Although South Korean workers’ actual annual working hours have fallen by nearly 200 hours over the past decade, South Koreans still work far more hours than the average in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Sunday, the average monthly working hours of South Korean employees in 2023 will be 156.2 hours, down 2.5 hours from 158.7 hours in 2022.
The average monthly working hours in 2013 was 172.6 hours, and the annual average was 2,071.2 hours. This figure represents a significant decrease in working hours compared to the past 10 years, with work hours down by 16.4 hours per month and 196.8 hours per year.
In 2017, annual working hours were 1,995.6 hours, falling below 2,000 hours for the first time. Six years later he dropped even further in 2023, and for the first time he dropped below 1,900, landing in 1,874 hours.
Working hours in South Korea have generally decreased due to institutional changes such as legalizing a 52-hour work week, encouraging workers to use all 15 days of paid vacation, increasing alternative leave, and changing attitudes in society as a whole. announced the Ministry of Employment. said the Labor Party.
The ministry also found that the increase in the number of employees in sectors known for relatively short working hours, such as construction, accommodation, food services, health and social welfare services, is contributing to a reduction in overall working hours. I made it.
However, despite this downward trend, Koreans still work much longer hours compared to other OECD countries. In 2022, South Korea will still have the longest total working hours, ranking sixth behind Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, and Israel.
According to 2022 statistics, South Korean employees worked an average of 1,901 hours a year, 149 hours longer than the OECD average of 1,752 hours.
Meanwhile, calls for further reforms, such as the introduction of a four-day work week, are increasing from labor unions and civic groups.
The Korean Federation of Trade Unions, one of South Korea’s two largest umbrella labor unions, and other labor and civil society organizations on Thursday launched a four-day work week network as part of a 2024 general election pledge. He called for the introduction of a four-day system. .
