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In 2025, the minimum wage in South Korea stood at * South Korean won per hour. This was a slight increase compared to the previous year.

South Korea's minimum wage system

The minimum wage system was introduced in South Korea to protect low-wage workers by legally requiring employers to pay wages above a set minimum level. The legal basis for implementing a minimum wage was already established in 1953 with the enactment of the Labor Standards Act. However, the provisions were not enforced at the time due to economic limitations. As South Korea's economy grew stronger, the need for a formal system to eliminate persistent low wages became clear. This led to the enactment of the Minimum Wage Act in 1986, which came into effect in 1988.

Raising the minimum wage

The issue of raising the minimum wage has consistently been a focal point of public debate, especially during presidential election cycles. In 2017, Moon Jae-in, the then-candidate for the presidency, committed to raising the minimum wage to at least 10,000 South Korean won by 2020. This proposal generated significant controversy and sparked a heated discussion among various political groups. The proposed increase in the minimum wage also faced strong opposition from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Business owners within this sector expressed concerns about their ability to absorb the costs associated with higher wages.