Fiatmap

Work & incomeSouth Korea

Top income tax in South Korea

What rate hits the top of a high salary there?

South Korea's top income tax is 49.50 % — #26 of 37 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

49.50%

Checked 8 Sept 2026Period 2025

Source: OECD Personal Income Tax rates

Among 37 countries

1 of 37 countries between 0.00 % and 2.33 %1 of 37 countries between 13.98 % and 16.31 %2 of 37 countries between 20.96 % and 23.29 %2 of 37 countries between 23.29 % and 25.62 %2 of 37 countries between 30.28 % and 32.61 %1 of 37 countries between 34.94 % and 37.27 %2 of 37 countries between 37.27 % and 39.60 %4 of 37 countries between 39.60 % and 41.93 %2 of 37 countries between 41.93 % and 44.26 %2 of 37 countries between 44.26 % and 46.59 %5 of 37 countries between 46.59 % and 48.92 %4 of 37 countries between 48.92 % and 51.25 %5 of 37 countries between 51.25 % and 53.58 %4 of 37 countries between 53.58 % and 55.90 %median 45.78 %South Korea: ahead of 30 % of the 37 countries with a published top income taxSouth Korea 49.50 %0.00 %55.90 %
Half of all 37 countries sit between 39.00 % and 50.00 %. South Korea is ahead of 30 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 1 value beyond it sits in the end bars.
Rank
#26 of 37
lower is better
Ranked behind
30 %
11 of 37 countries

vs median 45.78 %: +3.72 pp (worse)

The neighbourhood

#CountryTop income taxvs South Korea
24 Spain48.58 %−0.92 pp
25 Netherlands49.50 %−0.00 pp
26 South Korea49.50 %—
27 Slovenia50.00 %+0.50 pp
28 Israel50.00 %+0.50 pp

Top statutory personal income tax rate on wage income (OECD).

How to read this figure

The top statutory rate on wage income — what the last euro of a very high salary is taxed at, combining central and typical sub-central rates (OECD). Almost nobody pays this on their whole income: it applies only above the top threshold.

Next, about South Korea

Tax on payCorporate taxTake-home pay
Top income tax, all countries ranked →Compare South Korea with another country →Everything about South Korea →
Did this answer your question?