7 out of 10 Office Workers Say "Minimum Wage Should Be at Least 11,000 Won"

WorkplaceGapjil119 '2025 Appropriate Statutory Minimum Wage' Survey
88.5% of Respondents "Experienced Real Wage Cuts Due to Rising Prices"

Seven out of ten office workers believe that the hourly wage should be at least 11,000 won, and the monthly salary should be at least 2.3 million won.

Office workers are heading to work at the Sejongno intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Workplace Bullying 119 commissioned the public opinion research firm Global Research to conduct a survey on the "Appropriate Legal Minimum Wage for 2025" targeting 1,000 office workers nationwide aged 19 and older from May 31 to June 10. The results were released on the 16th.

Specifically, 40.4% chose 11,000 won (2.3 million won per month) as the most appropriate, followed by 22.3% for 10,000 won (2.09 million won per month) or less, 16.5% for 12,000 won (2.51 million won per month), and 10.9% for 13,000 won (2.72 million won per month) or more. The 11,000 won figure represents an 11.6% increase over this year’s minimum wage (9,860 won). When asked whether real wages have decreased due to inflation, 88.5% of respondents answered "strongly agree" (39.5%) or "somewhat agree" (49.0%).

The decrease in real wages led to additional labor. Four out of ten office workers reported working extra hours. The rates of additional labor were relatively higher among non-regular workers (47.5%), women (45.8%), non-office workers (46.2%), workplaces with fewer than 5 employees (43.9%), and those with 5 to fewer than 30 employees (43.2%). When asked the reasons, 53.2% cited "insufficient living expenses due to rising prices," and 52.9% said "it is difficult to plan for marriage, retirement, and life goals with only the monthly salary" (multiple answers allowed).

Regarding the opinion that the legal minimum wage should apply to all workers, including special employment types, 73.6% of respondents agreed.

Song Areum, a labor attorney at Workplace Bullying 119, said, "The decline in real wages due to recent rapid inflation has become a reality," adding, "Discussing freezing or cutting the minimum wage or applying differential rates by industry is tantamount to the government declaring that it will accelerate polarization in the labor market." She further stated, "To discuss increasing the birth rate and resolving wage gaps in the labor market, a minimum wage and working hours that guarantee a decent standard of living must be ensured."