South Korea's working hours could near OECD average by 2030 with 4.5-day week

A recent report commissioned by the Ministry of Employment and Labor suggests a hopeful trajectory for South Korea's notoriously long working hours. If the current pace of reducing actual work time is maintained, the nation's annual working hours could narrow the gap with the OECD average to just 57 hours by 2030, down from the current 151-hour difference. This projection, however, hinges on continued, proactive implementation of labor hour reduction policies, including the government's key pledge of a 4.5-day workweek and the broader guarantee of rest rights.

South Korea has made strides since the implementation of the five-day workweek in 2004 and the 52-hour workweek limit in 2018, which collectively reduced average annual working hours by over 560 hours in two decades. Yet, the reality remains stark: with 1,859 hours worked in 2024, South Korea still ranks sixth highest among OECD nations, far exceeding the average and trailing only countries like Colombia and Mexico. Nations like Germany and Japan, by contrast, achieve significantly shorter working hours, highlighting a persistent challenge for the Korean workforce.

The research team emphasizes the need for a multi-pronged approach. This includes tackling excessive overtime stemming from special exemptions, the misuse of comprehensive wage systems, and the prevalence of long hours in specific sectors and smaller businesses. Crucially, the report calls for a shift away from the ingrained 'Monday-to-Friday, 40-hour' standard, advocating for serious consideration of pilot programs for a 4.5-day workweek and support for companies pursuing shorter hours. Furthermore, the report points to the stark contrast with European countries where extended summer vacations are common, noting that such extended leave is rare in Korea, hindering a true culture of rest.

Ultimately, the report serves as a critical reminder: without sustained effort from both the government and labor-management sectors to further reduce working hours, the positive trend observed thus far is unlikely to continue. This underscores the urgency of adopting more progressive labor policies to improve work-life balance and align South Korea with international standards for reasonable working hours.