Korean Dictionary
How to say "Wage" in Korean
“Wage” in Korean is 임금 (pronounced "Imgeum").
임금
Imgeum
Usage & Context
Payment for hourly work. Wages are common for part-time and hourly workers in Korea.
Example Sentence
시간 임금이 얼마예요?
What is the hourly wage?
How to use 임금 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Wage” is 임금, romanized as 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 임금.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '임금' (Imgeum) is pronounced 'eem-geum'. 'Eem' sounds like 'seem' without the 's', and 'geum' sounds like the English word 'gum'. The stress is fairly even on both syllables.
More Example Sentences
A part-time worker expressing relief about a wage increase.
최저 임금이 올라서 생활이 조금 더 나아졌어요.
My life has gotten a bit better because the minimum wage went up.
An employee asking their manager about payday.
이번 달 임금은 언제쯤 들어올 예정인가요?
When is this month's wage expected to come in?
Someone taking action against unpaid or underpaid wages.
정당한 임금을 받지 못해서 노동청에 신고했어요.
I didn't receive a fair wage, so I reported it to the labor office.
Cultural Context
'임금' (imgeum) generally refers to payment for work, often used for hourly or daily wages, distinguishing it from '월급' (wolgeup), which is a monthly salary. The minimum wage (최저 임금, choejeo imgeum) is a highly discussed topic in Korea, with annual debates on its adjustment impacting many part-time workers (아르바이트, areubaiteu) and small businesses.
Editorial note
We review entries like 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
Minimum wage
임금 인상
Wage increase
임금 체불
Unpaid wages
Related Expressions
월급
Wolgeup
Monthly salary
시급
Sigeup
Hourly wage
일당
Ildang
Daily wage
수당
Sudang
Allowance/Bonus
More Finance & Banking Words
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