Data Sources
3
ILO / WB / OECD coverage
🇰🇷 Asia-Pacific ·OECD member
South Korea
An ILO EPLex composite of 0.454 places South Korea among moderate-protection jurisdictions on the 0-1 scale.
ILO EPLex B-READY 2025 OECD EPL
0.454 ILO EPLex composite (0–1)
South Korea's statutory protection against unfair dismissal is moderate - an ILO EPLex composite of 0.454 on the 0–1 scale, stronger than 61% of the 95 rated countries. Data is compiled from 3 official sources (ILO EPLex, World Bank B-READY 2025, OECD EPL), covering statutory notice periods, severance pay, and dismissal procedures.
South Korea - the verdict
South Korea's statutory protection against unfair dismissal is moderate - an ILO EPLex composite of 0.454 on the 0–1 scale, stronger than 61% of the 95 rated countries.
- 0.454
- ILO EPLex composite (0–1)
- 61st
- percentile, protection
- 2.35/6
- OECD EPL strictness
- 74.5/100
- B-READY labor quality
Sources: ILO EPLex · World Bank B-READY 2025 · OECD EPL. Higher = stronger statutory protection.
How we calculate this percentile
We sort every country with a published ILO EPLex composite score (95 in total) from lowest to highest. South Korea's position in that sorted list gives its percentile: round((countries at or below its score ÷ 95) × 100). A higher percentile means stronger statutory dismissal protection relative to the full 95-country set, not a comparison to any single peer country.
South Korea ranks high on the World Bank B-READY 2025 labor regulation quality index, scoring 74.5/100, placing it among the stronger regulatory environments globally. The ILO EPLex composite (2019) stands at 0.454/1.0. The OECD EPL overall index is 2.35/6.0, ranking #32 of OECD-covered countries. Statutory notice rules apply across 7 tenure tiers.
What the Data Shows for South Korea
Asia-Pacific. Covered by 3/3 tracked datasets. As an OECD member, it is included in the OECD's long-running historical EPL series. The most recent ILO EPLex composite score is 0.454 out of 1.0 (2019), summarizing statutory termination rules into a single index. B-READY 2025 labor score: 74.5/100, comparatively strong. The OECD EPL overall strictness index is 2.35/6.0, where higher values indicate stricter rules on individual and collective dismissal.
Statutory notice periods in South Korea scale with tenure across 7 tiers, reaching 1 month at 20 years of service. Severance pay can reach 0 months of salary at 20 years, while redundancy-specific pay is 0 months. The maximum probation period allowed by law is 3 months, defining how long employers can assess workers under reduced protection. Dismissal process: slow, ~6.5 weeks. No 3rd-party approval required for individual dismissal.
Formal labor dispute resolution is notably slow, averaging 7.7 months from filing to outcome. A moderate share of firms, 8.3% in the World Bank's survey, report experiencing a labor dispute. Employer social contributions are substantial here, 14.8% of salary, a significant cost layer beyond base pay. The EPLex redress/reinstatement sub-indicator is 0.875/1.0, reflecting how strong remedies are when a dismissal is ruled unlawful. Historically, South Korea's OECD EPL score moved from 3.08 in 1990 to 2.35 in 2019, showing the direction of reform over time. 6 peer comparisons below.
How to read the three measurement scales
These figures draw on three different measurement traditions, so read each one on its own terms before comparing across countries. The ILO EPLex composite condenses statutory termination rules into a single index from zero to one, where higher numbers mean stronger legal protection against dismissal. The World Bank Business Ready 2025 labor score runs from zero to one hundred and blends the quality of regulation with how well public services and dispute processes actually work in practice. The OECD employment protection index uses a zero to six scale and only covers member economies, but it offers the longest historical series, which makes it the better choice for tracking reform over time. A country can score strictly on paper yet still process dismissals quickly, so always weigh the statutory index against the practical estimates. Where a country appears in fewer than all three datasets, treat the missing measures as not yet collected rather than as a sign of weak protection, and revisit this page when new releases are published because indicators can shift year over year.
Region
Asia-Pacific
Geographic grouping
Latest Year
2025
Most recent indicator update
South Korea vs. every rated country
Where South Korea's ILO EPLex composite sits among all 95 countries with a composite score.
South Korea - ILO EPLex composite
Worker-protection strength against unfair dismissal (0–1 scale)
0.45 Top 39% higher than 61% of 95 rated countries
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated countries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source ILO EPLex composite (0–1 scale) · 2019
South Korea EPLex composite 45.4%
Out of a 1.0 maximum. Higher = stronger statutory protection against dismissal.
ILO EPLex (2019)
0.454
out of 1.0 · Rank #38
B-READY 2025
74.5
out of 100 · Rank #8
OECD EPL
2.35
out of 6.0 · Rank #32
ILO EPLex
Termination Protection Breakdown (2019)
Prohibited Grounds for Dismissal 0.500
Probation Period 0.880
Procedural Requirements 0.250
Notice Periods 0.207
Severance Pay 0.000
Redundancy Pay 0.000
Redress / Reinstatement 0.875
Scale: 0 = no protection · 1 = maximum protection. Source: ILO EPLex 2019.
Max probation period: 3 months
Notice Periods by Tenure
| Tenure | Notice Period |
|---|---|
| 6 months | 1 month |
| 9 months | 1 month |
| 2 years | 1 month |
| 4 years | 1 month |
| 5 years | 1 month |
| 10 years | 1 month |
| 20 years | 1 month |
Source: ILO EPLex ILO EPLex Notice period is the legally mandated advance notice before termination
Severance and Redundancy Pay by Tenure
| Tenure | Severance | Redundancy |
|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 9 months | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 2 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 4 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 5 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 10 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
| 20 years | 0 mo | 0 mo |
Values in salary-months. Source: ILO EPLex. Severance = individual dismissal. Redundancy = collective/economic dismissal.
B-READY 2025
Labor Regulation Quality
Regulation Quality
88.6
out of 100
Public Services
83.3
out of 100
Efficiency
51.7
out of 100
Notice Required
Yes
Severance Required
Yes
Weeks to Dismiss
6.5
Weeks Severance
0.0
Firms in Disputes
8.3%
Months to Resolve
7.7
Social Contributions
14.8%
3rd Party for Dismissal
Not required
Source: World Bank Business Ready 2025 World Bank Business Ready 2025 Pillar scores are 0-100 (higher = better regulation quality)
OECD EPL
Historical Protection Score
| Year | Overall Score | Visual |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.08 | |
| 1991 | 3.08 | |
| 1992 | 3.08 | |
| 1993 | 3.08 | |
| 1994 | 3.08 | |
| 1995 | 3.08 | |
| 1996 | 3.08 | |
| 1997 | 3.08 | |
| 1998 | 2.42 | |
| 1999 | 2.42 | |
| 2000 | 2.42 | |
| 2001 | 2.42 | |
| 2002 | 2.42 | |
| 2003 | 2.42 | |
| 2004 | 2.42 | |
| 2005 | 2.42 | |
| 2006 | 2.42 | |
| 2007 | 2.42 | |
| 2008 | 2.42 | |
| 2009 | 2.42 | |
| 2010 | 2.42 | |
| 2011 | 2.42 | |
| 2012 | 2.42 | |
| 2013 | 2.39 | |
| 2014 | 2.39 | |
| 2015 | 2.39 | |
| 2016 | 2.39 | |
| 2017 | 2.39 | |
| 2018 | 2.39 | |
| 2019 | 2.35 | |
Scale: 0-6 (higher = more protective). Source: OECD Employment Protection Legislation database.
Compare South Korea With...
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Understanding EPL Scores How OECD, ILO, and B-READY scores are calculated and compared Termination Laws by Country Notice periods, severance, and dismissal rules worldwide Hiring Internationally Legal frameworks for cross-border employment Non-Compete Agreements Enforceability and restrictions across jurisdictions Reading Employment Statistics How to interpret labor market data and indicators Labor Market Trends Workforce analysis and global employment trends
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the employment protections in South Korea?
ILO EPLex termination protection composite score: 0.454/1.0 (2019); World Bank B-READY labor regulation quality: 74.5/100; OECD EPL overall: 2.35/6.0; 7 notice period tiers defined by law; 7 severance/redundancy pay tiers. (3 sources.)
How does South Korea compare to the OECD average?
OECD EPL 2.35/6.0 (above the ~2.3 average).
What notice period and severance pay does South Korea require?
up to 1 month notice (20 years); severance up to 0 months (20 years); notice mandated; severance mandated.
What data sources cover South Korea's employment laws?
3 sources: ILO EPLex; World Bank B-READY 2025; OECD EPL.
How strict are dismissal protections in South Korea?
EPLex 2019: moderately strict (0.454/1.0); max probation 3mo; 3rd-party approval not required; dismissal ~6.5 weeks.
How does South Korea handle labor disputes?
disputes resolve in ~7.7mo; 8.3% of firms report one; social contributions 14.8% of salary; EPLex redress indicator 0.875/1.0.
What to do with this
Use South Korea's scores as a comparison benchmark, not legal advice.
- South Korea sits above 61% of rated countries on statutory dismissal protection (ILO EPLex 0.454/1.0) - see exactly where it lands among all 95. View the rankings
- The three indices measure different things on different scales, compare South Korea side by side with another country before drawing a conclusion. Compare South Korea
- Read South Korea against its regional peers, the Asia-Pacific averages reveal the structural pattern. Asia-Pacific overview
These indices reflect the law as written, not how it is enforced, recent amendments, or the facts of any individual case. For a real decision, confirm the current statute and consult a qualified employment lawyer, see our disclaimer.
Related
Data sourced from official OECD, ILO, and World Bank employment-protection datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEmploy Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from OECD, ILO, and World Bank labor market databases. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Primary sources: ILO EPLex, World Bank B-READY, OECD EPL.
PlainEmploy is rendered directly from the OECD Employment Protection Legislation indicators, the ILO EPLex database, and the World Bank B-READY labor pillar, no number is typed in by an editor. This country's composite scores and comparisons are computed directly from the underlying OECD/EPLex/B-READY tables, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-07-06.