tax return)
Residency Rule
An individual is a tax resident if they have a domicile in Korea or have resided in Korea for 183 days or more during the tax year. Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed only on Korean-sourced income at either graduated rates or a flat 20% rate, whichever is lower.
Additional Notes
South Korea applies a special flat tax rate option of 19% for foreign workers employed in Korea for up to five years (extendable), which may be more favorable than the progressive rates for high earners. Korea also imposes a housing-related surcharge on taxpayers owning multiple properties or expensive homes.
How South Korea Income Tax compares
South Korea’s top personal income tax rate of 49.5% is the 15th highest of 203 countries TaxAtlas tracks, above the global average of 27.7% and Asia’s regional average of 22.2%.
