Hourly wage next year raised by 2.5% to 11,436 won, monthly 2.39 million won
Seoul living wage 4% lower than Gyeonggi-do
Seoul's Eunpyeong-gu district decided last week to set next year's living wage at 11,436 KRW per hour. This amount is a 2.5% (279 KRW) increase compared to last year, which, based on a 40-hour workweek and 209 hours per month, amounts to a monthly salary of 2,390,124 KRW.
Earlier, Dongdaemun-gu also set next year's living wage at 11,436 KRW, the same as Eunpyeong-gu. Most autonomous districts, including Geumcheon-gu, Yangcheon-gu, and Gangnam-gu, have set the living wage at the same amount.
The living wage system guarantees a minimum living cost considering inflation and workers' circumstances. Most of Seoul's 25 autonomous districts have been implementing the living wage system since 2016.
The system applies to directly employed workers affiliated with district offices and funded institutions. These workers are typically fixed-term employees of district offices, facility management corporations, cultural foundations, etc., and although it varies by job, contracts are usually on a one-year basis. Temporary workers hired with government ministries' or Seoul city budget support, private consignment workers, and workers earning wages above the living wage are not subject to the living wage system.
In Eunpyeong-gu, the number of workers expected to be covered next year is 570. Yangcheon-gu has 400. Although the number varies by district office circumstances, officials explain that the total across all 25 Seoul district offices easily exceeds 10,000.
Since the minimum wage is insufficient, wages are set higher than the minimum wage by comprehensively considering housing, education, culture, and medical expenses. Next year's living wage is 15% (1,576 KRW) higher than the minimum wage (9,860 KRW) per hour, and about 330,000 KRW more per month than the minimum wage (2,060,740 KRW).
Why do all district offices have the same living wage? Seoul city decided on next year's living wage on September 13, setting it at 11,436 KRW. Most district offices follow Seoul city's amount as is. A district office official explained, "Until a few years ago, each district office decided the living wage based on its financial independence and budget, but due to fairness issues and resulting disputes, recently the amounts have been standardized."
Kim Mi-kyung, mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, said, "Although the district's financial situation is difficult, I believe that through the living wage, public sector workers will be able to enjoy a better life."
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi-do's living wage is 11,890 KRW per hour (monthly salary of 2,485,010 KRW), which is 4% higher than Seoul's.
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