Foreign Workers in South Korea Face Long Hours and Low Pay

According to recent data from Statistics Korea, nearly 3 out of 10 foreign employees in South Korea worked 50 hours or longer per week in 2023. Of the foreign workers surveyed, 56.5% worked 40 to 50 hours per week, while 28.6% worked 50 hours or more. The report also found that around 50.6% of foreign employees earned between 2 million won and 3 million won per month, with 35.8% earning a monthly income of more than 3 million won.

While 6 out of 10 foreign income laborers expressed satisfaction with their jobs in South Korea, 12.3% said they want to change their jobs, citing low income as a primary reason. The data showed that ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality accounted for the largest share (33%) of the total foreigners residing in South Korea for more than three months, followed by those from Vietnam (14.1%). Additionally, 31.8% of the total foreigners in South Korea remained economically inactive, and 3.7% were unemployed while seeking a job.

The influx of foreign workers in South Korea has been driven by a shortage of labor in certain industries, particularly manufacturing. The government has eased work visa restrictions to combat these shortages, with 112 Uzbek migrant workers recently entering the country through a government program. However, the long working hours and relatively low pay faced by many foreign workers have raised concerns about their working conditions and potential exploitation.

Why this matters: The increasing reliance on foreign labor in South Korea highlights the need for better protections and fair treatment of migrant workers. With the country's population continuing to shrink, addressing the challenges faced by foreign employees will be crucial for maintaining economic growth and social stability.

Kim Yoon-soo, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated that the government is "working to improve the working conditions and rights of foreign workers in South Korea." He added that new measures are being considered to ensure that employers comply with labor laws and provide fair wages and benefits to all workers, regardless of their nationality. However, advocates for migrant workers argue that more needs to be done to address the systemic issues and discrimination faced by foreign employees in the country.

Key Takeaways

• 28.6% of foreign workers in South Korea work 50+ hours/week, 56.5% work 40-50 hours/week.
• 50.6% of foreign workers earn 2-3 million won/month, 35.8% earn over 3 million won/month.
• 12.3% of foreign workers want to change jobs, citing low income as a primary reason.
• Ethnic Koreans with Chinese nationality (33%) and Vietnamese (14.1%) are largest foreign groups.
• Govt aims to improve foreign worker conditions, but advocates say more needs to be done.