Korean Dictionary
How to say "Minimum Wage" in Korean
“Minimum Wage” in Korean is 최저 임금 (pronounced "Choejeo imgeum").
최저 임금
Choejeo imgeum
Usage & Context
The lowest legal wage employers can pay. Minimum wage in Korea is set annually by the government.
Example Sentence
최저 임금이 올랐어요.
The minimum wage increased.
How to use 최저 임금 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Minimum Wage” is 최저 임금, romanized as Choejeo imgeum.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 최저 임금.
Pronunciation Guide
The term '최저 임금' is pronounced 'Choe-jeo Im-geum'. '최' sounds like 'chway' as in 'choir' without the 'r'. '저' is like 'juh' in 'jungle'. '임' is pronounced like 'eem' in 'seem', and '금' is like 'geum' in 'gum' but with a 'g'. The stress is relatively even across syllables.
More Example Sentences
Discussing economic news or policy changes.
내년부터 최저 임금이 인상될 예정이에요.
The minimum wage is expected to increase starting next year.
Advising someone about fair labor practices.
아르바이트 시급이 최저 임금보다 낮으면 안 돼요.
Part-time hourly pay shouldn't be lower than the minimum wage.
Expressing financial struggles.
최저 임금으로 생활하기가 정말 힘들어요.
It's really hard to live on minimum wage.
Cultural Context
Minimum wage (최저 임금) is a frequent and often heated topic of public debate in South Korea, particularly concerning its impact on small businesses and young workers. Every year, the Minimum Wage Commission (최저임금위원회) determines the new hourly rate, which is closely watched by the public and often leads to discussions on economic inequality and labor rights. It's a key indicator of economic policy and social welfare.
Editorial note
We review entries like 최저 임금 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
최저 임금 인상
Minimum wage increase
최저 임금 위원회
Minimum Wage Commission
최저 임금 수준
Minimum wage level
Related Expressions
시급
sigeup
Hourly wage
일당
ilddang
Daily wage
월급
wolgeup
Monthly salary
생활 임금
saenghwal imgeum
Living wage
More Finance & Banking Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Minimum Wage and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
