Working hours in South Korea

Working hours in South Korea define the length of time workers are allowed to be on the job in South Korea.

In the 1960s, South Korea began to transform from an agricultural economy to an industrial, service and high-tech economy.[1] The country's per capita GDP increased from US $100 in 1963 to US $35,300 in 2014, making South Korea the world's 20th largest economy.[1] In the process, work hours increased. According to OECD figures, work hours in South Korea were 2,005 per worker in 2018.[2] Korea ranks 3rd worldwide, compared to 1,786 hours in the US, 1,538 hours in the UK, and 1,363 hours in Germany (the shortest).[2]

Koreans work such long hours because of the Korean industrial system and nighttime culture. South Korea's corporate culture resembles that of Japan–hierarchical and with significant subcontracting.[3] Even though Korea has a statutory working week of 40 hours and allows 12 hours of paid overtime on weekdays and 16 hours on weekends, manufacturing industries such as the automobile industry operate non-stop.[4] In addition, cafes, transportation, pubs, restaurants, private study rooms, shopping malls, and fast food restaurants also operate continuously.[5] Although the Labor Standard Act sets statutory limits, enforcement is weak and employers routinely violate the Act.

Those searching for a work to life balance stated that a reduction in the hours in an average workday would seem to be an appropriate to practice in terms of enhancing the current work to life balance of Korean workers, but it would require a substantial transformation of the Korean corporate culture (Beech 2020).  

Work to life balance seems harder to achieve for women in South Korea’s working culture.  No only do women have to deal with the long working hours they also have to deal with the hierarchical corporate structure that follows the philosophy of Confucianism.  A study by Sunyoung Park found proof that the company atmosphere may possibly affect the family lives of female workers. “While an organizational atmosphere that is friendly and cooperative to women creates positive energy for family life, a repressive and hostile atmosphere for women negatively affects the family life of female workers” (Park 2019). That being said, if an organization creates an good working environment and offers support, employees will have less difficulty meeting their work and family requirements. “In particular, female employees who are expected to spend more time on family activities than their male counterparts are less likely to feel strain between their work and family roles if they receive support in a family-friendly environment in their organizations” (Park 2019).

Different working hours in terms of jobs and productivity

As of 2014, 80.7% of the Labor Standard Act had been implemented.[6] The 40 hour working week met with 93% success in the manufacturing industry as compared with 73.1% elsewhere.[6] Implementation in the public sector (99%) is higher than in the private sector (80.5%).[6]

Male workers in manufacturing industry are allowed 24.10 overtime work hours while non-manufacturing workers get 10.90 hours.[6] Public sector can work 11.06 hours overtime, while private sector workers are allowed 16.06 hours.[6] Even though Korea has implemented the 40 hour work week, workers in South Korea appear satisfied with their job and lives. A higher salary has a positive and significant impact on worker' job and life satisfaction.[7] They tend to be satisfied with longer hours. However, longer work hours do not necessarily mean greater productivity. Employers use overtime because the costs are much less (9,045 won/hr or $8) than e.g., in France, where businesses are heavily taxed.[8]

According to the PLOS ONE research article The negative impact of long working hours on mental health in young Korean workers, One of the causes is the unhealthy manners linked with working overtime, such as increased alcohol intake and lack of physical activity. In addition, the employees working extended hours may not have the time to obtain proper medical treatment when they become sick.  Additionally, working lengthy hours may cause hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome and is linked to ischemic heart disease, stroke, and increased mortality (Park 2020).

Statistics show that in 2019 “workers aged between 30 to 39 years old worked 158.9 hours per month on average in South Korea.   In 2020, a new policy was introduced in South Korea that limited the weekly working hours to 52 hours per week” (Yoon 2020).[9]  Statistics also show the steady decline of monthly work hours for each of the age groups between under 29 years old to over 60 years old age, which could be because of the evolving work culture by the younger generation.  In 2019, the average hours worked by plant and machine operators and assemblers worked was 178.2 hours a month in South Korea. Working hours had declined across all jobs compared to the year before (Yoon 2020).[9]  These statistics are promising and go along with the increasing value of the work to life balance that many in the world strive for.  “Korean corporate culture has been deeply influenced by the philosophy and traditions of Confucianism. Individuals are expected to show respect for their elders and superiors in the workplace. Within this construct, workers cannot graciously leave the office before his or her manager” (Beech 2015).[10]

References
  1. "South Korea Country Review". Business Source Complete: 275 – via EBSCOhost.
  2. "Employment - Hours worked - OECD Data". theOECD. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
  3. David, Coates (2000). Models of Capitalism: Growth and Stagnation in the Modern Era. Polity Press. p. 7.
  4. Na, Sean (18 July 2016). "Business fears cut to working hours - South Korea".
  5. Chu-hŭi Chŏn, Yŏng-sŏn Kim, Chae-hyŏn Chŏng; et al. (2015). Uri nŭn wae irŏn sigan ŭl kyŏndigo innŭn'ga : sam ŭl sojin sik'inŭn sigan ŭi munjedŭl / Nodong Sigan Sent'ŏ kiho. Seoul: K'onan Puksŭ. p. 155.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Bae, Kiu Sik (2014). Employment relations in South Korea : evidence from workplace panel surveys. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.
  7. Ryu, Geunpil (2014). "The cross-domain effects of work and family role stressors on public employees in South Korea". Review of Public Personnel.
  8. Korea Times (December 4, 2014). "Explaining low productivity".
  9. "South Korea: monthly working hours by occupation 2019". Statista. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  10. "Korean Productivity: Work & Life Balance | DHR International". www.dhrinternational.com. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
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