Eight Out Of Ten Workers Support Policies To Shorten Working Hours
On March 16, 2025, findings from Workplace Gapjil 119 revealed overwhelming support among South Korean workers for government action aimed at reducing working hours and banning the controversial comprehensive wage system. According to the survey conducted by Global Research, 77.9% of 1,000 employed individuals aged 19 or older believe it is necessary for the National Assembly to push for policies focused on these issues.
The survey was carried out from December 2 to December 11, 2024, boasting a confidence level of 95% with a margin of error of ±3.1%. Notably, support for reducing working hours was particularly strong among women at 81.9%, those aged 30 and younger at 83.3%, and general office workers at 81.3%. Meanwhile, 78.1% of respondents also agreed on the need for the National Assembly to enact policies fully banning the comprehensive wage system, which has been criticized for justifying long hours without additional compensation.
Kim Do-ha, a labor attorney at Workplace Gapjil 119, highlighted the prevalent issues workers face, stating, "Long working hours are not simply a matter of causing fatigue but also directly endanger workers' health and lives." This sentiment is echoed by the alarming statistics surrounding the impact of excessive working hours on health, introduced by research from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). Their 2021 study found significant increases—17% for ischemic heart disease and 35% for strokes—among individuals working more than 55 hours per week.
Other statistics from earlier surveys indicated the fatigue experienced by workers due to long hours. For example, 42.5% of workers viewed 48 hours as the appropriate cap for weekly working hours, followed closely by those who expressed 52 hours as acceptable at 35.2%. The data highlights the growing consensus among workers on these issues, pointing to the persistent struggle against excessive work demands placed upon them.
Workplace Gapjil 119 noted they received 135 cases of email consultations over the past year related to long working hours, with many involving instances where management pressured staff to complete unreasonable workloads within standard hours, leading to mandatory unpaid overtime. Such stories are not uncommon, as employees shared experiences of being confronted by supervisors who expected them to work beyond their contracted hours without compensation, often citing archaic notions such as "overtime equates to diligence."
Despite the alarm bells sounding across the workforce, there remains resistance to change. The government, criticized for its perceived leniency toward employers, has not significantly reformed policies to deter long work hours. Recent attempts by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration to push policies allowing maximum working hours to climb up to 69 (including overtime) were met with public outcry, leading to the retraction of those proposals. Yet, the administrative interpretation allowing extensive work schedules under specific conditions continues to pose risks to worker wellbeing.
Further complicate matters; the Ministry of Employment and Labor has recently been criticized for its allowance of special work extensions, permitting semiconductor research and development personnel to work up to 64 hours per week. This sets concerning precedents and risks becoming the new norm rather than the exception. Kim Do-ha argues, "Extending working hours through the special overtime approval system is dangerous; it could become standard rather than remain exceptional, worsening the labor environment for all workers."
To combat such issues, Workplace Gapjil 119 advocates for comprehensive measures, including formally prohibiting the comprehensive wage system and ensuring accountability for employers who violate labor agreements. They suggest mandatory recordkeeping of working hours and penalties for deception or manipulation of working time data, stressing the need for healthier work environments.
With workers across various sectors continuing to voice concerns about their labor conditions, the growing sentiment is clear: it is time for change. Advocates argue the government and associated bodies need to prominently focus on policies minimizing overtime, reducing overall working hours, and recognizing workers' rights for rest and healthy engagement with their jobs—fostering not only productivity but also preserving their health and well-being.