Chapter 3 Working hours, Recess, Off-Days and Leave
- Is the duration of a lunch break regulated by local law (minimum or maximum duration)? Is it obligatory to count the lunchbreak as part of the working hours? Must the lunchbreak be paid or unpaid?
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Article 54 (Recess), Labor Standards Act, as last amended by Act No. 12325, Jan. 21, 2014
Korean labor law does not regulate lunch break specifically. Instead, it regulates recess time in general; at least 30 minutes of recess time for 4 hours of working and 1 hour of recess time for 8 working hours.
Typically, in the working place where 8 hours of working hours, an employer gives 1 hour of lunch break for recess.
Recess time is not counted as working hours since it’s time without supervision and direction of employer. Therefore, recess time is unpaid.
*Labor Standards Act
Article 54 (Recess)(1) An employer shall allow workers a recess of not less than thirty minutes in cases of working for four hours, or a recess of not less than one hour in cases of working for eight hours, during work hours.
(2) Recess hours may be freely used by workers.
